Keep Pointing

In All Circumstances...

1 Thessalonians 4: 18 – Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

On Wednesday,  August 17^th, our daughter Ally and I made the early morning trek to Coralville for her to take her nursing boards – the culmination of her RN degree.  She had prayed, we had prayed, and we had sought out friends and family to pray.  Again, that morning many more prayers were offered up on her behalf as she labored over the difficult test.  Yet, it was a rather unnerving 48 hours for our family as we waited for her results.

On Friday morning, when the time came for the unveiling of the pass/fail status, the build-up to the answer couldn’t have been anymore anxiety-filled than it was! The website was not working, and we had four family members here all attempting to assist in getting to the site more expediently. We were all filled with nervousness and hope for our daughter and sister.  Then, when finally we got the results to pop up, Ally had us look for her, and the ”PASS” caused us to immediately react with screams and tears of joy! After rounds of hugs and sighs of relief, we knew we had to come together and thank HIM! It was God who moved people to pray, and who provided every means along the way to get to this point.

So often I  pray for a specific positive TO occur or for a specific negative NOT TO occur, and when God answers and moves and responds,  I am too busy to thank Him.  What do we need to stop and thank Him for today? Is there something obvious we have neglected to thank Him for? Or, maybe more so, even in the midst of a current trial or loss, is there a manner in which He has provided & revealed His mercy that we have been too preoccupied to notice?

-Kay

Don't Miss the Kickoff!

Don't miss out:

• FX (Family eXperience) formerly KidStuf, kicks off tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. in the Cedar Falls Worship Center. FX is for families with children through fifth grade -- and is a church experience like no other. Bring your kids...bring your neighbor's kids...just bring somebody and get here!  

• theRock and theRoad, our junior-high and high-school ministries, also kickoff tomorrow night. Encourage your students to bring a friend -- and wear older clothes -- I heard something about jello...

Also, be aware that there have been a lot of tragedies and deaths recently. Please be praying for the Prairie Lakes families who have lost loved ones.

Serve like you mean it.

In case you missed it:

• By all accounts, All Access was a great success across all campuses.  Pastor Carl nailed it on Jesus' Culture and sacrificial servanthood.  According to John 13, Jesus served all the way to the end.  And if we're going to be like Him, we're called to serve.  As always, you can catch it online, starting Tuesday.
• So, if you're not serving yet, get signed up today!
• Thanks for taking on the Seven Day Challenge with me.  It wouldn't be a bad idea to review those again this week -- and possibly make this a rhythm in your life.

A special thank-you to all of you for the birthday wishes, and for your prayers as we delivered Karly to college this weekend!

Seven Day Challenge - DAY 7

Verse: Isaiah 44:1-6

Truth: God is good.

Action Points:

• Count God's goodness in your life
• Look for God's goodness today
• Remind somebody that God is good

Seven Day Challenge - DAY 6

Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Truth: God transforms

Action Points:

• God can change you
• Thank Him for changing you
• Ask Him to keep changing you
• Who in your circle needs to experience the transforming power of Christ?

Seven Day Challenge - DAY 5

Verse: Hebrews 2:18

Truth: God helps.

Action Points:

• When tempted, lean into God
• Know that even Jesus was tempted
• Identify and understand where you're most vulnerable
• Remind someone that God helps in temptation

Serving...it's kind of a big deal...ask Jesus.

Here's a quick look ahead to the weekend:

• The lobby at each campus will have tables filled with opportunities to get plugged into serving.  So, be praying and thinking now about how you can serve at your campus.
• Serving is a big deal at Prairie Lakes because it was a big deal to Jesus.  What you'll hear this weekend is that the culture around Jesus was a culture of sacrificial servanthood.
• Bottom line: get a friend and bring them to All Access.  Start off this new season right!

After hosting the funeral for 9-year-old Bodee Peterson, I'm reminded how important it is to be invitational.  Invite your friends!  They need God -- they need to experience Jesus' Culture.

Seven Day Challenge - DAY 4

Verse: Psalm 91

Truth: God protects.

Action Points:

• Lean into God, not away from Him
• You can trust Him even if it seems bleek
• He will get you through
• Remind somebody today that God is their refuge and strength

Defining Moments

John spoke about defining moments last weekend, and in the preparation for sending our baby to college, I have been reminded of another defining moment and how God is still revealing His kindness 13 ½  years later. 

Living in Forest City back in 1997, our kids were 5, 7, & 9 and it seemed we were just emerging from the fogginess of toddler and pre-school years, and life and ministry were good!  Then we got the first call from Phil Swisher with First Baptist Church in Cedar Falls, and they were in need of a Sr. Pastor.  From that first phone call through the entire process of accepting the position here, zealous or excited would  not have been adjectives to describe my feelings about moving our children from a place they loved to a church with no children their ages.  Worrying they would be scarred for life for switching churches & schools, I still vividly remember the day my Mom-heart submitted and fully trusted God.  Crying on my knees on our living room floor in Forest City, I said “OK” to God, but I had a HUGE request of HIM, knowing full well He didn’t need to grant it – it was just a big “Mom-ask.” I asked if God would allow us to stay in Cedar Falls until all of our kids had graduated  - that we would be able to raise our kids in one place. 

Last evening, we shared one last family dinner before John & I leave to take Karly to college today.  Seeing the siblings hug and cry and say good-bye, in my sadness, I was reminded of that moment with God 13 years ago when Karly was still in pre-school.  Through God’s lavish goodness, He had granted us thousands of family dinners – all in the same place.  And, to think, God was no doubt smiling when I asked Him for the 13 years, oblivious to everything that was ahead for Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls.  He was probably saying, Daughter, I’m going to give you a lot more than 13!! 

Today,  you might have an opportunity to share about God’s faithfulness through a defining moment of your own.  That story might just provide the opening you need in a friend’s life!

Seven Day Challenge - DAY 3

Verse: 1 Peter 5:7

Truth: God cares.

Action Points:

• Nothing surprises God
• Turn to Him in everything
• Nothing is too big, or too small
• Tell somebody today that God cares for them