Just arrived

Just arrived in Atlanta and picked up a live blog from perry nobles session. Most notable quote so far… “We can’t expect the Spirit to lead us professionally if we’re not yielded to Him privately.”

Recalibrate

Back from kids camp and what an incredible experience for all the kids. It was awesome to see God touch each one of the kids from the Albany campus in different ways, not to mention the friendships that where made and deepened.

To be honest God had something up his sleeve for me that I didn’t expect – lots of time with no cell phone, no computer, just a bible, a book and lots of time. And boy did I need it. More than I could have imagined. Life has a way of sapping your connection with God, and certainly spending time with him on a daily basis keeps that connection alive. But sometimes, and this was one of those times for me, there needs to be a recalibration, a disengaging and getting reconnected, refocused, rejuvenated. Camp provided me with the opportunity to be alone with Jesus and for him to challenge me, and begin to work some change in me. I so identify with the last section of  “It” by Craig Groeschel… embarassed to say that but it’s true nonetheless. (BTW if you haven’t purchased “It” yet I can’t encourage you strongly enough to do so). We can be so busy doing the things that God’s called us to that we don’t spend the time we desperately need to with the One who called us in the first place. As Ken Malmin used to recite in many of his PBC classes, God has called us to be human beings, not human doings.

So here’s my encouragement to you today – find a way (take a couple of days, or a Saturday or Sunday) and find a quiet, unconjested place and spend some time with Him. It will recalibrate your soul.

Breakthrough

Another great Wednesday night prayer session at the Albany Campus last night. I know I shouldn’t be surprised here, but it’s always amazing how God shows up and directs evenings like last night. I guess He meant what He said when He told Jeremiah ,”If you seek me earnestly you will find me.”

I’ve been looking at a number of passages in Kings and Chronicles over the past couple of days. David, Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat in particular. In all three situations they faced incredible odds (multiple armies arrayed against them) and in all three situations they positioned themselves for breakthrough. They didn’t work on military strategies, what the leadership principles would suggest, past experiences nor tough talk back and forth with the enemy. “They were greatly alarmed and immediately sought God for guidance.” Jehoshaphat immediately called his people to pray and fast and what unfolded could teach us a thing or two about facing battles and seeing breakthrough:

1. They acknowledged the greatest of God (1 Chronicles 20:6)
2. They reminded themselves that when they faced calamity they could come into God’s presence, cry out to be saved and He would hear and rescue them (1 Chronicles 20:8)
3. They acknowledged how powerless they were and how much they needed God (1 Chronicles 20:12)
4. They hear from God: Don’t be afraid, don’t be discouraged. The battle is mine (1 Chronicles 20:15)
5. God’s directive was that they wouldn’t even need to fight… but they were to take up their positions. What were their positions? The rest of the passage makes it clear, prayer, praise and thanksgiving (1 Chronicles 20:17-22).

I’m not sure what battles you might be facing, but I do know we all face them. Jehoshaphat teaches us something about how to position ourselves – it starts with acknowledging who’s in charge and letting Him fight the battle. We certainly need to take our positions (and it’s not in the spectator’s stands by the way) and that starts with prayer, praise and thanksgiving. From there let God and His word direct you. If there’s an offense, go ask and give forgiveness. If you’ve done something wrong go make it right. Do what God tells us to do in his word and then follow his lead in your situation. The battle is God’s. We have a responsibility to position ourselves.

Prayers not answered the way you want?

Thank God He doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we want Him to. We’re in our second week of prayer and fasting as a church and there have been some incredible times of prayer and reports of what God has been doing in the lives of individuals. It’s worth remembering that God knows better than we do what we need and sometimes He chooses to answer our prayers a different way… Thank God!

(credit to david hayward for the artwork… an artist trapped inside a pastor’s body)

A Rockin’ Start

What an incredible time of prayer last night at our first Advance Together Prayer Session here at the Albany Campus. Tons of people out, incredible prayer that is going to yield some fantastic results… and it’s just week one. Hold on!

We just posted the Advance Prayer Cards on the Prayer site. You can download you’re own copy or pick up a copy at any of our weekend experiences in Rome, Utica or Albany.

Advance Prayer

Super excited about the next 58 days (and not just because we go to Disney in 41). But today our chruch, across all three campuses, embarked upon a prayer and fasting journey that I beleive is going to result in some incredibly life-changing stories. Any time God calls people to pryaer, you know He’s up to something. Our job is simply to respond. And that what we’re doing as a church. You can learn more here and you can stay posted and encouraged by tuning into the blog each and every day. You may not be a part of MZM Cornerstone, but why not join in and see how God speaks and moves in your life over the next 58 days.