Blog

How Will God Heal?

8/3/2021

This is a "creative writing" from Gary Fick, written at the July 2021 Singing Hills CFO.

When first I met you, Lord, you showed me that I would never die. In you, eternal life was mine. But in this body, my earthly days are numbered, and I now experience a wearing out that diligence and physical discipline might only delay. Though my real spiritual life is eternal, my natural life in this broken world will one day end. So, I ask, how should I respond to the wearing out that comes to me and to all I pray for. I know I should first pray and seek your guidance – my main question is this: Should I hold out for a divine, healing touch, or should I submit to the skill and wisdom of medicine and nutrition to treat and slow the inevitable deterioration? I already know that you work in many ways and your healing might come by miracle or by practical health care. You have showed me and I have seen both. I understand you would have me seek both. Do not let fear or ignorance delay my full reunion with you beyond the good days you have planned for me and for whom I pray. And I also know there is an ultimate healing in the transition we call death. In the fullness of your Kingdom, there is total healing and life for evermore.

Joy Walking by Ron Hendrix

10/5/2020

Dear CFO Family,
As we celebrate 90 years of CFO by participating in the CFO Joy Walk
2020, let’s remember that as we walk in joy, we do so because we walk
with Jesus. I was excited to begin this adventure for the month of October. I
had actually begun a walking journey seven months earlier when many of
us were forced to stay home due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. I began
originally walking to get some much needed exercise and to have a break
from all of the Zoom and Google Meets that I was having to be involved in,
ha.ha. But seriously, I began to use my walking time as a prayer time or as
a time to listen to some good Bible teaching or some good music to refresh
my soul.
More recently as I began walking in honor of CFO’s 90th Anniversary, I
couldn’t help but remember the song, “Walking With Jesus” that I have
sung several times either during rhythms or singing time at CFO camps.
The song was a great reminder that indeed Jesus was walking with me as I
walked around my neighborhood. I found myself being prompted by Jesus
to pray for family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. During these walks,
Jesus helped me to get my mind off of the discouraging circumstances of
the Pandemic and notice the beauty of the landscape around me.
Sometimes I would walk on a clear night and look up to see all of the stars
and be reminded that my God created all of those stars as well as the
galaxies I couldn’t see. His creation reminded me of how great our God is
and how He has our life in His hands.
Lately, I have pondered what it means to actually walk with God. I have
come to believe that God enjoys walking with his children. I believe we
were created to walk in fellowship with God. It’s God’s design. It’s God’s
plan. Several scriptures reveal that God walks and calls his people to walk
with him. For instance, “And they (Adam & Eve) heard the sound of the
Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8)
“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis
5:24). How wonderful is that? Enoch walked so closely with God that one
day he just didn’t come home. I guess that Enoch got so close with God as
they walked together that this world could no longer contain Enoch. Noah
also walked with God. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his
generation. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9).

More recently, the Holy Spirit highlighted a passage of scripture to me in
Luke 24 where two disciples were walking to the village of Emmaus. Luke
24:15 says, “As they talked and discussed these things (the events
surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus) with each other, Jesus himself came
up and walked along with them.” Jesus asked them what they were
talking about and they told him. Then Jesus began to unveil who he was as
revealed in the Old Testament. “And beginning with Moses and all the
Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures
concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). The two disciples urged Jesus to stay
with them as it became evening. Then Luke tells that “when he was at the
table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to
them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he
disappeared from their sight” (Luke 24:30-31).
I believe that Jesus will still do the same today as he walks with us along
life’s paths. As Jesus walks along the road with us, he reveals himself to us
through his word. As we fellowship with him through the breaking of bread,
he opens our eyes to behold the wonder of the risen Savior. May it be as
we walk with Jesus not only in this month but as we journey with him
throughout our life. May we always walk in his light and have fellowship
with one another (1 John 1:7). May we always walk by the Spirit and keep
in step with the Spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh
(Galatians 5:16). May we always be aware and responsive to his presence
as he walks with us. As we walk with Jesus, may our prayer always be,
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let there
be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
Ron Hendrix
October 4, 2020
Greenville, South Carolina
Shrinemont, CFO

ANYWAY by Mother Teresa

9/8/2020

ANYWAY
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
BE KIND ANYWAY
If you are honest, people may cheat you
BE HONEST ANYWAY
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful
friends and some genuine enemies.
SUCCEED ANYWAY
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
BE HONEST AND SINCERE ANYWAY
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight
CREATE ANYWAY
If you find serenity and happiness, some people
may be jealous.
BE HAPPY ANYWAY
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have and it will never be enough.
GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY
For you see, in the end; it is between you and God.
IT NEVER WAS BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY
---by Mother Teresa
(I will meet the worst in the world with the best in myself.)

Submitted by Carolyn Miller September 7, 2020

Quotes about Prayer

8/4/2020

On August 4, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship sponsored a Zoom meeting for faculty on prayer. The leaders were Dr. Kayon Murray-Johnson and Dr. Alice Brown Collins. They said some things for us to ponder.

