Archive for September, 2009
Exodus 36:5
I’m very nervous when people say to me – “The Lord gave me this verse for you..” I half expect them to quote Matthew 27:5. I just cringe because…it’s creepy. I admit it. It creeps me out.
So when I tell you that the Lord has given me a verse for our church this month…you have to know the story behind it.
Yesterday I was at Oasis and waiting for the keynote speaker to start up. He went through the normal new speaker ritual of giving his life story. (I’m not sure why this happens. I’m pretty sure I’ve been guilty of that but I hope not. I speak every Sunday and new people hear me every Sunday. Do they not listen because they don’t know my life story? Just wondering…)
So my ADD kicks in (look a squirrel) and I start writing, doodling, whatever. He (the speaker, not God) then says something that shatters the fog of distraction in an instant. He starts reading scripture. Not just some scripture…but this scripture:
Exodus 36:5
[They] said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.”
“Are you kidding me??” I said out loud. The guys at my table shot me a look like I’d just jumped off the crazy train.
I’m dumbfounded because I know this verse is about Moses building the Tabernacle with limited resources with a million plus moving refugee camp. And they not only had the stuff to build the Tabernacle, but they had more than enough. Read the story a jillion times…never, ever, ever saw this verse.
MORE than enough to do the work of the Lord…
MORE than enough to do the work of the Lord…
Grant…are you listening to me? Quit worrying, being scared, being anxious. Your faith is small. Let me grow it. Hear me clearly in the middle of your ADD – MORE than enough to do the work of the Lord.
Lord, the Harvest? Can we raise enough money in this economy to pay off debt? To hire a student pastor? To do more at McCarter Elementary? To help the Native American mission? Brazil?
MORE than enough…
This Sunday will be the first Sunday of the Harvest. We’ve heard some great stories so far, we’ll hear more later but for now…
Exodus 36:5
Discipleship In An Instant World
I was at Oasis today in Emporia. Oasis is a one-day refreshment for area youth pastors and Danny Payne has hosted it the last two years. He asked me to come lead a round table discussion.
Instead of having an outline of points to make, I had questions. Here was the list I brought…
Who can be discipled by you?
How much time do you really have per month to do face to face, 1 on 1 to 3 discipleship?
What skills do you want a person to have after spending 6 months with you?
What key questions should you be asking every time you sit down with a leader?
What’s the focus of the questions you ask the people you are discipling? Are they program/ministry questions or are they soul care questions?
What’s the end game look like? What does maturity look like?
I challenge you to answer those questions before you read much further. At least think on them for 10 seconds.
Okay, I know you didn’t answer them but I’m going to keep writing anyway.
Who can be discipled by you?
How much time do you really have per month to do face to face, 1 on 1 to 3 discipleship?
I only really get 2 to 3 hours a month 1 on 1 with whomever I’m discipling. Serving together is important, doing ministry together is huge but face to face, 1 on 1 conversation time is alarmingly low. That fact alone stresses the importance of being selective in who we disciple. They have to want it as much as you want to give it. They have to be exercising/serving somewhere. For me, they also need to be in a life group – preferably the same one I’m in.
Why do I have all those strings attached? Because if I’m only going to have 2 to 3 hours of 1 on 1 time, we’re going to need more time together. And serving with each other, in the same Life Group, same Bible study just multiplies the effectiveness of that 2 hours of face time. It makes it more like 14 hours a month.
What skills do you want a person to have after spending 6 months with you?
Heard lots of good answers to this question – vision of ministry (love God, live connected, serve in Jesus’ name), an increase hunger for the word of God. The big thing for me is this – movement. I just want to see some movement. Doesn’t necessarily have to be what I wanted it to be but it needs to be something. A change in habit, a change of opinion, an openness to discussion – something. I want to see something in 6 months that clues me in this is a valuable investment of time.
What key questions should you be asking every time you sit down with a leader?
What’s the focus of the questions you ask the people you are discipling? Are they program/ministry questions or are they soul care questions?
This series of questions had the most ‘oohh, ouch’ moments for us. I constantly have to remind myself that my primary aim in discipleship is SOUL CARE, not ministry care. It’s not a sidebar team meeting to figure out how to better run the ministry. Asking questions about ministry allows us to remove the focus from our heart to external things. I need to ask questions that focus on the heart, the soul.
