Proverbs 29:18storage.cloversites.com/calvarycrosslink/documents... · from The Lord for you. PRAYER: Speak to me Lord. I am your servant. I am listening to hear from you. Lord, teach

40Days ofPrayer

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Dear Friends,

Calvary Cross-link has reached a defining moment in the life of our ministry and mis-sion. We are Impacting the Valley and Blessing the Nations at an unprecedented rate, yet we face barriers and obstacles that threaten our future opportunities. God has brought serious momentum to our church that is accelerating His vision in ways we never dreamed possible, yet we are running the risk of losing that energy very soon. By the grace of God, I refuse to let that happen here! It is my desire, pas-sion and calling to leave a Cross-link Legacy in the Valley and the Nations to such a degree that they will never be the same. I believe you share this passion, so I am extending you an invitation.

I am inviting you to join me on a spiritual journey over the next 40 days. I believe that this journey will affect you and your family in a profound way, to the glory of God! Together we will develop a clearer understanding of what God has done, an exciting revelation of what He is doing, and an anxious anticipation of what He will do as we walk with Him! We are calling this journey “A Cross-link Legacy: In the Valley, To the Nations...for Eternity!”

Please set aside 15 minutes each day, for the next 40 days to read, pray and reflect on each devotion. These verses have been carefully selected and thoughts have been specifically written to focus each family in our church on leaving a Legacy to the glory of God. I cannot adequately express my excitement about what God may do with our church, in our community and across the world when our hearts are fixed on Him! I encourage you to join me in this journey.

I deeply love you and your family! It is one of the great privileges of my life to be called your pastor.

Until He comes,

Pastor John WelbornMatthew 6:33

restling is an ancient sport. In the first century, wrestlers strug-gled for their lives, not for TV ratings. In the language of the day,

the wrestling ring was called the “agone” and the wrestlers were called antagonists.

Such is this word image that Paul uses to describe the work of prayer from a spiritual leader of the Colossian church, Epaphras. Paul tells the church that Epaphras agonizes in prayer for them. What a powerful im-age like Jacob wrestling with the angel all night for a blessing (Genesis 32:24 - 31) - and like Jesus praying so fervently in the Garden of Geth-semane that his sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22-41-44).

As we enter these 40 days of prayer, reflect upon a simple question - What would you do through me, Lord, to make your will happen in this church? Genuinely reflecting on that question will mean prayerfully wrestling with God’s will in your life and with God’s will for our church. This is a time to exercise our faith. The struggle to respond faithfully will not be easy. The process of making a decision will not be short-lived. Like Jacob, you may spend more than one restless night wrestling for an answer and a blessing.

Are you willing to pray, to wrestle hard, for the future of this church?

PRAYER: Lord, lead me in prayer to wrestle hard with your will. I will hold fast to you until I find your blessings.

ACTION ITEM: Pray earnestly to seek God’s will. Make a prayerful decision about your participation. Set aside at least 15 minutes every day for the next 40 days to spend in time and reflection. Make an ap-pointment with yourself and God. Write down when and where you will spend your prayer time each day for the next 40 days.

Exercise FaithColossians 4:12-13 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Je-sus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodi-cea and Hierapolis.

01 DAY

02 DAY

Explore Promiseost of us are good at the first baby step of prayer. It is easy to ask God to do something. Unfortunately, after the asking we

think that we are finished. We think that since we have already asked, we are expected to do nothing more.

The first step in any journey is critical. We do need to ask in order to receive. But asking is just the first step. It takes many more steps to continue a real journey of prayer.

Seeking God’s guidance is much more work than simply asking; seek-ing takes time, attention, listening, looking, and searching. A journey of prayer will lead us far past asking, deep into new paths of seeking God’s will for our lives. Along those paths we will discover doorways, places where choices and decisions must be made.

Do we have the courage and commitment to knock on those doors? And when those new doorways open, will we step into a new way of life?

Simply asking demands little of us. Seeking means searching for God’s will in our lives; and such seeking will undoubtedly change us. Knock-ing on the doors that God would open to us may well lead us down paths that we never imagined. We do not know what God has in store for us but one thing is certain, a journey of prayer will change us.

PRAYER: Lord, I seek your guidance and your will in my life. Lead me down your paths for your name’s sake. Open new doors that I might find a new way of life.

ACTION ITEM: Capture this journey of prayer that you are committing yourself to by journaling your adventure. During your prayer time, dur-ing these 40 days, write down what you are asking and what you are, what you are seeking and what you are finding, what doors you knock upon and which are open to you.

Luke 11:9-11 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead?

he last commandment Jesus spoke for every Christian was, “Go... make disciples of all nations... teach them all that I have command-ed you.” Every church and every Christian has a God-given pur-pose. Why this journey of prayer? So that we can be and do what

God calls us to be and to do. We want to reach, teach, and change the lives of people with the good news of Jesus Christ. The resources raised will provide necessary tools to help us better reach, teach, and more effectively change the lives of people. We want to impact the Val-ley and bless the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your life has been reached by Christ. Now, others need to be reached.

PRAYER: Lord, grow my passion for your purposes in my life and in my church. You have brought me here for a reason. Reveal to me what you would like to do through me.

ACTION ITEM: Make a list of why our church legacy is important.

How many people will be helped as we expand our reach? Can a value be put on a life changed?

As you focus on the WHY question, ask yourself how important is it that we reach the lost? How can our church’s legacy help reach others for Christ?

Experience PurposeMatthew 28:16-20

03 DAY

16 Then the eleven dis-ciples went to Galilee, to the moun-tain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach-ing them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

04 DAY

Experience Callingn 1 Samuel 1:3 the writer tells us, “the Word of The Lord was rare in those days, and visions were not widespread.”

Many people seem to want to think that the Word of The Lord is rare, that the Word of The Lord only comes to people like pastors, who are specially called. Many people seem to think that God has no word, no calling, and no vision for them.

Maybe, like the boy Samuel, we simply are not listening. We hear something calling our name and tugging at our heart. Perhaps we need to listen better for a word from God. Perhaps it is not a word from God that is rare, but a faithful listening from those who would serve God that is so rare.

