Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Wednesday Nights
I am very excited for the next two Wednesday nights. I will be speaking in The Stand Youth worship service and JD Elleman will be leading the adult prayer time. Come to church on Wednesday night expecting God to move, expecting him to touch your mind and spirit, and allowing him to transform us for expanded blessing.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Share Vision
If you have a big goal in life, there are special keys to seeing that goal become reality. One key is sharing the vision. Sharing your vision is important and strategic for several reasons.
1. It makes you accountable.
Sharing your vision forces you to feel the pressure of keeping your word. Nobody wants to talk and talk and never get anything done. It happens a lot, but nobody of normal intelligence and mental health is happy with talk, talk, talk.
2. It allows others to be involved.
Most great things are accomplished by a motivated group with a good leader. A good leader alone is unlikely to accomplish amazing things that have a global or regional impact. Having others involved also creates connections for improvement, and opportunities for others to assist with work or funding.
3. It makes you sharper.
Sharing your vision will often sharpen and refine your plans. Others input may help. Also, we often have ideas that seem good in our minds, then when we verbalize them we realize how far off they really are.
Lastly, there is a caution. There may be some dream killing negative people that you don't want to share your vision with. There is a place for honest critique, but some people are negative about everything and they might not be the people to share with.
Pray hard and think deeply about your dreams. Don't be afraid to share your dreams, even if you don't have all the answers or the details.
1. It makes you accountable.
Sharing your vision forces you to feel the pressure of keeping your word. Nobody wants to talk and talk and never get anything done. It happens a lot, but nobody of normal intelligence and mental health is happy with talk, talk, talk.
2. It allows others to be involved.
Most great things are accomplished by a motivated group with a good leader. A good leader alone is unlikely to accomplish amazing things that have a global or regional impact. Having others involved also creates connections for improvement, and opportunities for others to assist with work or funding.
3. It makes you sharper.
Sharing your vision will often sharpen and refine your plans. Others input may help. Also, we often have ideas that seem good in our minds, then when we verbalize them we realize how far off they really are.
Lastly, there is a caution. There may be some dream killing negative people that you don't want to share your vision with. There is a place for honest critique, but some people are negative about everything and they might not be the people to share with.
Pray hard and think deeply about your dreams. Don't be afraid to share your dreams, even if you don't have all the answers or the details.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Tired on Purpose
I am feeling very pressed this week. Our entire staff is working like crazy! We have very little time this week. But, we are wearing ourselves out for great reasons. First, we are getting some building preparatory stuff done. Second, Pastor John is preparing for a strong push for Small Groups in 2013, and his outreach at 5th Street Elementary School. Third, I am working hard on some church planting projects, business meeting preparations and helping in the Section.
It is at times like this that I love being in God's work.
Please keep your church leaders in prayer.
We need you to pray for us like never before. The needs of the lost are urgent, and the Lord has opened a door of effective ministry for us.
It is at times like this that I love being in God's work.
Please keep your church leaders in prayer.
We need you to pray for us like never before. The needs of the lost are urgent, and the Lord has opened a door of effective ministry for us.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Messy
Ministers are expected to have it all together. People expect your office to be clean when they walk in and mine never is! It is a constant frustration for me. Part of my problem is have no storage space at all. Recently I met with a person that is extremely valuable to me and who I have and will spend a great amount of time with because I want to help them. Unfortunately, they tracked in a bunch of mud. Well, its not the first time this has happened.
But, as I spent the first 30 minutes of my day today scrubbing the mud out of the carpet, I was really mad. I was thinking of other pastors who always have nice neat offices. How do they do that? Do they just tell messy people they are not invited to enter the office? Or, do they spend a ton of time cleaning their carpet? I really started imagining myself being totally honest with a person and telling them not to come in because they are tracking mud all over. Well, that little daydream seemed to have bad overtones and in all the rabbit trails of my mind, it always ended poorly.
