Prayer Blog

May 26, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 5:1-26
You Will Be Catching Men

Last week’s passage revealed Jesus’ authority over the spiritual world (when he cast out demons) and over the physical world (when he healed diseases). This week’s passage reveals his authority over two more realms. Before Jesus healed the paralytic man lowered through the roof by his friends, Jesus forgave his sins, displaying to the scandalized Pharisees and scribes his authority to forgive. Jesus told Simon to let down his nets after a long night of futile effort, and the miraculous catch of fish demonstrated Jesus’ authority over the animal kingdom. By demonstrating his authority over various arenas of human life, Jesus was revealing, to those who had eyes to see, who he is: God.

Pastor Dave stressed a point that is easy to overlook if you read too quickly. Simon was a professional fisherman; Jesus was a carpenter and itinerant teacher. No one would be surprised if Simon had responded to Jesus’ command to put out his boat and let down his net by saying, “Stay in your lane, bro! You don’t know what you’re talking about.” But Simon responded to Jesus’ authority by obeying, even if he might have rolled his eyes. He was then humbled when the result proved that Jesus’ authority trumped his expertise. We implicitly tell Jesus to stay in his lane when we respect someone else’s authority and expertise more than his. It might be our own; it might be a medical professional’s, a boss’s, or a political leader’s. We disrespect Jesus’ authority when we refuse to even try to obey a hard command, such as forgiving someone who has hurt you or caring for “the least of these.” If, as Dave said, all lanes are Jesus’ lanes – both directions of the highway and all the surface streets too – then no one rivals his position of authority in any part of our lives. Pray daily for the humility to bow before Jesus’ authority over absolutely everything! Pray for the ability to obey Jesus, even if only “because you say so.” (v5) That’s a good start.

What is your calling? What mission in life does God have for you? It may or may not have anything to do with your occupation. The story of the miraculous catch isn’t really about fish, as verse 10b makes clear: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Simon’s calling was to preach the gospel, which he certainly did not understand at this point. Eventually, though, the memory of the superabundant catch of fish certainly taught Simon that his ministry would have unimaginable results, and not because he had developed a new expertise in public speaking but only because of God’s power. We are never too old to ask, “Lord, what is my calling, if only for today?” and then to affirm, “You can do anything, Lord! Work in and through me.”

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

May 19, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 19 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 4:31-44
More Than Words

After being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum. The people were astonished – not because he was an articulate, eloquent speaker (though I’m confident he was) but because he spoke with authority. Pastor Dave taught that authority comes, not from style or delivery, but from speaking truth. And the truth was that Jesus had been anointed to preach good news, as Isaiah had prophesied. Jesus then validated his words with actions; he demonstrated authority over the spiritual world by casting out demons and over the physical world by healing all kinds of diseases. Dave drew two main points from the text, which lead us to examine ourselves, to see whether we are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

It is possible to be content with Jesus’ words only and uninterested in the power and authority behind them. Put another way, it is possible to know all the right answers on a quiz about Jesus but not experience the power of his words in our lives. Our Christian walk begins with Jesus’ words but should not end there. Dave asked, “Are you experiencing victory and growth?” Sanctification is the evidence, or validation, of Jesus’ words at work in our lives. Ask yourself (or perhaps an honest friend) questions like these: Have I produced any fruit of sanctification in the last year or so? Am I more like Jesus than I was? Have I made any progress against a besetting sin? Do I look at other people differently? Ask the Holy Spirit to bear witness with your own spirit.

Dave pointed out how much the demons Jesus cast out knew about him. They called him Jesus of Nazareth (his earthly identity) and also the Holy One of God and the Son of God. They knew he was the Christ. They even obeyed him, though under compulsion. They might have scored an A+ on a quiz about Jesus! But they were not saved; they were not children of God. Dave asked, what were they missing? Their belief did not include repentance for sin and total submission to the lordship of Jesus. If my self-examination from Dave’s first point causes me to conclude that Jesus’ power and authority is not evident in my life, I’ve got to wonder if I’m in the same category as the demons in Dave’s second point. A chilling thought! If that’s where you are today, I pray you will talk about it with a pastor, an elder, or a small group leader.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

May 12, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Wed, 13 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 4:14-30
Jesus Begins His Ministry

In his hometown synagogue, Jesus stands to read from Isaiah 61:1-2 and then sits to instruct the congregation, saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Pastor Dave described the people’s reaction – “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” – as a “Wait … What?!” moment. They had heard favorable reports of Jesus’ activities around Galilee, but this was an extraordinary claim. They knew Jesus; they had known him since his boyhood; his carpentry work graced their homes. How could he be the Messiah they had long expected? Their skepticism went beyond rejection to fury and a murderous desire to be rid of him.

