PRAYING TOGETHER - for physical and spiritual hunger

This Wednesday, January 26th at 7pm in B1, we will be "Praying Together" for the issue of physical hunger, which is one of the Arizona CityFest's focus points.  We will also be learning about how we can pray for friends and family to come to know Christ - and of course actually praying for them!  Everyone is invited to come, pray, and also if you are able, bring an item of canned food to support our Open Door Food Bank and bless others.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY - BIGGER

Lord, I am overwhelmed today with the bigness of so much frailty and need - mine and all around me.  Help me to trust You to the point that I am overwhelmed even more by how so much bigger You are.

A New Year - A New Way to Pray?

 

Have you ever heard the expression “praying the scriptures” and wondered what that actually means? How do you pray the scriptures? Do you just repeat the verses to God? What does it mean? How do you do it?

Praying the scriptures is not as confusing or intimidating (or, frankly, as tedious) as it might sound. The first step for me is to simply slow down a little as I read through a passage. As the words on the page describe events in someone's life (such as in the Old Testament or Acts), I can think about their responses to God, His responses to them, and what my responses might be in similar circumstances. My circumstances are different but might the same challenges be present? What are my needs and desires regarding the challenge? When I pray for those needs and desires, I am praying the scriptures. When the verses I read are words that reaffirm God's love for me or remind me of the freedom He died to give us, and I linger there awhile, I can imagine how my life would change if I truly believed that in every corner of my heart. It's then that I'm led to pray for that depth of belief to be true of me, and suddenly I'm praying the scriptures.

I could try to explain it some more but sometimes it's just better to see it. When I was at a recent writers' conference, I met a writer who is doing just that for us. Diane Guthmuller is showing us through her blog what it looks like to pray the scriptures. It's her 2011 Prayer Journey where she's reading through the Bible and posting prayers based on what she's read. It's a perfect time to jump on board and subscribe to her prayer posts. She lists the Bible passages from which her prayer comes so we can see how she turns her scripture reading into prayers. I've subscribed to her posts and they arrive in my email every day. I'm enjoying the life, and depth, and personalness that she's bringing to Bible passages for me. It gives me keener eyes to see my own life in the lives, needs, and challenges written about in the Bible. If you've ever wondered about “praying the scriptures” give this blog a look.

Shoeboxes, warm breakfast, and Christmas

This Christmas our prayer ministry had the opportunity to partner with a local ministry, Prodigal's Home, whose mission is to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the homeless and poor in Phoenix, AZ, specifically in the north Phoenix community of Sunnyslope, which is my "hometown," or at least where I spent most of my growing up years.   Each Saturday, Prodigal's Home serves a warm breakfast to all who come, as well as having a time of worship and encouragement.

  This year, Christmas fell on Saturday, and so in addition to their usual breakfast, they wanted to bless those who came with some special gifts.  I was asked by a friend, Steve, who is part of this ministry, to put the word out to see who might help contribute Christmas gift-wrapped shoeboxes with socks, gloves, toiletries, snacks, and last but not least, a personal note inside.  After being told there could be up to 70 folks there, my prayer was we would be able to contribute enough for each one, even though that seemed a lot on short notice, especially at a time of year when we are all being asked to contribute to someone or something.  I began to put the word out among our prayer ministry, prayer chain and others who are a part of our community of prayer-hearted friends here at Open Door Fellowship.  Folks passed the word along to friends and co-workers, and on the Sunday before Christmas, the drop-off table in our church courtyard piled up and up and up!  Final count was over 70 beautifully wrapped, lovingly packed boxes of treats and necessities.  Thank you, Lord! 

SHOEBOX GIFTS FROM ODF - DO YOU SEE THE ONE YOU PACKED?

Several other churches contributed boxes as well, packed with a different assortment of items than what we had packed, so ultimately most folks got not one but THREE boxes of gifts!
My husband has been helping out at the Saturday morning breakfasts for the past several months, and he asked our family if we would be willing to go serve together on Christmas morning.  Some of the other individuals and families who were contributing shoeboxes heard of the opportunity, and wanted to come help serve too, and we ended up with about 25 from our church there helping, most for the first time.  

SOME OF OUR ODF FAMILY VISITING WITH FOLKS AT THE BREAKFAST

GIFTS BEGINNING TO BE PASSED OUT

We are in a season when God is opening and stirring our hearts in fresh ways to see, pray, and reach beyond ourselves.  What a great privilege it was to be a part of this special effort and event.  Many who packed boxes told me how meaningful it was to select and pack the items, and thanked us for offering them the chance to give.  Those of us who came to serve were moved and stretched, and ultimately, perhaps even inspired to continue to be a part of local efforts such as this one.


Lord, keep growing Your heart of compassion in us, as You lovingly draw us to see, pray, and reach beyond ourselves.


For more info on the ministry of Prodigal's Home, click here

PRAYING ACROSS THE WORLD

We are currently praying, via our ODF prayer chain, for a church in Africa.  They have been meeting in a large tent and have been trying to finish their permanent building for several years. They have even been asked to move into an actual church building -- quickly -- because their worship is so noisy!!!  They need to be out of the tent and into the new building by the end of December, and won't have permission to occupy it until the doors and windows are complete.


Here are some photos of the progress they are making -- check them out and pray for it to be done in time! Wouldn't it be great to be there with them as they worship for the first time in their new home?  What a gift to be able to lift up our brothers and sisters in prayer, knowing our prayers can have impact around the globe.

 

ARIZONA CITY FEST

Check out more info on this upcoming season by clicking on the Open Door Fellowship and Arizona CityFest link on the left under "Pages."

PRAYING TOGETHER

Praying Together is our weekly prayer gathering on Wednesdays at 7pm, where we meet to be with God and one another as we share our hearts in worship and prayer.

        Each week we have a different topical emphasis, so at times we will pray for:

• our church
• our world
• areas and issues of justice and mercy
• and always, for one another.

       Praying together is modeled and encouraged throughout the Old and New Testament as one of the main privileges and identifying characteristics of God's people.  He loves when we come to Him, and come to Him TOGETHER!  Join us!