A prayer about INITIATIVE

How does God continue to initiate a relationship with me?

Holy God,
I believe that you sometimes initiate a change of heart in me so that I will desire to be in closer relationship with you.  Selfish ambition and spiritual blindness steal my passion for you, and sometimes you need to point out these ways within me.  Your Holy Spirit convicts me of my sin, prompting me to remember you, confess my waywardness, and seek restoration with you.  Lord God, thank you that you take the initiative in this way.  But you don't only point out the offense; you also guide me back to the right path.  You never initiate a change of heart and then abandon me.  Thank you for constantly taking the first step.  No matter how many times I wander, you are always ready to take me back and restore me into right relationship with you.

"My wayward children," says the LORD, "come back to me,

and I will heal your wayward hearts."

Jeremiah 3:22

Prayer Shawl Ministry Featured

This past Sunday morning Pastor Tim featured one of Lakeview's newest ministries: The Prayer Shawl Ministry.  The concept is not unique to our church, but it has taken on it's own character right here in Marion.  Here is how it works: a prayer shawl is created with yarn and prayer.  The yarn makes up the physical material while prayers are said during it's creation.  As much as someone is warmed by the physical covering, they are also covered by the many prayers.  This week Pastor Brad accepted a prayer shawl from the platform on behalf of his father, Rev. David Terhune.  Pastor Dave is pastoring a two-year-old congregation, The Cross, in Rochester, Indiana and has lung cancer. 

 

For more information or to join in on this ministry please contact Jessica Thompson, the church office or simply stop by the Welcome Center in the foyer.

A Prayer for GROWTH

Dear God,
I confess that I often want to be instantly mature in my faith.  I lack the patience to work at it.  Help me to remember that spiritual growth is like physical growth: I must start small, take one day at a time, and get enough nourishment.  I know I can do this by challenging my mind to study your Word, asking questions about it, and then seeking answers through prayer, the counsel of other believers, and life's experiences.  Help me to see each day as a building block and to commit to building a life of godly character one step at a time.

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.  

Colossians 1:9-10

[From last month's communion reflection]

I had never been a part of a community of worshipping Christians that partook of the Lord’s Supper on a monthly basis.  The Wesleyan tradition of traveling pastors and lay-led ministries meant that there wasn’t always someone to provide for what was considered “appropriate” distribution.  That lead to a long-standing rule that required pastors to visit all the churches on their circuit to provide the Lord’s Supper to those local congregations on a quarterly basis, at least once every three months.  Sadly, that eventually became, “We only need to observe this practice at 3 month intervals” even though pastors were hired and served churches full-time.  I’ve never been a part of a community of worshipping Christians that partook of the Lord’s Supper on a monthly basis, until now.

I have never really said much about communion.  I’ve taken it since accepting Christ as an eight-year-old, but there haven’t been many Sunday School electives on communion.  I haven’t attended any conferences for pastors on communion nor attended a summer camp with a communion-based theme.  Little by little, I am having more to say about communion, but I’ll not get into it all right now.

Let’s start today’s observance with this thought: the Lord’s Supper is a vivid and vital connection with Jesus.  To come to the Lord’s table is to return to that night when Jesus gave the supper to his disciples.  It is to be re-invited to believe, to be re-invited into the community of Jesus followers.  Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are literal moments from the ministry of Jesus, re-lived and re-joined with all the power of that moment, but now.

If you believe, you may take part in this observance.  If you do not yet believe, the time to believe could be right now.

[1 Corinthians 11:23-26 MSG]

Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord's Supper and why it is so centrally important.  I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you.  The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread.  Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

“This is my body, broken for you.  Do this to remember me.”

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
   

“This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.

Each time you drink this cup, remember me.”

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master.  You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns.  You must never let familiarity breed contempt.

Mind the Gap

There were over 100 posts that were lost in a data accident.  Though the history of our prayer ministry isn't recorded here, there was still prayer and intercession.  In thinking about gaps... let's remember to stand in gap and cover our church and fellow Christians with protective prayer.  Let's also pray that we would have great opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ to reach our community even as His Spirit is working in our neighborhoods.

Praying for our Pastors

As we are entering a new school year and the start-up of several of our ministries, let us not forget to prayerfully support our pastors and staff as they continue to serve us.

Happy Moments, Praise God

Difficult Moments, See God

Quiet Moments, Worship God

Painful Moments, Trust God

Every Moment, Thank God

Borrowed from Lightrider