Every Christian has a calling. In fact, every Christian has several call-ings as well as God-given gifts, graces, and blessings to respond to those callings.

Every Christian is called to be a faithful steward of the talents and time and resources that God has blessed them with. Being a faithful steward is a personal calling - a word from The Lord. It is a calling that comes with your name attached to it. It is a calling that only you can make a decision about. You can ignore the calling. You can brush off the calling by only responding in minimal ways. Or, recognizing God’s claim over your life, you can wake up and listen for God’s voice. There is a word from The Lord for you.

PRAYER: Speak to me Lord. I am your servant. I am listening to hear from you. Lord, teach me not only to say Samuel’s prayer, “Speak for your servant is listening,” but actually listen for your word, Lord, and to do your word.

ACTION ITEM: Are you listening for God’s word? List where you hear God’s word (in scripture, in worship, in prayer, through people, etc.) In your daily prayer time and your journaling, make note of the ways that God is speaking to you.

I Samuel 3:10 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your ser-vant is listening.”

ReadI Samuel 3:1-11

esus has been with the crowds all day ministering to the people’s needs. It was getting late. And frankly, the disciples were tired of

dealing with all the people. “Send the crowds away” the disciples told Jesus. Let them go home and take care of themselves for a while.

Surely you do not expect us to be responsible for all of their needs.

When a church is challenged with growing needs, it would be easy to say “just send the crowds away” - surely it is not our responsibility to minister to all of these needs. But don’t try saying that to Jesus. Jesus’ response was, and still is, clear. “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

A crowd of more than 5,000 people. How can we meet that kind of need? It is overwhelming. As Philip says in the book of John, “Six months wages would not buy enough bread for each of them even to get a little.”

Then seeing the need, and determined to do what he could, a boy in the crowd gave five loaves and two fish. What are these gifts among so many people? Jesus took the gift, blessed it, and fed the crowd of more than 5,000 people.

Every miracle begins with a person - with a person making a gift of the best he can offer and asking Jesus to bless and use that gift. Expect a miracle. The need may seem overwhelming. Your gift may appear to be inadequate. But all Jesus asks is the best we can offer. When you give the best that you can to Jesus - expect a miracle. Expect God’s grace to work in and through you, in and through others to accomplish more than you can imagine.

PRAYER: Lord, with your blessing and your grace, multiply my gifts to make more difference than I ever imagined.

ACTION ITEM: Begin now to think about your part, your gift. No one can do your part for you. You have a part in this miracle that only you can provide. Start the conversation that asks, “Lord, what would you do through me?”

Expect a MiracleMatthew 14:16 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

05 DAY

ReadMatthew 14:13-21John 6:1-11

06 DAY

Extra Effort: 1ook at a revealing count of New Testament words:

- Believe, Believing = 275 times- Pray, Praying = 371 times- Love, Loves, Loving = 714 times- Giving, Give = 2,162 times

Jesus knew our treasures and our hearts would be inseparably linked. For Him, talking about treasure was to reach more completely for the full allegiance of people’s hearts. Jesus knew that dealing with our trea-sures is one of those critical places where the rubber meets the road... where the practicality of our faith is tested... where what we believe becomes tangible and real.

Remember the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19? We have no idea what happened between Jesus and Zacchaeus other than they had dinner together. But we do know that Jesus reached and dramatically changed Zacchaeus’ heart. How do we know that? Follow the money. Look at what happened with Zacchaeus’ treasure. Half of what he possessed he gave immediately. Seeing where his treasure went, Jesus exclaims, “Today salvation has come to this house.”

PRAYER: Lord, teach me to love you with all my heart and with all my life. Let salvation come to this house!

ACTION ITEM: Sketch out a simple budget of where your treasures are (of where your financial resources go). Write down your current giving to the ministries of the church.

How does your giving to God’s work, through the church, compare to your investment in your other treasures?

Does that level of giving represent what you believe?

What does your level of giving say about where your heart is?

Where would you rather your heart be?

Matthew 6:19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

ReadLuke 19:1-9

fter a long morning of teaching in the temple courtyard, Jesus took a break with his disciples. Sitting right across from the treasury, their gazes drifted over to observe many people who were making their offerings.

Never one to miss a teachable moment, Jesus asked the disciples about what they had seen. “Who put in more?” is the implied question. The answer is obvious - those who gave the greatest sums put in more.

Jesus turns the table on the obvious, teaching his disciples an impor-tant principle of giving. Giving is not measured by dollar amount. Giving is measured by how much we truly give of ourselves. Some who gave large sums offered out of their surplus gifts that they would never even miss. But what the widow offered meant the world to her, although it was just a penny. Her gift affected her life. Her seemingly small gift is the one Jesus singles out for praise. She put in more of herself than all of the others.

Commitments are not about equal gifts, but about an equal sense of sacrifice. Not everyone has the ability or the resources to make a multi-million dollar gift; but every person has the ability and the opportunity to meaningfully invest themselves in what God is doing in their church. In terms of commitment, rather than the amount, ask yourself:

Would God be honored if every person in this church made a sacrifice equal to my own?

PRAYER: Lord, each and every gift makes a difference to my church. Teach me to give in ways that make a difference in my life.

ACTION ITEM: Do not try to measure your gift compared to others. Every gift from every person is immeasurably significant if that gift rep-resents a meaningful commitment. Continue to ask yourself in terms of level of commitment and not dollars:

Would God be honored if every person in this church made a sacrifice equal to my own?

Extra Effort: 2Mark 12:41-44 41 Jesus sat down oppo-site the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small cop-per coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Je-sus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the trea-sury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

07 DAY

08 DAY

Extra Effort: 3hat can change your mind? That is an interesting question. Changing one’s mind is a difficult and rare thing, especially if

the transformation means changing our directions, our opinions, our goals, or our plans. Yet such change is exactly what Paul calls

every Christian to do. He calls us to be completely transformed by the renewing of our mind. And he calls us to give ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice.

Would anyone notice that your life is molded to the mind of Christ?

Could anyone see your transformation of how your life in faith changed your mind?