Some of the good questions that came out:
How’s your soul? Mountaintop? Valley? Rut? Stuck? Climbing? Falling?
How’s your relationship with your spouse?
What’s the biggest victory/celebration point in your life?
What’s the biggest frustration right now?
What is God showing you in the scriptures right now?
What challenged you about the last sermon/bible study/life group?
What do you see in my life that you want?
What do you see in my life that I need to change or at the least think about?
What does the journey look like for you? What does maturity in Christ look like?
This was actually tougher to answer than you think. The list at first was pretty task oriented – read more scripture, memorize scripture, able to feed themselves spiritually, know their gift, use their gift. Good stuff but honestly, we can get those things from a large group Bible study or life group. I’ve touted many of those things on the list. But it’s possible to do the list and be no closer to looking like Jesus.
This hit me during our Ephesians study at church – Paul’s answer to what maturity looked like is found in Ephesians 4:1-6. Here’s the short list:
Completely humble
Completely gentle
Completely patient
Bear with one another in love
Keep the Unity thru peace
So that’s the goal for both of us. That means when we sit down and we talk, we’re looking at how to improve in these areas – humility and gentleness being the sledge hammer for me. Actually…patience is another one.
Halo: ODST
I’m playing the new Halo game. I rented it.
It’s awesome. I love saving the universe… at least the earth.
I love having a 6th grade son so that playing Halo with him is considered quality time and not just me goofing off.
Trying To Help
Had one of the most bizarre experiences of my life this morning. An older Hispanic lady speaking broken English came into the church needing to talk to the Senior Pastor. There were a bunch of us in the lobby and when I told her that I would be able to help her in just a few minutes, the look was priceless. Like – ‘there is no way that of all these people in the lobby, you are the pastor.’
We sat in my office and she said she needed money for rent and to get back home as she was traveling.
“No problem. Tell me your story? What’s your name? Where do you live?”
“I live in Emporia.”
“Really? How did you get here in Topeka?”
“I went looking for a job in Manhattan, didn’t work out and now I’m heading back home to Emporia. And my transmission went out in my car.”
“Where’s your car?”
“It’s broke.”
“Right, is it at a gas station? On the side of the road?”
“I need help getting to Emporia and rent money.”
“I understand but where is your car?”
“I’m hitch-hiking.”
“So…..where is your car right now, this moment?”
“You don’t want to help me, do you? You are just like all the other churches, send me away without helping.”
“Ma’am, I’m trying to help. You’re not giving me much to work with.”
“I just need some money to help with rent and get home to Emporia.”
“I’m not giving you cash today. I don’t have cash. But I do have time and other resources. I can get you to Emporia today. I can talk to your landlord and work out a payment plan, get you caught up. I can get you a grocery card with groceries. But I can’t do any of that without your name and your address.”
“I live in a trailer.”
“Great, where?”
“In Emporia.”
“We’ve covered that already. Which trailer park? I used to live in Emporia. I know it very well. Tell me your address.”
“You don’t make me feel comfortable. It’s because I’m illegal isn’t it? You just don’t want to help.”
“Ma’am. I’m at a loss. I’ve offered free transportation to your home. I’ve offered to help you with your rent once I get there. I’ve offered food in the form of a grocery card. All I’m asking in return is your name and an address. I have many friends in Emporia, I’m going to have them meet me there at your house to help.”
“I’m leaving.”
And she got up and left.
What happened next surprised me. I felt angry. I didn’t know what to do with it and I didn’t know why I was feeling it. I wasn’t angry because she wasted my time..it wasn’t a waste of time. I didn’t have some self-righteous satisfaction in sniffing out a con. Heck, for all I know…she really did have a need and she was trying to hide something.
I think I was angry because she had an incredible to receive help…real help. And for whatever reason, she couldn’t give me the two things I wanted – a name and a place. Was it too much to ask? It was for her.
Why The Debt and Why Now?
Western Hill continues to pray this month to see what God will bring in for the Harvest next month. But you may ask why would a church with a new pastor in the worst economy in decades tackle their debt at this point in time?
1. Churches that have debt can’t be as outward focused. They are leveraged because they owe a bank money. Therefore, their first ‘tithe’ or check they write is to the bank, not ministry. Some will argue that the debt represents ministry, that the building allows the church to do ministry. Reality is that most buildings were/are built for the benefit of the people who paid for them. Not so much for people who aren’t there yet. I’m glad that’s not the case at WH. Our actions prove that our buildings were built for others.
