Holy Week

HOLY WEEK

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. – John 12:25-26 (NIV)

1. Pray for our city as there are many who need to make things right with Jesus, many who don't know Him and many of us who need to continue our journey to the Cross by asking for more understanding of getting out of ourselves.

2. Pray for our governor, Robert Bentley. Help him to come to a full understanding of his choices and accept the consequences. He has lost his wife of 50 years, about to lose his job and career, helped tear up two families and had many other losses I am sure. Pray for true sorrow and a turning around of his actions. Pray for our whole state right now as we all recover from a leaders choices.
3. Pray for all our leaders both in government and our community. They need wisdom and direction as the public is always watching and ready to devour.
4. Pray for ourselves. As followers of Christ, we are to "lose our life" EVEN MORE, every day. "Not my will, but thine" for our lives.

A musician, Ken Medema, whom I have admired all my adult life wrote this simple chorus when I was at a college student week back in the 80's. He reminded us that our lives are not our own and in order to "find" life, we have to lose it.

Finding leads to losing,
losing lets you find.
Living leads to dying
Death leaves life behind.
Finding leads to losing
That's all that I can say...
No one can have Life another way.

As we live life this Holy Week......let us lose OUR life and find TRUE life in Him.

How to Change a Heart in Greater Montgomery

Recently, I was at a neighborhood meeting about crime and the police officers were talking about all the methods that they are currently using to promote a safe environment in neighborhoods. One person spoke up from the community recognizing that in order for crime to stop, hearts have to change. The police officer responded to her statement agreed with her and implored the churches in Montgomery to help. The police department can't change hearts. Rules and jail and safety tactics can't change hearts.....only Jesus can do that and we, as Christ followers, have the ability to get that message to others. 

We cannot expect the police department to do all the work. The Christian church HAS to step up and participate. The MPD and Sheriff's Dept cannot do this alone.

So what can we do?
1. Every day, pray for our city.
Pray for the people of our city to have an ENCOUNTER with Jesus. Pray for Christ Followers in the Greater Montgomery area to step up and speak... to share the gospel at any cost to our reputations or our fears.
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth” Isaiah 62:6-7 

2. Go to where the hurting are. They need you to tell them about the good news of Christ.
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously."
Matthew 10:5-8 The Message 
 
3. Check our own hearts.
Are we living the way we should to honor Christ in all we do?
If not...here is what David prayed and we can pray it too.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 39:23-24 


These three things WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE in our city. As we get closer to the day of celebrating the Resurrection, how will your heart be changed so that you can share that gift with others?