Three of our men are going to be in other churches this weekend and I hope you'll join me in praying for them:
Burnie Staples will be sharing the Gospel at his dad's funeral service in Jackson, NC on Saturday. Pray that those who may not know Christ will listen as Burnie explains how to have eternal life. He is especially concerned about a family member.
Sam Knight will be preaching at Ocean View Baptist Church in KDH and Tom Lee will be doing the same at Outer Banks Baptist Church in KDH at 11:00 on Sunday. Both guys are filling in for pastors who are away. This is a great opportunity for them and I know these sister churches will be blessed. Pray for God to give them the right Scriptures and Word for each church.
And while you're at it, you can pray for me and our gatherings at NHC this Sunday as I speak from Matthew 4 about Jesus' 40 days experience.
Rick
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Petersons/Campus Crusade
John Peterson was with us this past Sunday, sharing some of the exciting things that Campus Crusade for Christ is doing around the world. NHC has been partnering with John and Cindy for many years to reach college students. Here are a few specific things that John asked us to pray for...
1. Please ask God to prepare the hearts of students on campuses across the country as they return to campus. Ask God to draw men and women to Himself to become life long disciples of Christ.
2. Ask God to strengthen believing students to initiate spiritual conversations with their friends and classmates. Pray that they’d be bold in lovingly sharing the gospel.
3. Pray for Christian professors to courageously identify with Christ before their students. In particular, ask God to draw professors from every university in this region of the country to participate in meettheprof.com.
4. Cindy is increasingly struggling with migraine headaches (maybe as much as 28 days of the month). Ask God to show her what steps she should take, and ask Him to make her well.
Feel free to post an encouragement or a prayer in the comments section for the Petersons!
1. Please ask God to prepare the hearts of students on campuses across the country as they return to campus. Ask God to draw men and women to Himself to become life long disciples of Christ.
2. Ask God to strengthen believing students to initiate spiritual conversations with their friends and classmates. Pray that they’d be bold in lovingly sharing the gospel.
3. Pray for Christian professors to courageously identify with Christ before their students. In particular, ask God to draw professors from every university in this region of the country to participate in meettheprof.com.
4. Cindy is increasingly struggling with migraine headaches (maybe as much as 28 days of the month). Ask God to show her what steps she should take, and ask Him to make her well.
Feel free to post an encouragement or a prayer in the comments section for the Petersons!
Monday, August 18, 2008
How do I comment on the blog?
If blogging is a new experience for you here are some easy instructions to get you started.
First, you can comment by simply clicking your mouse on the "comment" link at the bottom of any post. This will take you to the comment screen where you'll be able to both read others' comments and insert your own. Simply click on the "Leave your comment" screen and type in what you have to say.
If you don't have a Google account, your comment will appear with "Anonymous" at the top. That's fine, as long as you put your name at the end of your comment. We are moderating the blog and want to keep it within the NHC family. We'll keep it a safe place. So if you comment without a Google account and you don't "sign" your name at the end, it will be deleted.
You can open a Google account by simply following the instructions under "Choose an identity" on the comment screen. Click on "Sign up here" and it will take you through it. It's pretty simple. With an account you won't need to sign your name every time because your comment will automically identify you.
Welcome to you newbies into the blogosphere!
First, you can comment by simply clicking your mouse on the "comment" link at the bottom of any post. This will take you to the comment screen where you'll be able to both read others' comments and insert your own. Simply click on the "Leave your comment" screen and type in what you have to say.
If you don't have a Google account, your comment will appear with "Anonymous" at the top. That's fine, as long as you put your name at the end of your comment. We are moderating the blog and want to keep it within the NHC family. We'll keep it a safe place. So if you comment without a Google account and you don't "sign" your name at the end, it will be deleted.
You can open a Google account by simply following the instructions under "Choose an identity" on the comment screen. Click on "Sign up here" and it will take you through it. It's pretty simple. With an account you won't need to sign your name every time because your comment will automically identify you.
Welcome to you newbies into the blogosphere!
24/40x96! Mission Accomplished!
As of yesterday we have 98 men and women comitted to pray 'round the clock from September 1 through October 10. That means God will be hearing from NHC continuously for 40 days. How incredible is that?
If you haven't signed up for a time yet that's OK. Just find a time that works for you and put your name on the chart Sunday beside the name that's already there. It's not limited to the first 96, and there's no reason we couldn't double up every time slot.
Kids and youth can also get in on this, so spread the word!
And remember that you don't have to wait until September 1 to get started. God's waiting to talk with you right now!
Don't forget to tell us why you chose the time you did here.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Getting Ready for the Journey
Elijah spent 40 days walking through a desert to ascend the mountain of God and be confronted with a question from God: What are you doing here? He was sustained during that 40 day journey by a meal of bread and water provided by God, delivered by an angel.
