24 October 2006

To: Prayer Partners

From: Pastor Lucenay

Isaiah wrote, we all, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). As we walk in the ways that seem good to us we follow our instincts. God speaks to the simple ones (Proverbs 1:22) saying, they will eat the fruit of their ways (Proverbs 1:31). I suppose in one way or another all of us eat the fruit of our ways.

This week as we take time to pray, let us consider the way we are walking with God. Perhaps Nick Fawcett’s “Journey of Discipleship” prayer can help us word the thoughts of our hearts. Lord Jesus Christ, it is not easy to follow you; not if we are serious about discipleship. You challenge our whole perspective on life, calling us not just to a statement of belief but to a way of life. You are always leading us forward, eager to guide us into new experiences of your love and a deeper understanding of your purpose, yet so often we refuse to follow where you would have us go. Forgive us for losing the sense of direction that marked our early days of discipleship. Forgive us for trusting you when all goes well but doubting the moment life fails to conform to our expectations. Forgive us for thinking that we have done all that needs to be done, imagining that one simple confession of faith suffices for a lifetime. Lord, you are still calling, inviting us to respond. Help us to follow. Amen. (Selected Prayers for Public Worship, 2003)

I’m afraid I have too often found myself eating the fruit of my way rather than enjoying the fruit of God’s way. How about you? When the seeds of my self-centeredness stick in my teeth, the prayer we just read is a helpful reminder that the journey with Jesus centers on Jesus not on my way. In what ways does the Nick Fawcett’s prayer sting your soul as you pray today? How would you reword the prayer to describe the way you are following Jesus?

At the forefront on my mind as I pray this week is my desire to be sensitive to what God is doing in our church. For the past two weeks we have been seeking to “Find God” in the Sunday morning messages and, then, beginning last week in the discussions in the Bible study hour. The quest for a deeper understanding of the basics of our belief has triggered a healthy investigation of the concepts at the heart of our faith. As I write, my mind is filled with the faces of our people, some familiar and some very new, as each seeks to think through our core beliefs. Please pray for the people who are asking questions that will affect their walk with God for the rest of their lives. Pray for those who are considering the reality of God, the personal nature of sin, the scope of God’s love, and their response to the claims of Jesus Christ. Please pray that our people will be very sensitive to the people who worship around them, helping people when they discover searching hearts. Please pray for the pastor as the messages are prepared. Pray for Nancy as she prepares the PowerPoint for the sermons and for those who operate the PowerPoint. And please pray that God will guide the pastor’s words and the way those words fall on the ears and into the hearts of the people who listen. Pray for the classes as they discuss the response of the people to the Word of God. God is at work and we are uniquely blessed to be in the midst of what He is doing.

Our staff and committees are working hard to prepare the budget proposal for 2007. Pray for God’s guidance in the preparation of this work. Pray for wisdom and vision to meet the challenges before us. And pray for God to guide our people to give faithfully to the work God has called us to do.

One of the ongoing prayer concerns is our need for space. Week by week we pray and open our eyes to the possibilities of God. And we can pray for larger space for our chapel at Tuen Mun. The movement of God’s Spirit stretches us to realize once again that the end of our understanding is the beginning place in our faith walk.

Each week we have a good group of university students meeting in Café Mosaic on Wednesday night. Some are believers. Some are not. Pray for God to build relationships in this valuable time. Pray for the university students who don’t know the Lord to experience His saving work.

Friday night the youth/student ministry will hold their monthly worship gathering. The subject they will consider is “Hurt and Healing.” No one knows the hurt that lies behind another’s eyes. Pray for God to bring healing in the painful areas of our young ones’ lives.

Thank you for your prayer support and your sweet spirit. Invite God to work through you this week and God will smile upon your request with His favor.