Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
21 Days of Prayer Week 2
So we're into the second week of our 21 days of prayer at LifeGate. I've already heard some cool reports of things that God is doing. I know I've seen some miracles in my own life in the last seven days.
I'm getting ready to shoot over to Owensboro to visit my grandparents for a day or two. I'm staying with my Mom's parents, and their farm is one of my favorite places to pray. I love getting out in the fields and walking along the creek and spending time talking with Jesus. Unfortunately I can't go to Owensboro every day to pray. But I do have a couple of places here in town in which I really enjoy praying. My top spot is on the rug in my office in front of the fireplace, especially during the winter. I also love walking along the creek in the park behind our neighborhood and praying while I walk.
One of the keys to having a consistent prayer life is having a consistent place where you can spend some alone time with Jesus to pray. It can be your car, an office, your bedroom, your back porch, even your closet (easier in a walk-in). I'd love to hear where some of you spend time with Jesus. Where's your favorite or most consistent place of prayer?
I'm getting ready to shoot over to Owensboro to visit my grandparents for a day or two. I'm staying with my Mom's parents, and their farm is one of my favorite places to pray. I love getting out in the fields and walking along the creek and spending time talking with Jesus. Unfortunately I can't go to Owensboro every day to pray. But I do have a couple of places here in town in which I really enjoy praying. My top spot is on the rug in my office in front of the fireplace, especially during the winter. I also love walking along the creek in the park behind our neighborhood and praying while I walk.
One of the keys to having a consistent prayer life is having a consistent place where you can spend some alone time with Jesus to pray. It can be your car, an office, your bedroom, your back porch, even your closet (easier in a walk-in). I'd love to hear where some of you spend time with Jesus. Where's your favorite or most consistent place of prayer?
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
21 Days of Prayer 2011
This evening I decided I was going to ride my bicycle around the neighborhood. The only problem was that I hadn't ridden in at least two years. By the time I got home I thought I was going to die, my legs were on fire, my heart was pounding and I wanted to throw up...and I'd only ridden two miles:-) I know, I'm way out of shape.
What in the world does my pitiful bike ride have to do with prayer? Well, over the years I've learned that my prayer life is a lot like exercising. The more I pray, the easier prayer becomes and I can spend longer and more meaningful time in prayer. I build up "prayer endurance." Tomorrow LifeGate is launching a 21 day prayer initiative. We're challenging everyone who calls LifeGate home to take the next three weeks and work on building up your spiritual muscles. Stretch yourself in prayer. If you don't pray at all during the day, commit that for the next three weeks you're going to pray for 5 minutes every day. If you pray for 5 minutes a day, make a commitment to stretch that out to 15 minutes.
To help you grow in your prayer life we're doing a couple of things. First, we're going to be hosting a one hour prayer and worship service at the beginning and the end of the 21 days. We'll be meeting on Wednesday, August 10 and Wednesday, August 31 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the auditorium at LCA. You should come check it out.
Secondly, we've prepared a daily prayer guide to give focus to your prayers. If you didn't pick up a printed copy on Sunday, you can check it out here:
What in the world does my pitiful bike ride have to do with prayer? Well, over the years I've learned that my prayer life is a lot like exercising. The more I pray, the easier prayer becomes and I can spend longer and more meaningful time in prayer. I build up "prayer endurance." Tomorrow LifeGate is launching a 21 day prayer initiative. We're challenging everyone who calls LifeGate home to take the next three weeks and work on building up your spiritual muscles. Stretch yourself in prayer. If you don't pray at all during the day, commit that for the next three weeks you're going to pray for 5 minutes every day. If you pray for 5 minutes a day, make a commitment to stretch that out to 15 minutes.
To help you grow in your prayer life we're doing a couple of things. First, we're going to be hosting a one hour prayer and worship service at the beginning and the end of the 21 days. We'll be meeting on Wednesday, August 10 and Wednesday, August 31 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the auditorium at LCA. You should come check it out.
Secondly, we've prepared a daily prayer guide to give focus to your prayers. If you didn't pick up a printed copy on Sunday, you can check it out here:
21 Days of Prayer
Sunday – My Nation
(1 Timothy 2:1-2) I urge then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Pray for the United States and those who lead our country (President Obama, his Cabinet, Congress and the Supreme Court). Pray for a Christ-Awakening to come to our nation.
Monday – My City and State
(Proverbs 11:11) Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted.
Pray for Kentucky and for the Lexington metro area. Pray for our governor and representatives, for our mayor and city officials. Pray also for the 250,000 unchurched people in Lexington alone that they would find real life in Christ.
Tuesday – My Church
(Matthew 16:18) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Pray for LifeGate Church, for Pastor Ashley and his family, for our leadership team, lifegroup leaders and all those who serve in ministry. Pray that this fall would be a season of growth and miracles for LifeGate.
Wednesday – My Family
(Acts 16:31) Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.
Pray that each member of your family would come to know Christ.
Thursday – My Workplace
(Colossians 3:23-24) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Pray for your employer and for those you supervise. Pray for your customers and clients. Ask God to give you spiritual influence with those with whom you come into contact.
Friday – My Personal Needs
(Philippians 4:6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Believe God to answer prayers about your specific needs.
Saturday – My Purpose: People
(Matthew 9:37-38) The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Pray for the ministries and missionaries supported by LifeGate (Hogar Ganar, CSF, ARC and others). Ask God to connect you with His purpose and plan to introduce people to Jesus and the whole new way of life only he can give.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Now's the time
Yesterday was a great day at LifeGate Church. Worship was powerful, our kids did an amazing job of sharing what they've learned over the summer, we announced the launch of our new middle school ministry, there were first, second and third time visitors all over the place and most importantly two people gave their lives over to Christ.
God has been doing something amazing this summer. While our crowds have been wildly up and down (not unusual in June and July) the spiritual momentum at LifeGate has been building every week. Counting this Sunday we've now had people make decisions for Christ in six of the last seven weeks. Most of those weeks, we've seen multiple people enter into life with Christ.
I am more excited about the future of our church than I have ever been, including the time leading up to our launch two years ago. I fully believe we are standing on the precipice of a huge breakthrough in our city.
In my message yesterday (check it out here) , I shared about the Woman at the Well in John 4. Her willingness to tell her neighbors her story and invite them to check out Jesus for themselves caused her entire city to put their faith in the Messiah. She was one broken, messed up woman, but she was the spiritual key for her entire city. I'm praying that God will give us some people at LifeGate who will simply tell their story and invite other people to check out Jesus for themselves. As we do that, I believe our church is going to explode and our city is going to be changed.
God has been doing something amazing this summer. While our crowds have been wildly up and down (not unusual in June and July) the spiritual momentum at LifeGate has been building every week. Counting this Sunday we've now had people make decisions for Christ in six of the last seven weeks. Most of those weeks, we've seen multiple people enter into life with Christ.
I am more excited about the future of our church than I have ever been, including the time leading up to our launch two years ago. I fully believe we are standing on the precipice of a huge breakthrough in our city.
In my message yesterday (check it out here) , I shared about the Woman at the Well in John 4. Her willingness to tell her neighbors her story and invite them to check out Jesus for themselves caused her entire city to put their faith in the Messiah. She was one broken, messed up woman, but she was the spiritual key for her entire city. I'm praying that God will give us some people at LifeGate who will simply tell their story and invite other people to check out Jesus for themselves. As we do that, I believe our church is going to explode and our city is going to be changed.
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