A Positive Word on a Sad Day

This afternoon I was visiting my parents. I was talking with my father, a Godly man who moves in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He operates in the gift of word of Knowledge from time to time. He explained to me that he felt the Lord telling him yesterday that my sister would contact him (she lives out of town). The very next day, today, she did in fact call my parents out of the blue. My father is in tune with the Holy Spirit and this is just one of many examples. He hears very well from the Lord. For this reason, and many others, I take what he speaks to heart. As for dad, he is humble and gives God all the glory, for God deserves all of it!
Now, after telling me that story, he says that he wants to tell me what the Lord has impressed upon him in the last day or so. He said he has been praying for me and felt the Lord say that something good is coming my way. 

I told him "I receive it" and thanked him for relaying God's message to me. I needed to hear that. I am used to hearing a mix of positive and negative words from various sources. The negative ones I hand over to God because I can't carry them! But this word was very positive!

See, my dad did not know that today was the exact day of my divorce, 5 years ago. He knew I was divorced, but not the exact day. Nobody, not even I, was thinking of it. (Read my blog post on here called "Thankful Reflections" from Feb. 19, 2013, to learn my story.)  And after he spoke to me, I suddenly remembered that this is in fact the day my divorce was legal and final. Well over six years ago, my dad knew, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that something was about to happen to my marriage, just before the breakup actually happened. He was prepared when the news actually came to him. God revealed it to him to prepare him to pray. God knew I was going to need it. Again, I take the words of my dad to heart because he is in tune with the Lord.

October 15th has been a sad day these past 5 years. A day of loss and heartbreak and of a world crashing down.

Yet it birthed a new season, out of which was born healing, blessings, music, peace and ministry. Those things were gifts from the Lord that I gave to others out of my singleness. In that way, singleness has been a gift, and a ministry, just as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:7 and throughout the chapter.

Since that time, challenges and trials were there in work, ministry and home life, along with much blessing. And I was grateful. Ups and downs occurred. But I stayed on track and steadfast with the help of Jesus Christ my Lord. God has made improvements in my character and my habits and life. All glory is to Him! Also, I have not dated since the divorce, for reasons I only have partial understanding of. God knows my times and seasons and that is good enough for me.

Spring blossoms- Photograph by Curtis J. Alexander (c) 2008

So as sad as this day is, the Lord has given me a new and powerful word of hope that breathes life into a day like today. God is turning my day around, and making sadness into gladness. I don't know the specifics of the "good" that is coming, and neither does my dad. But I know God IS good, and He is willing and able to bring something good and fresh my way! It truly encouraged me to hear this word today, of all days. I know it was not a coincidence. And it inspires hope.

So I am writing this post now, to agree with the prophetic word given. I am ready for a positive change in my life, a miracle from the LORD. I am ready for something good to bud on these branches that have been thoroughly pruned.

-- Wed. Oct. 15, 2014 8:43PM EST

Man of God Prayer List

Man Of God Prayer List

I would like to invite you. If you are divorced, widowed, or single, and a Christian man, please contact me. I would like to add you to my prayer list. God spoke to me and told me to move beyond my self I must pray for other men. Why? Because I know what they are feeling. I understand the pain of divorce, abandonment, and sudden loss of marriage. I understand what it is to be in ministry and have a wife just give up and walk away. Being faithful is not always easy, but I was in the Grace of God. There are other men like this.

Now, I want to pour my heart and pain into the prayer bowls of heaven for the men God has placed on my heart. My list is up on my wall, and it will be right in the area where I am usually my weakest in the flesh. It will be a two-edged sword against temptation and satan.

Men of God, arise. Jesus has a powerful purpose for you, regardless of what people say or do to you. It does not matter what your status is, or your past. You are forgiven and pure in the blood and grace of Christ. You have a job to do for Christ. Be mighty! That is what He enables you to BE!

Women of God, your purpose is also secure in Christ, regardless of the hurts people have inflicted on you.

