Anticipation

Have you ever looked forward to an event, a place, a family gathering, a vacation, or just something you anticipate is going to be incredible? What do you do to prepare for it? I'm one that really likes to plan ahead. I'll start setting stuff aside to pack a couple of weeks out (until Amber makes me put it back and wait!!) and then run a checklist in my mind daily of all the stuff I don't want to forget. The only problem is that I tend to overlook the things I need to get done then that will affect the trip if I have to stay and get them done.
I hope you have a huge expectation of what God is doing in our church; however, there are things we have to plant today if we want to harvest them tomorrow. Be faithful to plants the seeds of invitations, the gospel, kindness, compassion, etc. so that you can harvest a spiritual bounty the days ahead. Don't look back and wish you had done today what you desire God to do tomorrow!!

Interceding for Our 4xFour

What have you been praying for in the lives of the people you have identified on your 4xFour list? One of the easiest ways to pray if you have not recieved a specific request from your friend is imagining better circumstances for them. For example, if their marriage is struggling, begin imagining what a better marriage would look like and then pray towards that. Its amazing how our imagination can be a useful tool in praying towards God's will.

Praying in Participation with God

Our college group studied Numbers 14 Monday night and tried to wrestle with the implied/suggested thought that Moses was able to change God's mind. I don't want to get into the whole Open Theism discussion because I firmly believe the transcendent God knows all things from beginning to end. But, you have to wrestle with what is the purpose of Numbers 14?
Throughout the New Testament, we are called God's fellow workers. What does this mean for our prayers? Jesus told us that we are to pray for God's will to be done. Since God allows us to work alongside him in bringing about his kingdom and will, shouldn't our prayers also be in participation with what he is doing? Mose's prayed toward God's intended & original purpose with the Israelites...God wanted to make them a great nation by his power and might and let it be a declaration of his glory and power. Praying in participation with God is praying toward God's intended purpose & glory.

To pray is to change.

Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline states that "to pray is to change." What does he mean? In short, when we pray, we should become so attuned to what God wants that it changes our desires, passions, and plans towards God's will. The best example I can think of is when Jesus was praying in the Garden before his arrest. He asked God if there was another way, another plan that would accomplish God's glory and renown. Yet, in the end analysis, Jesus changed his mind to God's plan. Do your prayers change you?

One of our local billboards advertises that they want you to have "savings, not sacrifice." The idea they have is for people to save money but not sacrafice what they are doing or what they love in order to feel the pinch of saving. Unfortunately, this could be the common theme among many Christians. We want the salvation that Jesus offers, but we don't want sacrifice our personal dreams, efforts, time, or resources that a true commitment to Christ requires. When Zaccheus was convicted of his lifestyle, he offered half of what he owned to take care of the down and out and offered to repay anyone he cheated four times back the amount he took. Jesus announced to the crowd that salvation had come to Zaccheus. He got it. Saving involves sacrifice.

A Reason to Celebrate

Have you noticed that it seems everyday is becoming a reason to celebrate different events or items? For example, March 20 is "Want You Be My Neighbor Day" while March 31 is "Bunsen Burner Day." For whatever reason, people are looking for opportunities to celebrate.
If you really take a moment to think about it, everyday is a reason to celebrate. We should celebrate that we serve a risen God, a close God, a holy God. We have lots to celebrate about our Christian faith and it shouldn't be limited to just a few days a year. So celebrate!!

College Students to Beach Reach

The Catalyst College Group from Monterey Baptist Church is leaving today to go spend the week in South Padre Island. We will be helping the group from FBC, Plains cook pancakes for the college students who will be vacationing there. Pray for our travel, but most of all, pray that we will be ready to share about our faith and be humble as we serve our peers.