Outreach Day this Saturday!

This Saturday we’ll be doing an outreach in Gladstone!  There are several things going on that you can jump in and participate with!  1. We’re going to be helping a family by building a much needed wheel chair ramp for their daughter.  2. We’re going to send teams out into the community to hang door hanger invites.  3. We’re going to be cooking some hot-dogs for everybody!  Check out the calendar section of the website for more details.  www.journeykc.com Come on out and join the fun!

Free Concert

Hey everybody, just wanted to let you know about a free concert coming up this month for all who are interested….

Real Life in Prayer

Recently I preached a message called “Real Life in Prayer”.  We had some technical problems and didn’t get the message recorded so I thought I would post the notes here:
“Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come.
Like a mighty locomotive, His power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.” —Watchman Nee

The necessity of prayer – Prayer is the difference between a good year and a GOD year!

Jesus talked about how we should pray….

Matthew 6:5-6Matthew 6:5-6
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

WP-Bible plugin
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

1. Not just for professionals

Prayer is not a spiritual office or spiritual gift/ it’s not limited to certain kinds of people/ not to say some people aren’t more bent that way but you don’t find it expressly in scripture.  We can all have a powerful prayer life!

James 5:16James 5:16
English: World English Bible - WEB
16 Confess your offenses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

WP-Bible plugin
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Because of Jesus we are all righteous and can pray this kind of effective prayer!

Matthew 6:7-8Matthew 6:7-8
English: World English Bible - WEB
7 In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. ⁸ Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

WP-Bible plugin
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

2. Not a bunch of flowery phrases and perfect speech

“True prayer is measured by weight—not by length. A single groan
before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length.” —Charles H. Spurgeon

3. Not easy because of all the clutter of life

We are bombarded with distractions…have to cut through the clutter to hear His voice:

• New York Times contains more info than the average person in the 17th century England would encounter in a lifetime!

• Our world will make more information available this decade than has been discovered in all of human history!

The Pattern of Prayer: How did Jesus teach us to pray – Lords prayer

Matthew 6:9-13Matthew 6:9-13
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. ¹⁰ Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. ¹³ Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

WP-Bible plugin
Pray like this:Our Father in heaven,may your name be kept holy.10 May your Kingdom come soon.  May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us today the food we need,12 and forgive us our sins,as we have forgiven those who sin against us.13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,but rescue us from the evil one.

This is a pattern prayer not one you HAVE to recite necessarily

- Prayer is to proceed problems, not just be a response to them
- If we prayed more proactive prayers we wouldn’t have to pray so many reactive prayers

“The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came.… Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.” —R. A. Torrey

There is Power in Prayer

“We must never forget that the highest kind of prayer is never the
making of requests. Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into
God, to a place of such blessed union as it makes miracles seem
tame and remarkable answers to prayer appear something very far
short of wonderful by comparison.” —A. W. Tozer

The amazing thing is that we can approach God with boldness and confidence!

Do you approach God with timidity or confidence? You can seek God boldly today knowing you are fully forgiven and Jesus has made you righteous.

Hebrews 4:16Hebrews 4:16
English: World English Bible - WEB
16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.

WP-Bible plugin
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

It’s intimidating to think about taking a fearless, confident, bold attitude when coming before God in prayer. Yet this is exactly what we are told to do! God has already settled the issue of our access to Him!

When we pray, we come to God in the authority of Jesus’ name, and we can be confident that we will find grace, mercy, and perfectly timed help.

Haiti Update

A few weeks ago we received an offering for some missionaries in Haiti.  We were able to send them $2000 from our church to help with what they are doing.  Here is the latest update for those who are interested:

Dear Friends:
Since the disaster, we have actively been involved in helping the people who
flooded out of Port Au Prince back to the provinces (countryside) from whence
they came. Our efforts have been fruitful not only with the Gospel (7 saved-
many coming to church) and tending many injured people. Gayle has a unique
story which she will share with you later.

With the money that has come in, we have been able to meet many-many needs.
(James 2:18James 2:18
English: World English Bible - WEB
18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

WP-Bible plugin) Most people returning to the countryside came just with the
clothes on their backs. We have been able to supply money to them to buy
food. We are now involved with the money helping to repair damaged homes
here and in Port. One Pastor came who had a church in Port and many of
congregation were coming to him for food. He had spent all his money buying
rice,beans, and flour mixing them together and cooking for the people. We
were able to provide funds to him. He refused staying here and immediately
returned to Port and his church to help his people. Another Pastor came
yesterday and he and his family have been sleeping outside in the yard, feeling
the house and church not safe to enter into. He had no money. We were able
to give him some to return to his family in Port.

A single mother came with her two small daughters. Her house was gone and
she had no money. We were able to help. Harrington Rigaud’s car was
parked next to a service station near his house and the station caught fire. He
got out of his house and saved the car…the paint was all blistered. The fire
weakened his tires and they had to be replaced. We were able to help. Since,
he has used his car to go various places buying food for us and his family.

So you see Dear Friends, the money is very important and we hope it continues
to come in. The orphanage is now housing 4 additional adults and 3 children.
More may come.

Finally reality is setting in as the people come to grips with their state and their
loss. Some of them are still in a semi state of shock. How best to help them
at this point. We have been praying for wisdom to help God’s People and those
that are not saved yet. We believe God has given us a plan and that is to enter
back into micro enterprise. We did this once very successfully. It allows the
people to have hope and help themselves. To begin this effort, we need
$10,000.00 U.S. AS A START. The Haitian Christians know full well how
to enter the peoples market and make a profit. It is hard work and sacrifice.
But, they are used to adversity and hardship. They continue to have hope
in their Lord. YOU AND YOUR CHURCH CAN HELP. Please come along
side this vision and be a part. This is a long haul program and the Haitian
Christians know they cannot expect anything from their government. IF 500
PEOPLE SENT $20.00, WE WOULD HAVE THE $10,000.00. Please share
this need with your friends. Many of you have been generous already and God
has seen your love and sacrifice. You will be rewarded.

In the meantime, we continue to meet needs with the funds that are coming in
and pray they will continue. No amount is to small. We have received many
gifts of $10.00 and $20.00 dollars. The address is HOUSE OF BREAD,
P.O. BOX 733..CHILLICOTHE,MO..64601. Every gift is tax deducible.
Love In Christ…Jim and Gayle…Haiti

Haiti

Hey everybody,

I’m sure you’re aware by now of the devastation that has happened in Haiti because of a recent earthquake. Before the earthquake they were the poorest nation in the western hemisphere from what I’ve heard, now the living conditions must be unimaginable!

We recently supported some missionaries who have an orphanage in Haiti. They are friends of Tom and Linda Buckle. As I talked with Linda this week about what we could do as a church, she knew that they were going to need financial resources to help those in need. Recently they dug a well for fresh water. They have the only fresh water in the area and are able to serve people through that tremendous resource. We know that there are going to be many people coming to them for help in the days ahead looking for food, water and shelter.

I believe we should do our part as a church to help in whatever way we can. Most of us can’t go over there right now and physically help, but what we can do is support those who have given their lives to that nation and are in a position on the ground to serve. I want to receive an offering this Sunday for our missionaries in Haiti. Please pray about what God would want you to do and what he would have you to give.

What an opportunity to share the compassion of Jesus! We are a small church but I believe we can make a BIG difference! Thanks in advance for being obedient to God!

Pastor Shawn

« Previous Entries Next Entries »