Dear Friend,
 The Holy Spirit woke me last Friday with Acts 9, the story of Saul's
conversion. As He opened the scriptures, I was struck by new things in
this familiar story. Among them a principle the Lord has been driving
home to me lately -- that God-given promises and visions require prayer.
Even when we respond in faith, confessing, believing, expecting God to
act - prayer is still vital.
As we pray in concert today, I feel led to share these encouraging
insights about prayer from Acts chapter nine. The story of Saul of
Tarsus (later called Paul) actually reveals a lot about the mind of God
concerning prayer.
1. It shows how God views prayer
As Saul neared Damascus, Jesus' appearance knocked him to the ground. Saul heard a voice saying,
4"...Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
The men traveling with Saul led him by the hand into Damascus where
for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. In
Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias.
The Lord told him,"11Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.
Verse 11 is very enlightening in the King James version:
"Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth" (emphasis added).
God seems to be speaking of prayer in terms of wonder: "Behold, he prayeth." In The Path of Prayer, Samuel Chadwick writes,
The language there is that of humanity, but it is the
only speech man knows, and however inadequate it may be it stands for
corresponding reality in God. Can God wonder? Can there be in Him
elements of surprise and amazement? Can it be that there are things
that to God are wonderful? That is how God speaks, and to Him there is
nothing more gloriously wonderful than prayer. It would seem as if the
biggest thing in God's universe is a man who prays. There is only one
thing more amazing, and that is -- that man, knowing this, should not pray. Behold! In
that word there is wonder, rapture, exultation. In the estimate of God
prayer is more wonderful than all the wonders of the heavens, more
glorious than all the mysteries of the earth, more mighty than all the
forces of creation.[1]
God sees payer as a sign of all...
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 To the Point
Quotes on Prayer
"Prayer is
reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and
temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are
ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the
kingdom of God."
- Andrew Murray
"We are not built for ourselves, but for God. Not for service for God, but for God."
- Oswald Chambers
"Do not we rest in our day too much on
the arm of flesh? Cannot the same wonders be done now as of old? Do not the
eyes of the Lord still run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show
Himself strong on behalf of those who put their trust in Him? Oh, that God
would give me more practical faith in Him! Where is now the Lord God of Elijah?
He is waiting for Elijah to call on Him."
- James Gilmour
"We must take time to become filled with
His power; we must take time to be holy. Let us put our desires into one
heart-felt petition for a baptism of the Holy Ghost, and not cease to present
it until we have prevailed. So Elijah prayed; he threw himself on the ground,
resolved not to rise again till his request was granted. So Jacob WRESTLED with
the angel. So Daniel set his face unto the Lord his God. So the disciples
continued with one accord in prayer and supplication! - Griffith John
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 Passionate Pursuit
A Joyful Journey to
More of Christ
Ladies, join us every first Thursday
of the month.
Come
and enjoy coffee and dessert, uplifting music and a transforming
message as Natalie Nichols, founder of Shades of Grace Ministries, shares an encouraging word for
your present need.
Join us as Natalie leads us on a Passionate Pursuit to know Jesus and the power of God's Word more intimately each day.
Mark Your Calendars Now!
November 5 - 6:30 p.m.
 Vein of Silver with Sandra Nichols.
With effortless humor and and engaging candor,
Sandra shares nuggets of godly wisdom gleaned from
the mine of hard times. Sandra's segment will fill you
with joy, laughter and the calm assurance that God is in
control.
 Nothing Less with Natalie Nichols. We were created to know Jesus intimately, to live by
His life andd be satisfied with nothing less! There is no
other joy on this earth but Jesus Christ. How sad, sick
and cheated an existence to accept pitiful substitutes,
mirages of happiness. Through these stirring
messages, the Holy Spirit will inspire you to make one
simple determination that will transform your life:"No
matter the cost, I will pursue Christ passionately and I
will be satisfied with nothing less!"
 Moment in Concert
Throughout the Bible
and the history of the
great revivals,
concerts of prayer
have
preceded a life-changing, revolutionary
descent of God
upon the soul of man,
the
heart of the church and the life of the
community.
In this new segment, we bring
our
instruments of prayer together for a
moment in concert.
Hotel Fredonia
200 N. Fredonia
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
Admission: No Charge
December 3 - 6:30 p.m.
Location: TBD
Invite Your Friends!
Forward this email to a friend as their invitation.
RSVP online or by phone at 936.569.8741.
RSVP required for dessert. RSVP deadline: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
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 Discover Natalie Nichols and
Shades of Grace Ministries In the midst of severe illness caused by undiagnosed Lyme Disease, Natalie Nichols came to rely on God's Word to comfort and sustain her. Now through Shades of Grace Ministries, she shares how you and your loved ones can experience God's comfort and grace through life's trials.
Our Mission
The core mission of Shades of Grace Ministries is to lead others to seek and apply the Word of God in every circumstance of life.
Our Vision
Shades of Grace Ministries desires to see a world where every Christian walks by faith and stands upon God's promises as found in His Word.
 Watch Natalie's Journey
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In This Issue
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Thursday, November 5
6:30 p.m.
Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center
200 N. Fredonia
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
Invite Your Friends!
Admission: No Charge
RSVP online or by phone at 936.569.8741
RSVP required for dessert. RSVP by Tuesday, November 3rd, 6:30 p.m. _____________
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Shades of Grace now on YouTube!
Click here to visit our channel
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to visit the
Passionate
Pursuit page
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visit Natalie
Nichols on Facebook.
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Click here to follow Natalie on twitter.
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