Prayer Post: July 2013

In case you haven't made this discovery yet - news flash - prayer to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is powerful.  He commands us to pray and is literally sitting on the edge of His seat in Heaven waiting for us to ask and seek and knock.  So take advantage of this AWESOME GIFT.  Pray for the needs you have in your life and EXPECT the Lord to answer!

Below are our specific requests for this month::

• Staff/Leadership of FamilyLife: Please pray with the leadership and staff that we would be united in God’s vision moving forward to build Godly marriages and families across the U.S. and around the world. 
• Summer Travel: Pray for the Solbergs and many of the staff as they travel to Staff Conference in Colorado and to other places to connect with their Ministry Partners. 
• New Drivers: Our oldest, Josh, now has his driver’s license and Sarah will be getting her permit this Summer. Pray for God’s protection and for wise/patient driving. 
• First Love: We would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ as we actively pursue our relationship with Him —and that after Him, our priorities would be Marriage 2nd, Family 3rd, and Ministry activities after that.

 Thanks for praying for our family and our specific needs!!

June Prayer Post -- thanks for Praying for us!

Can you believe it is June already!  Almost half the year gone.  Some say the older you get the faster it goes...not sure if that is right or not but some days and weeks it sure SEEMS to go fast.

In any case, THANK you for praying for our needs this month - now, when you read them, and any time God brings us to your memory!! 

• Final Red River Getaways:  Please pray with us for these WTR Getaways:   Austin June 7-9, Houston-Sugar Land June 28-30.  For transformed lives and changed legacies!!
• Training:  Continued prayers for Glen  as he trains Volunteer Leaders in the Region with the Zoho tool.
• FamilyLife Leadership:  Great and Godly wisdom for our leadership—that the Lord alone would be leading  them.
• Solberg Family:  Since school is officially out for the summer, that we could have some fun together this summer and enjoy our three teens as they mature and grow!
• First Love:  We would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ as we actively pursue our relationship with Him —and that after Him, our priorities would be Marriage 2nd, Family 3rd, and Ministry activities after that.

Prayer Post: May 2013

Prayer.  Everyone has heard the word and most people have some idea of what prayer is.  But here is the question I have been asking myself:  "Do I REALLY BELIEVE prayer is powerful and that God hears me OR do I really just pay lip service to prayer and pray but not really believe God is working through those prayers?"

Whatever your answer is to that question, I think it is good to examine, not only what we believe about prayer, but how that affects or does not affect HOW we pray and our EXPECTATION of God's response to those prayers.

Thanks for praying for our requests this month!  It is a GREAT COMFORT to know others are interceding on our behalf with the Lord God - the One True God!!

• Final Red River Getaways:  Please pray with us for these WTR Getaways:   Austin June 7-9, Houston-Sugar Land June 28-30.  For transformed lives and changed legacies!!
• Leadership for the Little Rock Volunteer Team:  God would bring a couple to lead the team and 3-4 additional couples—to transform more lives all over Arkansas!
• Training:  Glen’s part in new training rolling out in May!
• Solberg Parents:  For great, Godly wisdom for Glen and Shawn as we guide and pray for our teens through these wonderful and challenging teen years!
• First Love:  We would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ as we actively pursue our relationship with Him —and that after Him, our priorities would be Marriage 2nd, Family 3rd, and Ministry activities after that.

Prayer Post: April 2013

Each month we love to post our Prayer Requests....because we know that gives folks like you who read our blog a chance to pray for us!  So thanks for praying!

Below are our requests for April 2013:

• April-June Red River Getaways: Please pray with us for these WTR Getaways: Kansas City Apr. 19-21, Little Rock May 3-5, Austin June 7-9, Houston-Sugar Land June 28-30. For full ballrooms and transformed lives!!
• Little Rock Volunteer Team: That God would be stirring the hearts of couples here in Little Rock to join the 3 couples who currently form the LR Team!
• Solberg Family: For Glen and Shawn to have “ears to hear” the Lord speaking related to the way we homeschool our kids this year and the years to follow.
• First Love: We would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ as we actively pursue our relationship with Him —and that after Him, our priorities would be Marriage 2nd, Family 3rd, and Ministry activities after that.