Your 40 days of prayer can be a journey like no other for you if your nourishment comes from God. Then, following our 40 days of prayer we'll be taking the next 40 days to find out "What on earth am I here for?".
Like Elijah, have you ever allowed fear, feelings or a sense of failure to cause you to doubt?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
A great start!
Since we put up the prayer schedule Sunday for the 24 hour NHC prayer x 40 days we now have 69 of the 96 time slots taken! Just 27 left!!
If you didn't sign up Sunday, please do so asap. What might God do if for 40 days there's never a time when someone from NHC isn't crying out to God?
What time did you choose and why is that a good time for you?
Getting Ready to Meet with God
Why 40 days? Why not 30 or ten? Well, one reason is that we can find several times in the Bible where men met with God for 40 days. One of those examples is Moses.
Not only did Moses spend 40 days praying and fasting while receiving the Covenant laws God made with Israel, he followed it up with another 40 days...twice! You can read more about Moses' encounters with God, both on Mt. Sinai and in the valley in Exodus 24-34. You can also visit our podcast page and here the message from NHC that was given on Sunday, August 10.
What do Moses’ 40 days experiences teach us about God?
1. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. God gave His law to Moses to give to the children of Israel. It was His way of affirming His convenant or contract to be their God and for them to be His people. That was His plan, and even though they tried hard to ruin the plan, God's bigger than our failures. During 40 Days of Prayer it just might be that God wants to reveal to you more of His plan for your life.
2. GOD CAN DO THE SUPERNATURAL IN YOU. Moses went for a total of 120 days without food or water while he prayed. That's physically impossible, right? Absolutely. But it's the impossible that God does so well. And just maybe during 40DOPrayer God is going to work out some kind of miracle in your life.
3. GOD WILL REVEAL HIS TRUE CHARACTER TO YOU. After the final 40 days with God, Moses had one request: "Let me see your glory". God could have answered that prayer, but knowing it would have killed Moses to do so, He responded in His compassion and mercy. He hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand, allowing him just a glimpse of His "back" as His glory passed by. We don't always pray for the right things, do we? But God always answers us compassionately and graciously. What if God taught you something about Himself that you never grasped before? It could happen.
4. GOD WANTS TO RENEW YOUR SPIRIT. When Moses came down from the mountain he was probably a little hungry and thirsty. But he carried with him a new set of tablets containing the Ten Commandments, preplacing the ones he had broken before upon seeing the idol worship of the golden calf. God gave His people a second chance. Not only that, Moses face glowed from being with God - so much so that his appearance actually frightened them. What difference might it make in your passion for the Lord and for His people when you spend 40 consecutive days praying to Him and for them? Think your batteries might get recharged?
As we prepare for the God-thing we hope will take place at NHC this fall, what of those four points are you especially hoping will happen for you? How can we pray specifically for you?
Not only did Moses spend 40 days praying and fasting while receiving the Covenant laws God made with Israel, he followed it up with another 40 days...twice! You can read more about Moses' encounters with God, both on Mt. Sinai and in the valley in Exodus 24-34. You can also visit our podcast page and here the message from NHC that was given on Sunday, August 10.
What do Moses’ 40 days experiences teach us about God?
1. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. God gave His law to Moses to give to the children of Israel. It was His way of affirming His convenant or contract to be their God and for them to be His people. That was His plan, and even though they tried hard to ruin the plan, God's bigger than our failures. During 40 Days of Prayer it just might be that God wants to reveal to you more of His plan for your life.
2. GOD CAN DO THE SUPERNATURAL IN YOU. Moses went for a total of 120 days without food or water while he prayed. That's physically impossible, right? Absolutely. But it's the impossible that God does so well. And just maybe during 40DOPrayer God is going to work out some kind of miracle in your life.
3. GOD WILL REVEAL HIS TRUE CHARACTER TO YOU. After the final 40 days with God, Moses had one request: "Let me see your glory". God could have answered that prayer, but knowing it would have killed Moses to do so, He responded in His compassion and mercy. He hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand, allowing him just a glimpse of His "back" as His glory passed by. We don't always pray for the right things, do we? But God always answers us compassionately and graciously. What if God taught you something about Himself that you never grasped before? It could happen.
4. GOD WANTS TO RENEW YOUR SPIRIT. When Moses came down from the mountain he was probably a little hungry and thirsty. But he carried with him a new set of tablets containing the Ten Commandments, preplacing the ones he had broken before upon seeing the idol worship of the golden calf. God gave His people a second chance. Not only that, Moses face glowed from being with God - so much so that his appearance actually frightened them. What difference might it make in your passion for the Lord and for His people when you spend 40 consecutive days praying to Him and for them? Think your batteries might get recharged?
As we prepare for the God-thing we hope will take place at NHC this fall, what of those four points are you especially hoping will happen for you? How can we pray specifically for you?
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