Dave’s applications centered on evangelism. He first addressed anyone present who has not received Jesus as Savior and Lord. As Austin noted in his Communion meditation, a Sunday gathering of a healthy church will include people who are not followers of Jesus. Welcoming them and speaking truth to them is part of fulfilling the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Dave explained that vaguely believing in a nebulous God is not saving faith. Other unbelievers in our midst may have an intellectual, “head-only” faith. Still other unbelievers are pretenders. Everyone around them assumes they are believers, but the truth hidden deep in their hearts is that they are not. Pray for all of these – for soul-deep honesty and for divine grace that enables them to find the narrow gate that leads to life.

Dave also spoke to believers. We carry on Jesus’ ministry; he calls us to speak the truth of the gospel to others. To me, the most convicting thing Dave said involved talking about Jesus to family. Many of us find that intimidating and scary, and we shy away. “Isn’t this my sister Carol? What does she know?” Pray that we will fear God more than we fear man. Beseech God for courage and boldness and words. Pray for Holy Spirit reminders that rejection is to be expected and that its source is the evil one, not your inadequacy.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

May 5 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 05 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 3:23 – 4:13
The Temptation of Jesus

As a final preparation for public ministry, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days. Then, Satan appeared to tempt Jesus in his time of physical weakness. Pastor Dave taught that, while we do not face the specific temptations Jesus did – we laugh at the notion that we would be tempted to turn a stone into bread! – the general principles of Satan’s temptations lie around every corner.

That first temptation – to turn a stone into bread – is a temptation to doubt. Satan takes a true statement and puts an “if” in front of it. He whispers, “If God is real, then …” or “If God loved you, then …” It is also a temptation to grab immediate gratification with no concern for the consequences, leading, for example, to sex outside marriage and burdensome credit card debt. Finally, it is a temptation to handle a problem on your own instead of relying on God. Dave paraphrased Jesus’ response in verse 4 this way: “Food’s not the issue. My Father’s will is the issue.”

Satan’s second temptation – to worship him and receive authority over all the kingdoms of the world – is a temptation to take the quick and easy way out, to skip the tough part of an assignment. Who among us does not face that one on a regular basis? It is also a temptation to believe a lie instead of holding to the truth. Satan’s statement did contain an element of truth – he is the ruler of this world – but not the whole truth. We are gullible.

Satan followed Jesus’ example and quoted Scripture in his third temptation, but he twisted it to suggest that Jesus test God. Satan likewise tempts us to put God to the test, to say, “God, if you would only do this (fill in the blank), then I would follow You.” We are tempted to tell God what He should do, how He should do it, and when.

All these temptations are common to man. How can we pray in our struggle to yield less often to temptation?

Verse 13 says that Satan left “until an opportune time.” He watches for times we are especially vulnerable to temptation. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you when your “opportune times” are. Maybe it is when you are physically weak and tired or when you are afraid. Maybe it is times of great productivity and success. We are easy targets when we have been neglecting worship and fellowship with the body of Christ. If I know when an attack is likely, I can put on my armor.

Dave quoted 1 Corinthians 10:13, which promises that God will provide a way of escape when we are tempted. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what an “escape hatch” looks like in your life. It might be remembering that a particular temptation is not the irresistible result of impersonal circumstances but rather a personal attack by the enemy of your soul. “Scram, Satan!” An escape hatch might be an honest conversation with a good friend or not answering the phone or sitting down with God’s word. To use an escape hatch, I must recognize it.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

April 21, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 2:41-52
The Favor of God Was Upon Him

The ESV Bible titles this week’s passage “The Boy Jesus in the Temple.” Pastor Dave taught through it verse by verse, pointing out what was normal (leaving a child behind, for example) and what was not normal (such as a 12-year-old boy sitting with teachers and questioning them). He then discussed ways in which we can benefit from the boy Jesus’ example and grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God.

For us, growing in wisdom and stature and favor with God happens in the church. It will not happen if we’re “normal” and conform to the pattern of this world. (Romans 12:2) Dave shared some examples of how this works.

