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Don't shoot the messenger!

Luke 12:  ⁴⁸ ... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Throughout my journey, this verse has come to mind many times.  It has been one that has taken me down several thought paths and has continually evolved.  Initially, I used it to pray that all those I was led past would see God for who He is and all He has given each and every person whom He chose to place in our free country.  Free to make choices regarding our lifestyles and our life choices.  I thought often about the astounding statistics regarding lifestyle choices and preventable disease, early disability and death.
Since then, my thoughts have been fed by scripture I am studying weekly in my BSF class.
This week we are studying 1 Corinthians.  Capter 3, verses 16 & 17 say... "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple."
I believe God is clearly stating that we Americans have been given much, including freedom to choose our lifestyle.  He has also given us the ability to exercise self-control (much will be demanded). I listen to The Word preached by several different preachers and I often hear that we are called to stay away from drug and alcohol addictions, adultery, pride, covetness, love of money, etc...but I rarely hear anything preached about the dangers and consequences of gluttony and disobedience regarding  the destruction of God's temple.  Obesity is the #1 cause of preventable disease.  Over 60% of Americans are obese.
MOVE your body out of your house and into your neighborhood in order to love your neighbors as yourself through PRAYer.  OBEY God's will that your body, God's temple, will be made a healthier place for God's Spirit to live.  When you decide to MOVE, PRAY and OBEY to serve God instead of yourself, you will be blessed and amazed by the surprises God has for you.

It seems like I just left

This morning I was blessed by another beautiful MPO run.  Though I was gone for about 1 1/2 hours, the time between starting and finishing seemed like it happened in the blink of an eye.  What's interesting is that before I began this journey in obedience and was trying to run in my own strength, first of all, I couldn't run for 1 1/2 hours, and, any time spent running seemed like it was much longer than it really was because it was hard.
I suspect that in comparison that is how it will feel as we move toward the finish of our time here on earth.  If we are living in surrendered obedience, our time will seem short and blessed.  If we are living in self reliant striving, our time will seem long and harder.
Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Be a blessing!  Be blessed!
Move, Pray and Obey!

Peace and Love with faith by grace

What an amazing, beautiful MPO run I was given this morning!  I felt as though I was running through a living painting of God's majesty!  The freedom that God is giving me as I surrender myself to Him is growing and expanding in ways I cannot describe.  All by the Holy Spirit, through Jesus, for God's glory.
I pray if you are reading this, you will trust God's faithfullness and let Him envelop you in His love and Christ's perserverence.  That you will love each other through prayer and that you will take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit (your body) in obedience to the One who gave you His son's body and blood that you may be free.
Move, Pray and Obey!
Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

What about you?

I have been asked how I pray for the people I serve through Move, Pray Obey (MPO).  My answer is that I pray in the ways God stirs my heart as I run.  He led me to the verse below and moved me to keep it in my heart.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
(May the Lord) (direct your hearts) (into God's love) (and Christ's perseverance.)
I found it pretty easy to memorize this verse 3 words at a time.
God gives us the words to pray in simple and powerful ways.  Do you see the beautiful, completeness of this prayer?  Put this prayer seed in your heart, carry it with you , and spread it to each person you are led past today.
I am praying for each person who reads this blog.

Your excuses come from you.

Your excuses make what you do or don't do all about you.

God says it's about Him and His glory.

I'm going to Move, Pray & Obey...what about you?

Fruit - Flowers - Seeds

During my MPO run this morning the fruit of the Spirit came to mind.
Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.  I prayed that those I was praying for would be touched by the fruit of the Spirit.
If you have read my earlier posts, you may remember that one of the prayers that God keeps on my heart for those He sends me past is that my prayers would be planted as seeds in those hearts.
I had to smile as I recalled something about the difference between fruits and vegetables being about the seeds.  I looked it up and found that a fruit is the part of a plant that has developed from a flower and contains seeds. 
God made fruit brightly colored and attractive to the hungry.  I can see why Paul compared the attributes of being filled with the Spirit to fruit. 
Please consider Moving, Praying and Obeying in your community.  God will free your heart to love your neighbor, offer joyful obedience, spread peace, practice patience, extend kindness and goodness, faithfully serve with a gentle attitude, and excercise self-control.

...so that you may know Him better

For my MPO run the morning of tuesday, March 6, God led me on an "unusual" path, one that I knew but had not run in a long time...maybe not at all since MPO was realized.  I always trust that God leads me past households and people who need prayer.  I don't have to see obvious results to know His timing is perfect.  I also believe He delights in surprising us in totally unexpected ways by revealing His involvement. 
On the way home from bible study the evening of tuesday, March 6, the friend I was riding with received a call to let her know that a beloved member of our community had died earlier in the day in a terrible accident that happened in the road right in front of her property.  I did not know the woman. My friend shared about how well known and loved this woman was and how shaken the community would be.  She also told me where the woman lived...I had been led to run past her home earlier on that "unusual" path that was planned for me.  God knew that household would need prayer March 6, 2012.
Amazingly, I am studying in Ephesians chapter 1 this week.  God wants us to know Him better and understand our call to represent Jesus here through loving prayer for our neighbors.
I pray this for all who read this blog.  Ephesians 1:17  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.
Move, Pray, and Obey always for His glory, your good and the good of all you pray for in love.

There goes that smiling runner! What's making her so happy?

I ran the Cowtown 1/2 Marathon sunday and my brother ran the Full Marathon.  Both of us wore t-shirts with this blog address, Psalm 119:32, and an invitation to join Team MPO (Move Pray Obey).  Several people commented that they liked our shirts.  Our hope is that some would be called to action.  I know that God's word is alive and does not return void.  We were only there to glorify Him.
As always,  for me, there was a lesson in this particular call to obedience.  I had some struggles in my running for about 2 weeks prior to running sunday.  I was looking at the pictures of myself that were taken sunday on the course and I did not like what I saw.  My expression was not joyful!
By divine coincidence,  my bible study for the week was in 2 Corinthians. In chapter 8 Paul talks about being a generous giver and encourages believers to continue in eager willingness.  Chapter 9:7-8 says... Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
I did not look cheerful in those pictures and I knew that I did not look cheerful as I was out in my community praying for those I was passing  on the street.
This morning I decided to become a cheerful giver and run with a smile on my face.  At first I felt like a fool.  It did not feel natural running down the road smiling.  However, my running was not a struggle, my prayers and concentration on those who were passing by was amazing.  Most people who saw me smiled back!  What a blessing to us both!  When I got home it took me a while to stop smiling!
The Holy Spirit put a new prayer on my heart.  Today I prayed that all households and people who I was led past, lost or saved, would receive a seed, planted by my prayer, in their hearts that would expand and dissolve any sinful strongholds that are keeping them from receiving God's best for their lives.  I asked Jesus to call His people to action...move, pray, obey.