Hungry (last night's gathering)

Wow, what a night... We are going through a series on Colossians and Jeff started last night in verse 9 of the first chapter. The focus was really on prayer for each other in our community. In the passage we see Paul praying for this community that is about the size of ours within Hungry. He goes on to say they are praying for "God to fill them with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Paul must have had it in his head that praying for people really does have a purpose. Jeff's point was "What if other people's spiritual wisdom and understanding did have some sort of dependence on our prayers for them." What if our prayers or lack there of really impact people's lives.

He used a great illustration of his children. He made the point that he could only imagine how much it would mean to him if one of his children came to him in concern for his brother (which would be Jeff's son also - in case you didn't catch that - hah). I have to think that God's love for his children is so much greater than anything we will ever know in this life. God must smile when He sees his children, His creation passionately pleaing for one another. Personally I think that is a large part of God's dream for His church.

We actually went into a deeper discussion of what all that means but personally I was challenged just by the idea of us praying for each other. I mean really praying. And praying with the mindset that I am making a difference in the life of our community and our world.

We left the night with an opportunity for individuals write down prayer requests and to take others with the challenge to really be a community that pleas and prays for each other. The hope is that this will become a natural value of our community that we will constantly "pray without ceasing" for each other and for our world.

Thanks for reading...