The boy Jesus’ community was Nazareth. Our Nazareth is Calvary Community Church, where we can know one another and be known. The opportunity is there, if we will take it. Being known means letting people see the real you, including your failures and struggles. It means not worrying about your image. Knowing others means caring enough to spend time and to ask questions. How am I doing? Father, help me, and all of us!

Jesus sat with the teachers in the temple and engaged with them. We sit and listen to our pastors teach the Bible week after week. If we are “normal,” we view the sermon as passive entertainment. If we are not normal – weird, even – we treat the sermon as essential food for our souls. We also seek to learn from our pastors how to study so we can benefit from time in the Word every day of the week. How am I doing? Father, help me, and all of us!

Even at twelve years old, Jesus was focused on his Father’s business, on the work his Father had for him to do. Our focus is often on anything but. We come to church expecting to be served. That’s normal. But God calls us to serve, not just be served, to give, not constantly take. He calls us to use the gifts He has given us (every one of us) to do Kingdom work, faithfully and sacrificially. How am I doing? Father, help me, and all of us!

Church Family
Bring before the Lord the search for the right man to fill our associate pastor position. The job opening is now posted on the Vanderbloemen website, and the recruiter is hard at work.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

P.S. No prayer blog next week due to weekend travel plans.

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

April 14, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Holy to Yahweh
1 Peter 1:13-25

Guest preacher Kelly Larson called us to consider our holiness. As believers, we are holy positionally; we are justified because Jesus’ perfect righteousness is reckoned to us. But we are also commanded to become holy, which is another way of saying, be sanctified. Yahweh’s words, “Be holy as I am holy,” mean that everything you have and all that you are must be consecrated – set apart for, or dedicated to – Him. That’s a tall order.

Kelly shared two motivations to be holy in all our conduct. One comes from the father/child language of the passage. We are made in the image of our Father; we should reflect His character. We are also under His authority and are accountable to Him. A second motivation is the price Christ paid to restore our intimate relationship with our Father in heaven. We were redeemed with the infinitely valuable blood of Jesus. Sit before the Lord today and meditate on these two truths. I suspect they are not news to us. Talk to the Lord about the disconnect between what we know on a Sunday and how we live on a Monday.

Kelly asked a pointed question: Where in your life are you unholy? What sins have become comfortable, too comfortable to give up? What sins have become acceptable, tolerated for so long they seem normal? If I went through my day wearing a turban with a golden plate engraved Holy to Yahweh (like the Jewish high priests*), which of my deeds and words and thoughts would make me cringe? Ask the Lord to show you one thing today that He wants you to change to become more holy. That one thing is the pebble in your shoe Kelly mentioned … something that gets your attention and spurs you to action.

If growing in holiness seems impossible, Kelly points us to Scripture and the Holy Spirit, saying they are “our best companions.” Scripture is the living, incorruptible Word of God, the anvil on which our character is formed, and the Holy Spirit is the blacksmith. But these companions are not overbearing; they wait to be asked. Before the Lord, ask yourself: On how may days in the last week have I spent time in the Bible? Not, reading a verse-of-the-day that pops up on my phone or speedreading through a Bible reading plan, just moving the bookmark. Rather, how regularly do I engage with the Word, asking the Holy Spirit to teach and guide me, and listening? If we walk daily with the companions Scripture and the Holy Spirit, we will grow in holiness.

* Exodus 28:36-38

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

March 24, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 1:57-80
The Spark of Redemption

Guest preacher Tyler Anderson’s sermon was a call to marvel, starting with the events surrounding the birth and naming of John the Baptist, the forerunner to the Messiah.

The neighbors and relatives who rejoiced with Elizabeth over the birth of her son also attended the circumcision and naming of the baby. They marveled when still-mute Zechariah wrote, “His name is John” and then spoke, praising God. It was evident that God was at work and that Zechariah had learned to trust Him during nine months of silence. Tyler asked, “When is the last time you marveled at God’s work in your life?” He noted that it’s wonderful to look back and recognize God’s work in your past but also encouraged us to look for His work now, in the moment. Of course, that’s harder; it’s less clear. But asking, “Lord, what are You doing?” amid our daily activities and problems reminds us that He is working and prepares us to see it and marvel.

