It's been said you can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends.

The cool part is, if you choose your friends carefully, they'll become family, even to the point of the family you never had, the family you wish you had or wishing your family was as great as your friends!!

And just like real family, even friends turned family can have strong disparities at times.

That said...an effective church is one that turns friends into a great, close-knit family. As society becomes more divided and suspect, we need church to develop and continue to grow a culture of family

Unity trumps division. United stands. The divided are conquered.

Pray for church effectiveness and efficiency; that relationships within the church would grow strong and firm. Pray that there would be no room for division nor distrust within the body of Christ. Pray that their would be opportunities for encouragement and support, moments of teaching and correction and a lifetime of friendships. Pray for restoration and healing and new-found faith in people, for those who don't have family, come from difficult family backgrounds and have never experienced, high-quality, long-term friendships.

-PNC

I woke up this morning from the weirdest dream. Parts of it were based in reality, but the part that I remember was the sizable disagreement and my trying to understand the other parties perspective. More or less, I had difficulty with their reasoning and I was put on the defensive from the onset.  Of course, it didn't help emotions got involved early on.

Sounds real enough, but overall, I woke up thinking "what in the world was that?"

I usually have these prayer posts "up" long before this one, but I've had the morning to reflect on how conversations play out, particularly when it comes to matters of faith and politics...which are becoming increasingly challenging in 2015. We need Godly wisdom in our engagements.

Pray for wisdom, obviously, as the church engages in conversations with the community. Pray conversations are seasoned with grace and understanding. Pray that emotions do not dominate, yet genuine passion be handled with care. Pray that conversations and discussions remain relevant and reasonable; that hurt feelings and less than calm  & kind attitudes would be kept at bay. May conversations remain focused on solutions and answers rather than issues and problems.

-PNC

Moments before getting ready for bed last night, I reflected briefly on Thursday's post...about the pastor ready to resign and walk. It didn't take but a few seconds to think...

...If he is struggling, in the land of the free, the home of the brave, in a society founded on freedom...struggling to the point of not only leaving the pulpit, but walking on the calling to the ministry, then what missionary isn't far behind him?

Granted, America's climate is rapidly changing its perspective on church and Christianity, morality and the concept of an absolute truth. However, life around the globe hasn't been kind to Christians either. So what gives? Perhaps other countries are more hungry for spiritual nurturing? Or other government entities are having a change of heart as to the impact missionaries can have on their people? Either way...Christianity in America is becoming increasingly challenging and Christianity around the globe, still full of tons of obstacles.

Sadly, whether a pastor or a missionary, there will be a "next" to walk away, for any number of reasons. So the question is who in the ministry will REFUSE to let the struggle and exhaustion and frustration of ministry destroy their willingness to press in and move forward with God?

Pray for missionaries on this Friday...strength to press on towards the prize of the high calling placed on them by God. Pray that frustration weaken them not. Pray that exhaustion will not overtake their bodies. Pray that results or lack thereof will not dampen their spirits. Pray for a focus on the task; like Nehemiah, unable to come off the wall, for he was doing a great work. Pray any attack against them falters and fades in light of their intensity to the task at hand. Pray vision and clarity to the great work they have been called. Strengthened. Quickened. Empowered. Focused. Victorious by the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.

-PNC

Last night, I heard about am inner-city pastor who in the last 48 hours, met with another pastor. No big deal...pastors get together all the time. Why mention this?

The inner-city pastor needed to tell somebody that the day after they talked, he was handing in his resignation.  Tired to the point of not only walking away from the pulpit, but the ministry all together. Whatever the unknown details surrounding it, the breaking point had not only been reached, but had moved past the point of recovery.

Perhaps his time may be done with this church, but pray he comes to understand that God is not done with his life yet...ministry still awaits, just somewhere else & perhaps in a different role.

That said, as I reflected on this, I couldn't help about thinking about those who serve this community with him, left standing with "what's next" after receiving the resignation. Other Pastors still have ministry to carry out. Staff still has work to do. Admins have responsibilities to oversee. And deacons and board members have some challenging decisions fast approaching. Then there's the power of prayer

Pray for deacons, admins and staff, specifically for this inner-city church. Pray for wisdom, beyond their experience and despite their emotions, that God would guide and direct every conversation and every decision in the days, weeks, and months to come. Pray for administrators and staff, that nothing would get missed or overlooked during this time of transition. Pray for the Pastor(s) or persons who will ensure ministry in this community continues, to the best of their abilities.