Prayer Post for February 2013

  

February is here and Shawn and I wanted to post our prayer requests for this month to give folks a chance to pray.  We VITALLY NEED those prayers as we believe God works powerfully through them.  So THANK YOU for praying!

 

Red River Getaways in March: Please pray with us for Weekend to Remember Events: Wichita KS — 3-1-3, Tulsa OK — 3/8-10, Branson & Rockwall (DFW) 3/15-17. For full ballrooms and transformed lives!!

New Red River Teammates: For 2 new couples to complete their support raising and join our RR Team AND for God to call 4-5 new couples to join us in 2013!

Solberg Family: That we would DAILY be reading the Word of God and applying it to our lives.

Wisdom: God to grant us His Wisdom in every decision.

First Love: We would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ (Rev. 2) as we actively pursue our relationship with Him —and that after Him, our priorities would be Marriage 2nd, Family 3rd, and Ministry activities after that.

Prayer Post for December & MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!  From our family to yours, we hope this special time of year will remind you of the Greatest Gift Every Given - JESUS!!  Without Him, we would have nothing to celebrate this time of year and no hope for the future!

As we do each month, we want to share with you our prayer requests for the month.  In addition, we are sharing some PRAISES from last month - so thankful for those who prayed!  God hears and responds to prayer, so THANKS for praying!

PRAISE:  Great Family Trip: Our family of 5 had a great time at the South Padre Getaway and seeing some Texas friends on the way there and the way home!
PRAISE:  20th Anniversary: God’s wonderful grace that allowed Glen and Shawn to celebrate their 20th in early December —had a great 3 day “holiday” in Hot Springs!!
REQUEST:  Red River Region Staff Team: Please pray for Mark and Michelle Ellis, Glen and Brandi Fagerstrom, Micah and Johanna Gelatt, Bob and Lana Richardson, and Glen and Shawn Solberg! For ALL of us to ABIDE in Him DAILY and for us to work together to build His Kingdom!! 
REQUEST:  God’s Provision: That we would DAILY thank God for His generous provision for us—He has promised to meet all our needs when we seek Him first—but He is also gracious to give us some of our “wants” as well! 
REQUEST:  First Love Focus: That we would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ (Rev. 2) as we actively pursue our relationship with the Lord—and that after Him, our priorities would truly be Marriage second, Family third, and Ministry activities after that.

Prayer Post: Prayer Requests for November

We are FIRM BELIEVERS in the power of prayer to Almighty God!  God changes things through prayer - sometimes our circumstance, sometimes us, and sometimes both!

We appreciate those that pray for us.  We desperately need those prayers both personally AND as we serve at FamilyLife.

Here are our requests for November - thanks for praying:

• Red River Region Getaways: For God to be supernaturally working in the three remaining Weekend to Remember Getaways this Fall — two Getaways in San Antonio and one on South Padre Island.
• Travel Safety and Fun: Our family will be traveling to the South Padre Island Getaway making a few stops in Texas on the way there and back. Thanks for praying!
• Godly Wisdom: For His Wisdom in guiding decisions for us as parents—that we would have “ears to hear Him!”
• First Love Focus: That we would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ (Rev. 2) as we actively pursue our relationship with the Lord—and that after Him, our priorities would truly be Marriage second, Family third, and Ministry activities after that. 

Prayer Post for October -- Thanks for Praying!

October is here and Shawn and I want to share with your our prayer requests for this month!  We believe prayer is one of the most important things a Christ-follower can do.  It is our chance to bring our praises and requests before the Lord and wait in expectation for what He will do!  Thanks for praying! 

• Red River Region Getaways: For God to be working in Oklahoma City and Dallas for the Weekend to Remember Getaways this month. Please also be praying for Memphis, South Padre, and San Antonio (2) in November. 
• Godly Wisdom: For His Wisdom in guiding decisions for us as parents—that we would have “ears to hear Him!” 
• Gods Rest and Peace: That in the midst of the “busyness” of life, we can daily experience God’s supernatural rest and peace. 
• First Love Focus: That we would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ (Rev. 2) as we actively pursue our relationship with the Lord—and that after Him, our priorities would truly be Marriage second, Family third, and Ministry activities after that.

Prayer Post for September -- Thanks for Praying!