2. It’s hypocritical of the church to teach tithing, giving, and simplicity and be in debt.
3. If this current financial crisis has taught us anything it’s this – get out of debt and stay out of debt. The Church should be an example of this.
4. The less debt, the more free you are to give. That’s true personally and corporately.
Football Musings, Week 2 NFL
The Broncos handled the Browns nicely yesterday. It was nice to actually see them win a game. Actually, I didn’t get to see them win…but that’s a whole other issue.
Would you believe that the Broncos would be 2-0 and on top of the AFC West?
Yes. I did. Because I figured the Chargers would beat the Raiders and lose to Baltimore. Turner and the Chargers have a habit of blowing games they should win at the beginning of the year. The Ravens however look to be a beast of a team this year with Flacco having no sophomore slump so far. I had a hunch KC would lose to the Ravens but beat Oakland. That left Denver as 2-0 and on top of the division. It lasts one more week as Denver plays the Greatness (sarcasm). After this week — the descent begins.
Watching the Chefs implode, squander scoring opportunities, and mismanage the clock was painful on Sunday. The truth of the matter is that KC is talent poor right now. I think Todd H. and Scott Pioli will change that eventually but this is going to be just as long if not longer season for Chief fans as it is Bronco fans.
Alabama/Arkansas square off this Saturday and there will probably be ample enough trash talk for Hog fans that read this blog. Up until last year, the games were very close. I think the Hogs will make it interesting in the first half, then Bama pulls away in the second. Although I’m very proud of one of my former students – Clay – who is on the Razorback team. Roll Tide…then after this weekend Go Hogs.
Life Groups and Marriage
I’ve spent the last three weeks hanging out with leaders on Sunday nights. It’s our “Turbo Group” – a group of leaders who care enough about people to learn how to a Life Group (WH’s small groups). This Sunday will be the last night we hang out in a while and we’re starting a new sermon series the week after that called “I Want A New Marriage.” The timing of these two events isn’t coincidental.
One of the biggest issues facing families today isn’t finances. It’s the quality of their marriage. The financial crunch is often times just the issue that exposes the cracks. With the divorce rate hovering around 66% both inside the church and outside, we’re beyond the ‘it’s a problem’ stage. It’s a crisis. An epidemic. The walking wounded go beyond than just the kids that are caught in the crossfire. It goes to the wife who is ashamed to tell her friends that her marriage is crap. The husband who is to macho to ask for help. The divorcee who refuses to return to church because that institution was at best silent on the issue – at worst, the judgmental voice that condemned him to live life disconnected from God’s people.
I’m amazed at real, gritty, edgy, raw and pointed most conversations in scripture are about marriage and how most churches speak about marriage in the exact opposite manner. That won’t be the case with this new series. I’ve told our congregation every week now that this series has a PG-13 rating and now is a great time to experience our children’s ministry.
But I know the shelf-life on a good message is about 3 days. Meaning – showing up and listening to a few sermons on marriage isn’t really going to help a marriage anymore than watching football is going to get me in shape. This is where our Life Groups could be a huge piece of the marriage healing puzzle. That’s why the result of this Turbo Group is crucial for us. It’s going to provide some contexts for people to get help.
One of the best ways to improve our marriage is to hang out with people who do have great marriages. Watch, observe, interact, be vulnerable with them. Listen. Do life with them. Wisdom is better caught than taught. And that is what a Life Group is – a context to hang with others, be vulnerable, get help and hope.
Hall of Fame Person or Player?
This weekend the Basketball Hall of Fame inducted one of the best classes of all time. Vivian Stringer, Jerry Sloan, John Stockton, David Robinson, and Michael Jordan.
As a kid, MJ and The Admiral were both heroes of mine. Only one of them had the depth to continue as a hero as an adult. There was no better illustration of how different these two players are than in their acceptance speeches.
I’m sure you’ve seen Jordan’s. It’s been on ESPN. The YouTube site has like a million hits. It made me sad for the man Michael Jordan. Ultimately it was incredibly vain. I think Jordan is hands down the best basketball player to ever play the game. His competitive fire is unmatched.
But I made my son David Robinson’s speech. In fact, I made the whole family watch it. That’s how incredible it was. Go watch it. It’s 7 minutes long. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I wonder why the TV hasn’t replayed this speech over and over again. It’s the best induction speech I’ve heard.
