Mission Network News

I'd like to share a link with you:

http://www.mnnonline.org/

Maybe some of you already follow MNN but I've began to use it to help me to continue to think, and pray globally. I think they have a balance of good and bad news.

Might God, may your name be hollowed by our actions and efforts. I thank you so much for my prayer team and for a Christian community. Come and be glorified by our group. Answer our prayers for our community and its churches. We dare to believe that you will work in Adams and Wells county to pour out laborers for your kingdom. Unify us with awe for you. Amen.

Praying as Warriors

There’s something exhilarating about joining together in prayer. I get the sense that as we lift our voices up, we join a chorus of countless warriors praying for the Nations. I can’t help but feel very small in the midst of a great battlefield.

I’d encourage you to pray as a warrior today… because I know how easily I loose sight of that sometimes. When we intentionally seek the Master in this fervent intercession - for the mobilization of our community, for Perspectives, and for the Nations, there is a battle that rages in the spiritual realm. When we pray, we are making an active, bold stand on the side of Christ. When we bow in prayer, we’re effectively picking up a sword.

I’ve been reading through the book of Daniel, and was spurred to this thought of war when I read chapter 10. Daniel was three weeks into intense prayer (close to where we stand with this prayer blog today, I think) when Gabriel comes before him.

Gabriel said: “Do not be afraid Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia…

These prayers that we join in are not without great purpose. I know we know that… but sometimes remembering the intensity of it that we can’t see really helps me focus in praying. So may we march forward this week, as an army on our knees.

PERSPECTIVES Coordination Team

On Thursday night a couple of us met to work on next year's classes. Please pray for us as we gather more team members to help facilitate the class. That is our greatest need right now. On June 24th we will meet again. By that time we hope to have two full teams ready begin. Pray that God would call more people to volunteer for staffing these next classes. Please pray for our current team members.

Mo Hodge - leadership at The Bridge, perspective promotion

Luke Johnson - up coming wedding, leader of Berne class next spring

Doug and Kristy Gerber - doing finances for both classes next spring

Allen and Susan Stoller - helping with grading and other responsibilities

Chad Fiechter - leader of Bluffton class next spring

Joe Leman - taking perspectives coordinator training this month

Continue to pray that God would fill our classes next spring and that our efforts would glorify His name. May the name of Jesus be hollowed in our community. May all the earth be told of His judgment and mercy.

Missionary Hymn

A few weeks ago, I ran into an amazing hymn in our Gospel Hymns book. Maybe you're all acquainted with it already, but it's called Missionary Hymn by R. Heber and Lowell Mason. I pray that one day, our church and community could sing this song...not just because it's in our hymn book but because we're living it, devoted to it and passionate about it for the glory, worship and honor of God. Below are the lyrics.

From Greenland’s icy mountains, from India’s coral strand; Where Africa’s sunny fountains roll down their golden sand: From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver their land from error’s chain.

What though the spicy breezes blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle; Though every prospect pleases, and only man is vile? In vain with lavish kindness the gifts of God are strown; The heathen in his blindness bows down to wood and stone.

Shall we, whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high, Shall we to those benighted the lamp of life deny? Salvation! O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim,Till earth’s remotest nation has learned Messiah’s Name.

Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, and you, ye waters, roll,Till, like a sea of glory, it spreads from pole to pole:Till for His ransomed people the Lamb for sinners slain, Redeemer, King, Creator, in bliss returns again.

The Living Prayer

Today I want to post some lyrics to a song that I love. If you'd like to listen here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv3WSrZ-9bM Ask yourself if prayer is something that you do or something that you are. Is it possible that our words actions and desires could all melt together into an expression to God for his Kingdom. I'm praying that God would teach us to pray and that He would raise up more Kingdom Christians in this community.

In this world I walk alone
With no place to call my home,
But there's one who holds my hand
Through rugged roads, through barren lands.
The way is dark, the road is steep,
But He's become my eyes to see,
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear.
The Savior lives inside me there.

In Your love I find relief,
A haven from my unbelief.
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God, to Thee.

In these trials of life I find
Another voice inside my mind.
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives.

In Your love I find relief,
A haven from my unbelief.
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God, to Thee.

The Workers are Few

Luke 10:2 "He told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"

Please join me in praying for workers in God Kingdom. The current age is passing like the night before dawn, but for all its temporary nature it seems to capture our gaze away from God's Kingdom. There is a great need for more of us to be given over to the work of God, but we humans are unable to make ourselves see. Notice that Jesus does't say we should tell more people to enter the harvest but to ask him to send them into the harvest. The sending of workers is God's prerogative. We must as workers allow the magnitude of the harvest to motivate us to pray that He would send more workers. Remember that God wants you to ask Him to act. He wants you to desire his glory. He wants to do His will in response to your request. He wants you to be a part.

Pray in Faith

To day I'd like to encourage you guys in your faith. Often the limiting factor in my prayers is my faith in God's power. The prayer of a true disciple is a daring prayer. What is the most daring thing that you've ever prayed?

Ask yourself if you believe that God is able to do his will. Ask yourself if you believe in the coming of His Kingdom. I know you guys believe. Think about how crazy we are! We believe that some day the violent region of Israel will be the capital city of a globe kingdom of peace. We believe that though the nations rage the meek man Jesus will rule the planet. We believe in a coming age of no tears, no war, no fear, and no death. We are like Abraham; a strange in his own land. We are strange people of peace that don't belong to this current age.

Oh God, I pray that you would give us faith. Please pour your spirit onto our hearts that we might see more clearly the gravity of your Kingdom. Secondly give us courage to be daring with our lives. Help us to pray with confidence in you. Make us your children LORD! We are a week people. So long we have trusted in man. Turn us into your worshipers. Turn us into your sons and daughters. Amen.

God has shown us his will. Take courage and pray daring things for our community. Pray daring things for our globe.

Psalm 67 - A Prayer for the Nations

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah; that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah! May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Have you ever prayed through a psalm? Psalm 67 is overflowing with God's purpose for the nations. Notice the "blessed to be a blessing" concept in the first verse. I've be praying through this psalm today and thought that I share it with you guys.

PERSPECTIVES On the World Christian Movement

Alright team!

Lets start this off by focusing prayer on the Perspectives class that will start next spring. Please pray for us as we begin to assemble a coordinating team. It's not too early to pray that the Holy Spirit would inspire people to take the class and that from this class God would send out His name to the ends of the earth. Also pray that pastors and churches would be open to us as we present this opportunity in the area.

I know these are big picture prayer requests but trust me, more specific requests will come as the work begins.

Also note that this blog is not limited to a specific church or even Perspectives. My hope is that this prayer blog will bare desire for a great movement in our community. A movement for the revelation of Gods purpose for us and a great sending of many workers into His harvest.

Matthew 9:37b-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."