A Church Planter's Journal

Salvation Comes from the Lord

Jonah 2:8-9

 "Those who cling to worthless idols
       forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

 ⁹ But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
       will sacrifice to you.
       What I have vowed I will make good.
       Salvation comes from the LORD."

Abba, 

You have saved me. You are saving me, and You will save me. Much on my mind right now. I could use some salvation.  Amen.

What I'm hearing from God lately

What I’m hearing from God these days:

James 4.2b “You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

• This seems so easy, but it is true. There are some personal things of late I have been worried over. And it has been amazing over the last month or so as I have prayed for them, God has given me what I needed. So simple, but we so rarely simply ask. I believe The Gallery community has to be asking now what we need for our next steps in God’

Jesus is the well from which we must drink as a church plant. This is a no-brainer, of course, but you’d be amazed how much pastors and churches look first to the ways of the world to grow their church. Jesus says those who drink from Him, “streams of living water” will flow from them. This is the Holy Spirit [John 7:37-39]. I believe the Spirit alive in us is to be our testimony. Churches build around many things--a great speaker, a well-crafted worship service, signs and wonders, people barking, high-tech, cirque de soleil entertainment, whatever. I believe The Gallery’s testimony should be Christ alive in us. 

July 1, 2010 prayer

7-1-10

Col. 4:2-6

 2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Abba, 

We pray because we are the branches and You are the vine. You are the source of all life. We thank You for this life. 

Open a wider door for The Gallery so our proclamation of Your good news will reach more people. We pray You would give us the power to proclaim it clearly. Help us be wise toward outsiders, and help every member of The Gallery make the most of every opportunity. Fill our conversations with grace. May they be conversations that preserve one another rather than tear down, so we may answer everyone in the love of Christ.

You know the needs of The Gallery better than we do. We bring these requests as an expression of our faith in You.

We pray for a deeper love for You and for each other.

We pray You would send more harvest hands for the work You have called us.

We pray You would send more financial resources to carry out the call.

We pray for favor from the new principal at the Barack and Michelle Obama school.

We pray for wisdom on how to best serve the school.

We pray You would make us a loving family.

We pray You would use us to draw others to Yourself.

We pray You would orchestrate our children’s ministry and birth our youth ministry to prepare for this fall.

We pray You would move people who have not yet found a way to use their gifts toward a ministry where they can use their gifts.

We pray You would continue to unify our music ministry so it brings glory to Your name. 

We pray for more bass players!

We pray for a special welcoming presence in The Gallery for all who visit us.

We pray You would give Pastor Brad and leadership the wisdom they need to lead.

We pray You would protect us from the enemy that would seek to undermine Your love’s power. 

We pray for deep, deep faith.

More prayer

6-30-10

Hebrews 13:20-21 (New International Version)

 20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Abba, 

May you equip The Gallery with everything good for doing You will, and may You work in us what is pleasing to You through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

We are completely dependent upon You, Abba. There is nothing of worth that we can do without You. So we come to You calling not only for Your will to be done but for the power to do Your will and for the faith to trust that it is only Your power that can provide the faith we need.

We praise You for all You have accomplished thus far and we look forward to all You will accomplish in the future. We praise You because everything we have has come from You. You are the great provider.

As we look to the future, Abba, we lift up to You the specific needs of The Gallery.

We pray You would send more harvest hands for the work You have called us.

We pray You would send more financial resources to carry out the call.

We pray for a deeper love for You and for each other.

We pray You would make us a loving family.

We pray You would use us to draw others to Yourself.

We pray You would give us the power to proclaim Your good news boldly.

We pray You would orchestrate our children’s ministry and birth our youth ministry to prepare for this fall.

We pray You would move people who have not yet found a way to use their gifts toward a ministry where they can use their gifts.

We pray You would continue to unify our music ministry so it brings glory to Your name. 

We pray for more bass players!

We pray for a special welcoming presence in The Gallery for all who visit us.

We pray You would give Pastor Brad and leadership the wisdom they need to lead.

We pray You would protect us from the enemy that would seek to undermine Your love’s power. 

We pray for deep, deep faith.

Some praying

Prayer Journal

6-21-10

I have been resting in James 4.2b lately: “You do not have because you do not ask God for it.” As a church planter there are so many things we think we need, and if I am honest I probably spend too much time worrying about them rather than praying about them. This topic goes well with the text today for our Gallery reading: “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matt. 6.27).

So, what I’ve been doing lately is simply trying to lift every need, concern, worry to God in prayer. Today is my sabbath and I am about to spend an hour in silent meditation. Before I do so I’d like to simply list my needs, concerns and worries. This way I can go back later and see how God has answered these prayers.

Abba, help. 

Abba, there is not a thing I need that does not come from You. I come to You in worship reminding myself You are the source of all I need. I lay these needs at Your throne and entrust them to You rather than me spending any time stressing over them. 

Abba, give me a peace in my body today.

Help my mind rest.

Help me find a stillness that is only of You. 

Help my family find the same stillness.

Thank You for the Gallery and this past weekend. 

The Free Garage Sale was wonderful. I saw Your handiwork everywhere.

I pray You would use the new relationships that were born there to draw others to put their trust in You.

I pray for everyone who calls The Gallery home, Lord. Give us a special gift of faith, but also Your heart for those far from You. 

Enliven in The Gallery a longing to seek You first and Your kingdom and Your shalom. 

Enliven in The Gallery core passion for Your Church and Your worship as a community. I pray You would help us love Your Church the way You love Your Church.

I pray You would increase our giving so we can fulfill Your calling to give away 50% of our giving.

I pray You would send us leaders to lead a youth ministry.

I pray You would raise up someone to do the editing of the Living God’s Masterpiece video.

I pray You would send us graphic designers to craft our visual communication. 

I pray You would add more people to the CMJ team.

I pray You would give us wisdom on how to invest our money at the Obama school and in St. Paul.

I pray You would guide Saquadre’s mom to contact me so we can continue the mentorship this summer.

I pray You would use our worship services to guide people to Yourself.

I pray You would inspire our people to invite their friends.

I pray you would give me the wisdom I need to order my time.

I pray You would give me the words for my message at Jessica’s wedding and for my message this week.

I pray You would help me see the growth of The Gallery through Your eyes.

I pray You would provide new resources to pay down our debt, pay for college, and tithe.

I pray You would give the gift of deep faith to my family. You are all we need. 

I pray You would give the kids joy in all tasks and trials.

I pray You would continue to bless my marriage and mold it into Your likeness.

I pray for health for my parents and Lisa’s.

I pray for any healing that needs to happen in any of my relationships.

Thank You for hearing my prayer. You are living water. I pray Your streams of living water will pour out of my life. Amen.