Weekend Reflections

Been a few weeks w/o blogging, getting ready for the “Greater Things” series we started this week…

• and what a great kick-off it was!  I love the passion and heart PVC’ers have for reaching the lost and hurting to help them experience hope and life in Christ!
• Announced that 197 families took the “90 Day Tithe Challenge” last week.  Huge step of faith for alot of people.
• So much excitement on the patio after services; great encouragement from our church family about the next steps.
• I believe we have the strongest body and leadership we’ve ever had as a church, no doubt.  It’s showing in the way people are being discipled at PVC.
• Taught on John 14:12.  It’s such a litmus test and reminder that we’re called to do the things Jesus did: love the lost, heal the hurting, share the gospel.
• We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us, but I believe we’re going to see a miracle happen.
• Can’t wait to for the Open House at the new building: November 15th, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
• Remember: the goal is 100% participation:
  • praying every day (visit www.pvcgreaterthings.com for daily prayer guide and info)
  • Daily Bible reading
  • Every person in our church finds a place of service
  • financial giving (pray and obey)!
• The next 5 weeks are going to be crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!  PVC’ers, I love being your pastor!!

Prayer of Blessing

This weekend we concluded our series “Staying In Love”.  As part of the message, Lori and I prayed a prayer of blessing over our church.  It was  a prayer we wrote summarizing the teaching of this series.  Here it is:

Father, we thank you today for your great love for us, for the model of love you gave us through Jesus.  Thank you that through His sacrificial love we have forgiveness and find life.

We pray today that you would help us to love in the same way. Help us to do nothing from vain conceit, but rather in humility, valuing others as more important than ourselves.  Lord, we pray that we would not look to our own interest but to the interest of others, forsaking our rights in order to display true love, for you have taught us that:

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Father, we pray for those today who are single.  We pray for this season in their life, that you would help them to make Jesus their priority, to be content and wait upon you.  We pray that you would help them to maximize each day for you.  For those who have struggled through the painful end of a marriage, we pray for healing in their hearts and knowledge that you still have a great plan and purpose for their life.

Lord, we pray for every man today, that you would help us to be men after your own heart.  Help us to guard our hearts in purity, forsaking the temptations of the world and be set apart for you. We pray that we would be men whom can be counted upon, men of character and integrity who lead in our homes, our church, and our community in a Christ-like manner.

Lord, we pray for every woman today, that you would help us to know the beauty and purpose you created us with.  We thank you for the unique role we have.  May we not conform to the standards of this world, but walk securely in the knowledge of who we are, because of whose we are.  May we be an example of Christ’s love and grace in all we do.

Lord, we thank you for the institution of marriage that you have given us, and for the marriages represented today. We thank you that You have brought two people together and made them one. Help us to make our marriages a priority, to pursue each other with affection and devotion, to partner as we journey through life together.

We thank you that in marriage you desire to give us more than anything we could ever ask or imagine.

We pray for marriages that are struggling, even feeling hopeless.  We pray that you might renew hope, and remind us that with God all things are possible.  Remind us that true life change is found when we surrender our will to yours.  Help hurting marriages not to look to the world, but to look to you, where our help comes from.  Help us not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to allow you to change us by changing the way we think and live. Place our lives, our marriages, our homes, on the rock solid foundation of Jesus Christ and the truth of Your Word.

Father, I pray that you would help each partner in marriage to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Cause husbands to be leaders in our home, loving their wives as Christ first loved the church, by giving His life for her.

We thank you today for the role you have given wives in marriage.  Thank you that you created Eve from the rib of Adam, and fashioned her as a gift to him. Cause us as wives to submit to our husbands as to Christ, respecting them, seeking to protect them as the rib protects the heart.

And we pray that what you have brought together, we would not allow any man to separate.

So Father we commit each marriage to you, to your hands and your power; your love.  We pray your blessing upon each marriage today, help them to stay in love. In the name and power of Jesus Christ we pray, amen!

Another Don’t Miss Weekend