This Way to Launch

Connections Leadership Team recognized we were beginning to focus so much on the launch variables we were leaving less room for God.  To return our attention to God we have organized a prayer meeting schedule and shared devotionals.  Below is a snapshot of our first week.    Devotion One   13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[Joel 2:32]14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:13-15   Our focus needs to return to those God is seeking to reach through Connections.  I am convinced God wants to do something miraculous through us and through the people we serve.  Yes, God is concerned about the physical and emotional suffering the homeless community endures. However, he also sees them as His people who He will bless to bless the world.  There are few who can see their potential, even within the church, but I know you can.  God has shown me your heart.  You believe in redemption.  You believe in the power of God's love.  You believe Jesus died so none should parish.  Now is the time to put your beliefs into action.  We can sit on the sidelines with the rest, or we can answer the call.  As for my family, and my people, we choose God!  The homeless community has been placed in our hands, they are within reach, through them a miracle is about to be born. It is our job to activate this dormant and dismissed community. Please pray for the coming flood.  Pray we reach a number worthy to be called His army.  Pray we reach a people who will represent Him well.  Pray their afflictions be healed in miraculous ways for the world to witness.  Pray God's glory shine through the people of Connections.  Pray they be blessed with an abundance of health and providence.  Pray for the words to speak into their lives.  Pray God increase you capacity for patience and compassion.  Pray His will be done for His Glory, for His Honor, AMEN!! Devotion Two  8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8  Good Morning!!  Ever feel powerless?  Sometimes it seems there are too many variables in life's equation to ever reach a solution.  Connections is pressing towards launch and yet there are so many details yet to be revealed.  I admit to feeling overwhelmed at times.  However, God continues to return my attention to the earliest church.  Can you imagine how overwhelmed Jesus' disciples felt and yet God had a plan; that plan included the power to complete the mission. There have been more setbacks than victories this week, but at the same time I feel we are standing on the brink of success.  Our mission's success is dependent on our ability to break through the barriers and conventions of this world and seek the empowerment God has promised.  Please join me in prayer today that we as individuals and we as a church will receive the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the unimaginable.  It is foolish to believe we can accomplish a God size mission without God.   Devotion Three  2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV) As we get closer to launch we can expect to face new barriers and old temptations.  Standing on the front-line isn't easy.  I have witnessed many good people's knees buckle under the pressure and turn back.  God allows us to undergo these challenges so we may become battle hardened and more confident in Him.  The enemy is aware of what you are about to become; the breakthrough you are about to experience and will do anything to convince you to quit.   Please pray for the people God Has placed on your left and your right.  Pray they remain strong and reach their full potential for the glory of God.  Pray for peace in the present and coming battles.  When under pressure take heart, the Devil pays little attention to the dead.  When in the midst of turmoil find joy; know you are in God's will and something awesome is about to happen.    Devotion Four   Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27   I've been asked to share my testimony this week with the Iron Men of Freedom Church.  As I prepare I've asked God which parts of my history to share.  I lived years being polluted by the world; years moving away from God's presence instead of towards.  Yet, God has forgiven me and accepted my humble rededication.  I am blessed to serve people in distress; those others might overlook.  I know what it is to be lost.    However, I am tempted daily.  The wounds inflicted by sin may never heal completely but in my weakness God demonstrates His strength, grace and forgiveness.  As I allow myself to be convicted of my polluted desires God corrects and shapes me.  It is by His strength I remain on course.   Please pray for strength to remain unpolluted by the empty promises of this world.  Seek God, allow Him into your life completely.  Recognize the Holy Spirit's conviction, ask forgiveness and be healed.  Pray God will protect our hearts and minds against the enemies schemes.  May our mission be pure and faultless; anything less is a waste of time. Devotion Five 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18 When I consider Jesus' expectations for his followers I don't measure up very well.  He expects us to be fearless, yet I spend much of my time worrying.  I prayed today for strength, wisdom and courage.  I am quickly approaching the end of the runway and my plane still doesn't have wings.  I have tried buying wings, building wings, and willing wings but they all fall apart.  I have been told by others who dared to take a leap of faith, God will allow us to exhaust every imaginable human resource to remind us to trust in Him and Him alone.  Well, if that is the case, God should be along in moment now.  I suppose one way to learn to trust God is to pick up a snake, I am praying it doesn't come to that.  However, having the faith to stand in the fire when He asks so he can conquer our fear is a worthy lesson.   Father, I submit myself to your will.  I will stand in the fire and face my fears.  Defeat my fear and trepidation; grow my faith.  You are a mighty God.  There is a great distance between where my understanding ends and your wisdom begins, therefore teach me to trust and rely on you.  I surrender, I do not have the answers, I do not have the money, I do not have the ability to complete this mission.  Father, you are the creator of all things, you hold all the answers, you own all the world, there is nothing too great for you.  I will trust and rely on you.  I seek your will for my life, I seek your will for Connections.  Father, grant me courage to hold this ground, my enemy prowls and test my defenses and resolve.  I will not yield, I will not run, I will trust and rely on you.  Father, I want to be as sure of my mission as Paul.  He knew your plan did not include dying by snake or poison.  Lord, craft me into the man you need me to be.  In Jesus' name, Amen!!  Devotion Six 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4,5    Connections is more than a ministry of one.  It is a "Spiritual House" being formed through our unique gifts and talents.  Jesus is our cornerstone and you are an instrumental part of His ministry.  Connections' leaders are the first stones; they must be solid and in alignment with God and each other.  I am grateful for each of our leaders.  You have each been an answer to prayer.  We are diverse, passionate, and dedicated.  I am confident we will succeed.  Please pray for each other.  Pray we learn to work in concert.  Pray we learn to celebrate our differences.  Pray our relationships solidify.  Pray God will raise the next generation of leaders from within His church and the community we serve; may our impact be felt in the homeless community, the impoverished community, Greater Tallahassee, the Big Bend, the Panhandle, Florida and our Nation.  Nothing is too hard for our Lord.  Devotion Seven 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1,2    I enjoyed our first prayer meeting, thank you all for attending.  I am looking forward to our next.  Something powerful happens when we gather with one heart and one voice.  During His ministry Jesus brought a diverse group of individuals together.   When He died they scattered.  Per His instructions, they gathered together in Jerusalem and waited.  On the day of Pentecost Heaven opened and the Holy Spirit was poured out.  Jesus knew his disciples would remain a group of individuals until they learned to lift their voices together.  Please continue to pray for unity.  May we be knitted together as one body with one voice.  We are Connections. We have been chosen for this time and this place for this mission.  We, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, will impact the world.