Are you still conformed to this world, or are you being transformed?

Could anyone notice the difference in you as you offer yourself more fully to God?

PRAYER: Lord, lead me to see things differently... to think differently... to live differently. Reset my priorities. Transform my mind... and my life.

ACTION ITEM: Get in touch with the “mind-set” that you entered the prayer journey with. What have you pre-determined? What have you already decided? Be honest and write those things down. Then make a commitment with yourself to be open-minded. Listen, look, reflect and see what you learn. You may be surprised to find yourself transformed before this prayer journey is finished.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleas-ing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

od gave His people a vision. “Come”, said God, “Take your place prepared for you. Take up your part in my work. All of us are invited to make a difference. When you take your place and take up your

part, all will be blessed to break bread in my kingdom.” But they all alike began to make excuses.

The most important piece of a jigsaw puzzle is the piece that is miss-ing. Every part is important to making the whole picture work. Your participation in the mission of our church is unquestionably significant. No one can play your part but you. Others can only do their parts. No one can make up for your part if your part is missing.

PRAYER: Lord, when your call challenges me, it is easy for me to ex-cuse myself. Reach me! Compel me to respond to your call in whatever ways I can.

ACTION ITEM: If you have a list of excuses, then take that list and offer it up as a burnt sacrifice. Go back to the list you made on day 2 - rea-sons why this journey is important.

Looking over that list, can you now find reasons to give?

No ExcusesLuke 14:23 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

09 DAY

ReadLuke 14:15-24

10 DAY

Examine Commitment: 1oo often we think of giving to the church as a financial decision rather than as a stewardship decision. We rush to start off in the wrong di-rection. We hurry the process. As a result, we may make a donation to the church, but we do not make a stewardship commitment.

To make a stewardship decision, we must first make a faith commit-ment, calling to account our lives of faith before doing any financial accounting.

In 2 Corinthians 2:5, Paul says of the Macedonian church, “they gave of themselves first to The Lord, and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” We need to first determine our commitment level before deciding our financial position. Making a stewardship decision means respond-ing to a deeper calling of faith, not reacting to a quick accounting. A stewardship commitment is first and foremost a faith commitment, not a financial calculation.

PRAYER: Lord, first let me give myself more fully to you. Then let my decisions grow out of what I believe... and out of what you call me to do and to be.

ACTION ITEM: First things first. Instead of rushing to the calculator or the budget, answer these questions.

What does God call me to be and to do?

What is God doing in my church now?

How is God working in my life now and what could He do through me?

How can I give myself more fully to God?

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generos-ity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

hen you have decided to make your stewardship decision a mat-ter of faith, then the next step is to seek God’s will. “They gave

themselves first to The Lord, and, by the will of God, then to us.”

Seeking God’s will means getting God involved in your decisions and in your life. Seeking God’s will means inviting God’s input and guidance. It means genuinely asking, “What would you do through me, Lord, to make your will happen in my church?”

Where do we ask for God’s guidance and seek God’s will? How do we invite God to participate in our lives?

Those things happen as we intentionally spend time in prayer.

A stewardship decision is a prayerful commitment. A stewardship com-mitment invites God to dialogue and involves God in the discussion. A stewardship decision is more than just a sense of goodwill. It means discovering and acting within a sense of God’s goodwill.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to honor your name. Speak to Me! Let your will be done in me and through me. Let your kingdom come... here in my life.

ACTION ITEM: Listen well over the next week. Take time to listen, learn, and reflect. Take time to ask, search, and see God’s will. Note in your journal what you hear and believe God is speaking to you.

Examine Commitment: 2Matthew 6:9-15 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And for-give us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

11 DAY

ReadMatthew 6:5-19

12 DAY

Examine Commitment: 32 Samuel 24:25 25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offer-ings. Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

Read2 Samuel 24:18-25

ny commitment will cost you something. King David had an oppor-tunity to make an easy sacrifice or offering to God. Araunah was going to give him the whole deal - the threshing floor (the place for the altar), the oxen, and even the wood for the sacrifice - for free.

What a deal. But David realized such a deal was really no sacrifice for himself. He said, “I will not offer a sacrifice to The Lord my God which cost me nothing.”

Offering yourself to God - giving sacrificially - is not easy. It will always cost you something.

Is your commitment one that honors and worships God?

Does your sacrifice make a real difference to you?

Are you giving in ways that shape your living?

If you can answer “yes” then you are not simply sharing a gift, you are sharing your faith.

PRAYER: Lord, if I give myself in ways that mean little to me, how would that honor and worship you? Let my giving honor you as my Lord and my God.

ACTION ITEM: Reflect on this question - Does what I am thinking about giving make a difference in the way I live my life?

Extra Commitment 13 DAY

2 Corinthians 8:7-8 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnest-ness and in the love we have kin-dled in you—see that you also ex-cel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by compar-ing it with the earnestness of others.

ow that we have made a faith commitment and sought God’s will in prayer, it is time to turn what we have learned into what we can do and will do - finding ways to practice what we believe.

Now is the time to ask some questions:

Lord, what have you equipped me and blessed me to do?

What resources do I have to give?

How can I think creatively about giving more of myself?

Are there assets beyond my monthly income that I could give?

Can I create new resources to give with my talents, gifts, and time?

Does my faith commitment lead me to change other priori-ties in my life?

There is no one “correct” plan that is right for everyone. Making faith real is a unique journey for every individual. Talking to the church in Corinth, Paul knew there was no formula for giving. In fact, he realized that he cannot command anyone to give. Giving has to grow from the heart. But as Paul well knew, giving is a test of the heart, in action, a test of genuine love. Giving is where what we believe gets real.

PRAYER: Lord, I have heard your word. Help me to be a doer of your word.

ACTION ITEM: It is inventory time. Time to get practical about God’s blessings in your life and what you can (and will) do. It’s time to get real. Make some lists. First, identify, and give thanks for, all that God has blessed you with. Second, come up with a list of as many ways of giv-ing that are possible to you. Use this list as you determine your pledge to continue Calvary Crosslink’s Legacy.