Keep in prayer, this pastor and his family. Pray God brings clarity to his heart and mind. May he be encouraged and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray that he is renewed and rejuvenated and that God would direct his past and future endeavors. Pray discouragement and defeat would not detour him from ministry all-together, but that God would use this to propel him to the next level for the kingdom of God. May this experience be a testament to the grace of God and His sovereign plan for all involved.

-PNC

It's tough being a parent watching your kid struggle. It's tough being a kid, telling your parent you are struggling. It's worse when you are an adult and having to tell your parent you are struggling.

Like a triple whammy of frustration.

It's hard to know the right words to say. Hard to know the attitude and tone in which to come across that will help move, propel or challenge one through their moment. It's hard to know what to do and when. Its hard to watch the struggle unfold, knowing each decision is an individual one and if it's not yours to make, you watch in agony, yet with hope. I hope. Parent do their part. Parent pray God intervenes. And in the meantime, they may ask a Pastor for advice and assistance. This is the time where a Pastor prays God intervenes. So, we pray for Pastors of kids and teens.

Pray for Children & Youth Pastors, for the investment they make in todays' youth. Pray for wisdom and insight into the challenges they face. Pray for meaningful and genuine relationships where honesty prevails and the truth of Gods Word comes alive and is found directly applicable to the situations young people face. Pray for strength and encouragement as they stand with parents believing for the miraculous in dire situations among families and homes. Pray for God's anointing on their ministry as kids invite friends and reach out into schools and neighborhoods...that a lost and dying world would come to know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

-PNC

I had one of those moments on Monday morning...the kind that if you were the boss or in a pretty high position of authority in your work place and this occurred, it probably wouldn't be a "big deal". And for this particular situation it wasn't as big a deal as the exact same situation had been for previous employers

But in ministry, it works the same way, doesn't? Despite being eternally-minded and work having a "greater purpose and meaning", at the end of the day, it is still a job with assigned responsibilities and accountability systems in place just like what is found in the secular market.

Are such situations in the church handled in the same manner as corporate America? Situations can't continue to go unresolved, simply because it's in a church environment. This could happen to any church position, yet for some reason I'm thinking of such struggles in which Associate Pastors might find themselves.

Pray for Associate Pastors as church staff in general, that job-related issues that arise would be handled with prayer and wisdom. Pray that there would not be a rush to judgement or rash decisions. Pray for understanding and solutions to take priority over frustration and the problem. May having an eternal perspective about the responsibilities of their position help foster a culture of excellence; that even when night reached, will still place them in pretty high regard, for the glory of God.

-PNC

My Senior Pastors' mother has been in the hospital for the past 43 days, 39 of them, in ICU. We got the update during Sunday mornings' service...in the next day or two, she'll be home.

Our Pastor is incredibly involved in leadership positions outside the 4 walls of our church, so his schedule, combined with the health of his mom the past month and half, it's been a busy time in which many have stepped up to help things run normal. More importantly, thousands agreed in prayer for the health of a woman, who with her husband, has experienced an incredible, decades-long ministry throughout the world.

Those who heard of her condition prayed for her healing, whether they were on the other side of town or the other side of earth. The body of Christ at-large agreed in prayer and a local church held up its Pastor. What man sees as addition, God sees as multiplication. If one can put 1,000 to flight, then two can put 10,000 to flight. And where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, He shows up!!  Does three put 100,000 to flight? Four, a million? So 1,000's pray and I run out room for the zero's!

Pray for Senior Pastors...may the be reminded that God is faithful; despite faults and failures. Pray, that like many of us struggle, that they not get hung up on figuring out the situations they face. May the solutions of heaven be carried out here on earth. Pray churches around the globe continue to be prepared and equipped to help carry the burden of the church; that its vision, operation and success would not rise, fall and rest solely on the abilities and experience of one individual.

Sometimes you can just look at an area or a circumstance, when suddenly, unexpectedly, you have an "aha" moment. Something in your brain begins to ask what it would look like if you changed this, moved that, removed clutter, and made room for systems and processes that would work better.

In the end, particularly when your "aha" moment proves to be viable and transformational, you respond positively; looking forward to enjoying the changes made.

Positive rearrangements lead to an incredible new look.

Likewise, we want churches to be effective and efficient. However, that might require some rearranging. It might take moving things around...perhaps even people. It might require removing some stuff and add other elements. However, it's critical that for an organization to pull this off,  the "aha" moment must be viable. Covered in prayer, changes need to be offered with consideration,  for there is nothing worse than a transformation that people have reasonable apprehensions that end up becoming reality.  

