On January 8, I shared with you that one of our key initiatives within our Equipping Strategy was a focus on marriages.  With the divorce rate in this country at 50%, we can’t afford to ignore this issue.  Our leadership believes that we need to address the marriage crisis and one of the ways we’re going to do that is through a 6-week sermon series that will start on April 15 called, God’s Recipe for Marriage.

As I have said before, the Bible is instructive.  Our problem is that too often the instructions are ignored.  In my experience, meals turn out better when we follow the recipe.  And the same is true for marriage.  God has given us a recipe for marriage in the Bible, and I believe that our marriages would turn out better if we would simply follow the recipe.

For those of you who aren’t married, I understand that six weeks on marriage may seem irrelevant to you.  But I would encourage you to hang with us for those 6 weeks for two reasons…

1) Just because you’re not currently married doesn’t mean you’re going to    stay that way.  We are teaching biblical principles and this series will be of great benefit to you should your relationship status change. 

2) We all have people in our lives that are married.  As you learn these principles, God may use you to help someone in your sphere of influence work through a marriage crisis, whether it’s a co-worker, a brother, or even one of your own children.

For those of you who have a great marriage, it’s our prayer that this series will serve only to make it better.  Maybe God wants to use your healthy marriage to give life to a dying one.

And for those who aren’t sure if you’re marriage has anything left, it’s our prayer that you’ll hang on.  We aren’t naïve enough to believe that six messages will change your marriage…but neither do we deny that God’s Spirit could change it in one minute.  We simply hope that you will leave enough room in your doubts to allow the Holy Spirit to do what He does best…transform us from the inside out.

We believe there is something in this series for everyone; and by strengthening marriages, we strengthen the church.  I heard someone say that there is no greater demonstration of the gospel than a godly marriage.  And since Paul says that the relationship between husband and wife is a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Church, I’d have to agree.

I’ll bring the recipe…you bring the ingredients…and let’s work together to make a healthy marriage that reflects the glory of God.

On the Journey,

Shawn  

35 Days of Prayer

This Sunday marks the beginning of our 35 Days of Prayer as a church. From March 4th to Easter Sunday we will devote ourselves to prayer, and hopefully it won’t stop after that.

There’s nothing significant about the number 35, unless you’re a big Durant fan, but there is something very significant about a church that prays together. Acts 2:42 says the early Christians devoted themselves to prayer. Just as they had received a supernatural charge from Jesus, we too believe we’ve been given a supernatural charge from him. We shared that charge together on January 8th, and now it’s time to respond accordingly – to devote ourselves to prayer.

Every Sunday you’ll receive a Prayer Guide for the week in your bulletin. You can also sign up to receive a daily email and/or text to help stay engaged. Each week we’ll have a specific large focus to pray for, and each day we’ll break that apart a little and pray intentionally together. We’ll give you some suggestions for how to engage as a family in prayer each week. We’ll have days of just listening, and stilling ourselves in knowing he is God. Lastly, our 35 days will end with prayer and fasting leading us through the Passion Week.

My prayer is that this is a powerful 35 days for us. One thing I know about these 35 days, though, is that we’re not going to be a “praying church” come Easter Sunday. It just won’t happen like that. It is our goal that these days of prayer help us grow to becoming a people completely dependent on God through prayer. I hope you’re ready, and even if you’re not (we’re all probably not) I hope you’ll join us.

“But he (Jesus) would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16)  It’s clear, throughout the Gospels, that Jesus prayed and prayed often.  He prayed alone, with others, and for others.  He prayed for long periods of time, briefly, intentionally, passionately, and honestly.  Simply put, Jesus prayed.  It’s because of His example we believe in the importance and the power of prayer.  We live to imitate and become more like Him, and there’s no way we can do that while neglecting the discipline of prayer.  But it’s not easy is it?

For me personally, prayer is one of, if not, the most difficult disciplines as a follower of Christ. There are days and weeks when my prayers are constant, honest, and fruitful, and yet there are also days and weeks when my prayers are sporadic, routine, and fruitless.  That’s why I feel completely equipped to be leading this 2012 Strategic Focus for our church.  (Can you actually hear my insecure gulp?)  I didn’t accept the challenge of leading this focus, nor was I asked to lead it, because I’m a professional prayer.  Rest assured I have no Prayer MVP’s on my mantle.  This is a struggle for me, and yet it’s a treasure, a growing discipline, a desperate need, and a precious gift we have from our Father.  In 2012, I get to share and engage in this with you, and I know I’ll be blessed to do so.

Beginning Sunday, March 4th - April 8th (Easter) we will engage, as an entire church, in 35 Days of Prayer.  My hope is that we will begin living out what it means to be a church dependent on prayer because we will be individuals becoming more like Christ as we pray together.  Be looking for more information as we approach March 4th.  And while you’re at it ... let’s be praying.