READ THE "NEWS AND PRAYER REQUESTS" August 19, 2007

Dear Praying Friends

Thanks for the treasure of your faithful and loving prayer support. I wanted to give you a brief update on our progress and tell you about--------Read the rest of Daniel's letter under the link of "News and Prayer Requests" at the right side bar.

Note: We will be happy to publish your comments and responses but only if they are signed. If you ask, your name can be witheld, however we must have your name and e-mail.

PRAYER PATH

There is a missionary story about an African village where each member of the tribe developed his or her own special prayer spot just outside of the village and every morning would travel to it to spend time in prayer.

This daily journey to the prayer spots became an important tradition. Over time, the village members’ daily trips to these prayer spots wore visible, hard packed, dirt pathways into the earth.

One day a missionary overheard one of the older men challenging a younger man because he was not spending enough time in prayer each day. Once the conversation ended the missionary approached the elderly gentlemen and asked, “How do you know that this young man isn’t spending enough time in prayer?”

The elderly gentleman walked over to one of the pathways, pointed and said, “This is the young man’s prayer path. It is obvious that he has not been in prayer daily because he has allowed weeds to grow over the path.”

What if we had a prayer path that everyone could see? What would it look like? Would it be overgrown with weeds?

Let us meditate and pray about our own “prayer path”. But also let us remember to pray about Daniel’s “prayer path.” As you look at his schedule for the 38 days between Aug. 19 and Sept. 26 it appears that he has only 10 unscheduled days and some of these probably will be spent in traveling. This can create fertile ground for weeds in his “prayer path”.

Let us together put up our corporate prayer shield against the temptation to neglect prayer both for ourselves and Daniel.

Father in Heaven
This day we surround Daniel with our prayer shields and stand against the enemies of his prayer life; busyness, compulsions, compromise, unnecessary phone calls, fatigue, sleepiness, appetites, television, late and too many meetings, over-commitments and doubt.
Father, let nothing hinder Daniel’s time with you. Cause him rise up to seek You early. Draw him to praying without ceasing. Give him time, the desire and the place to pray. Strengthen his desire to regularly walk that “prayer path” so that no weeds can grow there.
In the name and authority of Jesus we rebuke and come against all distractions and enemies of Daniel’s prayer life. We bind all distractions to inaction and silence in the name of Jesus.
We thank you Father that your eyes are on Daniel and Your ears are attentive to his prayers. May your will be perfectly accomplished in his life.
Father we thank you for your grace and faithfulness in Daniel’s life.(Acts 6:2-4, Acts 5, Mt. 26:41, Mk. 1:35, 1 Thess. 5:17, Acts 16:16, 1 Pet. 3:12)

Read the "News and Prayer Requests"

Thank you for your prayers as we drove to Virginia in "phase one" of our physical transition. The truck full of my library, office items and all of Jordan's and Heather's earthly belongings--------------------read the rest of Daniel's letter under "News and Prayer Requests" at the right sidebar.

TAKE UP THE SWORD-----

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication for all the saints.

(Ephesians 6:17,18

As we use the shield of faith as a defense and protection we are to use the “sword of the Spirit”; not only as a defense but also in an offensive manner.

The Romans were masters at adapting and modifying sword design to overcome disadvantages in combat. Thus the Roman soldier had a number of swords at his disposal.

The Roman soldier used a long slender sword called “Spatha” when he
was mounted to give him extra reach.

They used the “Gladius” for combat in the mountainous regions
which required a shorter sword with superior slashing capabilites.

However the 20” Double-edged “short sword” of which there were 5

basic types , was the sword that is known as “the sword that conquered the World .

The bible distinguishes the Roman double-edged sword for its awesome powerfulness as a weapon by allegorically referencing to it when describing the power of the Word of God. (Heb, 4:12)

This sword was known for its Roman combat tactics when a Roman soldier simply stepped forward inside the enemy’s “guard” and quickly cut-and-thrust in any direction it was swung.

This tactic would be useless with a longer sword but was perfect against the enemy’s longer sword.
In Eph 6:17 the Word tells us that we are to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Our understanding of the “Sword of the Spirit” is, of course, the bible or God’s written word.

However we are not talking about one big sword—the bible itself. If we think in this term we limit and weaken our ability to fight effectively in spiritual warfare. Each particular relevant individual scripture is a sword unto itself and is very effective in battling Satan and temptation. So, think about it --- we don’t have one sword but thousands of swords.

Each verse in the bible, depending upon the situation, can be very powerful against the enemy’s assault and in stepping inside the enemy’s guard and quickly disarming and defeating him.

Roman swords varied greatly in their size, design and the techniques required to master their use. The same is true of our sword – the word of God—when we desire to use the best “Sword of the Spirit” for the battle.

So let us memorize and pray the word of God.
The double-edge of our sword is the word and prayer!!