OVERCOMING BURNOUT

Don't miss latest blog post on the CAUSE, SYMPTOMS, and CURE for BURNOUT:

http://www.patrickgrach.com/2013/04/overcoming-burnout-part-3-cure.html

21 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Week 3

God hasn’t called us to be busy, to maintain, or even to manage, but to join an unquenchable Cause.  God has a purpose for our lives that is bigger than mere existence.  His plan is that our lives would matter forever.  And don’t we all   want to leave a legacy and be part of something bigger than ourselves?  Jesus said, “In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” John 7:18, The Message

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

Week 3 Focus: Advancing God's Kingdom

• Sunday, Jan. 20: Pray for national and world leaders; pray for the President, Congress, and leading powers around the world. Pray for peace and wisdom as they lead the nation. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
• Monday, Jan. 21: Pray for our state, county and city leaders to have wisdom and focus fiscally and morally. Jeremiah 29:7
• Tuesday, Jan. 22: Pray for national and world events. Spend some time praying for current national and world events as mentioned on the news. Consider how Christ might be seen and glorified through these difficult times. Genesis 18:25
• Wednesday, Jan. 23: Pray for national and area renewal and for a greater awareness of the need of Jesus Christ. Psalm 85:6
• Thursday, Jan 24: Pray for peace among the nations. Pray for the nations of the world to experience the peace of Christ; that those who are experiencing chaos and turmoil would seek the glory and peace of Christ. Psalm 96:3
• Friday, Jan. 25: Pray for the spread of the gospel to foreign nations. Pray that the gospel would be shared to every nation, especially the unreached people groups of the world. Pray for church planters and missionaries to be sent to these far-reaching areas. 1 Thessalonians 1:8
• Saturday, Jan. 26: Pray for the persecuted church around the world. Consider and pray for our brothers and sisters facing persecution around the world. Pray for endurance and strength to stay faithful to the gospel. Hebrews 13:3

My Challenge for 2013...

At the end of each year, we Americans go through a New Year’s ritual. We evaluate the previous year, and set resolutions to change our habits and lifestyles. We make the same resolutions we’ve made for years, each time failing to follow through with our commitments.

Resolutions start with good intentions: We set goals, we make commitments, we tell our friends, and then we start.  Then, as quickly as the new year begins, our resolve wanes. Busyness kicks in and old habits find new life. What was once comfortable becomes comfortable again.  Then, we justify our lack of follow-through: the resolution was unrealistic, the timing was bad, and our schedule had too many unexpected demands.

But what really happened to our resolutions?  Frankly, we maintained our motivation until the comfort of normal outweighed the discomfort of change. We got busy. Daily life distracted us. Deadlines and demands zapped our energy and quieted our enthusiasm.

The same happens with our spiritual life.  We intend to follow God, and really want to. But then life happens, and we don’t follow through!  Instead, we follow the crowd; we follow comfort; we follow the path of least resistance.   We find our identity and significance in so many empty things, only to leave us longing for more.

For this reason, I’m calling all supporters and Ministry Partners of Lifehouse Church to 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, January 6-27.  This is a call to live “INSIDE OUT.”  This is a call to step away from the routine of everyday life and discover once and for all, “I am empty, and nothing can fill me or complete me! I need to be transformed by Christ from the inside out!” If we have Christ plus nothing, we have all; if we have everything without Christ, we have nothing.

Why fasting?  Don’t ask me why, but the discipline of fasting works. When we use our physical appetites as a constant reminder to pray, read the Bible or meditate, we grow desperate for God and realize how consumed we are with consuming.  Fasting gets our priorities back into right order.

Why 21 days?  In Daniel 10:2-13, Daniel prayed and fasted 21 days, during which time a spiritual battle was fought.  After his 21-day fast, there was breakthrough and Daniel received the answers to his prayers.  These 21 days will be a time for us to get reconnected with the Creator of the universe and the Savior of our souls.

Why now?  Throughout the year, things distract and dampen our passion for God, but we want to start off the New Year by clearing out the cobwebs in our hearts and by refocusing the “lens” of our spirit.   We don’t want to wander through 2012 haplessly going about our business.  Nor do we want to attempt God-sized dreams without God’s presence going before us.  We want God-led strategies that will accomplish HIS will in HIS time through HIS power. 

Why me?  Together, we can accomplish something so much greater and more powerful than any one of us could as an individual.  Lifehouse Church doesn’t go through this ritual to earn a spiritual merit badge or prove how devoted we are to God.  Rather, we partner together in prayer & fasting as a way to partner with God in HIS purposes, His will, and His Cause for the Church and for every Jesus-follower. 