The difference between the two is immeasurable. That could be seen in the standing ovation David received. Could be heard in his words of thanks to his teammates, his coaches, and most importantly – his family. Robinson privately built a school in the meanest, poorest section of San Antonio that any kid living in that area could go to.
A Hall of Fame player and a person.
I want to live so that I too can say what David said to a room full of the greatest basketball players alive…
“If you have spent anytime with me, you’d have to admit that you’ve seen the hand of God with me. And my prayer for you is that you will experience what it’s like to walk with God.”
The 2009 Predictions
My beloved Broncos went through an offseason like no other. Thankfully that drama is over and we can get on with football. Here’s how I see the season panning out…
@ Cincinnati, W: Let’s face it, nobody really knows why Marvin Lewis is still coaching. Underachievers galore and as funny and good Ocho is – their defense is shaky, running game non-existent. Even on the road, I think Denver can win this one. They need this win because after week 3…wins are going to be scarce.
Cleveland, W: A game Denver could completely lose. But it’s the home opener…and it’s Cleveland.
@ Oakland, W: I originally had this as a loss but changed my mind. I hate the Raiders. Pathetic franchise but no one, not even Al Davis himself really knows what kind of team they have this year.
Dallas, L: This is where we start hiding the women and children. The next 7 games are brutal. I haven’t seen a stretch of games that tough in a while. Great year to draw both the NFC East and AFC North. Dallas should win because they are more talented BUT it is Dallas and they haven’t been normal in a while. Still…a game that Denver could win if they played well…which they haven’t yet.
New England, L: Do we really have to watch this one? Last one was over by 2nd quarter.
@ San Diego, L: Only way Denver wins is if SD is hurt, abducted by aliens, and Ed Hochuli is calling the game.
@ Baltimore, L: Ugly, low scoring game but a loss. Ravens are looking at Super Bowl. Defense is nasty. On the road after a bye week…not going to happen for the Broncs.
Pittsburgh, L: Monday night game. For some reason, Pittsburgh never plays Denver well. I don’t know why but after Pittsburgh beat Denver in the AFC Championship game back in ’04 (I think), Denver has somehow got the best of them. But…this is a stacked, young, healthy Pittsburgh team that should be hitting its groove. Denver could steal this game but I’m going with averages here.
@ Washington, W: I don’t really think Denver will win this game but it’s the best shot of they have in this brutal 10 game stretch. I’d feel better about it if it was at Mile High.
San Diego, L: Another game Denver COULD win if they play perfect and the stars align up. But just too much talent and SD is ready/focused finally.
NY Giants, L: Thanksgiving night, at Mile High. Will be a great atmosphere. (I’ll take any tickets if any one is offering them!!) It’s just that the Giants know how to run the football and I’m not drinking the kool-aid on the Denver defense. They are still not very good.
@ Kansas City, L: I don’t like this game this late in the season at Arrowhead. The Chiefs have their own issues to work through with a new coach, new QB, new OC and the like. I’m hoping this game stops the losing streak but if I had to pick…
@ Indianapolis, L: It won’t end here. Denver has never looked good playing Indy, especially at Indy. It’s a little too early to hope they’ll be resting their starters for the playoffs.
Oakland, W: I was at the Raider game last year with David and Danny. It was painful to watch. This is what I want for Christmas.
@ Philadelphia, L: An away game in December in Philadelphia…just can’t get any better. Philly will more than likely either be playing for home field advantage OR suffered an implosion with Michael Vick at QB. Either way – Denver becomes the punching bag.
Kansas City, W: At this point in the season, it will be interesting to see how the team responds. Does it roll over or push on? If it pushes, they’ll get the W here. KC doesn’t play all that great in Denver.
6-10.
That’s with two “I hope they win” picks thrown in – Cincy & Washington. This is the first time since the Wade Phillips era that I really believe that Denver has no chance at the playoffs. Wow.
Go Broncos.
Fantasy Football 09-10
I’m only doing one league this year. It’s a severe drop from years past but my life is to crazy (in a good way) to do much else. I’ve got a love-hate relationship with my draft. I like who I got in terms of where I got him…but there are some players I didn’t want to draft but given where they were in the draft…I just had to take them. You’ll see what I mean in a bit.
