We’re a little less than a month from Election day which is November 6th. With that day fast approaching I’d like to encourage you with three things.
First, as Americans, we are privileged to have a vote to cast. And as Christians we are responsible to have Biblically shaped values that help us make God honoring choices about how we vote.
I’ve been reading a book by Eugene Peterson in which he challenges pastors in their praying. And challenged I have been by what he’s written.
Here’s a statement in which Peterson makes the point that one of the things that limits our praying is that we are often more self-conscious than God-conscious. And this is often true of our praying whether we’re a pastor or not.
“We are far more self-conscious than God-conscious and so when we pray, what we are ordinarily conscious of is that we are getting in the first word with God. But our consciousness lies.” (1)
We’ve been enjoying a beautiful week here in northern Michigan with things warming up a little more each day. I can hardly wait for some of those seventy and eighty degree days of summer.
Last Sunday was a special day for us as a church family as we celebrated the baptism of the three youngest Pierpont boys. As Josiah was entering the baptistry last Sunday it dawned on me that he was my last child to be baptized. What a sweet privilege to baptize each of my children. I hope you were encouraged to see these three young men express their desire to live for the Lord as they passed through the waters of baptism. Please pray for their continued spiritual growth. And pray also that by their obedience we will be challenged and encouraged afresh in our faith and walk with Christ. We ought never stop growing in our faith.
It’s the first day of May today and as I woke, the first thought that came to my mind where: Why do I pray?
For a few months now our church family has been using the first and the fifteenth of each month as a reminder to pray for the work the God is doing in His church.
I was thankful that my first thoughts this morning were turned to prayer. That’s not always the case — often I’m thinking about the things I need to get done.
I have time for a quick note today so I wanted to share with you a praise and a thank you.
I praise the Lord for our days of prayer which so many of you participated in during the first eight days of 2012. I heard from some, of the great encouragement they received during their times of prayer as they prayed for our ministry as a church and for one another. Some shared with me the challenges they faced during those days of prayer. Others told me they had prayers answered during those eight days. So I am encouraged and praise God for you, His people, who prayed for the work here at Higgins Lake Baptist Church.
Photo by: dtcchc (Creative Commons)
I also want to thank you for joining with us in prayer. When all commitments to pray had been received we had just over 13 hours of daily prayer committed to. And it’s so good for us to realize the importance of prayer and to lift this work up before the Lord for His help.
It’s Friday as I write and it’s been a beautiful and warm day here in northern Michigan. Rare, spring-like warmth for January. I had to remind myself it was winter.
We’re almost at the end of our eight days of prayer at Higgins Lake Baptist Church. We had almost thirteen and a half hours of daily prayer commitments. I’m so encouraged by that. Thank you for your prayer commitments. I’ve heard from some of you who’ve said you found you prayed much longer each day than you had planned. That’s great! So how has your prayer time been this week? I’d love to hear about your experience during this special week of prayer so send me an Email.
Are you ready for a new year? I’m excited for a new year and I hope you are too.
Here’s what we get with a new calendar. An opportunity to commit ourselves afresh to praying for the work that God is doing in our midst at Higgins Lake Baptist Church. I’m greatly encouraged that almost 12 hours of daily prayer have been committed to for our 8 Days of Prayer. Will you join us too? If you haven’t already, go to the web form here and share with me your commitment to pray daily from January 1st through the 8th.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
This is a busy week for everyone, so just a quick note.
First, I want you to know how much I appreciate and thank God for each one of you at Higgins Lake Baptist Church. You are all such a great blessing to me and the rest of your church family.
Christmas, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? It also seems like the busiest. During this busy Christmas season I hope you’ll pause daily to praise and worship the risen Savior, “he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15), Jesus Christ, during this season when we celebrate His birth.
This Sunday morning we begin a two week series I’m calling “Christmas Joy”. We’ll be in Luke 2:1-20, so read ahead and see if calls to mind reasons for joy at our Saviors birth.
I know many of you are getting ready for Thanksgiving. Me to. I’ll keep this short.
It’s appropriate that as Christians we especially are thankful and clear about our thanks to God during this Thanksgiving season. We ought to be, always, the people we hear in Psalm 79:13:
But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation
we will recount your praise.