I guarantee this season of fasting and prayer will be the most exciting, challenging, and intense time of the year—both for you individually, and for our entire church and community.  As always, thank you for your partnership with Lifehouse and for taking the time to read this heartfelt message.  Let’s stop the endless pursuit & begin living from the INSIDE OUT!

For more information and resources for the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, visit our website.

Who is a FOOL?

Excerpt from my notes in Sermon Series: Fool-Proofing Your Life- a Study of Proverbs

What is the PORTRAIT of a FOOL from teachings of Solomon in Proverbs?

The fool is the antithesis of a God-follower. While the Book of Proverbs, and the Bible as a whole use several words for “fool”, it must be understood that this individual isn’t just silly or goofy like the Three Stooges, but an actual menace- full of destruction, deceit, and death.

Fools can be recognized by the following characteristics:

1. Unruly- quick-tempered (12:16; 29:11), careless and swift speech (10:8,10,14; 12:23; 15:2; 18:2,7; 19:1), unrighteous (10:23; 14:9; 27:22); contentious (9:13; 18:6; 30:21-22; 29:9)
2. Unreliable- not trustworthy, not faithful or a person of their word (26:6-10), a liar (10:18; 14:8); lazy (1:32)
3. Unteachable- unwilling to listen to counsel or learn from others or even his own mistakes (1:7,22,29-32; 9:7-8; 14:6; 15:12; 17:10, 16; 24:7; 26:11); proud (21:24)

We are called to apply wisdom. Wisdom is ONLY found in the Fear of the LORD. To Fear God is to hate what is evil, love what is good, and to stand in reverent awe of God and His law.

Wisdom in SKILLFUL LIVING and the only way to AVOID playing the FOOL.

Why I LOVE the Organized Institution of the Church

So many people today hate organized religion, and for many years I would have joined them. I've stated that we're not about religion but relationship. The organized church has certainly earned their hypocritical, corrupt reputation. Not all of them, mind you, just a few that spoil the whole bunch.

But the Church is the hope of the world. She is the conduit of God's Gospel and Grace to all mankind, and God loves His Church, the Bride and Body of Christ. And the LOCAL church is the "first name" of the Church. It's how people know who Jesus is and how His followers live and love. The local church is the hope of a community and neighborhood. While others depend on government, look to bailouts, or settle into despair, the local church rises as a beacon of hope and compassion.

PRAY for the LOCAL Church. Pray for Lifehouse and our Network churches.

Paul states, "since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you..." Col 1:9, NIV.

Let's be found faithful in praying for the local church, our family of God in the faith. Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, sharing his love for them and the demonstration of that love in prayer.

How did Paul pray for the church?

• Thanksgiving- in Col 1:3,12, Paul says that he "always thank God" for the local church in Colosse. Take time to thank God for your church, her pastors, and for your community of faith.
• God's Will- next, in v.9, Paul says that he prays that they "may be filled with the knowledge" of God's will and with spiritual understanding. Pray for God's will over your church, and for God to guide the leadership with His vision through spiritual wisdom.
• Pleasing and fruitful- in v.6 & 10, Paul's prayer is so that they would please God and be fruitful. That is an important balance- both do what is right and pleasing to God AND be fruitful. If either are missing, then the church is unhealthy and missing her mission. Pray that your local church is FRUITFUL in reaching and discipling the unchurched.
• Strengthened- Paul's prayer, in Col. 1:11, is that the church would be strengthened through God's power with patience in joy! Wow! Pray that over your church and leadership! 

Please join Lifehouse Church today, during this season of fasting and prayer, in praying for us, the churches within our Network, and for your local church.

21 Days of Fasting & Prayer to kick-off 2012

Jesus-followers, especially Lifehousers,

A CALL TO FASTING AND PRAYER!

At the end of each year, we Americans go through a New Year's ritual. We evaluate the previous year and set resolutions to change our habits and lifestyles. We make the same resolution we've made for years, each time failing to follow through with our commitments.

Resolutions start with good intentions, then as quickly as the new year begins, our resolve wanes. Then, we justify our lack of follow-through: the resolution was unrealistic, timing was bad, and our schedule had too many unexpected demands.

The same happens with our spiritual life. We intend to follow God, and really want to. But then life happens, and we don't follow through! Instead, we follow the crowd; we follow comfort; we follow the path of least resistance. The greatest obstacle to living relentlessly for God is everyday life: its challenges, conflicts and distractions.

