Work is such a funny thing.  We dream about the days that we don’t have to work.  But it seems like, even when we’re not at our “work” we usually find something that we can “work” on.  I guess in one way or another there is always work to be done, sometimes more enjoyable than others, but always with a great possibility for reward.

One of the recurring themes in One Prayer has been that of God stirring new works in our lives. Philippians 1:6 gives reassurance that God begins and sees through the good he is working in our lives.  I like that, but I sometimes forget that it is still work and get discouraged when the working out process is more difficult than I’d hoped.  Sometimes that process takes me places that I just don’t like, but this verse makes me think that even in those times God can work something great in me.  So whatever you’re working through today, I pray that you will be blessed by God as he completes work in you.

Change…….

That simple word can cause a lot of chaos. Some folks get physically ill at the thought of change while others seem to thrive on constant change. Sometimes change happens and no even realizes it, other times it seems to rock our world because we didn’t see it coming.

I tend to look at things practically; I like to look forward and try to predict needed change. Sometimes I’m right, other times require something different than I imagined. These are the bread crumbs I am following right now. Grace Community Church is growing, this is a good thing! We believe there is always “one more” that needs to be transformed by Jesus and this is changing the way we look. As I continue down this trail there are a few realities I come to. Eventually we will have to figure out space issues, probably in our children’s area first. Someday parking will be an issue to figure out and there will come a day when we don’t fit in the auditorium. Don’t panic…..nothing is changing today, but as long as we stay healthy and focused on our mission to see transformation happen, eventually we will have to make some adjustments (code word for change). Pray for your staff, elders and management team as we prayerfully seek wisdom regarding the best adjustments to make in days, weeks, and years ahead of us.

This week’s daily prayer focus

Sunday: Victims of natural disasters
Prayer Verses:Isaiah 61:4 Isaiah 58:12

Monday: Orphaned and abandoned children
Prayer Verses: James 1:27 Psalm 10:14

Tuesday: Fasting Day
Fasting Topic: Make a difference by giving.
Give: In remote corners of the globe, in villages where very few people know Christ, in regions where gathering to worship God can put your life at risk… One Prayer has been spreading the Gospel, helping new churches take root, and seeing countless lives change. When we’re fasting today, let’s focus on this year’s Giving initiative—catching up on what’s been happening, learning about this year’s plan, and preparing for what God wants to do through us.

Prayer focus: People who are in need of food, clothing, and shelter
Prayer Verses: Psalm 40:17 James 2:14-17

Wednesday: People who are in need of healing
Prayer Verses: Psalm 30:2 James 5:16

Friday: A renewed passion for giving in the Christian church worldwide
Prayer Verses:1 Timothy 6:17-19 2 Corinthians 9:7

*more information about the Daily Prayer focus for One Prayer can be found at http://2010.oneprayer.com/calendar.

As most of you may know on Sunday, Grace Community, like many other churches around the world, began the One Prayer series. In John 17:20-24, Jesus prayed that we, the church, would be one. During One Prayer, thousands of believers are coming together as the church to share, to serve, and to give.

As we are uniting as the Unstoppable Church made up of Unstoppable People, it is important that we unite together and pray. Below you will find daily prayer topics. On top of a daily prayer guide, every Tuesday of the week there is a fasting guide. I wanted to pass this along to all of you because I will be following this daily prayer guide and every Tuesday of One Prayer I will be fasting. You should join me…not just me, but hundreds and thousands of other believers around the world who have one prayer for their lives, churches, communities and the world we live in. Because when the Church unites, it’s UNSTOPPABLE!

This week’s daily prayer focus:
Wednesday: Peace Among Nations
prayer verses: Isaiah 2:4 & Luke 2:14

Thursday: Government leaders around the world
Prayer verses: Romans 13:1 & Timothy 2:1-2

Friday: Increased devotion to Christ in believers worldwide
Prayer verses: Philippians 3:7-14 & Leviticus 6:13

Write these down. Put them somewhere that you can see them. Visit http://2010.oneprayer.com/calendar for more information about joining together for Four Weeks with One Prayer.

This Monday was one of those that gives Mondays a bad reputation.  There were just a lot of things going on around me and I just felt a lot of emotional heaviness by 8:00 when I logged off of church online. So I loaded my little girl in the stroller and went for a jog while Amanda was at life group.  As we jogged around the neighborhood I told God about my heaviness and was a little relieved as I saw the simple symphony of fireflies.  I mean it’s pretty cool that God had the attention to detail to make flies that their butts light up!  But, I still was left with a longing for something more.  Then, as we got back to the house and I got Emma ready for bed we began to pray and she started naming all sorts of things that she wanted to thank God for, and as we prayed she sat and looked me in the eyes with simple smile that stirred something life changing deep in my soul.  And I realized as much as I love her, God’s love is so much greater!

After she went to bed I found a couple of scriptures that came to mind with some great truths.   In Isaiah we see that God knows first hand what it means to suffer heartache as he  was rejected by his own creation and died for our sins.  In Hebrews 4:13-16 we see how Christ’s familiarity with our humanness gives us a path to “draw near to the throne of God to receive mercy and find grace to help in a time of need.”

Life can sure be messy sometimes; and there are a lot of things that hurt in this world.  I’m so glad that God knows our hurt, is with us in our pain, and loves us so much that he desires to give us great things!