FRIDAY, July 25th, 2008

Well Hello! I am just so pumped about the enthusiasm floating through the air for the wilds!! If anyone else wants to come, please call me today! We can get you in if you call today! I love the exciting little community that you all oare forming on this devotional blog. I am probably going to have to set up some ground rules, LIKE NO NAME CALLING CARY... and maybe a few other things! But I am so thankful for the way you all are getting in the word of God faithfully!

A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Kacey: Yes, we should use the gift of prayer, I am so glad that we are getting passionate about it. I know that this will help me in my daily prayer life!
Blondie: I am so glad that you are on too!!!! Don't worry, I will not let your brother bully you around on here!! By the way... Brucified!!! Ha! That was funny!!!
Phil: Yes it is a little deep, but don't worry we will do something easier when we finish this book!! I think we will go through the book of Jonah! :)
Bethany: You were so excited that you spelled your name wrong... I think... is it bethany? or bethnay?
Cary: you call my friends losers, and I will dog pile you with 40 people when we get to camp!!!Bree: I am so glad that you are on here too! Great Job by the way! See you Sunday!
Michael: I am so glad you ar edoing these, you really come up with some good stuff... you were exactly right. He definitely chose to put us before Himself! By the way: Good job Capitalizing "Jesus"!! :)
Tricia: Where is AMY these days?? Tell her to be faithful!!!! Thanks!
Lucy: Did you read what I explained about the passage? That usually helps out!
Rachel: I agree with you, this should help my prayer life as well!!
Kervin: Sir, explain one thing: If the week that you were born was the best week of your life... then tell me everything you remember about it?? AND WHAT! SON! :) See you at the Wilds!!!
Mallory: We miss you!! Hurry back so we can leave again!!!!
Jessica B: Have your friend do them as well! :)

John 17:20-26 (Jesus Praying for the Believers)

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

These 7 verses give us a wonderful picture of How much Christ loves us. Let's start at the top: Jeuss has been praying for the disciples, so He starts out this passage saying: "I do not pray for these alone (speaking of the disciples), but also for those who will believe in me through "their word" This could be refering to two different "words". Either the personal witness of those disciples, because they shared the truth of Christ by mouth, or the inspired word of God that was written down by some of these men.Either way, it is clear: God is praying for the people who would later believe in Him.

By the way... THAT IS US!!!

What does Jesus pray pray for us?
In verse 21 we see Christ ask that we will be unified. This reminds me of what Christ explained just a few minutes before the prayer when He explains the vine and the branches and how they must be joined as one to bear fruit. Christ prayed to God the father on our behalf so that we would be unified. God wants us to be "one" with Him. We are supposed to be connected to God daily to bear fruit!

In verse 22 Jesus tells God that He has given us some of His Glory! Wow! We are so undeserving!

Verse 23: Why does Jesus Pray this for us?? That the world may know who He is and that He loves us!!

Then verse 24 is so great! Get this: Jesus literally asks God if we can be with Him. How wonderful is that. I don't know about you, but I like to be with the people I love, and I don't usually beg for permission to have people over that I don't like.

Jesus is asking God the father if believers can be With Him!!! I guarantee you this... If you have accepted Christ, then one day, you will be with Him! For Eternity!

Finally, we have a righteous father, but the world does not know Him, we must live a life that shows the world how great and how loving our heavenly father is!

Dont forget to add your prayer requests! http://www.praywithsuncoastyouth.blogspot.com/