Preyed On Or Prayed For

Well we have been in Katy for two full weeks now!

It feels amazing to say that and at the same time rather daunting! We are still scattered and in boxes in several rooms in the house. Most of the major things have found a place but it is those little things that you didn't think much of when you just threw them in a box that now suddenly you can't live without and you desperately need that now you can't find. This is moving!

Our journey has been challenging in many ways but good, really good!

My first two weeks in ministry here have been truly amazing! God has been stretching me in ways I so needed and yet had highly overlooked or neglected. God, true to Who He is, has been patient with me and oh so gracious. He is pouring into me so much love and encouragement that it makes the growing pains truly enjoyable like the muscle pains you feel after working really hard. You feel sore all over but you spiritually and emotionally feel like there is no other place you would rather be!

There are so many things He is doing in me that I will share over time but for this first post I will just mention one.

My first official day in the office I found a gift from one of the pastors at our church. There are twelve pastors on staff at Grace. Each of them manages a staff of associate pastors, part time ministers and interns and then volunteers under them. I say all this because you could imagine my surprise that one of them would have already gotten me a gift when they are so busy, it would be easy for me to be just another drop in the bucket. However I have quickly come to realize that Grace however large it is, is still a family and a "church" in the true since of the word.

The gift was a book accompanied by a personalized hand written note. The book was entitled "Preyed On Or Prayed For."

Now I will be the first to admit, I have read some of Terry Teykl's stuff and been to a couple of prayer conferences he lead. He is good and with the busyness of a move and getting plugged in, it would have been easy to put the book on the shelf with the rest of the books I have yet to read. However the note was from Brenda, our pastor over prayer at Grace. The note simple welcomed us and then said that at Grace they want all of the pastors to have a "Prayer Shield." This is simply a group of 25 people or couples that commit to be in prayer, not just pray for, but be in the trenches praying for their pastors. She offered if we did not have one to not only get people to become our shield but to manage it for us as well. 

In ministry we often hear and say "I'll be praying for you" but as I was already discovering here at Grace that simply doesn't suffice! Just like one of those little things we throw in the box and don't pay attention too when moving only to need it and not know where it is. 

I opened the book and began to read it immediately!

If you do not have this book, I would love to buy you one! Please let me know! It is that important! 

Our first weekend here Grace hosted a city wide 50 continuous hours of prayer and praise service with several other churches in Katy leading two hour sessions. Grace has devoted space in the facilities where this is going on almost 24 hrs a day and soon will be seven days a week. Then this past Sunday Jim, our senior pastor, preached about prayer. ( you can watch it here)

VIDEO PODCAST 02-03-13.mp4 from Grace Worship on Vimeo.

Prayer has been one of those things I truly believe and know the power of. But something I have so often taken for granted. This is the first thing of many God has begun to challenge me in.

As Kim and I launch into this new territory God is calling us into He is calling us to be more devoted to prayer and to being covered in prayer! Not that our prayer life was anemic by most standards before, But God is wanting us to go deeper and become more dependent.

This is the purpose of this blog. This will be a newsletter of sorts for those whom we feel God wants to be a part of what He has called us to do here through prayer. So if you would, pray and ask God if He is indeed calling you to be a part of our prayer shield. We will be posting regular updates and prayer requests here so keep checking in!

Thanks

Jeff, Kim, Max Joshua and Tate