Josh and I both love the Vineyard as a movement, because while the Vineyard believes that super-natural things take place in present times, the Vineyard also focuses on being "naturally super-natural." There is a value placed on "dialing-down the hype" - we want to be available to see God do incredible things, but we also really want to guard against manufacturing a bunch of hype (it can damaging when you walk away from a prayer meeting thinking, "Did something actually just happen? Or was I just responding to the enthusiasm and peer pressure of the group to say that something happened?").
We want to plant a church that's not afraid to ask God to do amazing things. We want to be well-trained and naturally-supernatural, and we want to take big risks by praying for strangers. In the Vineyard, we often say, "Faith is spelled R-I-S-K."
Join us in praying this Psalm and asking God to empower us as leaders, to empower our team and our church in taking risks and really participating with God as He brings His Kingdom into our present:
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Please also pray for God to help us gather a team of people who can help get this church on its feet, and for a place to meet on Sunday mornings. (We're not really close to that yet, but it's never too early to ask for the perfect spot!)
I have a picture for you guys. I saw you behind this plow in a field but nothing to pull the plow. The the Lord came up (dressed like a farmer) with this big team of draft horses. Big Belgiums. He was smiling and hooked them up to the plow. He drove the team and all you had to do was hold on to the plow and keep it going straight. I feel like Luke 9:62 is for you right now. But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” That's not to be condeming but hopefully an encouragement to hang on to the work the Lord has given you to do and don't turn loose of it. Allow his provision and power to enable you to do what you cannot do yourselves. God Bless your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing - I will treasure this forever.
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