Know that I have nothing but compassion and understanding for you all. Faithfulness is sometimes met with abandonment and cheating sadly. Both sexes are both prone to sin. But no matter what, God rewards faithfulness! Be faithful to Christ and His Body. Be faithful to each other. God can forgive those who were unfaithful. Just come to Jesus in repentance and a pure heart.

My divorce will be 5 years old as of Oct. 15. I will resist the temptation to feel sorry for myself. Yes, dating has been non-existent for me. Not sure of all the reasons. But instead of worrying about it, I will arm myself with God's weapons of prayer and praise, in the power of the Holy Ghost and with a deep compassion and tears for the saints. So many faithful men, although not perfect, have been faithful as I was. But they experienced loss. Some are experiencing loss right now and are in the midst of the storm. So I will pray for them.

And bear in mind, this is a no-hold-barred prayer list. As I have experienced deep pruning, and removal of personal flaws, and shaping in my life as a man, so will you. If you ask to be on my list, expect God to shape His character in you, and expect Him to deal with hidden sin in your life. We all have to come to the light. Expect His comfort and healing and love and purpose to be made clear to you. We all have much more to do for Him. I am NOT at my destination and I still need prayer myself. I still have growing to do myself. Pray for me too, please! But thank the Lord He has shaped me more, and delivered me from a lot of my fleshly tendencies. All by Grace. I simply agreed with Him and came to the light.

My No-Holds-Barred Prayer list:
I will pray for men of God on my list. Some of the things I will pray:

- Power to serve God without distraction, and in holiness, by the power of the Holy Spirit, especially for the single, divorced and widowed men of God.
- Power to heal from past hurts/divorces/deaths
- Power to have self control over one's own body by the Spirit of God.
- Power to overcome hidden sins, such as pornography, eye lust, mind lust, or wrongful online chats etc.
- Poweful and Healing, Peace, and Comfort of the Holy Ghost.
- The power to meet a true woman of God and marry at the right time. This may not apply to you if you are single and do NOT desire a wife. I know men like that, but most men do desire marriage. Both paths are perfectly fine.
- Poweful Patience (AKA Cheerful endurance)!
- Powerful Joy (AKA  Calm delight).
- Power to find your identity ONLY in Christ Jesus.
- Power to heal marriages that are suffering right now.
- For separated married men to stay faithful to their wife, even if it ends in divorce (reconciliation is ideal, but it doesn't always happen.) You are not single until either you are legally divorced or a widower. Stay true til the end, whatever end it is! You are not free to date as a separated person, because you are still legally and spiritually bound by your marriage. (This is a very tough test, but by God's grace, I did honour my marriage til the end. I did not date anyone else. When I was separated, I just kept trying to call my wife to take her place beside me.) Now, if you fail, then don't panic! Repent, and let God correct your actions. He will forgive you! Dating is for legal singles only. I was not kidding when I said my prayers are "no holds barred"! We must wrestle the flesh into submission by the power of Christ!  
- For single Christian men to date the opposite sex wisely in Christ, and not be too hurried. And that there will be NO premarital sex or cohabitation (no "Chambering" -see Romans 13:13 in the KJV or Geneva Version). As a follower of Christ, we must honour God's standards. Sex and cohabitation are exclusively reserved by God, for a man and woman who are legally married, and have had the wedding certificate signed by witnesses.
- Power to trust all your unmet desires to Christ and let Him satisfy your soul like no one else can.
- Power to ASK God and BELIEVE God. He will still answer your prayers! The timing is up to Him, but He is faithful always. There is no shame in asking Him for what you desire! Your desires matter to God! Just be sure to honour HIS desires above your own.

And women of God, if you are reading this, perhaps it is time you expanded your vision to start a prayer list for women you relate to. Pray for them every day. Women also have many struggles and you may be just the right person to intercede for them.
 There is no doubt you probably already have such a list.

Men, if you have a prayer list, please add me!

Men in Christ: contact me privately at curtis.alexander@sympatico.ca if you want me to add you to my prayer list. You don't have to give all the details, if you don't wish to. Just tell me what your status is and that you are looking for prayer.

God bless you in Christ!  

Pastor Curtis
Thurs. Oct. 2, 2014, 2:18pm EST