Prayer

"Often we do not pray because we doubt that anything will actually happen if we pray. Of course, we don’t admit this publicly. But if we felt certain of visible results within sixty seconds of every prayer, there would be holes in the knees of every pair of Christian-owned pants in the world!" Donald Whitney

Prayer is one of the most wonderful and powerful gifts and privileges that God has given us. Just think, when you and I pray the God of the universe gives us His undivided attention. Many times it’s hard to even get our friends and family to do that! How awesome it is to think that God would listen to us express everything from our praises to petitions and be pleased when we do so.

Most of us have personal prayer times. However, one thing that many churches are weak is their times of corporate prayer. Praying alone is essential yet prayer is also something to be done with others in the Body of Christ. Whether it’s in a small group, large corporate gathering or at home, being with others is following a pattern modeled by those we read about in Scriptures.

In the Scriptures we see believers gathering to hear the Word and do the acts that God had set down for them. They heard, saw, tasted, smelled, felt and sang about God’s love. As the Spirit drew them together they responded in prayer. Also, public prayer shed insight to them what others private prayers were about. In His writings about Believers praying together, Robert Longman, Jr. asks us to consider this: “In public they prayed when they didn’t want to pray or didn’t feel like praying; they prayed when they had trouble concentrating on praying; they prayed when they weren’t prepared for it; they prayed the Word by drawing their liturgies and readings from the Scriptures; they prayed for and with those they were in conflict with; they prayed about people and things that they wouldn’t have thought to pray for or would have forgotten to pray for.”

Prayer is a discipline. Public prayer helps us learn through a unity of purpose and helps strengthen our private times. To have a complete prayer life we are reminded that the lessons learned during corporate prayer times feed back into our private prayer lives, and the lessons of private prayer feed back into the corporate gatherings.

Each week at 7:00pm on Wednesday nights we gather to do just that, a time of prayer and praise. You are invited to come and join us as we spend time in His presence praising and praying from our hearts to His. See you then!

With you on the journey, MJ

Hope In Jesus

It’s amazing how three short weeks can awaken perspective in one’s life and heart. After losing two of my very close aunts to death just three weeks to the day from each other, I realize now that on the Jones family tree that I am now the 4th oldest Jones, by birth on that tree! That just doesn’t seem possible and is sure giving me many hours of silent contemplation about life, family, future and making every moment count with those whom I love and cherish.

Something else that it is doing is making me think even more about death, heaven and the reality of what happens the moment after we take our last breath. In reality, all we truly know about those things is what scripture reveals to us, but the mind does incredible things after losing someone you love so much. I am reminded constantly to keep my hopes and dreams about the “after-life” in perspective with what God’s word teaches.

Two passages of scripture that have brought me comfort during these very difficult days are John Chapter 11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

John Chapter 11 reminds me of the huge heart of the Man, Christ Jesus. Jesus, knew better than anyone about death, resurrection, heaven, etc., but He revealed in His response to the death of His loved one comfort, hope, peace and a loving comradery with us.

From this passage we learn at least several nuggets of hope to hold onto when we face similar times:
1. Being overtaken by illness or death doesn’t mean that God has forsaken you or your loved one. (11:3-5)
2. For the believer, death is not our final state. (11:11,25-26)
3. It is okay to grieve, Jesus did. (11:35)
4. God is in total control on the road towards death, before , during and afterwards. And even in the darkest moments He is walking right by our side and we can trust Him and hold on to the truth that what looks to us like tragedy will ultimately bring Him honor and glory. (11:38-44)

Whether I’m doing the funeral for a 2 day old baby, a 5 year old child or a 87 year old aunt, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 continues to fill my heart with hope and I pray that it will do the same for you. Here is just a portion of the passage. Take time today to read the entire scripture for yourself and be blessed.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep…According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive… will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven…After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them … And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Pastor MJ

Worship Is An Expression

In our busy, self-centered world, we sometimes tend to approach worship just like another activity in our busy lives, unprepared. Think for a moment: which one of us would enter an important meeting unprepared? If we were to meet a VIP who could help meet our deepest needs and desires in our profession, would not we spend every moment thinking and planning and preparing for that meeting?

Too often we reduce worship to a Single event. We treat worship as something that begins on Sunday morning and last for just an hour or so. Worship is often seen as successful solely based on what happens or does not happen during that hour. But if we are to experience all that God has for us in worship, we must realize that worship is not just an event, rather, it is a lifestyle. Worship is what we were created to do, be, and participate in, every moment of our lives, now and in eternity. We were created to worship God, to express with every heartbeat that “He is worthy.”

Our corporate worship each Sunday must be an expression of what we are about during the week. We have an opportunity one hour each week to corporately come together and encourage each other in our walks with God – exalting Him as we learn, cry, struggle, and grow together. When we show up unfocused or worn down, there are others there to help us refocus and get us on track for the week to come.

The power, presence, and comfort of the Holy Spirit desires to actively move in our lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just as an Olympic athlete’s “experience” as he or she runs is based on their preparation, so our worship “experience” is based on our training and preparation. We should strive to enter God’s presence prepared and ready to run.

How have you prepared for today’s “race”? As you enter this next week spend time in prayer, in praise, in adoration, in reading God’s Word, spending time with God’s people, worshipping Him through song, etc. and you’ll see that as you enter in to His presence with others next week that you will not have to “warm” up, but that you will be ready to join with others in a “race” that you’ve been running for a week already.

However, in this race, the cheers, glory and praise all go to God!

I’ll see you by the Throne,
Pastor MJ

“Flaws” In Your Life For His Glory

May this story encourage you as you walk in the grace and mercy of the Lord this week.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of” “I have been able for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts.” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I’ve been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

My friend, be comforted this week that Father God uses even the “flaws” in your life for His glory.

Blessings,
MJ