To continue keeping you updated, here’s the latest at Lifehouse Church East: In prayer and fasting, I feel strongly called to continue WAITING. Not lazy waiting, but active waiting.
What does it mean to ACTIVELY WAIT? I keep coming back to Joshua:
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Continue in prayer and fasting before God. For some Lifehousers, this idea is new and scary to be challenged to spend time daily in prayer and seeking God for His purpose to prevail for Lifehouse East. Great things from God happen when we don’t give up in prayer.
Worship God before we see the results of our prayer, not to manipulate Him to do something, but in celebration of what He will do.
Invite Friends. Don’t forget this Sunday is “Get Out” Friend Day, so invite everyone you can to join us and be part of what God is doing at Lifehouse East!
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."
Prepare ourselves. “Consecrate” means to “make holy or pure” for God’s use. Let's get ourselves spiritually ready so that God can use us however He chooses. That's why we did the THRIVE campaign, to grow/ thrive spiritually and in lives that please God,
Prepare by planning ahead: we want to lay out the dream/ vision that God has put in our heart for Lifehouse. While we don’t feel like now is the right time to move forward to make it happen, we need to be diligent to get ready for when God does lead us to move. So here are our next steps to prepare and get ready (this requires all Lifehousers involvement):
- Cast Vision- I will begin regularly communicating where God is leading us, and we are planning to host a Lifehouse Ministry Summit in May to share the entire dream to THRIVE. Between now and May, we will have time to put a viable and well-thought out business, financial, building plan in place,
- Develop a Plan- we are beginning to work on a business plan for the future of Lifehouse. How we could launch business within a Lifehouse-owned building to cover all costs of the building and use additional income from those businesses to help the community, local churches, and to plant new churches,
- Due Diligence- We've already meet with contractors, inspectors, CPA, business planners, and have spoken to investors and lenders. We've researched this building, got proposals and plans in place, reviewed blueprints, etc. I think we've done more work and investigation than anyone else who will bid on this property- in less than a week.
- Build a THRIVE Fund- we need to start giving/ saving money for this dream. We will set up a fund within our books to save for this dream, and invite ALL Lifehousers to give generously toward our future. First, we must payoff our $14,000 outstanding loan with Susquehanna Bank, then begin setting aside gifts to this THRIVE Fund. We believe that as we give and save for the plans God has put in our heart, God will provide and we will be ready when God leads us to take the next step. I would like to stay debt free as we move forward, unless God leads otherwise. (write THRIVE FUND in the memo of your check- give as God leads you).
- Keep Focused on Eternity- even as we build this THRIVE Fund, we need to keep our focus on eternity and building God’s Kingdom, so we will give 10% of all gifts to that Fund to community needs, other churches, and church planting. We are NOT about buildings but about God’s Kingdom. We want to be generous to God so He will continue to entrust us with much. (see Matthew 25:14-30)
- Trust God and Don’t Panic. Waiting may be one of the hardest things for us to do, because we aren’t in control. We must trust God and not worry when troubling or discouraging things happen around us. I know that there will be moments in the future that will test our faith and resolve, but Lifehouse is part of God’s Church and He’s in charge and will protect and provide for us. So, don’t listen to negativity and keep your faith in Jesus. Read all of Psalm 112, but here’s the part the speaks to me:
Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
Have great faith! Stay the course! Believe that God will do great things for the future of Lifehouse Church East!
Fired up,
-Pastor Patrick
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