For this reason, I'm calling all of our Ministry Partners to 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, January 2-22. This is a call to be "RELENTLESS." This is a call to step away from the routine of everyday life and discover once and for all, "Am I following God because it's convenient and comfortable or because I truly believe He is the one cause worthy my full, relentless devotion?"

Follow this link to view or download our 21 Days Prayer & Fasting Guide. In it you'll find a weekly devotional, daily prayer focus, and schedule of corporate prayer gatherings.

This season of fasting and prayer, I guarantee this will be the most exciting, challenging, and intense time of the year--both for you individually, and for our entire church and community!

As always, thank you for your partnership with Lifehouse, faithfulness to Christ and His Church, and for taking the time to read this heartfelt message. Let's stop following the crowd and start following God relentlessly!

Fired Up,
Pastor Patrick

HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD! Top Lessons from 2011

Hearing from God is key to walking in God's design and purposes for our life.


Obviously, as a pastor, it's essential that I walk in the confidence that God is leading and directing me, our elders, and the vision of Lifehouse. Since God's plans are not always as clear as reading a roadmap, it is critical that we know how to hear from God. In 2011, we hit up against some obstacles in the course of leading the church that required that I, and the elders, hear from God. So, how do we do it (you know, hear from God)?

Here's as straight-forward a process as I know in hearing from God and discerning His will and plans for life and His Church:

1. Pray Daily. We can't expect God to lead if we're not regularly discuss life and matters with Him.
2. Dedicate and commit our days and ways to Him. Surrender our daily activity to God.
3. Read the Bible Daily. God leads and directs through His Word. As we read, study, meditate, memorize, and apply the Bible, it becomes alive in our hearts. God can speak directly through us reading His Word, and most often does.
4. Repentance. Clear disobedience to God will hinder His guidance and our sensitivity to His leadership in our hearts. Once we get sin out of the way, then we are more apt to hear the quiet voice of God.
5. Fasting and Prayer. There are times when I/ we need to quiet ourselves and the other appetites in our life, leverage them to focus on God, and seeking God by laying aside other distractions. During times when we most need to hear from God for the church, I set aside a day or days to fast and pray, and at times I invite the elders and even the pastoral team to join in. We pray for God to speak to us, direct us, and guide our decision making.
6. Confession and Reflection. During fasting and prayer, I have a 3-step process to hearing from God and discerning His direction: 1st- repeat and ask God to reveal any hidden sin that might be hindering His will in my life or the church; 2nd- lay down "our" agenda for God's plans, and I ask God if the direction we were planning to go is truly His desire; 3rd- ask, "is there a door that God has opened that I/ we have not walked through, so that is why He has not opened another?" At times, God opens a door, but since it's not the door we wanted or expected, we don't walk through. Meanwhile, God desires obedience. And He won't open another door, because He's waiting for our submission and obedience to His desires.
7. Confirmation. God will only confirm His desires through others- whether it's simple encouragement or a prophetic word or counsel. These words are never directional but ONLY conformational. We only listen if they match what God has already spoken into our hearts. If not we tuck them away, like Mary (mother of Jesus) did when she "pondered them in her heart."
8. Live Obediently. There are times when we don't necessarily hear a direction from God. What do we do in those moments? We do all of the above, then we trust and obey God, and follow Proverbs 3:5-6, and trust that God will direct our thoughts, decision-making, and actions. We believe that God does order our steps.

I could probably write a blog about each of these. If I get strong feedback, I will! Let me know.

ASK YOURSELF: 

How can I adjust my disciplines to clearly hear God's desires and will for my life?

In what area of my life do I need to trust and obey God and follow through on what He has already spoken?

A Call to Fasting & Prayer

Calling all Lifehousers and partners in the work of the Lord!


As we prepare for the Fall season, a full and important season (9/11 tribute and Friend Day, kick-off of life groups, etc), I want to invite you to join the rest of the team for a week of fasting and prayer from Monday, August 29 through Friday, September 2 (or if you're reading this later in the week, consider fasting next week or the following).

We will open this to all ministry partners, but want to keep the focus on preparing and humbling our hearts before God as we move from summer to fall.

What are we fasting? Please consider fasting at least one meal per day (and if that’s not possible, consider doing a “Daniel fast” cutting out meats and sweets and favorite foods. The goal is not to starve ourselves, but to leverage our natural appetites as a reminder to be focused in prayer.

When? Prayer gatherings from 6-7am AND 6-7pm at Lifehouse- Bethel  EXCEPT Wednesday, August 31st at 6PM, we will be at 19918 Jefferson Blvd (office building).
Thank you all for prioritizing prayer and fasting! Let’s believe that God will work powerfully and miraculously through each of us and through Lifehouse, as we seek His face and His will!