14 DAY

Excess Baggageook at the pictures of a well-kept vineyard whose purpose is to bear

good fruit. You will see thick decades-old grapevines pruned back so that all the energy of the plant is focused on growing great

grapes. Pruning - heavy, regular pruning - is necessary to bear good fruit.

How overextended is your life? What all have you branched out into? We may think that wildly branching out everywhere as fast as we can grow helps us cover all the bases in life; but in truth, such unmanaged growth keeps us from bearing any real fruit. Ask yourself:

Where could I cut back so I could invest the time, energy, and resources available to me into bearing the kind of fruit in my life that matters?

PRAYER: Lord, abide more fully in me. Help me to prune and manage my life better. Reshape my living to bear good fruit that would glorify you.

ACTION ITEM: Make a list of items in your life that are overgrown.

What branches can you cut out? What resources does that pruning free up for you to invest in bearing good fruit?

John 15:5,9 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

ReadJohn 15:1-9

hy do people give things that they have enjoyed and owned that had real value to them? It is simple. The Lord had need of it.

What they were giving to meant far more to them than what they were giving up. People can free up resources that were previously tied up in the substance of their lives. Untied, the “substance” which they had been blessed with could now be an even greater blessing as a gift. Like the owners in the book of Luke who provided Jesus with a way into the city of Jerusalem, these people had a donkey and The Lord had need of it.

Maybe it is time to untie your donkey - to free some of your substance and to bring it. The Lord may have need of it.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to see how much I have been blessed with in my life - and to see how things may bring a whole new sense of bless-ing as a gift.

ACTION ITEM: Do an inventory of your “substance.”

Are there assets in your life that you could untie in order to enlarge your giving?

Expanding GivingLuke 19:29-35 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were unty-ing the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.

15 DAY

16 DAY

Expanding Influencen Hebrew, the name Joseph means God’s added blessing. So why would the apostles give Joseph of Cypress a nickname like “Barn-abas”?

Barnabas means “son of encouragement”. When the early church needed money to underwrite its ministries, Joseph sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. When Saul (renamed Paul) needed a friend to welcome him into the church he once perse-cuted, it was this Joseph who was that friend who nurtured Paul into a ministry of his own. When the church needed to send someone to encourage the new believers, they sent this Joseph. When young Mark needed someone to believe in him and give him a second chance, Joseph encouraged him.

Our church needs leaders - people who are willing to stand up, speak up, and step up to encourage others in passionate missions and gen-erous giving. Your gifts make a difference to the church, and so does your faith, your story, and your passion. In doing so, you multiply Gold’s grace and influence the faithful response of others.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to feel so joyful about what I am doing to make a difference in your kingdom that I can be a witness and encourage others.

ACTION ITEM: Make a list of your spheres of influence - people with whom you connect regularly and who you have the opportunity to en-courage. Find at least one way to share your passion and your faith with the people in your spheres of influence.

Acts 4:32-37 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their posses-sions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apos-tles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

espite being goaded by his disciples to be jealous of Jesus’ early success, John remained steadfast in his sense of place within God’s plan. He rejoiced in the following that Jesus attracted. He

even helped his own disciples to join with Jesus. John 3:22-30 is John’s explanation of his own role to his disciples. He (Jesus) must increase and I must decrease.

Have you discovered this truth yet?

Most of us think that joy increases as we increase - as our wealth and our prestige, our influence and power increase. But in fact, just the op-posite is true. Joy is not a reward of accomplishment. True joy is found where John the Baptist found it - by finding one’s place in relationship to Jesus Christ.

Are you ready to find complete joy?

He (Jesus) must continue to increase in significance and Lordship of our lives while we (our plans and ambitions) must decrease.

PRAYER: Lord, lead me to find complete joy and abundant living as I give my life more fully to you.

ACTION ITEM: Make a list of things that really bring you joy. You will find that the things that bring you joy are not things at all, but rather gifts given to you (like family, health, a sunrise, a friend). Perhaps the way to discover more joy is to give those kinds of gifts more fully to others.

Express JoyJohn 3:27-30 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is giv-en them from heaven. 28 You your-selves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

17 DAY

ReadJohn 3:22-30

18 DAY

Extravagant Blessinge do not know this woman’s heart. Perhaps she had experi-enced the forgiveness of Jesus and felt so grateful for him that

she had to find some way to bless Him. Whatever the reasons, Jesus defended her heart and her lavish gift.

One could debate the resources our church needs to invest in minis-tries and missions. But instead of debating the point of all that could be done, perhaps we should ask a different question.

Is what we are doing honoring God?

Is what we want to accomplish furthering the gospel of Je-sus Christ?

Does what we want to do and where we want to go bless Christ?

Very soon Jesus was stripped of His friends, His dignity, and His cloth-ing as He was nailed to a cross. That dark day the only thing His tor-mentors could not get off of Him was the smell of that perfume on His head. As Jesus struggled to draw painful breaths upon the cross, did the sweet smell of that loving gift strengthen Him to be broken and poured out for us all?

PRAYER: Lord, give me the grace to give to you as lavishly as you have poured Yourself out for me. Allow me to bless you, even as you have blessed me.

ACTION ITEM: Make a list of the ways that your gift might bless God through this prayer journey.

Mark 14:8-9 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my buri-al. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

ReadMark 14:3-9

aking a sacrifice means giving up something of value in order to give something that means even more to you. It is giving some-

thing you care about to something you love even more. The last-ing effect of such giving should be joy. Joy discovered in giving

yourself to those things that are most important to you.

Try giving until you discover joy; the joy of aligning your life with God’s grace and will; the joy of doing your part along with a whole community of faithful people; the joy of helping to make miracles - large and small – happen; the joy of seeing people’s lives change because of seeds you planted and nurtured; the joy of glorifying God.

Indeed, as Paul said to the church in Corinth, “you will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God.”

PRAYER: Lord, teach me greater joy and abundant thanksgiving in a meaningful, purposeful, committed life.

ACTION ITEM: Make a list of the reasons why you are glad to give.