I had the 11th pick in a 12 team draft. I normally don’t like this position because it means you either have to take a player that fell that you don’t necessarily need/want OR you pick a player you need a bit too early. My game plan going in was – take a QB and WR early because I figured the great RBs would be gone by the time 11 came around. Pick up RBs in round 3 and 4. That was the plan anyway.
Reality always is so much different, isn’t it? Here were the first 10 picks in front of me…
Adrian Peterson
Michael Turner
Maurice Jones-Drew
Matt Forte
Drew Brees
Tom Brady
Calvin Johnson
Chris Johnson
DeAngelo Williams
Randy Moss
Not what I expected and both QBs that I was hoping to draft a bit early ahead of everyone else were now gone. But the flip side was it left some great options for me at 11. 3 of my top 10 players that I thought I had no chance at were still on the board. Cooper had the 12 and 13 pick. Knowing Coop’s favorite player, I did what any loving dad would do in my position….I drafted him.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR – my first pick. In a league that gives a point per reception…pretty good pickup. Coop had the next two picks and when he saw Fitz come off the board…let’s just say I won’t be nominated for any Dad of the Year awards by him. I felt bad for putting Coop in the position of being so close to getting the player he wanted only to have it ripped from his heart at the last possible second. But this is fantasy football and the sooner he learns that happens all the time, the better. I consider it my job to prepare him. Prepare him I did. I got over it by pick 14.
Cooper – with no help from me – realizes that WRs are about to go like crazy and probably RBs and after these two picks, he doesn’t have one for another 24 picks. So he drafts Frank Gore, RB and Andre Johnson, WR. Not bad picks, really. Pretty solid and safe.
That left me with one of those “You have to draft him because no one is going to believe he is sitting there” picks but you’re not sure how much mileage you’re really going to get – LaDainian Tomlinson. I’d have a couple more of those picks in front of me. Here’s the team in order of where they were drafted:
11 Larry Fitzgerald, Ari
14 LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
35 Thomas Jones, NYJ
38 Brandon Marshall, Den – one of those “I don’t really want him, but I’ll drink the poison anyway” picks.
59 Knowshon Moreno, Den
62 Jay Cutler, Chi – see above.
83 Steelers D/ST, Pit
86 Carson Palmer, Cin
107 Patrick Willis, SF
110 Tim Hightower, Ari
131 Patrick Crayton, Dal
134 Kevin Boss, NYG
155 David Akers, Phi
158 Willis McGahee, Bal
179 Shawne Merriman, SD
182 Laurence Maroney, NE
203 Limas Sweed, Pit
Games start tonight…let the waiver wire fun begin!!!
What’s Next or What’s Now?
A new read of mine is Perry Noble’s blog. He’s the lead pastor at a church called New Life in Carolina. HUGE mega church but he’s always an entertaining read. This morning he was a slap upside the head – doh! kinda read.
Here’s the line from his morning post that banged me up pretty good:
I personally believe that if church leaders are going to LEAD their churches to accomplish their full potential we are going to have to stop begging God for more opportunities and actually begin to maximize the ones He has already placed in front of us. Why would He trust us with what’s “next” if He can’t trust us with what’s now?
He’s right. And those words were crucial for me to hear…this morning…today. He won’t trust us with what is next if He can’t trust us with what is NOW.
I know Perry was talking about church leadership…and it’s easy to see the application. Focus on the basics, the ‘big rocks.’ Do what you CAN do now the best that you can. Don’t get distracted with other ‘good’ things if you can’t do the main thing well. I think every ministry team can use that in their area.
But what really got to me this morning was how it applies in our families. I’m prepping the next sermon in the Ephesians series and it’s the children/parents, slaves/owner passage. Train up your child in the LORD, NOW. Not next or when you have time or when it gets easier (it doesn’t) or when they are older. Focus on the NOW.
Let God take care of the NEXT.
A Little Sacrifice Now…
…will lead to a big payoff later.
I know this principle applies in multiple areas – sports, education, leadership – but for us we’re applying to the Harvest and the reduction of debt at Western Hill. We’ve called for the church to spend the month of September in prayer – to seek God’s wisdom as to how each of us at WH needs to participate above our normal giving. October we’ll bring it all in.
As we sat around the Creative Team table this week, I was asked to share the decision we’ve made as a family concerning the Harvest with the rest of the church. Giving is one of those areas that I’m always nervous talking to people about. It’s like talking about politics…eventually you’re going to offend somebody.