Pray for church efficiency and effectiveness that any changes and processes within the organization would receive proper attention, covered in prayer and concerns taken into advisement. Pray that changes would not be done hap-haphazardly, or because it works for churches elsewhere. Each community is different, as is every church, thus, pray they remain true to what God has birthed in them, called them to be and fulfill the needs for where they are and who they serve.  Pray the transformation brings glory to God and ultimately, results in people responding positively to the things of God.

-PNC                                     

"Live as a credible witness. If our actions don’t line up with the message we’re proclaiming, we risk losing our credibility." - Dr. David Jeremiah, Sr. Pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church.

In a word, consistency. Where there is no consistency, there is no credibility.

This is all that we need to keep in mind as the church engages its community.

Pray for churches and their communities, that actions would line up with the message proclaimed. Pray for consistency, that we would be aware of decisions, actions and words that would cause onlookers to use as reasons against coming to Christ. Pray that church would no go so far as to focus on perfection, but a persistent pursuit of God and a constant renewing of His grace for those moments when our credibility is in jeopardy. May God transcend our faults and strengthen our efforts in pointing others to Christ.

-PNC

...missionaries and a mission field.

We are called to be a witness to the grace and glory of God and the power of the cross. Yet, as we go through life, we need those who continue to invest in us, that we may grow in that grace and the knowledge of Christ.

This is why we need the body of Christ. We all have experiences that are to be shared with each other to strengthen the faith of those around us as well as to be strengthened by others. So who is investing and strengthening the lives of those in ministry? Our Pastors? Our missionaries?

Pray for our missionaries, that they would be surrounded by those who would invest in their lives. Pray that their faith would be strengthened, their minds renewed and their spirits refreshed. Pray that life would not discourage their purpose; particularly to the point that it would undermine their ministry. May their lives be fortified, that when they have done all they can to stand, pray they remain standing.

-PNC

 In a surprise move, the Detroit Tigers baseball team changed General Managers, just days after the trade deadline for team players. The team owner, reportedly, simply stated they were "going in a different direction".

We all heard that phrase, especially regarding an employment situation. We've watched it in movies. A character changes lawyers. A counselor realizes their advice and expertise is no longer valued or heeded.

Then there's church. Parting ways is never easy, especially when the relationship has been one of great quality and value for an extended period of time. Yet even in ministry, things can change suddenly. And a community that is supposed to be a place of safety and stability now feels neither safe nor stable.

Thus, we pray for pastors and their advisers.

Pray for the relationships of pastors and their deacons, elders, board members and administrators. Pray they would be healthy and strong, ready for ministry, conducive for the kingdom of God. May conversations be seasoned with grace and disagreements handled with respect, truth and love. Pray that the advice and expertise given is covered in prayer, offered in humility, and built on sound principles. May the Word of God be the lamp to the feet of the church and the light unto the churches' path.

- PNC


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Last night, as I played with the kids before bedtime, I pretended to fall asleep on the floor. I could barely contain a smile or laughter as they tried everything to see if I was awake, including the youngest opening my eyelids (read: practically poking my eye) and shaking my head, "wakey-wakey, wakey-wakey". Then the two of them started talking and asking. Do we call Mommy? Daddy not wake up.  What do we do?

I stopped pretending shortly thereafter, but I had to stretch it for a moment, because their trying to figure out what to do had gotten my curiosity. Later on, something registered. How do youth and children's pastors feel, as they watch kids and teens ask questions about decisions in their life and how their faith should impact those decisions? Likewise, what am I modeling at home, as to how my faith impacts my decisions.

It's a challenge to be taken seriously. It's one to be covered in prayer.

Pray for the Pastors of our kids and our youth; that their lives would be ones part of a firm foundation being build in kids and teens. Pray their lives would indeed be models of what God can accomplish when we look to Him in the decisions that we face, rather than going solo. Pray that the guidance and wisdom and counsel they provide to kids and teens is firmly planted in the Word of God. May the church be a source of strength and a resource for kids as they grow and mature, rather than a sore spot of resentment. Pray pastors and their kids live and become not only great decision makers, but decision leaders, for the glory of God.

-PNC

So much of life, especially in one's early years, is about sharing. Equal opportunities. Equal time. Equal number of turns. If not exactly equal, it should at least be fair.

Who am I kidding?  One's early years?  It's 2015 and adults have this struggle every day!! If I thought for longer than 5 seconds regarding a few comments I made in the privacy of my own home the other day, Id' have to admit I asked pretty much the same question.

Whether your head understands and your heart doesn't accept or vice verse, we all have the moments where we look a situation, usually in some state of transition and think, this is it...I'm ready for it.