Exude Gratitude: 12 Corinthians 9:6-8 6 Remember this: Who-ever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows gen-erously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abun-dantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

19 DAY

Read2 Corinthians 9:6-15

20 DAY

Exude Gratitude: 2he reason, model, and example for our giving is the grace and the sacrifice of God himself. God gave... other people of faith have giv-en... now it is time for your faithful, hopeful, joyful response. “Now finish doing this, so that your eagerness may be matched by complet-

ing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has...” (2 Corinthians 8:11-12)

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the inexpressible grace you have given to me. Bless my gift and use my gift to bless others in your name.

ACTION ITEM: Follow through. Make a commitment through this jour-ney of prayer that you feel right about and feel joy in your heart.

2 Corinthians 8:9-13 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he be-came poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your comple-tion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

ow do you think of God’s goodness? God’s glory? What words do you use? What on earth could ever faithfully represent the all-

surpassing greatness of God? Psalm 36 uses a variety of visual images to capture the aspects of God’s nature. Pay close attention

to these images as you read. Let them sink into your heart.

Ask yourself these questions:

Why do you think the psalm begins with talking about the wicked?

How does David’s reflection on the wicked help him to see God more clearly?

How do the visual images in this psalm help you understand God’s nature?

PRAYER: Lord, there is no limit to your love. Your faithfulness to us cannot be measured. How wonderful you are. How gracious to us. You hide us in the shadow of your wings. You pour out abundance upon us. Through your son, you give us life, living water bubbling up to quench the yearning of our hearts. O God, expand our vision of you. Help us to see you more truly, trust you more fully, delight in you more consis-tently, and live for you more boldly.

ACTION ITEM: Take time to reflect upon the images in this psalm, relating them to what you have seen in your own life. When have you seen the vast heavens, or billowing clouds, or mighty mountains? As you remember what you have seen, let these memories help you to meditate upon the awesomeness of God.

Faithfulness Beyond the CloudsPsalm 36:5 5 Your love, LORD, reach-es to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

21 DAY

ReadPsalm 36

22 DAY Worship the God Who is

Beyond Our Searchinge want to understand God, know about God, and know God personally. By His grace, God has made himself known to us.

But sometimes we try to put God in a box, as C.S. Lewis once wrote. We forget that God cannot be contained by our words and

thoughts. When we remember the greatness of God, we are humbled and called to worship.

The apostle Paul has just finished a long exposition of God’s ways with humankind, showing how God’s righteousness has led to our being brought into a right relationship with God. So why, after so much truth-ful theology, does Paul end with Romans 11:33-36? What difference do these verses make?

Verse 36 ends on a note of worship but if you look ahead to Romans 12:1-2 you’ll see where Paul goes next. How does 11:33-36 flow into 12:1-2?

PRAYER: Lord, O God, you have so wondrously made yourself known to us because you seek a relationship with us. Yet even though we know you truly, we have barely begun to know you. You are so much more than we could ever comprehend. Stretch our minds. Enlarge our hearts. To You, O God, be all the glory, in our lives, in our church, and throughout your creation.

ACTION ITEM: List all the ways God has made himself known to you. Imagine all the good things God has in store for your future, the future of our church, and the future of the Valley.

Romans 11:33-36 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowl-edge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.To him be the glory forever! Amen.

ReadRomans 11

hen you realize that God is so far beyond our understanding, we might despair of ever really knowing God at all. But God Himself

invites us to know Him, to have a relationship with Him. He prom-ises that if we seek Him, we will find Him. Moreover, we will join all creation in praising God.

Perhaps no verse of Isaiah 55 speaks more directly to us than verse two: “why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” How does this verse speak to you?

How does Isaiah 55 connect God’s “thoughts not being our thoughts” with His mercy? How have you experienced God’s mercy?

PRAYER: Merciful God, how often have we spent money for that which is not bread, investing our time and money in things that have no last-ing significance, and that really don’t satisfy our hearts? Forgive us. Cleanse us. Create in us clean hearts. Give us passion to seek you first that we may truly find you and live each day for you. Lord, we are thirsty. Lead us to your waters, to the living waters that Christ alone of-fers. May we drink deeply, being refreshed each day by your presence.

ACTION ITEM: Isaiah is filled with invitations and promises. Pay close attention to these. How would these invitations and promises play out in your life today?

Knowing the God Beyond Knowledge

Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

23 DAY

ReadIsaiah 55

24 DAY Blessing Far

Beyond Ourselvesbram (later known as Abraham) is introduced in Genesis 11 as the son of Terah, who lived with his family in Ur of the Chaldeans (modern day Iraq). Terah decided to take his family to Canaan but ended up in Haran (southeast Turkey). There God called Abram,

forging a covenant with him.

So how do you think Abram felt when God spoke to him?

How would you have felt if you had been in his shoes?

Notice the breadth of God’s vision. It’s far beyond merely blessing Abram or making him a great nation.

What difference does this make for us?

PRAYER: You are the sovereign Lord, the One who holds all of history in your hands. Do according to your will, calling people as you see fit. We are humbled by the fact that you have called us to yourself through Christ, and that you have called us to make disciples throughout the world. O God, may our vision be stretched by the magnificence of your vision for the world. Enlarge our hearts.

ACTION ITEM: Why did Abram follow God’s call, especially when no specific area was given for Abram to go (“to the land that I will show you”)?

How do you respond when God calls you through his word and by his spirit?

Genesis 12:2-3 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

ReadGenesis 12

o what did the death of Christ really accomplish? This question doesn’t have a simple answer. Yet one of the biblical texts that explains the impact of the cross is found in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5. This pas-

sage not only clarifies the meaning of the death of Christ, but it also connects this meaning to our ministry.

How have you experienced the new creation in Christ?

Consider the astounding truth of 5:21: For our sake God made Christ to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. How do you respond to this truth?

How are you an agent of reconciliation in your world? How is Calvary Crosslink an agent of reconciliation in our com-munity? Could we do more? Could you do more?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, what can we say in response to your sacrifice for us? Not only did you die a painful death in our place but you became sin. You bore in yourself a penalty for our sin as the Father rejected you. And you did this so that we might experience the right relationship with God. We thank you and praise you.

