Saturday, January 1, 2011

Prayer For 2011

We have reached the end of our Chronological Bible, and I hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have! It has been wonderful to learn so much about the order of the stories I have always heard. I also chose to purchase a Message/NIV Parallel Bible this year which has helped me a lot to study. It helps me to compare the two versions and to reconcile them in my mind. Along with the Chronological Bible, I feel I now have a deeper understanding of the Word. However, I look forward to starting over this year in some form because there is so much more to learn. I can't say my memory has retained everything that I have read, but rest assured that our hearts have. When you read the Bible, a seed is planted in your heart, and when you need it most, then the Holy Spirit will remind you of these things.

I have also enjoyed being one of the contributors on this blog and have enjoyed reading what the other writers had to say even more. I hope you have found some useful thoughts while reading them.

Last night, we had our first New Year's Eve celebration at 3trees Church, and it was a joyous time indeed! I could think of no better place to be while bringing in the New Year! We had a great time in the Lord as we heard the Word from Pastor Eric and Matt Wade, sang praises to Him, and finished with a moving prayer time. It was during this prayer time that God laid on my heart a specific prayer to pray over our church and our community. After praying about it, I felt it would be a good way to finalize this blog for 2010 and enter 2011. I hope you will agree with me in this prayer as we move forward into what I believe will be an exciting year for 3trees Church!

"Father, on this first day of the New Year, we refuse to continue to accept what the devil says that we can not do. Instead, we proclaim that, through You, all things are possible, and because of that, we are capable of all things. Father, it is easy to feel like there is evil all around us. With the ease of communication today, we hear more than we want to at times about the threats that are or could be. Today, we proclaim that we will stop looking at evil as a threat and instead look at it as an opportunity. We rebuke the spirit of fear because it does not come from You. We accept the boldness that you have made available to us through your Holy Spirit. We will go where You say go, speak when You say speak, and do what You say do. In doing so, we declare "not in our families, not our children, not our schools, and not our region!" We claim these things for Your glory and give them to You for Your purposes. In 2011, we state "not here, not now, not ever" as we seek to follow your Spirit and continue the business of kingdom agenda within the Lake Cumberland Region and our own households. In Jesus Name- Amen"

A Glorious Day

"1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."   
(Revelation 22: 1-5, NIV)

As Pastor Eric said last night during the New Year's celebration, "There is an hour coming when darkness will overtake light." But, Revelation tells us that there is also a time coming when darkness will be no more! When the Lord comes back to establish His kingdom on Earth, Christians have wondrous things awaiting them! There will be no more darkness, no more sadness, no more death, no more sickness, no more heartache, no more addictions, no more evil!  It is a time that I can not even imagine at this point, but something I look forward to greatly!

He is coming.  We can not dispute that. We will not know the hour, but we can remain expectant. If you are not a Christian, this statement probably brings you more fear than it does joy. Now is the time to repent and serve Him. For none of us know the hour of our death nor the hour of His coming, but all of us know that both are imminent and the time to make choices is today.

If you have not accepted Him as your Savior, please consider doing so today. If you have already done so, praise God because a glorious day awaits you!