"The real foundation of prayer is our intimacy with God and our choice to love our neighbor as we love ourself."

"In intercessory prayer, we really have to learn to be quiet."

"Be with people who actually pray."

"When called to pray about injustice and power, begin like Nehemiah with weeping." [Let your heart feel the situation.]

"We need each other. There is no way around it. ...and you are not alone."

Compiled by Gary W. Fick

Rejoice, Reset, Rebound and Respond

4/1/2020

United Prayer Tower 36-day Focus on Prayer and Meditation

Carolyn Miller, UPT Coordinator invites CFO, CFOI and other people
                 Choose your favorite or several Bible translations
Rejoice in The Lord:
12 days experience God’s Love and greatness!
1. 1st Thessalonians 5: 16-23                             7. Hebrews 13: 15-16
2. 1st Chronicles 16: 25-29                                 8. Ephesians 5: 19-21
3. Psalm 8: 1-2                                                      9. Psalm 147: 5-6; 10-11
4. Romans 15: 13                                                10. Philippians 4: 4-9
5. Isaiah 60: 1-3                                                   11. Lamentations 3: 22-24
6. Psalm 5: 11-12                                                 12. Proverbs 3: 5-8

Reset: 12 days of Scripture seeing how God uses people like you and me to accomplish His purposes for The Kingdom of God (may read additional verses)

Genesis 22: 1-2 & 22: 3-18 (Abraham) 7. Judges 6: 12,15-16; (Gideon)
Genesis 32: 22-30 (Jacob) 8. 1 Samuel 16: 1, 7-13 (Samuel)
Genesis 37: 23, 28 & 45: 4-8 (Joseph) 9. 1 Kings 19: 9-18 (Elijah)
Exodus: 2: 11-14 & 3: 1-12 (Moses) 10. Nehemiah 2: 4-5 & 6: 15-16
Joshua: 1: 3-9 & 6: 1-27 (Joshua) 11. Esther 4: 15-17 & 7: 1-8
Ruth: 1: 16-19 & 4: 15-22 (Ruth) 12. Matthew 1: 4,7,10 (Jesus)

Rebound & Respond: (12 days Father, Son, Holy Spirit beckoning you & me)

Matthew 11: 28-30 7. John 15: 1-2, 5-8
Matthew 28: 18-20 8. John 15: 15-17
John 6: 35-40 9. John 15: 26-27
John 3: 19-21 & 8: 12 10. John 17: 6-25
John 14: 6, 9-14 11. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5
John 11: 25, 34, 40-43 12. 2 Corinthians 12: 9

“For you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things, says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 4: 2-3

How to be Conduits of God's Love

2/18/2020

Carolyn Miller prepared a list of scriptures for the Zone 2 CFO Retreat this spring. They can help us all to be ready as God's CFO people.

Theme for Scriptures: “Becoming Conduits of God’s Love
Matthew 28: 18-20 (Jesus speaks) “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in The Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
John 15: 16-17 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name. This is my commandment: Love one another.”
Joshua 1: 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2nd Chronicles 16: 9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
Ephesians 2: 10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Zephaniah 3: 17 “The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His Love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
1st Peter 3: 15 “In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…”
1st Corinthians 13: 4-8a “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Psalm 118: 6-7 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me. He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.”
Isaiah 55: 11 (The Lord says) “My Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Colossians 3: 16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Jude verse 24-25 “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence with out fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!” Amen.

How Does God See You - by Matt Leach

2/7/2020

HOW DOES GOD SEE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU IN GOD’S EYES? THE ANSWER WILL ASTONISH YOU AND THRILL YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER THINK OF YOURSELF THE SAME AGAIN.

There is something you are going to have to deal with whether you like it or not. It has to do with the changes that came when you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Everything changed. Before you were far off, alienated. (Eph 2:13) That changed instantly. God could care less about all your protestations about how unworthy you are, or how bad a sinner you were and are, or how you don’t read your Bible or pray. He wants us to burst into His throne room and sit by His side. Why? What changed?

It all has to do with something Jesus said when he was praying as recorded in John 17:23. You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me. (Passion N.T.)

We naturally assume that Jesus is God’s favorite son. So He is. But so are you! That’s what Jesus said, they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me. That means that each one of us is God’s favorite son or daughter. What does it mean to be a favorite child?

It means:

You have immediate access to your father
Your father will stop whatever he is doing to give you his full attention
Your father delights in giving you what you desire
Your father lets you sit by him and watch him work
He loves having you butter him up

Little children who want something from their father will butter him up by telling him how wonderful he is, and he is the best daddy in the whole world, and how glad they are that he is their daddy. This usually is accompanied by kisses and hugs.

The father is going to give the child what he wants regardless of all the buttering up. Did you know God also likes it when we brag on how wonderful and mighty He is? It’s good for us, too. The more we concentrate on Who God is, His power, His might, it helps to strengthen our faith into knowing He is powerful enough, mighty and has the ability and will to give us whatever we ask.

From now on when you pray walk boldly into His throne room and announce: “Father, your favorite son/daughter is here. How are You doing? Is there anything I can do for You?” Then take time to love on Him, and glory in Who He is.