The people who witnessed the unusual naming of this baby boy, who heard Zechariah’s Spirit-filled prophecy about him and about the One he would announce, experienced fear. (v65) Not please-don’t-hurt-me fear, but rather great awe and deep reverence, even though they didn’t know the whole picture. All they knew and only vaguely understood was that this 8-day-old baby would grow up to be the forerunner of the Lord Himself, coming to redeem them. We know so much more; how much more should we marvel and stand in awe! Now is the perfect time, as Good Friday and Easter draw near. But maybe you’re like me. During Lent, my attention tends to be human-focused. I feel sorrow at Jesus’ physical agony in the cruel hands of the Roman soldiers. I feel sympathy for Jesus’ disciples, scattering in fear for their lives, remorseful for deserting and denying him. I feel a quiet satisfaction in the faithful women intent on attending to his body. I feel relief and gratitude that I will not bear God’s wrath for sin. Perhaps we need to put the focus on our awesome God to marvel as we ought. What does the gospel story reveal about Him? If someone asked me to describe the character and attributes of God using the story of redemption as my text, what would I say? Lord, enable me to meditate and marvel and worship this week.

Noting verses 74-75, Tyler pointed out that Zechariah’s prophecy not only foretells our salvation but gives the purpose of our salvation. “We are saved to serve our King,” he said. He suggested we start each new day by asking, “Why am I alive this morning?” What a great idea, for those of us who start the day with a spring in our step, ready to take on our To Do list, for those of us who have to drag ourselves out of bed, asking despondently, “What’s the point?” and for everyone in between. Remind me that every day is a mission from You, Lord.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

March 17, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 1:39-56
Responses to the Message

Pastor Dave’s sermon this week continued the theme of “compare and contrast.” As for comparing, Elizabeth and Mary both received confirmation of what the angel Gabriel had said. Fetal John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s greeting, confirming what the angel Gabriel had told Zechariah in verse 15. The sign the angel offered Mary was Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy (v36), and it was proved true when an obviously pregnant Elizabeth met her young relative at the door. As for contrasting, the difference is not between Elizabeth and Mary but rather between these two women and us.

Elizabeth’s focus was on Mary and the Lord, not on herself and her own miracle. Mary’s prayer, what we call the “Magnificat,” focused entirely on God. Dave pointed out that Mary did not engage in one-upmanship with Elizabeth: Your son will be great before the Lord (v15) … but my child will be the Son of the Most High (v32). In her place, we might have done that. We can’t rejoice with those who rejoice; we must outdo. We make life about ourselves. And if I am the center of my life, then of course I deserve the credit for the great things that God (actually) has done for me. Dave said, “When we magnify ourselves, we minimize the Lord.” All of us should humble ourselves today and confess that we do magnify ourselves, and repent. We are members of the prideful human race; we have a human nature; we are guilty.

We can puff ourselves up, but we can also display self-absorption in the opposite direction. Dave noted that Mary did not doubt the angel’s message, arguing that she was just a lowly young girl, completely unfit for the assignment the Lord was giving her. You’ve overestimated me, Lord! Instead, she acknowledges that He is holy (v49), perfect, the One who makes no mistakes. When He chose Mary, He did not err. Here’s a question to consider: Have I ever dishonored God by refusing an assignment from Him, insisting that I am unworthy or incapable of it? Did I tell myself I was being humble when I was really trying to avoid being stretched and challenged? May our blood run cold at the thought of dishonoring God.

Contrasting ourselves and our proclivities to the godly responses of Elizabeth and Mary is discouraging. What are we to do? Dave pointed out that both Elizabeth and Mary were filled with the Holy Spirit, noting verses 41 and 35. We too need the Holy Spirit, the Helper Jesus promised to send when he returned to the Father. If we walk by the Spirit as a habit of life, we will display the acts and attitudes of the flesh less and less. To walk by the Spirit, we must hear His instruction. He speaks as you read the Word of God, somehow highlighting in neon yellow something you need to guide you that day. He speaks through other people or a thought or impression. It’s mysterious and hard to pin down, but vital. Ask the Holy Spirit to tune you, like a radio, to His voice. And then purpose to obey what you hear.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

March 10, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 1:5-25
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

Luke recounts the foretelling of John the Baptist’s birth (vv5-25) alongside the foretelling of Jesus’ birth (vv26-38), inviting us to compare the two events. The similarities emphasize the consistent ways in which God operates. The differences make us sit up and take notice.

