Day Four October 1, 2009
What A Great Dream Looks Like
“He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had.’”
Genesis 37:6
In 1989, a movie called “Field of Dreams” was released. Kevin Costner played Ray Kincella, a 37 year-old man who had never done a crazy thing in his life until he heard a voice one day that said, “Build it and he will come.” You see, Ray had had a stormy relationship with his dad. As a rebellious child of the 60’s, he scorned his dad who loved baseball, refusing even to play catch with him. His father died before he could make things right. When he plowed his cornfield over and made a baseball field, everyone said he was crazy for following his dream, but through the magic of the movie he could be reunited with his father as a young man. The theology is certainly not correct, and the plot is nowhere near reality, but that is what makes the movies, the movies.
One thing is for certain; people will come to a place where their dreams can be fulfilled. God’s field of dreams is not in Iowa, but rather in the hearts of His people. How do we know what a dream looks like? This list below gives us a good description of what a God-given dream looks like:
A God-given dream will stir your passion.
A God-given dream will be humanly impossible to accomplish.
A God-given dream will make an impression on you for a lifetime.
A God-given dream will cause you to exercise strong faith.
The enemy of our soul will attack a God-given dream.
Prayer Focus: Pray that Breiel Blvd Church will be a contagious and unconquerable source of hope where people can find meaning and purpose for their lives. Pray that the whole congregation will be united in our dream to renovate and expand our facility. Pray that we can be one so that the world can be won. Pray for church leaders to have discernment for decisions that affect this dream. Ask God to protect our dream from the enemy.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
WHAT IF...Day 3, September 30
Day Three September 30, 2009
The Birth Of A Dream
“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.”
Genesis 30:22
Rachel was Jacob’s dream wife. They were very much in love. Like most married couples, they desired to have a child so their love could walk upon the earth. God listened to Rachel’s dream for a child, and He answered her prayer by giving them a son. Their dream became a reality named Joseph.
It is impossible to overestimate the power and role of dreams in human existence. Dreams have brought us lifesaving medical breakthroughs and soul-stirring revival movements. Some of our greatest athletic achievements are the result of a personal dream. The United States of America is the result of a dream of real democratic government by a group of patriots. Martin Luther King changed the course of a nation because he had a dream. Your world and “the” world can be changed because of the dream inside you.
These dreams are your daytime dreams – your vision, your hopes, your aspirations, and your desires. A God-given dream won’t go away. Search your heart and mind to get in touch with the dream God has put inside you. Then pray about it and take action!
Prayer Focus: Pray that our church’s vision will become a reality in God’s perfect timing. Pray that our dreams of saving friends and family through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will come about because of our ministry goals and building plans. Ask God to reveal or clarify your personal dream that is His will for your life and direct you in acting on it.
The Birth Of A Dream
“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.”
Genesis 30:22
Rachel was Jacob’s dream wife. They were very much in love. Like most married couples, they desired to have a child so their love could walk upon the earth. God listened to Rachel’s dream for a child, and He answered her prayer by giving them a son. Their dream became a reality named Joseph.
It is impossible to overestimate the power and role of dreams in human existence. Dreams have brought us lifesaving medical breakthroughs and soul-stirring revival movements. Some of our greatest athletic achievements are the result of a personal dream. The United States of America is the result of a dream of real democratic government by a group of patriots. Martin Luther King changed the course of a nation because he had a dream. Your world and “the” world can be changed because of the dream inside you.
These dreams are your daytime dreams – your vision, your hopes, your aspirations, and your desires. A God-given dream won’t go away. Search your heart and mind to get in touch with the dream God has put inside you. Then pray about it and take action!
Prayer Focus: Pray that our church’s vision will become a reality in God’s perfect timing. Pray that our dreams of saving friends and family through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will come about because of our ministry goals and building plans. Ask God to reveal or clarify your personal dream that is His will for your life and direct you in acting on it.
Monday, September 28, 2009
DAY 2, SEPTEMBER 29
Day Two September 29, 2009
Don’t Let The Fire Go Out!
“Why is the house of God neglected? Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.” Nehemiah 13:11b
When the Olympics came to America several years ago, part of the experience was to see the Olympic flame. For every Olympics, a flame is lit from the eternal Olympic flame in Greece and then carried to wherever the Olympic games are being held. The flame made its way to Atlanta for the opening ceremonies by traveling all over America first.
Volunteers and heroes from all over America carried torches holding the flame from place to place. While the flame was passing through Tacoma, Washington, Harley Sheffield had the honor of carrying it on his bicycle. As he was crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the expansion grates on the bridge blew a tire out on his bike. The torch popped out of its holder, fell onto the bridge, and broke into pieces. The Olympic flame was extinguished.
Sheffield was horrified. They would have to go all the way back to Greece and start over again! He would go down in history as the man who allowed the flame to go out! His panic was unnecessary because a “mother flame” was present in a trailing van as well as a replacement torch. Thus he could resume his duty, and the Olympic flame traveled onward.
