[this is a repost of a prayer I wrote back in 2007.]

Precious Jesus,
Help me to matter.

Save me from a life of complacency,
Days filled with apathy,
Concern without empathy.

Let me not wander passionless,
Aimless, frivolous, unambitious;
But keep me driven
To the point where I appear obsessed.

Stir up my pathetic, comfortable state.
Shake away my carefree, unintentional lifestyle.
Invade my casual life and make me dread the norm.

Let me live in such a way as to make You proud,
Yet others uncomfortable.

Let me breathe not for selfish consumption,
But to obtain momentary strength to work for You.

Let me wonder not the moments left,
But dread the moments missed,
The chances lost,
The opportunities devoured by selfishness.

Let the beating of my heart
Remind me of the shortness of this life,
And please help me live.

Do not let me tarry over when I will be gone,
But wipe me away now.
Destroy any thought of self.
Murder any notion of personal gain.
Pummel my kingdom
To use it as a tiny, insignificant speck in the building of Yours.

It’s my birthday.  So blessed today.  A little bit older and so much more blessed.  29 reasons to be thankful today:

1. Jesus Christ doesn’t want to be a part of my life, he IS my life (Col 3:4).
2. I have the most loving and consistent wife a man could ever ask for.
3. Obadiah continues to amaze me with his energy, humor, and zeal for life.
4. Eli is finally home, and I am so proud to be his father.
5. Our entire extended family is so supportive of this Agnew clan.
6. We have a budget workday all day in the office today (“in everything, give thanks”).
7. Our worship team is getting ridiculously better and better.
8. The “Overcome” album is bringing me to tears with such sonic goodness and spiritual truth.
9. Working on a plan to impact this community with the CD release.
10. I got a role in the movie “Courageous.”  Will explain soon.
11. Nagoya for lunch.
12. OG got a temp job.  So proud of him!
13. Website almost ready to launch.
14. I bought an old set of golf clubs and am ready to wack something.
15. God has proved himself so faithful to our family this year.
16. God has proved to challenge our family this year.
17. My C-Group is getting what it means to be the church.
18. The Word of God is living and active.
19. I have some of the most serious accountability in my life (mentor, accountability partner, C-Group).
20. I enjoy my wife now more than ever.
21. My boys ran into my room to sing happy birthday to me this morning.
22. My boys cried when I left to go to work today.
23. I work on a staff with no drama.  Kingdom commitment.
24. I don’t go to church, I am a part of an amazing church.
25. I got done with school in this last year.
26. Oneness. Unity. Family.
27. Shocked at how “Coming Home” has blessed people.
28. Just received a random message from someone I don’t know who said Freshman 15 changed their life.
29. Jesus isn’t through with me yet (Phil 1:6).

Sunday, we had a time when people could come down to the front in our services and fill out a card that said, “God, if only You could…” and they were to fill in the prayer request.

This morning, our staff started going through the huge stack of prayer requests.  When I got the stack from the stage, the one on top floored me.  It was from a child.  We had many children put down requests that day.  I didn’t show the picture of the whole card so no one could try to figure out who it was, but I will share what was on that card:

“God, if only You could change Daddy’s wase. And mack him a better person. and becom a better cerichen.”

3 things to walk away with today:

1. Pray for this family. Pray that this child is hopeful today and the Holy Spirit brings this father to his knees with conviction.  Please pray for this family!
2. Fathers step it up. Your children are watching and they so desperately need their dads to step it up and be the men of God they were called to be.  Live in a manner worthy of your calling!
3. Wake up churches. These needs are present around you.  Let’s not get so caught up in programs and events that we forget that needs are real and people need a touch from Jesus today.

Worship moment for the day.  Let’s put some things into perspective.  Check out these pictures below:

The Grand Canyon of in Arizona is a chasm 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide.  Below Yavapai point is 2,400 feet above sea level, about 4,500 feet below the South Rim and 5,400 feet below the North Rim for an average depth of about one mile.  Formed by the Colorado River over many years.

Niagara Falls on the US/Canada border.  Falls stretch for 1060 feet, they are 176 feet high, and pump out 150,000 US gallons per second.

The Great Barrier Reef (off the coast of NE Australia) is the largest coral reef in the world. It is over 1,257 miles (2000 km) long.

To list a few numbers relating to Great Barrier Reef animals, the whole reef system supports over 1500 different species of fish, over 4000 different species of mollusc and shellfish, such as clams, crabs and lobster, more than 350 species of hard and soft coral and nearly 200 species of seabird!  Add to that list nearly 30 different species of marine animals, such as whale and dolphin, marine turtles and also animals such as octopus, sea snakes, jellyfish, starfish, sea sponge, sea cucumber and even saltwater crocodiles and it’s easy to see why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse animal kingdoms in the world!

Pretty amazing, huh?  What’s more amazing is how God sees those things that mesmerize us.

“Who is like the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?” -Psalm 113:5-6

Did you catch that?  God has to humble Himself to behold the majesty of the Grand Canyon, the power of Niagara Falls, and the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.  The things that blow us away, God has to humble Himself to be in their presence.

No majesty or beauty on this earth can compare to our great God.  Feel very, very small today, and see God as really, really big.  Remember who we are and definitely remember who He is.  When we worship God, don’t come to Him like He is our equal.  He is our friend and Advocate, but He is also the majestic God who is incomparable.  When you encounter Him, show Him the awe that He deserves.

Poll: what Bible verse changed your world lately?  Share the love!  On your mark, get set, go!