However, I’m more convinced that the Church is capable of impacting and helping the culture like no other organization in history. We exist to help others in the name of Jesus. Because of the Church’s volunteers, we’re able to do so much more with so much less. I realize this isn’t true of every church and that some (some would argue most) churches exist only to perpetuate themselves. But that’s not true of WH and I think more and more churches are getting the big picture.
That’s why I’m not as bashful asking for money now days. I know how we are going to use it and it will go to helping people. We bought appliances for a single mom last week, we regularly give away grocery cards. We’re helping a local school, a Hispanic church, a Native American mission, and not to mention our Upward sports.
The point is, as long as we understand that getting rid of the debt in and of itself is not the point but ministry is – we’ll be okay. Anyway I can help people see that clearer – I’m all for. Even if it means a few minutes of uncomfortableness telling everyone how we’re giving.
So what are we doing? We’re giving up our weekly night out as a family. We normally grab a night at Qdoba – that money for the next months will go to the debt. Also Amy’s paycheck from working from the school – a sizeable portion of that will go towards the debt as well. Gary talked about how he and Nancy we’re reallocating some of their budget that had either been paid off or no longer needed to the debt.
And so we start. I’m looking forward to hear what God is saying to the rest of us.
Most Bizarre Movie Experience
Amy and I went to see Transformers 2 last night at the dollar movie. Going to the movies is one of our favorite date nights but this one was a doosey.
First, the movie was okay. Not great, not terrible…just okay. Couple of funny lines, about 30 minutes to long. But the movie theater was packed. We had driven around Topeka for a bit that night and it felt like a ghost town. Discovered that everyone goes to the movies.
I was shocked at how many kids were at the movie. Like baby carriers, 5 to 9 year olds. It was crazy. Then the guy in front of us started snoring in the middle of the movie. We just started laughing at the whole scene – packed theater, full of kids, guy snoring…it was quite humorous. Almost more so than the actually movie.
7
Cayden turns 7 today. Normally 7 is retired for the Greatest Ever but for today we will use it in honor of Cayden. That alone should testify to the love I have for her.
Hard to believe she is 7. I remember when she came home and the realization hit me that we now had three little ones under the age of 5. Can we do this? What drugs were we taking to think that this was a good idea?
It’s been awesome. Cayden entertains us all the time now with singing, playing, drama, and her high heeled shoes that bang around our wood floors. She is all girl and I can see God working in her as well as on her.
Today we’ll dine at the T-Rex cafe, cupcakes have already been made and later we will watch Alabama beat VT.
The Past 30, The Next 30
30 days is a deceiving amount of time. Not enough or too long?
The Past 30
We celebrated 6 new believers. Had 4 new families join. Went Down Under with VBS. We revamped our student ministry. We invaded McCarter Elementary with over 1,000 school supplies. We made close to 100 nap mats for McCarter Kindergarten. We were invited to the first day of school over there to help pass them out. We hired a worship leader. Baptized 3 more new believers. Started training the next set of Life Group leaders in our Turbo Group. Almost done with the Bylaw revision. Said good-bye to Brandon (youth intern) as he goes off to finish his degree.
The Next 30
We’ll be done with the Bylaw revision. Done with the Turbo Group. Have at least 2 new Life Groups for people to connect to WH through. Have our new members class up and running. We’ll start our “I Want A New Marriage” series. And as impressive as each of those things are…it’s not really what I’m most amped about.
Yesterday, I challenged our congregation to spend the entire month of September in prayer about participating in eliminating the remaining debt at Western Hills. We want to start spending that money on ministry instead of sending it to the bank. After praying with our leaders for the past few weeks, I’m convinced now is the time to get rid of the remaining 73k in debt. It’s time because of the economy, because we are at a tipping point in our church, and because we’ll never a lasting impact on our community as long as we are in debt.
Here’s the truth of matter though – I’m just as excited about this month of prayer as I am the actually harvest. It’s 73,000 dollars. In God’s economy, that’s not a lot. I’m convinced He has the resources to deal with it. I’m more excited about what happens when God’s people humble themselves before the Lord to listen to HIS voice. I KNOW God is going to speak to us about more than just our finances.
That’s what is going to be amazing about the next 30 days. Listening to God…