This week I had the privilege, along with our delegates, of attending our District Assembly for the Church of the Nazarene on the Kansas City District. This is an annual gathering of all the Nazarene Churches in the Kansas City area. It is full of worship, messages about mission, vision casting, prayer, and connection.
Dr. Estep, our District Superintendent, shared vision for spiritual renewal and growth on the Kansas City District. He talked about the fact that our first priorities should be prayer and fasting followed by the call to discipleship and evangelism.
I was encouraged by the words of Dr. Estep because it is similar to what Pastor Chuck and I have felt the Lord laying on our hearts. We deeply desire to be people of prayer. We are beginning this Sunday to preach specifically about discipleship and the entire month of September we are going to talk about what it means to be a people in God’s mission to reach the Least and the Lost. My prayer is that as God is on the move we won’t miss it, but rather jump in whole heartedly.
Dr. Crocker, our General Superintendent, shared with us what the Lord laid on his heart: From Routine to Revival. This was an inspiriting, convicting, and prophetic message that resonated with many! What stuck out to me where the three things he said that “Keep us From Moving Forward:”
- Fear
- Pride
- Contentment
of Israel in the desert and said, “they would rather die in the desert than admit they need to change.” Ouch… that is convicting. I know that there are times we can find ourselves in a similar mentality. Routine is easier, there is a bit of mental auto-pilot that takes over. Revival takes effort to combat the routine to overcome the fear of change, the pride of thinking we know what is best and how things have always been done, or the contentment to stay put and not step out in faith to reach others.
Dear sisters and brothers, let’s not miss the moving of the Spirit.
May we…
… pray boldly.
… grow deeply.
… love others unreservedly.
May we be people not characterized by routine, but rather by revival. May it start with you and me.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cara
Contact:
(913) 631-5555
Shawnee Church of the Nazarene
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