ACTION ITEM: God has called us to be ambassadors of reconciliation in our world, to share the good news of what you have done. Make an effort this week to speak to neighbors about you and to live out this good news each day. Strive to deliver and to demonstrate the good news of reconciliation.

Called to a Purpose Beyond Ourselves: Reconciling

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has commit-ted to us the message of reconcili-ation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

25 DAY

Read2 Corinthians 5

26 DAY Called to a Purpose

Beyond Ourselves: Shiningcripture teaches us that Jesus is the Light of the World (Isa. 49: 1-6

and John 8:12). Yet Jesus makes an astounding assertion in the Sermon on the Mount. He goes beyond saying to his disciples “Try to shine in the world.” Indeed, he says, “You are the light of the

world.” What does he mean by this? What are the implications for us as individual believers, and as a church?

Do you ever feel like the light of the world? If yes, when? If no, why not?

Do your good works ever shine before others in such a way that God receives glory? If yes, when? If no, why not?

How does God want you to shine in your world?

How could our church be more faithful as the light of the world in the Valley?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the world, the one promised long ago who would shine God’s saving light to the whole world. How we praise you for revealing The Father to us. You know the darkness in our hearts. You know how often we try to hide our light from others. Forgive us, cleanse us, and purify us so that we might truly reflect your light into our world.

ACTION ITEM: Are we truly the light of the world? How can I help our church be even more than ever before, a light to our community? Think of ways to shine in our community that God may be glorified.

Matthew 5:16 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

uring Jesus earthly ministry he focused his attention almost ex-clusively upon ministry among the Jews. But after his death and resurrection, a new era in God’s plan began. Now the followers of

Jesus are to make disciples of people from all nations. We, who be-lieve in Jesus, are called to a people beyond ourselves, that we might help them become disciples of The One True Master.

How faithfully do you live under the all-encompassing au-thority of Jesus? Where do you struggle to submit to his Lordship?

How can we make disciples where God has sent us, the Shenandoah Valley? How can we flesh out our calling to reach others right here?

PRAYER: Jesus, you are indeed The Lord and not just my Lord. You are also The Lord of heaven and earth. All authority has been given to you. How blessed we are, not only to know you, but to be called to your ministry of disciple-making. Help us Lord as we try to make disciples for you. Help our church to reach out even more faithfully and energetically to our community. May many more people become your disciples this year because of this journey, because of the legacy of Calvary Cross-link Church. Help each one of us to find our rightful place in this journey.

ACTION ITEM: List the people in your life who helped you to be a disciple of Jesus. What is your role in making disciples? Do you think God may be calling you to something more?

Matthew 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven dis-ciples went to Galilee, to the moun-tain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach-ing them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

27 DAYCalled to a People Beyond

Ourselves: Disciple-Making

28 DAY

hy do we praise God? Because we should? Because it’s a habit? Do you sometimes find that your lips are praising but your mind

is wandering? Have you ever worshiped in body yet sensed that your heart is cold? Psalm 145 is meant to rekindle your passion for

praising God. It will stretch your mind and heart as you remember the all-surpassing greatness of The Lord.

Psalm 145 is expansive. It contains the word “all/every” more than al-most any other psalm. Go back and look for the instances of this word.

What is David’s point?

PRAYER: O God, you are great, and greatly to be praised. Your great-ness is far beyond our understanding. Thank you for glimpses of who you really are. We are blown away by your majesty and grace. You are infinitely mighty and infinitely merciful. You raise us up when we fall. You draw near to us when we call out to you. You watch over us ten-derly. All praise is to you, forever and ever. You are worthy.

ACTION ITEM: As you read this psalm, which of the descriptions of God resonate with you? Does your experience with God match the af-firmations of Psalm 145? On the other hand, which of the descriptions of God do you find less accessible?

Where do you need to grow in your understanding and ex-perience of God?

Psalm 145:1-3 1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Praise Our God Whose Greatness is Beyond Discovery

ReadPsalm 145

cts of the Apostles is the second volume of a two volume work written by Luke, the author of the gospel named after him. The first chapter of Acts is a transition between the earthly ministry of Jesus and the continuation of Jesus’ ministry through his disciples. Just

as Jesus himself ministered in the power of the Spirit, so shall all who believe in Him.

Why is it necessary for us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit?

If you really believed that the power of God’s own spirit had been given to you and dwells within you today, what differ-ence would this make in your life? In the lives of others?

PRAYER: O God, here is a wonder. That you would actually give your own Spirit to us. What a miracle. And how often we forget what you have done. How often we live by our own strength. How small are our dreams for what you can accomplish and what your will is for our lives. How tiny our expectations of what you can do in and through our church. Forgive us, Lord, for underestimating and shortchanging you. Give us a new confidence in you, in your spirit, and in your power.

ACTION ITEM: What is our Jerusalem? What are the relationships in your life through which God wants to share his love and truth? Take this day to find your Jerusalem and help our church bear witness to our community as never before.

Filled With Power Beyond Ourselves

Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive pow-er when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sa-maria, and to the ends of the earth.”

29 DAY

ReadActs 1:1-8

30 DAY Strength Beyond

Human Limitationshy do we have to learn how to have plenty? What could possibly be the secret of being well-fed? This is a worldly desire and per-

spective. Paul is speaking of contentment in these verses. Con-tentment is being satisfied with things as they are, happiness, an

ease of mind. Only when we trust in and rely on Christ can we experi-ence true peace and not be striving vainly for the things we cannot have, things that won’t truly satisfy us anyway.

What sense does it make to say “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” if we don’t also have the con-tentment that comes from Christ?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, how grateful we are for your presence with us through the Holy Spirit. You give us comfort. You give us confidence. You give us courage. When we are blessed materially, fill our hearts with gratitude and generosity. When we have less than we would like may we still be grateful. Help us to rely upon you each and every day. Give us boldness as we live for you.

ACTION ITEM: Think on where you need the strength of Christ today. Pray that God will fill that need. Think of where friends and family may need the strength of Christ. Could you be the vessel God uses to meet that need? Think of ways to reach out beyond yourself - to your church, to your community and then to the world.