So, I just scrubbed out my frustration and determined that people are more important than the image of my office. I am typing now, and will be getting back to further cleaning in a moment.
But, as I spent the first 30 minutes of my day today scrubbing the mud out of the carpet, I was really mad. I was thinking of other pastors who always have nice neat offices. How do they do that? Do they just tell messy people they are not invited to enter the office? Or, do they spend a ton of time cleaning their carpet? I really started imagining myself being totally honest with a person and telling them not to come in because they are tracking mud all over. Well, that little daydream seemed to have bad overtones and in all the rabbit trails of my mind, it always ended poorly.
So, I just scrubbed out my frustration and determined that people are more important than the image of my office. I am typing now, and will be getting back to further cleaning in a moment.
15 days are 50% Spent
We are at the half mark of our 15 days of prayer and fasting. I am so thrilled personally with the extra time with God this week. It is refreshing to my spirit and attitude. Extra time with God make you feel like a winner!
Don't give up or back down this week. On the contrary, let's press forward. What little things can you add in the upcoming week to make your fast more productive and pleasing the the Lord? Lets finish strong in prayer.
Remember to pray for the needs of the church. Your prayers are deeply needed this year! Today I encourage you to pray for the staff of the church and those who serve your children and teens in ministry.
Don't give up or back down this week. On the contrary, let's press forward. What little things can you add in the upcoming week to make your fast more productive and pleasing the the Lord? Lets finish strong in prayer.
Remember to pray for the needs of the church. Your prayers are deeply needed this year! Today I encourage you to pray for the staff of the church and those who serve your children and teens in ministry.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
15/15/13
We are praying and fasting with our kids in our fifteen days of prayer and fasting. The kids are fasting their wii. That includes games and watching videos. Each afternoon in addition to our morning devotions we are praying and each of the kids are reading from a book of the bible of their choosing.
15/15/13 is our motto. Fifteen minutes extra time with God for fifteen days in 2013. They are pretty excited and I am glad that they seem to genuinely enjoy reading their Bibles.
As you pray this week, keep praying for our construction plans to be completed! They are quite behind at this point, but we seem to be at the mercy of those drawing up the plans. We also need to pray for favor with the City in reviewing the plans for our building permit. We need expediency.
While you lift up needs, remember to allow God to draw you closer to him. More important than any of our felt needs is our need for closeness to the Lord. Have a blessed day.
15/15/13 is our motto. Fifteen minutes extra time with God for fifteen days in 2013. They are pretty excited and I am glad that they seem to genuinely enjoy reading their Bibles.
As you pray this week, keep praying for our construction plans to be completed! They are quite behind at this point, but we seem to be at the mercy of those drawing up the plans. We also need to pray for favor with the City in reviewing the plans for our building permit. We need expediency.
While you lift up needs, remember to allow God to draw you closer to him. More important than any of our felt needs is our need for closeness to the Lord. Have a blessed day.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
15 Days for 13
Happy New Year! Today is day two of 15 days of prayer and fasting for 2013. I hope you have determined what you will fast. We fast to make time for extra prayer. Here are some prayer requests.
1. Pray for the three phase vision of our church that we shared again this last Sunday.
2. Pray for the construction process at the new property.
3. Pray for financial provision for our church and for every household in our church.
4. Pray for spiritual health in every believer and for new friends to come to follow Jesus.
5. Pray for our Missions Convention that starts tonight!
As you pray, I believe that you will also have the opportunity to be refreshed in your life. God is not hard to find! As Acts 17 promises, "...he is not far from each one of us."
1. Pray for the three phase vision of our church that we shared again this last Sunday.
2. Pray for the construction process at the new property.
3. Pray for financial provision for our church and for every household in our church.
4. Pray for spiritual health in every believer and for new friends to come to follow Jesus.
5. Pray for our Missions Convention that starts tonight!
As you pray, I believe that you will also have the opportunity to be refreshed in your life. God is not hard to find! As Acts 17 promises, "...he is not far from each one of us."
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