31 Day UPT Prayer Vigil for Events in India

9/10/2019

                 31 Day UPT Prayer Vigil (Sept. 10 through Oct. 10) for CFOI Events
                             Theme: Immanuel “God with us” (Matthew 1: 23)
             *CFOI Board Meeting +CFO Training @South Asia Regional Camp
(Scripture passages to deepen our walk with Jesus Christ) Whenever our personal relationship with Jesus
is strengthened, Holy Spirit will guide us into experiencing “Oneness with Him and each other”. May this
extra season of prayer bless you all.

Sept. 10 (Matthew 5: 3) Sept. 26 (John 17: 15-19)
Sept. 11 (Isaiah 12: 2-3) Sept. 27 (Matthew 5: 7)
Sept. 12 (John 10: 14-15) Sept. 28 (Micah 6:8)
Sept. 13 (Isaiah 40: 10-11) Sept. 29 (James 1: 2-5)
Sept. 14 (Matthew 5: 8) Sept. 30 (Matthew 5: 9)
Sept. 15 (Ezekiel 36: 26-27) Oct. 1 (Colossians 3: 15-17)
Sept. 16: (Matthew 5: 5) Oct. 2 (Psalm 19: 12-14)
Sept. 17: (Colossians 3: 1-3) Oct. 3 (Jeremiah 29: 11-14)
Sept. 18 (Matthew 5: 6)   Oct. 4 (Ephesians 3: 14-20)
Sept. 19 (John 6: 35)   Oct. 5 (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)
Sept. 20 (Matthew 6: 25-27) Oct. 6 (Zephaniah 3:17)
Sept. 21 (John 8: 12) Oct. 7 (Lamentations 22-25)
Sept.22 (Matthew 5: 14-16) Oct. 8 (Isaiah 40: 28-31)
Sept. 23 (John 15: 5) Oct. 9 (Philippians 4: 4-9)
Sept. 24 (John 15: 16-17) Oct. 10 (Jude…verse 24)
Sept. 25: (John 14: 26-27)

(Prayer Vigil by Carolyn Miller, UPT Coordinator)

Please Pray for: Travel Mercies for all; Blessings & Anointing on CFOI Board Meeting; Welcome to new CFOI Board Members; Gratitude for those rotating off; Leadership & attendees of Training & Regional Camp; Holy Spirit wind to be felt throughout India; Spirit of Unity & Harmony in S. Asia CFO Camps. Bless God !

Field of Dreams - meditation from Matt Leach

9/3/2019

In the story, Field of Dreams, a farmer hears a voice telling him to build a baseball diamond in his corn field. “If you build it, he will come,” the voice tells him. Everyone around him, the common-sense people, kept making fun of him, and doing everything they could to discourage him from building the baseball diamond. In spite of the opposition he builds the diamond and famous baseball players of yesteryear, come back to life, walk out of the corn fields and play on the farmer’s diamond.

There is a lesson in this for every CFO camp. To paraphrase the testimonies of many people, “CFO is to step out of this troublesome world and into the Kingdom of God. It is to spend a few days with people who genuinely love and care about each other as they together seek to emulate God’s love and care for them.”

How does this relate to the Field of Dreams? As Council Rings, we get bent all out of shape as we wrestle with finances and numbers and who will make good leaders. God would tell us that finances and numbers is not what it is all about. Nor is finding popular leaders who will draw a large following.

What CFO is about is The Kingdom of God. If we will deliberately take time and focus our efforts on prayer and praying in the Kingdom the people will come. Let God worry about finances and leadership and numbers – that’s His role. Ours is to concentrate solely on praying in the Kingdom of God. God is telling us that if we will do this He will do the rest, and as in the Field of Dreams, as we “build the Kingdom in our camps,” the people will come – the people will come.

The power lies with the Council Ring. In order for a camp to be a place where we step into the Kingdom of God the Council Ring must first be a place where we step into the Kingdom of God. This can only happen if the Council Ring is first and foremost a prayer group where God is celebrated and glorified. The Council Ring must strive to make the tone and atmosphere of each meeting a place where “They will know we are Christians by our love.” When this is achieved each Council Ring member will anticipate joyfully the next meeting, and each meeting will be a mini CFO, stepping once again into the Kingdom of God. This requires that we learn to trust God, depend on His guidance. We want His guidance, not everyone’s opinion or long discussions. Prayer is always the key. A powerful camp begins with a Council Ring that prays it into being, practicing in its meetings what it means to be in the Kingdom of God.

A quote from Tim Keller on prayer

8/30/2019

' To come to the Father in Jesus' name, not our own, is to come fully cognizant that we are being heard because of the costly grace in which we stand. This is the one principle of prayer that makes it possible to be heard by God even though no one can follow all the other guidelines and "rules" as we should.'
..."While it is not at all improper to address the Son or the Spirit, ordinarily prayer will be addressed to the Father with gratitude to the Son and dependence on the Spirit."

Source: p. 125-126 in Prayer Tim Keller, 2014, Penguin Books, New York, NY

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