Prayer is Powerful!  But not just any prayer -- prayer to the One True God!  The Lord --- He is God.  He and no other!

Once a month of so, Shawn and I want to share prayer requests for folks who read our blog.  So THANK YOU in advance for praying specifically for these needs!  We know the Lord works in great and small ways through prayer and we appreciate you "making the time" to pray for us!

God bless you this day!

• Red River Region Summit: For God to be working as Shawn and I meet with many of our key volunteers near Dallas (Sept 21-23) to equip them to more effectively reach out to strengthen marriages in their communities.
• Fiscal Year 2013: For our Leadership Team and Board of Directors—that the Lord ALONE would be guiding them as they “steer” FamilyLife into a new fiscal year.
• Godly Wisdom: For His Wisdom in guiding decisions for us as parents—that we would have “ears to hear Him!”
• First Love Focus: That we would never lose our “first love” for Jesus Christ (Rev. 2) as we actively pursue our relationship with the Lord—and that after Him, our priorities would truly be Marriage second, Family third, and Ministry activities after that.

UPDATE: Praying for Glen and Shawn

Wanted to give y'all a quick update - those who are praying for Shawn and I this week as we are part of a Bible Class at FamilyLife called "Defending and Dialoguing the Gospel".


The class has been incredible!  The things we have been learning should really drastically change the way she and I approach folks to have "spiritual conversations" with them.  A couple of the "foundations of the class":

Everyone is on a Spiritual Journey - we are made in the image of God.  God's Word says God has put "eternity in our hearts".  Some folks know they are on a Spiritual journey and others are unaware but we are all on that journey.  Our role, as followers of Christ, is to help folks move to the next level in the spiritual walk - whether they are a "not-yet" follower of Christ are already a follower of Christ.

God is working already - God is already working the lives of many, many folks we will encounter on a daily basis.  We will see evidence of this as we care enough about others to begin conversations with them and genuinely care for them.  As we we evidence of God working, we should be encouraged to cooperate with God in moving that person one step closer to the Cross or to help them grow as a follower of Christ!

Please keep praying.  Pray we will be able to put into practice the things we have been learning - and that it will become part of "who we are" - not just something "we do".  Pray also we both will be able to complete all our class assignments by the deadline of June 9th.  Thanks for praying!

Pray for Shawn and Glen - Week of May 21st

We ask for your prayers for Glen and Shawn starting on Monday, May 21st through Friday, May 25th.  We will be taking an Bible Class at FamilyLife called "Defending and Dialoguing the Gospel".  We are both looking forward to doing this class.  It will be the first class we have been able to do TOGETHER as FamilyLife staff.  


We ask for your prayer for two primary reasons: (1) we know the last thing Satan wants is for us to learn more about evangelism and how to do it in a post-Christian nation - so there will be much spiritual warfare underway, and (2) because we want to get everything the Lord has for us out of this class - both the head knowledge and, more importantly, the transformation He will begin in both of us through this class!


Thanks for your prayers for us.  Will try to give an update on our blog in a week or so!!

More Prayer: Devastating Flooding in Arkansas!

I heard about it on the news...even saw pictures as well. But nothing could really prepare me for seeing it in person last Friday. It was devastating to see in person.

I am talking about the flooding in Arkansas. Last week we had severe storms followed by about 12-14 inches of rain over a few days. This has caused the White River and several other rives in Arkansas to overflow their banks in historic proportions. In Eastern Arkansas, the Mississippi is also causing widespread damage as many of you may have seen on the National News.

I had to drive to West Memphis, Arkansas last Friday and got to see lots of the flooding as I drove (see pictures below). It was devastating to see home after home after home flooded...and field after field after field flooded as well. Especially knowing that many of these folks are farmers and will not likely be able to get their crops in any time soon.

As you take a look at the pictures below, don't just look but become a "participant"! By that I mean, as you are looking, take time to pray. Pray for those affected by the flooding. Pray for the Body of Christ to come in and help in a way that makes Christianity attractive to those who do not know the Savior. Pray that God will work miracles and do supernatural things that ONLY He can get credit for - that He would indeed be glorified (His Name made famous) in all that is happening!