These moments occur for every one of us, in every stage of life, in every occupation. Dare I say, even in ministry. This can get dicey for any number of reasons, but ultimately, if one's not careful, it can derail what God is trying to accomplish in and through the area of ministry He has placed someone in. Meanwhile, they are missing out because they are focused on going somewhere that God has not opened...or He has, but it's for someone else, at least for now. While difficult, it is okay. It needs to be okay. It needs to be in God's hands, to move the pieces on the board of life, as He sees fit.

Pray for Associate Pastors today...may they be encouraged and strengthened afresh. Pray for a renewed desire and focus to "bloom where they are planted". May they continue to be faithful in their areas of ministry and expertise, trusting in God to open the door specifically for them, at the specific time He has ordained. Pray for restraint against wanting to rush the process and procedures of "what's next"; and a quickening in their ability to wait on God and trust His sovereign move.

-PNC

No pastor has it all together. Not when it comes to their public ministry life. Certainly not when it comes to their private home life. They face challenges. They make mistakes. They figure how to deal with them in light of God 's grace, just like any other believer.

Unlike any other believer, however, they have to sort through life's struggles in view of those who look up to them on a weekly basis, for guidance, assistance and strength in working out their own battles of life and faith.

Certainly, the pulpit is not a job for the timid. People disagree with what is preached; how the church is run and if that weren't enough, how a pastor manages his own household. It shouldn't sound like it should be that way, but if we're honest, we've all seen or heard about a church that does actually work in such a manner. Sadly enough.

As we start a new week of praying for pastors, particularly Seniors, pray for wisdom, not only in church affairs, but with emphasis on their home-front. Pray for marriages to be strengthened. Pray for direction and understanding in the raising, parenting and mentoring of their children. Pray for provision in their finances and physical needs. Pray for the pressure to be perfect to be removed; and replaced with a straight-forward clarity of how God would desire them to manage their homes in a manner pleasing to God rather than the congregation. Pray for strength to remain true to the calling God has placed on their lives as well as to the promises He has placed on their hearts.

=

Comedian Jeff Allen talks about how, in his marriage, he learned  that if his wife wanted something, she'd ask a question. Early on, he wondered,

"Would she ever come to me and say “Pick those up?” Never. Why? Because that would be simple. Direct. And right to the point. And at that moment, I, her husband, would know exactly what she wants from me. I’d be able to process the information and make a rational decision as to whether I could deliver the request. At that moment, we would be communicating at the highest human level. The way God intended it. Through LANGUAGE." - Jeff Allen  But no...instead she asks "Are those yours?"

Communication is easy to fumble. In marriage. In the classroom. Among friends. And as we've all experienced, on social media. Perhaps, the most dangerous...misunderstandings amidst the church. Granted, some of it is easy to correct. Much of it, probably not eternally-relevant. However, that shouldn't cause us to be lax in guarding against miscommunication in matters that are eternally-relevant. Such as what takes place in ministry. Such as what is spoken from the pulpit. Careful and wise should we be with words, as Scripture advises.

Pray, this Sunday, that church services would be efficient and effective in their communication. May misunderstandings be few, if not non-existent. Pray that what's spoken in classes and church cafes, conversations in the lobby and the sermon from the pulpit would encourage the believer, strengthen the body of Christ, reinforce the building of faith and draw people closer to God. Pray, that regardless of oratory skill and finesse, the Holy Spirit would transcend the speaker, touch the heart of the hearer; to the one who has an ear, may the hear what God has for them with no room for error. Simple. Direct. Relevant.

-PNC

My missionary friend shared the devotional during our Wednesday night prayer service this week. He spoke about the covenant God made with Abraham and how it was passed on through the generations and is now carried out through the church, in conjunction with the Great Commission, to go into all the world.

As he shared the efforts and the results of the work he and his recently departed wife had accomplished in Africa, you could hear in his voice, the passion for the lost. The mission field certainly demands ones' whole-hearted commitment and conviction.

That said, as he closed the devotional, he named a few specific areas that we can pray for missionaries. They are simple and straightforward, so I'm listing them on their own merit and I thank you in advance for joining me in presenting these specific needs to the Lord on behalf of missionaries around the globe:

...finances
...safety
...schooling options/completion for children of missionaries
...favor with government entities
...open hearts amongst the unreached peoples, that they would respond positively to the ministry and the message of the Gospel

May God show up and provide miraculously in each of these areas as He equips, empowers and enables His Word to go forth, through the missionaries who have sacrificed their lives for His work.