I've also included a BLOGPOST from Mars Hill (Mark Driscoll) from today about prayer. Seemed appropriate!
--
Fired up,
-Patrick Grach
www.lifehousechurcheast.org

From the Aug. 28 sermon, “The Parable of the Fig Tree,” preached by Pastor Tim Smith out of Luke 21:29–38:

Jesus is our great example of what it means to, despite pressure, despite everything crushing in on him, to withdraw and to make sure he’s about his Father’s business, the mission that the Father gave him, which he knows was to suffer and to die for sin. As I’ve meditated on this passage, as I’ve seen Jesus’ example, the good news is that Jesus doesn’t just give us an example and tell us to try harder.Through him we have new life, and he draws us to himself.

There are four things that we do to push back against simply being weighed downand settling for the cares of this life and the fleeting pleasures that the world has to offer.

First of all, we see that Jesus withdrew to pray, and he challenges us to do the same thing. He says, “Stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all the things that are going to take place.”

“In prayer, when we take minutes to withdraw and to be still and to listen, we become remade in the image of Jesus.”

I want to camp here for a few minutes because, Mars Hill, I’m not sure we’re the best praying church. All I can say for sure is I’m not the best praying pastor or Christian.

At Mars Hill we are so zealous and driven to see things get done. We’re so eager, we want so much for the kingdom of God to advance through us, and to be able to be used by him that our strength—I think that’s admirable, but at times, as always can be the case, our strength can become our weakness. And we can start to work in our own strength, which simply leaves us exhausted. And oftentimes, we end up building our own kingdom even in the name of the good King Jesus, but in reality it’s a counterfeit, that’s only thinly disguised, as our own, for our own glory, according to our own plan, according to our own desires.

Prayer doesn’t necessarily solve all of that, but withdrawing to pray is one of the key things. And we see it so consistently in Jesus’ life. Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

This means that nothing that is worth doing can happen apart from the work of Jesus, in and through us. In prayer, we withdraw from the pressures, we withdraw from the demands, we withdraw from the cares of this life temporarily, and take them to our Heavenly Father who knows and who loves and cares, and to Jesus who said, “Put your burden on me because my burden’s light. Let’s walk together.”

“Prayer a declaration of war on cynicism and unbelief as we step out in faith that God hears and answers.”

I’ve been journaling about prayer, which is kind of funny because that’s what people do who are convicted about prayer but don’t know what to do about it. They read books and they journal about prayer. I’m learning more how to pray, but it’s a slow process. But I’ve been making a list because prayer declares war on so many things we struggle with. And this next point is part of that list.

Prayer is a declaration of war on self-sufficiency, as we become more and more dependent on God.

It’s war on independence because you have to admit that you can’t do it alone.
It’s war on self-importance as you praise something greater.
It’s a declaration of war on anxiety as you trust that God will provide.
It’s a war on the temporary pleasures that the world has to offer around us, as we praise the Giver of all gifts above his gifts as an end in themselves.
It’s a declaration of war on the frantic pace of life that all of us fall into as we take time to be still and to think and to listen and to try to hear from God and what he has for us.
It’s a declaration of war on justification by results as you have to acknowledge that it’s God who works in you.
It’s a declaration of war on cynicism and unbelief as we step out in faith that he hears and answers.

Prayer, as I’ve been convicted, is a declaration of war on this self-centered, short-term, whatever’s-in-front-of-my-face kind of living. Living for my own kingdom. Apart from prayer, I am convinced—I know at least it’s true in my life—I’m convinced that apart from prayer, we live life as if whatever seems most urgent and whatever is right in front of our face is the best and most important thing in all eternity and in all the universe. In prayer, when we take minutes to withdraw and to be still and to listen, we become remade in the image of Jesus. In prayer, our priorities get bent to his, our mission gets realigned to his and we get convicted about where we’re building our own kingdom and we get changed to be part of his.

There is no movement that I have ever read anything about where God moves significantly and many people become Christians [where the people behind] the movement didn’t have a strong foundation before they saw any effects of God moving—they were dedicating themselves to pray.

Friends, if we want to live according to the kingdom of God, and we want to see the kingdom of God advance in us, and we want to see our cities changed, cities like Albuquerque and Portland and Seattle and Orange County, we must be people who pray, who get realigned and remade according to the Father’s mission, according to the kingdom of God, according to the great King, King Jesus.

So we pray.

Stay tuned this week for parts two, three, and four as we go through the respective importances of worship, stewardship, and anticipation. Or, you can jump ahead and read the full sermon transcript here.

Tim Smith is the lead pastor of Mars Hill Portland.