This story provides a great illustration of our walk with God. Too many times we stumble and allow our flame to go out. If your flame has been doused, there is not a “mother flame” to restore it. But there is a “Father flame” who stands ready to light your torch today, and He will keep it lit.
Prayer Focus: Pray that God will ignite our spiritual torches with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Pray that Breiel Blvd Church will always be on fire for the Lord. Ask God to make your spiritual flame burn brighter (increase your faith). Our Scripture today tells how God enabled Nehemiah to restore the priests to their duties. Ask Him how He can enable you to restore, rekindle, or resume something for Him that will give Him glory.
Don’t Let The Fire Go Out!
“Why is the house of God neglected? Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.” Nehemiah 13:11b
When the Olympics came to America several years ago, part of the experience was to see the Olympic flame. For every Olympics, a flame is lit from the eternal Olympic flame in Greece and then carried to wherever the Olympic games are being held. The flame made its way to Atlanta for the opening ceremonies by traveling all over America first.
Volunteers and heroes from all over America carried torches holding the flame from place to place. While the flame was passing through Tacoma, Washington, Harley Sheffield had the honor of carrying it on his bicycle. As he was crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the expansion grates on the bridge blew a tire out on his bike. The torch popped out of its holder, fell onto the bridge, and broke into pieces. The Olympic flame was extinguished.
Sheffield was horrified. They would have to go all the way back to Greece and start over again! He would go down in history as the man who allowed the flame to go out! His panic was unnecessary because a “mother flame” was present in a trailing van as well as a replacement torch. Thus he could resume his duty, and the Olympic flame traveled onward.
This story provides a great illustration of our walk with God. Too many times we stumble and allow our flame to go out. If your flame has been doused, there is not a “mother flame” to restore it. But there is a “Father flame” who stands ready to light your torch today, and He will keep it lit.
Prayer Focus: Pray that God will ignite our spiritual torches with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Pray that Breiel Blvd Church will always be on fire for the Lord. Ask God to make your spiritual flame burn brighter (increase your faith). Our Scripture today tells how God enabled Nehemiah to restore the priests to their duties. Ask Him how He can enable you to restore, rekindle, or resume something for Him that will give Him glory.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
What if... Devotional - Day One
Day One September 28th, 2009
Direction In Prayer
“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:13
Jesus taught us much about prayer in example and in word. “The Lord’s Prayer,” or as it could be known, “The Disciple’s Prayer” is a part of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. It is the model prayer, and it gives us an outline of the subjects we should pray over.
At the close of the prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray for the Father’s direction for our day. It includes a healthy understanding of our enemy and his ability to deceive us away from the Father’s will for our lives. Satan loves to bring the child of God into the place of temptation and ultimately, after we have surrendered to temptation, to the place of bondage.
We should pray every day for God to lead us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Pray that He will give us daily deliverance from the enemy’s power and deceit. Yesterday’s deliverance was great, but we must depend on the Father to lead us daily. The enemy never ceases his relentless attacks. He plans and schemes to control us constantly. Therefore, prayer should be a vital part of our daily life.
Of course, we have opportunity for complete victory over all of the enemy’s attacks. As believers in Jesus Christ, we know who is the King of the Kingdom. It is His kingdom to which we belong, and after prayer, we are refocused on kingdom priorities. We know that it is His power, which is able to accomplish all of these things and also know that it is all about His glory.
Prayer Focus: Pray that God will give the people of Breiel Blvd Church a spirit of prayer. Pray that He will clearly direct us and protect us from the evil one. Take time to focus on God’s greatness and thank Him for the vision that He has given our church. Pray that during these forty days, He will reveal to you how you can use your time, talents, and treasures to further this vision for His glory.
Direction In Prayer
“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:13
Jesus taught us much about prayer in example and in word. “The Lord’s Prayer,” or as it could be known, “The Disciple’s Prayer” is a part of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. It is the model prayer, and it gives us an outline of the subjects we should pray over.
At the close of the prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray for the Father’s direction for our day. It includes a healthy understanding of our enemy and his ability to deceive us away from the Father’s will for our lives. Satan loves to bring the child of God into the place of temptation and ultimately, after we have surrendered to temptation, to the place of bondage.
We should pray every day for God to lead us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Pray that He will give us daily deliverance from the enemy’s power and deceit. Yesterday’s deliverance was great, but we must depend on the Father to lead us daily. The enemy never ceases his relentless attacks. He plans and schemes to control us constantly. Therefore, prayer should be a vital part of our daily life.
Of course, we have opportunity for complete victory over all of the enemy’s attacks. As believers in Jesus Christ, we know who is the King of the Kingdom. It is His kingdom to which we belong, and after prayer, we are refocused on kingdom priorities. We know that it is His power, which is able to accomplish all of these things and also know that it is all about His glory.
Prayer Focus: Pray that God will give the people of Breiel Blvd Church a spirit of prayer. Pray that He will clearly direct us and protect us from the evil one. Take time to focus on God’s greatness and thank Him for the vision that He has given our church. Pray that during these forty days, He will reveal to you how you can use your time, talents, and treasures to further this vision for His glory.
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