-PNC

It's amazing how many people in Scripture had help with their situations, whether just a normal day or a plan bigger than themselves.

Eve, created from Adam, for Adam, to be a help-mate.
Moses helped the seven daughters of his future father-in-law.
Aaron, helped Moses speak to Pharaoh.
David, commanded the princes of Israel to help Solomon.
Hezekiah took counsel with his princes...and they helped him.
Paul had help on his missionary journeys.
And so many more...

It's all a matter of availability. It may be the position you hold, or not, but it starts with an attitude of willingness. Where would churches be if people didn't avail themselves to help around the office? Clean the facility? Lead a ministry? And any number of areas where peoples' skill-set and experience would greatly contribute to church productivity.

Pray for deacons and church admins. May they not grow weary in their willingness to serve. Pray that as the help in church operations, that God would help them and be their portion. May God return to them, their time and investment they have offered to the Kingdom of God. May their work and their counsel serve to advance the Kingdom of a God in a greater dimension than has been recognized to-date. May a fresh anointing and outpouring come over them as the continue in an attitude of willingness unto the work of the Lord.

- PNC

Kids are an interesting group. One minute laughing. The next crying. Then there's the moment of defiance...which, in order to keep your sanity, requires more laughing.

Such was the case two nights ago. The kids had their moments throughout the day, but just before bedtime, tickle-fest was in order. My youngest has the greatest giggle in the world. Truly, affordable health care that works. And it required no waiting on the doctor or filling out forms.

I always wonder how kids and youth pastors pull it off. Dealing with their own kids one moment, then the churches the next. Laughing. Crying. Defiance. Repeat. Sleep. Day two. I appreciate their investment. I applaud their faithfulness. I admire their patience. Then I wonder where I'm falling short in my own life. I know pastors don't have it together and so do they. Yet, the expectation is that they do or that they should. That's what the enemy will use against them to frustrate their efforts, whether in their own home or in God's house.

Pray for incredible moments of joy and laughter in the lives of kids and youth pastors. Pray for a peace about their lives, in moments of sadness and sorrow, drama as well as defiance. Pray for insight and creativity, to pursue moments the their family as well as their ministry will remember and cherish. Pray that smiles and laughter would greatly outnumber the moments of sadness...that in times of difficulty, may kids and youth have a firm foundation, knowing that laughter does indeed, do good like medicine; that the joy of the Lord is and will remain their strength.

-PNC

You wake up late Monday morning, not only arriving late, but you slept past when you should have been there in the first place. Shortly after arriving, you find out just how full your day is looking and half we through the day, you realize you are going to be "more than a few" minutes late getting home for the night.

Frustrating for anyone who cares about their job and how their work is perceived. As I thought about how this plays out in the life of a pastor, it dawned on me...depending on their position, particularly with regards to Wednesday night services, their week is half over already. Our week has just started, yet for anything around the church office it seems like the next day or two is a "it has to be done by" day. It's either Friday and Wednesday, which means any reminder of a due date is merely a 48 hour notice, potentially. Talk about praying over effectiveness and efficiency each week.

Thus, pray for Associate Pastors. They may not have the daunting task of preparing a sermon, but nonetheless, their responsibilities vary greatly and are serious and intentional in their own right. Pray for strength to accomplish each and every task that waits to be completed. May they have vision and clarity of though to properly assess and purposely resolve to finish their work for the glory of God. Pray for wisdom, to properly balance pastoral responsibilities along with family, friends and other matters and relationships that take place outside church offices. May the frustration of the days that don't go so well, or as planned, not hinder their spirits nor detour their eyes from what God has ordained in advance for them to do for His glory.

-PNC

Pastors don't always get things right. While I'm sure it bothers them, like it would the rest of us, I think what might bother them more is when they don't get it right in the eyes of those who look up to them.

There's always those who disagree, but there's a difference between catering to keep the peace amongst people versus keeping peace in one's heart and soul by being true to what God has prompted them to do and the decisions and desires they express.

"The hardest thing a pastor can do is to do what's right.
The second hardest is to live with his conscience when he doesn't - unknown

Pray for pastors, that they would stay focused on what is right, not in the sight of man, but the sight of God. Pray for the courage to stand by the Word of God and their convictions; whether on the church stage or the city sidewalk. Pray for their dreams and desires to continual be aligned with the direction God has ordained for them. Pray their efforts and the results they long for not be hindered, by those with their own agendas which may not be grounded in Scripture, but in selfishness

Pray for the strength to stand for righteousness. Pray for grace and forgiveness when they don't quite stand so tall.

-PNC