Pastor Dave taught that God doesn’t sit on His throne and hurl down lightning bolts to accomplish His plan of redemption. Rather, He uses His people – Zechariah and Elizabeth, in the case of John the Baptist, and Mary, in the case of Jesus. That means I cannot sit back and wait for the light show to begin. Rather, I must be open and ready for Him to use me, and you must too. How can a person be open and ready? It’s not by staying alert for angelic messengers! Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous and blameless before God – not perfect, but serious about obeying God’s commandments and repenting when they failed. The same must have been true of Mary, given her song of praise, the Magnificat (vv46-55). Lord, I am an ordinary person, like these people of Yours in Luke 1. Help me faithfully follow Your ways and honor you in all the ordinary things I do so that, if you give me an extraordinary assignment, I am ready. I pray this also for all my brothers and sisters at Calvary.

God often uses the hardships in His people’s lives to accomplish His purposes. He uses what feels like a curse to bless. Elizabeth was a barren woman in a culture that viewed childlessness as divine punishment. Her miraculous pregnancy proclaimed that her son John would play a special role in God’s redemptive plan, preparing the people for the coming of Messiah. Mary’s extraordinary assignment came wrapped in a God-created hardship: unwed pregnancy. Yet it resulted in the incredible blessing of salvation for all who would believe in her son. These women’s stories remind me of a man born blind, healed by Jesus. When the disciples wondered why the man was born blind, Jesus said, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Lord, change how I think about hard things in my life. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, keep reminding me that You can display Your works in and through my hardships. Do it, Lord!

God works through His people, using even their trials and hardships. But we are not robots or puppets. How we respond matters. When Zechariah and then Mary heard startling news from the angel Gabriel, both responded with, “How?” Same word, but different questions. Zechariah asked with disbelief, implying that not even God could cause a menopausal woman to conceive. Mary asked with amazement, honestly trying to wrap her mind around the news. Lord, when You, by Your Spirit, give me “marching orders,” I want to respond like Mary did: “Yes, Lord … I am Your servant.” I don’t want to respond with disbelief or reluctance. Help me!

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.

March 3, 2026 Prayer Blog

Carol Gilbert — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Luke 1:1-4
Introduction

We have finished our study of Kings in the Old Testament and turned our attention to Luke in the New, but it’s not the case that we are shifting gears completely. Pastor Dave emphasized that both are parts of the same redemptive story. Kings told us the “bad news” part of the story: We are sinners in need of a savior. Luke brings us the “good news” part, the gospel of Jesus Christ. One constant temptation in 1 & 2 Kings was to point the finger at those stupid, contemptible, idolatrous Israelites, imagining ourselves to be better than they were. But the truth is, we are not. Like them, we sin because we can’t not sin. It’s as if our DNA has been corrupted. Here, at the beginning of our Luke study, let’s pause to remember how pervasive sin is in our lives. It’s not that we do a wrong thing every now and then. We are incessant sin-thinkers and sin-doers, by nature. Without a savior, we are barred from the presence of God, and we are doomed.

The last two verses of this week’s passage communicate Luke’s purpose in writing this book, namely, that its readers – Theophilus, and also you and I – may have certainty about what we have been taught about Jesus. Dave pointed out that certainty is scarce in our world. In this dawning age of AI, we can’t be certain that a photo or video we see is real and true. I wondered recently if my health coach on an app-based PT program was a real person or an AI chatbot. I texted “her” to ask and, though “Renee” claimed to be human, I can’t say I’m certain about it. But we can be certain about the gospel Luke wrote and about all of Scripture. Speaking for Calvary Church, Dave said dogmatically, “We believe Scripture, in its original writings, to be absolutely true, without error, and infallible.” He pointed us to the EFCA statement of faith for a clear and succinct statement of certainty about the Bible. He asked, “Can you sign off on this?” If your answer is yes, bow before the Lord and commit to believing and obeying every word of Luke we hear over the next two years. If your honest answer is no or I’m not sure, bow before the Lord and talk to Him about it.

Calvary Family

Lift up the Women's Ministry event, "Bunco and Blessings," on Friday evening. Pray for good and godly fellowship, and ask the Lord to use it to draw women who live on the fringe of the community into fuller participation.

Our junior high and high school students will be away at Winter Camp next weekend. Thirty-seven people, youth and leaders, will be on retreat at Angeles Crest Christian Camp in the mountains northeast of Pasadena. Austin will teach on “Remaining Calm in Chaos” from Matthew 14. Pray that each student will hear from the Lord and grow in their faith. Austin told me that this group of students is “younger” on the maturity scale than in other years; pray that the leaders can help the students function well as a group, without selfishness and with unity. Austin is thankful for the generosity of donors who provided nearly $1000 for full and partial camp scholarships. They are a big help for families sending multiple kids to camp.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.