Prayer Request: Keeping People and Relationships First

The older I get, the more I appreciate the "people" and "relationships" that God has brought into my life. Things and stuff will always be around....and will need to be attended to. But God is continally reminding me that I need to keep relationships FIRST - my relationship with the Lord, my relationship with my wife, my relationship with my kids, and everyone else after that.

I am naturally a more "task-oriented" person. I always have my "to do" list and want to be sure I am getting the things done that I am responsible for. The problem with a "to do"" list is that it never ends. There will always be more to do.

But the "to do" list itself is not the problem....it is making sure that the BIG ROCKS of life, people and relationshops, are ON the to do list. It is a continual process of making sure the urgent things of life DO NOT crowd out the important things. That balance is what I need to wrestle with. That balance is something I need God's wisdom to maintain. As I abide in Him, He will show me what that balance looks like day-by-day and hour-by-hour.

So thanks for taking a moment to pray for our family and for me specifically as the husband and father: That as I abide in the Lord God that He will give me the wisdom I need to keep my relationships, with Him and others, FIRST! And when I am out of balance, that God will use people, cirucumstances, and whatever else He needs to "wake me up" so I can repent and get going in the right direction again.

Thanks so much for your prayers for us. God bless you!!

Revival: Could this be the start?

REVIVAL: That is a word I have heard almost since the day I became a follower of Christ at age 30. But what does "Revival" really mean? What does that look like in the US in 2011?

I don't have all the answers to those questions, but I do know one thing: The Lord is doing something supernatural in Little Rock, Arkansas! Yes, I said Little Rock! And many of the folks at the Summit Church (where we attend) and other churches in Central Arkansas are praying that what we have been seeing for the last week is the "ignition point" for an awakening that will sweep across Central Arkansas and then spread like wildfire all across the Unites States!

You can read many of the details in the link below. But even if you DO NOT take time to read what has been happening, I do ask you, follower of Christ to do one thing: PRAY FERVENTLY. Pray that the "outpouring of the Spirit and the Grace of God" that we have been seeing will continue to manifest itself across Arkansas and then spread as God directs it! This is NOT for the glory of The Summit Church or any church - this is for the Glory of God and the building of the Kingdom of God - one life at a time!

http://thesummitchurch.org/blogs/summit

Our pastor, Bill Elliff, recently said that he felt that “marriage and family were under attack TODAY more than he had seen in the last 40 years!!” As part of the staff of FamilyLife, we see the attacks on a daily basis. And it was confirming to see our Pastor and many other pastors and leaders recognizing the same attack!

"What should be our response to this attack?", you might ask. There are many ways that we COULD respond, many of them good ways. We feel the BEST FIRST RESPONSE to the crisis in marriage and family is prayer! Yes, prayer!

So Shawn and I are also asking you to pray for us: that the Lord would use us in any way He chooses to reach out to couples with the hope and help that ONLY Jesus can bring supernaturally. I also ask that you would pray that prayer for yourself as you read this. God wants to use you, wherever you are, to build His Kingdom. The question is, for you and for me, "Am I available and am I listening?" Honestly, the speed of life for me makes me wonder if I ever slow down enough to hear the "still small voice" as He speaks.

Thanks for praying! Prayer to the Lord is one of the most powerful weapons we have to fight this battle. Thanks for going to battle for us in prayer!

UPDATE: Prayer for our Family This Weekend

Shawn and I SO APPRECIATE those who pray for us! We wanted to give you an update on our the post from last week to pray for our family over last weekend!

Josh and Sarah at the Youth Retreat: Both Josh and Sarah told us that they had a great time and enjoyed their small groups and the speaker (our former Youth Pastor). They did NOT get much sleep, but did enjoy their time and God protected them and kept them safe!! Thank You, Lord!!

Shawn's "Girl Time": Shawn had a lot of fun hanging out with her friends Teresa and Lisa over the weekend. Shawn didn't get much sleep either but that is OK since they had so much fun! Hopefully all three ladies were refreshed after their time together!!

Glen and Caleb for Passport to Purity: We had a great time together as we "journeyed" as Father and Son through Passport to Purity! Caleb asked some great questions and we talked about the teen years and the challenges he will face. We also had fun doing some hiking around Mount Magazine - the highest point in Arkansas!

Thanks again for your prayers!!

Prayer for Our Family This Weekend!

If you read one of latest posts on Prayer, then you know just how important prayer is for a follower of Christ! So we are asking for your prayers this weekend!!

Our son, Josh, and our daughter, Sarah, will be a church youth retreat this weekend here in the Little Rock area. Please pray that they would hear and respond to the Lord as He speaks throughout the weekend. Please also pray that would have fun and make deeper connections with their small group leaders and with Godly friends that the Lord has put in their lives.

In addition, Glen and Caleb will be spending a day and half on Caleb's Passport to Purity Weekend. For you that do not know about Passport to Purity, it is a weekend that a parent spends with their pre-teen preparing them for the upcoming teen years. Caleb and Glen will be traveling to Mount Magazine (the highest point in the state of Arkansas) to have some fun and talk about some important issues coming in the teen years. Glen already did this with Josh a few years back and Shawn did it with Sarah when she was 11! Please pray that Glen and Caleb would have fun and that the truths that are communicated to Caleb will be embraced by him as he grows into a teen and then a young man! You can find out more by going to the link below:

http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.3955827/k.2C03/Passport2Purity__Talk_to_Your_Teen_About_Sex.htm

And last but not least, Shawn will be spending Friday night and all of Saturday having some fun "girl time" while the rest of us are away from home. Please pray that Shawn would have fun and be refreshed during her time over the weekend!

Prayer Request: For Glen and Shawn

I was talking with a friend today at FamilyLife. We were talking about parenting issues - he has 8 kids, we have 3. Both of us were clearly recognizing the fact that parenting is HARD!! Each child is different. What works with one may not work with another. What works this week will not necessarily work next week.

That is why PRAYER is so vital to effective parenting. Taking the time to pray together as husband and wife about having the Lord's wisdom for parenting - remembering that we are not to "lean on our own understanding" but "allow Him to direct our path". And getting other folks to pray for you as well!

So Shawn and I ask you, as you read this, to pray for these things for us as parents:

• WISDOM: The Lord's wisdom to know how to train and love each of our kids
• PATIENCE: We would remember that training is a "long-term thing" - not look for quick fixes.
• COURAGE: Courage to do the difficult things we need to do as parents
• HUMILITY: The humility to admit when we are wrong and ask for forgiveness
• JOY: That the Lord's joy would be ours as we realize daily what a great gift our three kids are!

Thanks for praying. God bless you!!

Pray for God to Transform Marriages in San Antonio!

UPDATE: The Weekend to Remember is now over (this is Monday morning) and the Lord was working in mighty way! Thanks for your prayer. 59 people of the 560 in attendance indicated decisions to becomd Christ-followers!! And 19 of those were couples - 38 of the 59. So those couples are BOTH new creations in Christ. Thank You, Lord!!


We are currently on a trip to Texas for the San Antonio Weekend to Remember Getaway that is happening Nov. 19-21!!


We wanted to ask for you prayer for the 300+ couples that will be attending this weekend!
Please pray that their lives and marriages will be transformed as God's Word and His Spirit combine in a powerful way!


Please also pray that the couples that come will not only have a good time at the Weekend to Remember Getaway, but more importantly, will begin to see God transform their marriage as they put into practice God's plan for their marriage and family!

Prayer Update: Glen's Anemia

A few weeks back, we had asked for your prayers for the two things: that the Lord would reveal to the doctors the real cause of Glen 's anemia AND that the Lord would heal him of this and some other symptoms we feel are directly related to the anemia. Well, we wanted to update you on what the Lord has been doing!!

Glen had an upper and lower GI test done on Monday, Sept. 13th. We praise the Lord for the results - there was no bleeding in his upper or lower GI tracts!! And the tests they did also came back negative for any problems absorbing iron. We are very thankful that the Lord answered our prayers by eliminating many serious things that could have been revealed by these tests!

But the reason that Glen has anemia in the first place has still not been revealed by God to the doctors. So please continue to pray that the Lord, through His Wisdom, will reveal this to the hematologist or other doctors that are working with Glen. And please continue to pray that some of the other symptoms Glen is experiencing will go away as the Lord completely heals his anemia.

THANKS FOR PRAYING!!