Philippians 4:12-13 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situ-ation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

his story from Numbers is such a sad one. The people, having expe-rienced your mighty power in the past, gave in to fear. The challenges in front of them seemed overwhelming and they gave in to fear. God promised to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites. So Moses sent men to spy out the land, to take stock of its benefits. The time of great blessing for Israel had drawn near, if only they would continue to trust The Lord when facing challenges beyond themselves.

Why did so many of the spies, and then the majority of the Israelites, lose heart? Can you relate to their reactions?

What do we do when ministry challenges in front of us seem overwhelming? Do we back away? Do we let conventional wisdom dictate our behavior? Or do we go out on a limb, trusting God, realizing that only His power will give us suc-cess?

Will Calvary Cross-link have the confidence in God to step out in faith into an even greater ministry in our community? Will we reach beyond ourselves, trusting God, even when it’s uncomfortable?

PRAYER: Lord, may nothing keep your land and your will from us. May we walk boldly and confidently into your plan - even when it feels un-safe and uncomfortable. May we stake what is rightfully ours for your kingdom and our community.

ACTION ITEM: How easy it is for us to be just like the Israelites. We like the safe road. We want everything to be secure and predictable. Yet before us lays an opportunity for us to trust God. In what ways will you trust Him? In what ways will you encourage others to trust Him? It is time to “take the land”.

Challenges Beyond OurselvesNumbers 13:27-31 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are forti-fied and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaan-ites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take posses-sion of the land, for we can certainly do it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”

31 DAY

ReadNumbers 13 - 14

32 DAY

Provision Beyond Ourselvesou are about to read one of the most shocking, tender, and moving

stories in all of Scripture. God blessed Abraham with a miraculous gift of his son Isaac. Through Isaac, God promised to bless all nations on earth. But then The Lord stunned Abraham with an impossibly dif-ficult directive. What would Abraham do?

Why in the world would God have asked this of Abraham, not to mention Isaac? What was God’s point? What does this tell us about what God desires from us?

PRAYER: Gracious God, you expect and demand whole-hearted faith. You want us to trust you completely, to take you at your word, to obey you even when it doesn’t make sense to us. And you have proven your-self worthy of our trust. After all, you gave us yourself, dying in our place so that we might live forever with you. Yet in spite of all we have received, sometimes we are afraid to trust you. Sometimes what you ask from us seems too hard. Help us to surrender the things in life we want so desperately. Help us to step out in faith. Help us to trust you more, knowing that you will provide.

ACTION ITEM: What has God given you that you find difficult to give back to Him as a sacrifice? What do you want to keep in your control? Name a time that you have experienced God’s provision, far beyond yourself and your own resources.

Genesis 22:1-2 Some time later God test-ed Abraham. He said to him, “Abra-ham!” “Here I am,” he replied.2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Mo-riah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

ReadGenesis 22:1-19

he Apostle Paul has just finished laying out in detail the matchless grace and faithfulness of God. The first eleven chapters of Romans show how God, through Christ, has brought us into a right relationship with him. Chapter twelve begins to lay out the implications for how we live each day: “I appeal to you therefore, by the mercies of God...”

This passage offers a very different picture of worship from the one we ordinarily envision (i.e., what we do in the sanctuary on Saturdays/Sundays).

If you were to take this different picture seriously, what dif-ference might it make in your life?

Why is it important that this appeal to present our bodies is a response to God’s mercies? Why does this matter?

PRAYER: Your mercies, dear Lord, are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. Above all you have faithfully offered a right relation-ship with yourself through Christ. Help us to receive your mercy and be transformed by it. May we learn to worship you, not only in our corporate gatherings and not only in our private devotions, but in every word and deed. May we offer our bodies to you as a living sacrifice. Be glorified in us today and every day.

ACTION ITEM: How can you offer your body - indeed your whole self- to God in worship today? Think of ways to glorify God in your daily tasks.

What else might you do for His glory?

Worship Beyond OurselvesRomans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleas-ing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

33 DAY

34 DAY

Explore Promisehe Apostle Paul had taken on a special “fundraiser” for the poor Chris-tians in Jerusalem. He asked all of his churches to participate. In 2 Corinthians he encouraged the Christians in Corinth to support his ministry, partly by relating the astounding story about what God had done among the Macedonian believers.

What a miracle you did among the Macedonians, pouring out your grace among them to such an extent that they abounded in joy even in the midst of affliction and they abounded in generosity even in the midst of poverty.

How can “abundant joy” and “extreme poverty” produce a wealth of generosity? What makes this happen?

What is the relationship between our giving to God’s work in the world and the example of Christ?

PRAYER: God, may you do the same work in our lives and in our church, that you did in the Macedonians. Touch us so profoundly with your grace that we can’t help but give away to others the blessings you have showered upon us. Help our church to be faithful and generous stewards of the riches you have given us, not only financial, but of tal-ent, education, people and facilities. May we share abundantly with others just as you have shared Christ with us.

ACTION ITEM: Ask God to reveal to you what He needs to do in your heart to help you grow in generosity. Be prepared to do what He tells you to do and allow Him to do what he needs to do in and through you.

2 Corinthians 8:9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he be-came poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Read2 Corinthians 8:1-9

t’s easy for us to emphasize certain aspects of God’s character, while minimizing others. These days it’s common for Christians to delight in God’s approachability and grace but to neglect his awesomeness and majesty. Yet biblical texts like Psalm 147 can keep us in balance. It stretches us to consider the breadth of God’s greatness, one that is both infinitely big and yet concerned with matters very small. It reminds us that we can’t ever measure God’s goodness or glory.

Consider carefully verses 1-6. What picture of God do these verses give us? Pay special attention to the contrasts and what they say about God.

How do verses 10 and 11 speak to our church as we are in the midst of our prayer journey of fulfilling God’s will for our church? What does God want from us in this phase of our church’s journey?

How do verses 10 and 11 speak to you personally in this season of your life? What is God seeking from you?

