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A Life of Prayer -- For the Glory of God
There is a treatment update at the end of this message. CHIP STAM STEM CELL DRIVE: BE THE MATCH www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive ===================================== FREE LEAD SHEET and demo recording for "Merciful to Me" by David Ward: www.reformedpraise.org/songs/updatedhymns/merciful_to_me ===================================== To what end do we pray? For what ultimate purpose do we humble ourselves and yet find boldness to address the Almighty with our praises, confessions, thanks, and intercessions? Today's WORSHIP QUOTE is from the pen of Andrew Murray (1828-1917), a prolific Christian author and beloved pastor who served largely in the villages of South Africa. For Murray, the Christian life was to be one based in prayerful communion with God. A LIFE OF PRAYER—FOR THE GLORY OF GOD "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:16-18). Our Lord told the parable of the widow and the unjust judge to teach us that men ought to pray without ceasing. The widow persevered in seeking one definite thing. The parable appears to refer to persevering in prayer for some special blessing, when God delays or appears to refuse. The Epistles, which speak of continuing in prayer, watching for the answer, and praying always in the Spirit, appear to refer to something different—the whole life being one of prayer. As the soul longs for the manifestation of God's glory to us, in us, through us, and around us, the inmost life of the soul is continually rising upward in dependence, faith, longing desire, and trustful expectation. What is needed to live such a life of prayer? The first thing is undoubtedly an entire sacrifice of one's life to God's Kingdom and glory. If you try to pray without ceasing because you want to be very pious and good, you will never succeed. Yielding ourselves to live for God and His honor enlarges the heart and teaches us to regard everything in the light of God and His will. We instinctively recognize in everything around us the need for God's help and blessing, and an opportunity for His being glorified. Everything is weighed and tested by the one thing that fills the heart: the glory of God. The soul has learned that only what is of God can really glorify Him. Through the heart and soul, the whole life becomes a looking up, a crying from the inmost heart, for God to prove His power and love, and reveal His glory. — Andrew Murray (1828-1917), WITH CHRIST IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER, Chapter 31, "A Life of Prayer," New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1981, p. 456. ISBN 0-88368-106-4. [From the anthology, ANDREW MURRAY ON PRAYER. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1998, ISBN 88368-528-0.] Blessings to all! Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Ministries The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw ========================= TOPICAL INDEX FOR FORTY-THREE GETTY/TOWNEND HYMNS http://www.gettymusic.com/topicalindex.pdf ========================= ==================== THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 1 (Ed Willmington): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-05 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 2 (Carl Stam): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-12 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 3 (Donald Hustad): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-19 THE PLACE OF THE CHOIR IN WORSHIP: PART 4 (Ron Man): http://www.wqotw.org/quote.php?date=2010-01-26 ==================== ===================================== HEALTH UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST FOR CHIP STAM, CANCER PATIENT www.carlstam.org/stemcelldrive www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlstam ===================================== October 12 Treatment Update Dear friends and family, Thanks again for loving us and praying for us during this long cancer journey. Longer journal entries and new pictures are found at www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlstam. GRAFT VS. HOST DISEASE More of the same! Praise our gracious LORD that there is currently no active Lymphoma in my body. The serious and daily concern about Graft vs. Host Disease continues. Every single day, including Saturdays and Sundays, I go to the Cancer Clinic for a full routine of blood tests and necessary treatments (additives). Everyday I get an infusion of CASPOFUNGIN ACETATE—ANTI-FUNGAL. As they look at the blood tests, they respond by giving me platelets, a bag of blood, and/or NEUPOGEN, a growth factor shot—all depending on the results of the morning's blood tests. The bladder infection is somewhat better this week; and, thank the LORD, the CMV (virus) numbers were much better on Friday. (We get new numbers for that on Tuesday and Friday.) Thanks for praying about those two specific things. My pillbox is still adjusted nearly every day. One drug pulls my body and blood one direction, but it may be tough on my bladder, kidneys, or something else. The medicine that has helped with the CMV count has been hard on my body's ability to fight disease, so they are adjusting things to protect my body without getting me in trouble somewhere else. The medical professionals are really watching me closely. For this we are very thankful to the LORD. Your prayers are so important. Remember: we were warned before the stem cell transplant that there were any number of these "side effects" that could be very serious, even fatal, for the patient. What a wonderful Protector we serve and worship. CANCER CARE Please keep praying fervently for Doris, our family, my caregivers, and me; and don't forget to care for the cancer patients in your families, churches, neighborhoods, and places of employment. Pray that our stem cell drive will provide many, many cancer patients with life-saving options for treatment. If you would like to swab your cheek and participate, it is not too late. Resting in the Bounty of the LORD, Chip Stam www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlstam |