24+24 Equals 100

 I know. You did the math and I got it wrong. I would agree with you if I was talking about a simple addition problem. I am not talking about math. I'm thinking of people. 12 men and 12 women equals 24. I am also thinking about 24 hours in a day. That is the number of people who committed to an ongoing 24 hour prayer vigil every day of the week and then each day of the month. They started this prayer effort August 27, 1727 in Germany. 

They prayed faithfully. They did not do it to draw attention to themselves. One man and one woman were designated to pray for an hour for the entire 24 hours. Those prayers did not last a week or even a few months. They continued this prayer focus for a solid year. They did not stop. Not all the way into the second year. Believe it or not that 100 number stands for the continuous prayer meeting among that group of believers. Obviously some of the original members died and were replaced with a fresh group of prayer warriors. Continuous prayer for 100 years. That is simply mind boggling to me. 

Today, we have trouble getting people to pray for 20-30 minutes much less an hour. Many who do that are not disciplined enough to do it consistently. I read this story about the Moravians 100 year prayer meeting this morning. I was convicted and humbled. I'm not saying I'm out to start a prayer meeting lasting for 100 years. I do not want to be devoted to prayers like that group was. 

Can you imagine what that type of focused and consistent prayer might do for churches, communities, and  the country? Fractured families could be healed. Those stuck in addiction could be set free. Peace could reign in troubled communities. Sexual abuse could be stopped. In summary, it would transform society. May we pray in our little corner of the world asking God to do something mighty among us. 

Surprised by Grace

 I was up and had a plan to get to the office early. I got ready and had Brenda do a mobile order for a Wendy's sausage biscuit. It was to be ready when I got there. On the drive I got immersed in the radio. One of the on air personalities teased listeners with something he wanted to talk about after the next song. I was intrigued as I announced my mobile order at the drive through. 

I got my food and headed back to Fritch. The guy talked about Buckees. Who doesn't love Buckees. You can find clean restrooms, snacks galore, real food, and even do some shopping of all sorts of things. He talked about how much time a person can spend in Buckees. He commented about spending so much time there that his coffee got cold and he asked to refill it with hot coffee. I was mesmerized by the conversation until I saw a familiar sight that snapped my attention. 

Coming in the opposite way down Highway 136 toward Borger was a motorcycle police officer with his red and blue lights flashing. My heart sunk when he turned around and I realized he was coming after me. The speed limit stays 55 mph for a good way outside of town. I was guilty. I immediately pulled off on the shoulder and started getting things in order to give the officer. He informed me I was speeding. I had no excuse. I handed him my driver's license only it was not my license. It was my debit card. He joked that I probably grabbed that one by habit. I reached back in and gave him my license. He looked everything over and I prepared for the worst. Instead of justice he offered grace and said he would give me a warning. I certainly did not deserve it. I did not speed intentionally, but I did exceed the speed limit. I deserved a citation, but he gave me grace. 

I thanked God and asked if the officer had a church home. He did. He asked me to slow down. I did. Then I reflected on the incident and thought about the grace of Jesus to forgive sins. My stack of sins before Jesus was great. I did not deserve forgiveness. I deserved condemnation. I picture it like this. I sat in the courtroom of God and my list of trespasses were listed. God listened intently and prepared to bring the hammer of judgment on me. That is when Jesus stepped up and told the Father that by faith I trusted Him to forgive me. Jesus paid the debt for my sin on the cross. I deserved judgment but He extended grace. Surprised by grace is an understatement. I have never gotten over it. Grace is such a wonderful gift. 

None of us deserves grace. It is not something we earn. It is the compassion and love of God to extend surprising grace to us. Ps 103:12 says that God casts our transgressions from Him as far as the east is from the west. If He had said as far as the north from the south that would mean there was a definite fixed point where forgiveness stopped. There is a North Pole and a South Pole. There is no end to east and west. It is surprising grace. Like John Newton wrote hundreds of years ago, it is Amazing Grace. Offered to those who believe Jesus and ask Him for it. May all be surprised by this gift of grace. Oh by the way, slow down too.