PRAYER: God, you can never be measured. Your greatness exceeds every scale - your mercy has no limit. You are the God who has given names to each of the stars and you are the same God who lifts up the down-trodden. Nothing we can give to you will ever match what you deserve.

ACTION ITEM: God delights in our worship of him. List as many names as you can that exalt the name of God.

Psalm 147:1-5 1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! 2 The LORD builds up Jerusa-lem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He deter-mines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

35 DAYFilled With Power

Beyond Ourselves

ReadPsalm 147

36 DAY

s Paul continues his “fundraiser” among the Corinthians, he helps them to see their financial participation in the light of God’s abun-dant provision. The questions for us: How do we really see our giving of tithes and offerings? Do we see it through God’s eyes?

Why should giving to God’s ministry be “not done reluctantly or under compulsion” (vs. 7)? Why does God love a cheer-ful giver?

According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, what are the rewards of giving financially to God’s work?

PRAYER: Gracious God, you have indeed given us every blessing in abundance: physical comforts, luxuries, family, friends, freedom and opportunity in this nation, a church devoted to you, and most of all abundant life now and forever in Christ - your ‘indescribable gift’. We have been blessed beyond measure so that we might bless others. Help us to give - not because we must, but in joy and gratitude.

ACTION ITEM: Meditate upon this text. What in this passage speaks to you? What does God want you to hear? What is he saying to you? Is he telling you how you could be a blessing to others? How might you practice generosity?

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or un-der compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Blessed Beyond Measure to Be a Blessing

Read2 Corinthians 9

t was just the same in the time of Jesus as it is today. Many who were wealthy gave large sums in order to be recognized by the people for their generosity. How easy it was to ignore or even scoff at the insignifi-cant gift of a poor widow. Yet Jesus saw things in a radically different way.

How do you respond to this passage personally? Does it encourage you? Worry you? Challenge you?

How does Jesus look upon our giving? What does he val-ue?

What does it mean for you to give God everything you have? What sense does this make when you have lots of financial commitment to fulfill? How can you give as the widow gave?

PRAYER: Lord, how easy it is for us to think in worldly terms and not in your terms. We too can get caught up in the material size of a gift, whether large or small. We can envy those who have the means to make large gifts. “If only we had such resources,” we think, “then we could really be generous.” But you see things so differently. Help us to see our giving beyond mere appearances. Help us to see what we give through your eyes.

ACTION ITEM: Think about what you give and why.

Are you giving as the widow gave? Are you giving sacrifi-cially? If not, why not?

Ask God to change your heart and your attitude towards giving. Be looking for opportunities to give as God works in and through you.

Sacrifice Beyond AppearancesMark 12:41-44 41 Jesus sat down oppo-site the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small cop-per coins, worth only a few cents.43 Calling his disciples to him, Je-sus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the trea-sury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

37 DAY

38 DAY

Loving Beyond Wordsow easy it is to speak of love but how much harder to love and do so in tangible ways. Real love takes effort. Often it requires sacri-fice. Those of us who have been blessed with abundant material

resources have been given a chance to love others in the way we use our money. But with this blessing comes a responsibility and a high calling. This is what John explains.

What enables us to give when we see people in need?

Why do we sometimes refuse to share our goods with those in need? Why do we hold back from giving to God’s work in the world?

PRAYER: Loving Lord, may our hearts be like yours. May we feel what you feel. May we love what and how you love. May our heart be broken by the things that break your heart. Give us a new sensitivity to those around us, and then a willingness to reach out to them with a tangible act of love. May we be more faithful in caring for the poor. May our church continue to grow in its generosity as it meets the needs of our community.

ACTION ITEM: Are there specific actions of love that God wants you to take, from which you have been holding back? Try to imitate Jesus as you give, not only with our possessions but also ourselves.

1 John 3:16-18 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

ur passage begins with one of the most shocking scenes in all of Scripture. Jesus is finally recognized for who he truly is, the Mes-

siah of Israel. But then he says his calling is not to lead a victorious rebellion against Rome. Instead he will undergo great suffering and ul-timately be killed. If this were not shocking enough, Jesus then applies the same logic of calling to those who will follow him.

This is one of those unsettling passages, one that leaves us with more questions than answers. Frankly, we have a hard time denying our-selves. And a part of us wants to gain the whole world or at least some small chunk of it.

So much in our day encourages us to “gain the whole world” so to speak. Many of us labor hard for years and years to accumulate some small measure of worldly wealth. Yet Jesus suggests that we may be forfeiting our life in the process.

How can we truly live for Christ and his kingdom in such a materialistic world?

What does it mean for us to take up our cross and follow Jesus today?

How can we lose our life for the sake of Jesus and the gos-pel today?

PRAYER: Jesus, sometimes your words comfort our hearts; some-times they stir us. We struggle with the idea of sacrificing to follow you. Forgive us, Lord. Transform our hearts so that we might become more like you, so that we may follow you completely.

ACTION ITEM: Is God asking you to give up anything so that you might follow Jesus better?

Calling Beyond ComfortMark 8:34-38 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

39 DAY

ReadMark 8:27-38

40 DAY

Love Beyond Understandinghe first three chapters of Ephesians lay out in broad scope the work of God in the universe. It shows how Christ is at the center of God’s plan to unify all things under his lordship. Chapter three focuses on the central role of the church in this process. Then, in response to this

marvelous revelation, Paul offers a prayer for the church, one whose breadth matches the width of God’s glory and grace.

We will never fully be able to comprehend God’s love. The more we understand it, the more it exceeds our grasp. The more we experience God’s love, the more we realize we have yet to experience. God’s love saves us, comforts us, reassures us, and transforms us.

What would it mean for you to be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ? What difference would this make in your life?

If the love of Christ surpasses knowledge, how can we know or experience it?

PRAYER: Lord, we long for more, to know your love more fully. We yearn to be filled with you. Hear our prayers and reveal more of your love to us. Help us always to be rooted and grounded in your love. And may our church be, above all, a church of love... as we receive it and give it away.

ACTION ITEM: Pray the above prayer faithfully, not only for yourself, but for our church.

Ephesians 3:14-19 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpass-es knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the full-ness of God.

Notes

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