Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
8/13/2021
Storm Teams Needed – Pastor Dale and Mom Update!
I sit here convoluted in my spirit and flesh as I try and navigate some major health issues that are lingering in my intercessory prayer closet. But despite the looming battle for Pastor Dale Brooks and my mom Adele, I will not be moved by what I see, or hear, or think these days. The natural plays some hardball at times and we must choose what team we are on. I am reaching out to my team right now. I played many sports in my younger years and I still hear the voice of my coach… “play as a team”…stand together as a team”…” don’t worry, I’ve got your back!”
So here we are today… “A band of brothers/believers” bound in purpose, reborn in spirit, called by a holy God, and equipped with the power of the
Holy Spirit. Whom shall I fear?
Pastor Dale Brooks was at Moffitt Cancer yesterday for his first Chemo infusion. He started a heavy pill called Revlimid on Monday they say is harder to bear than the Chemo. Mantle Cell Lymphoma is a serious and deadly strain of Lymphoma and as strong as Pastor Dale and Mama Kaye are in their faith they are in a battle for life and you by adoption are part of that team! But more than that you are part of God’s intercessory prayer team.
My almost 96-year old Mom, Adele was admitted Wednesday night back to the Hospital for Pneumonia. She has been fighting this covid pneumonia since late May. We don’t believe it has gone away. Still! This is her fifth hospital visit since then and she is on a CPAP machine. She is frightened but strong in her faith. They have isolated her which makes bearing this even harder as she sits alone without family around her to encourage her. Mom is one step below ICU and fighting for her life!
Jesus was very clear. If you want to succeed against the powers of darkness, we must be UNITED and work together in prayer. When hurricanes hit our state they call out the “Storm Team”. In the supernatural battle, we are in, that’s you and that’s me. But too many of us stand alone when the storms come our way. Why is that? Why are we not more connected and have stronger relationships with other Christians who can understand and pray with us? Why do we do this when together we CAN do something about it. We’re a Team! We play together and we need to fight together! The problem is we don’t have enough Christian friends to stand with. (We can solve that problem…together.)
One of the greatest weapons God has given each of us is the ability to fight together as a holy people. Locking arms in intercessory prayer. We are not just looking out for ourselves and our needs,
but we are also looking out for each other.
It was different in the New Testament days. In Eph 3:14-16, Paul says, “For this reason, I kneel before the Father, and I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” Are you listening? There are certain things God only does in answer to prayer and Paul knew how effective that was. Martin Luther said, that God does almost nothing except in answer to prayer. So if we neglect to pray for one another, we will forfeit the blessings God has waiting for his people.
But the second truth in this passage is Paul knew through prayer, God would strengthen the people with power from the Holy Spirit. Grace Family Church is built on relationship and fellowship and is grounded in the supernatural by the third person of the Godhead.
Look this isn’t just about praying for Pastor and my Mom. Think of the people we love and worry about but rarely pray for. Others, we complain about or criticize, but sadly, rarely take time to lift them to God.
So, my cry today is to all our Courageous Men who will start our next season at Grace Land O Lakes on August 23, Monday at 7 pm. There are many others who have become part of this devotional ministry over the last two years, and I pray each of you will pray for Pastor and Mom but also for your family. Pray for this next gathering of 50 to 75 men who will come together in fellowship and unity to stand strong for each other. We men need other men. We need to be inviting our friends and neighbors. We need accountability. We need fellowship and Christian friends who are different than drinking buddies.
May I ask for one final request? Send me your prayer requests and I would like to start including a list each week of those in need of prayer. I would also like to post your praise reports. Let me be the first to add Pastor Brian Todd and his family who are recovering from Covid. Pastor Brian is new to the LOL campus and will be heading up our Courageous Men’s group.
Graves Into Gardens (Lyrics) – Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTvv-9zosPs
