From the Shepherd's Heart....Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Today is about prayer!!

I am still rejoicing over the Spirit of God that was present so strongly this past Sunday in our "Call to Pray" service.  Thank you for the positive comments about the service dedicated to prayer.

Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer..."  Matthew 21:13

This "kicks-off" some new focus on prayer.  Prayer is not another program we do;  it is our very life.  Prayer speaks of our dependence of God.  This church is not our church, it belongs to Jesus.  We can not function in our power, energy and wisdom, we must have God's mind and Spirit.  Prayer reveals our heart toward God.

This Sunday we will begin a time of corporate prayer at 8:00 AM in the Auditorium.  We will pray together until 8:15 when the praise team begins their rehearsal time.  At 8:15, persons may walk around the Auditorium praying over every chair, going to your Sunday School room praying over the seats or continuing to have a small group prayer time.  I am so excited about our prayer time.

Also, next week we will begin publishing a prayer guide each Wednesday.  This prayer focus will not only give you an updated list of prayer concerns of church members but will rotate special prayer focus on our government leaders, spiritual leaders and missions.  These guides will be located in the Large Fellowship Hall, outside the gym, and in the Auditorium where the teaching notes are located each week.

This Sunday begins our annual "Week of Prayer for North American Missions" and also kicks off our Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  Our goal is $5,000.  There will be prayer guides and offering envelopes in the Sunday bulletin or you can see it online here.

Closing thanks......to Whitney Wigley and every member who made our Upward Basketball season so successful.  It has been a tremendous outreach and I am so grateful for every person who served in any capacity.

...to Whitney Traylor and all the leaders who led 32 children (Grade 4-6) this weekend in a special D-Now Weekend.  Thanks Whitney for your leadership.

Pray for our Sunday School leaders who are going to Sunday School Spring Training Leadership Conference this Saturday at Clements Baptist Church, Athens.  We have about 20 going.

Love you.