Jared's blog

I am finishing my study for the new series on prayer that we will begin on March 14.  I have to be honest...Prayer has never been an easy thing for me.  In fact, prayer is a very difficult thing for me. 

I get annoyed when I hear  people say that they prayer for hours and hours and prayer is enjoyable for them.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them, but I get incredibly frustrated with my prayer life.  Am I doing something wrong?  Are my prayers not being heard?  What do I need to do different?

If you have some of the same frustrations, then this series is for you.  Be at the gathering for the next several weeks as we walk through biblical principles that will guide us into a more intimate and rewarding life of prayer...I think this can change our lives!

Here is a thought from last night:

God insists on spiritual compatibility in our dating relationships because God wants the best for all of us.  God created desire and intimacy, and He wants us to enjoy these things...but it only works if we do it His way.  Marriage is work and God wants us reading the same play book when go through challenging situations. 

When God is in-charge and when both people in the relationships are allowing God to mold and shape them to be the people He wants them to be, then and only then should we consider this person as a potential mate.

This past weekend I gave a message at the gathering about getting uncomfortable and learning to obey God by graciously giving.  We were challenged to return one of our ten cantaloupes back to God and allow him to scatter the seeds of blessings through our obedience.

I didn't have time to fully develop the message more, but this idea of giving applies in more ways than just money.  This idea applies to our talents, abilities, time, our intellect, etc.  In fact, the list is endless.  Every thing that we have and are about is because of God's grace in our lives.  And as soon as we realize this, we have no choice but to return to God what is already His and begin to live a gracious life.

Get Uncomfortable And Learn To Graciously Give!

-JNM

Last night, 5 people stepped over the line of faith and trusted Christ with their life.  It was incredible to watch people get "Uncomfortable" in their sin and trust Christ with their life.

People are only an invite away to coming to the gathering and hearing the gospel.  It is critical that we get passionate about inviting our friends and our co-workers to come with us to the gathering.  I encourage you to step up and get uncomfortable to reach you friends with the gospel of Christ!

What friend will you invite this weekend?

Last night in our worship and prayer service for the New Year, God showed up and prepared our hearts in an awesome way!

From my personal study the last few months, I encouraged all of us to have 3 prayers for our lives and the gathering this year.  We prayed that God will stretch us, ruin us, and heal us.  We prayed that God will do the remarkable in our lives and take us places where only He can.

In the next few months I am going to be sharing some exciting things with you about our ministry and the direction in which we believe God wants to take us.  This will stretch us, probably ruin us and will most definitely heal us. 

God has big plans for us and I can't wait to be used by Him for His glory!

-JNM