BillSimmonsLive

The Year of Prayer

2010 has been a year of prayer and fasting at SpringWell. We started the year with a 21 Day Fast and asked God to guide us as a Church. Why would we do that? Because we want to be a desperate Church. We want God to get all the honor for what He is doing. I am proud to be part of a church that doesn't just talk about prayer but actually prays. We had the fasting emphasis in February and continue to fast every Monday. We've had Sunday evening prayer gatherings during the summer and an all-night prayer event in October. Our Growth Groups gather weekly and pray together.

These intentional times of prayer have strengthened our church when we worshiped together each Sunday; when we went on mission together; when tough decisions were being made; and when lives were being changed through services like Celebrate Recovery.

You may be asking: What do I pray for? I'm glad you asked. Let me share with you 5 things Scott has asked our church to pray for regarding SpringWell:

1. Wisdom – We desire to be the best leaders we can be. It takes wisdom to leads God's people.
2. Souls – The lost and hurting in our community desperately need Jesus. Pray that SpringWell Draws Spiritually Thirsty People to Jesus.
3. Finances – The number one obstacle in our church is finances. Too few people tithe. We will not give up praying for a breakthrough.
4. Sin – We pray that those things in the darkness will be exposed by the Light. We start with ourselves asking God to show us our own hearts (Psalm 139:23).
5. Make us desperate people! – Pray that we live is such a way to demonstrate our dependence on God. We NEED Him! (Psalm 42:1)

Prayer has not only been an emphasis in 2010…it will be in 2011. In fact, we plan to turn up the volume. If we are going to be the people and Church that God wants us to be…we must bathe everything we do in prayer.

Will you be praying with us?

How has your life been impacted by prayer?

Let it Rain! Let Him Reign!

Over the past several weeks, Scott and I have discussed prayer quite a bit. While on my trip to the Dominican Republic, I read Deuteronomy 28. I felt inspired to share with our staff how my prayers were challenged through these verses. I decided to create this video blog to share these thoughts with you as well. It is 18 minutes long but I hope you stick with me.

Will You Partner with SpringWell Kidz?

We are so excited at SpringWell about the future of our Family Ministry. We have spent months praying about how to intentionally impact families. We have integrated all ages (nursery through 12^th grade) under one strategic effort.

On Sunday, August 16^th, Chip Joiner shared many of the things we are hoping to accomplish soon. I highly recommend you listen to the podcast. Also, checkout the SpringWell Kidz Facebook page to stay updated with happenings.

It is our goal in 2010, to totally renovate the Family Ministry Center and making it a place where Preschoolers, Elementary, Middle and High School Students can develop as fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.

In the mean time, we have 5 small projects that need to be accomplished over the next month. They are:

1. Paint Building A (now the Family Ministry Center) – we are going to make this colorful. Can you say CRAYOLA!!
2. Signage – We want to place a large 20' x 11' sign on the front of the building with the new SW Kidz logo (Above)
3. Lighting – We need to brighten the large auditorium for preschool students on Sunday
4. Portable Walls – We are building portable walls to create a better environment for preschoolers
5. Update Audio/Video – The small auditorium needs updated for audio, video, and computer.

I would like to encourage you to partner with us in making this a reality. Here is how:

1. Pray – Pray for the families in our church. Our staff is committed to praying with you.
2. Serve – If you are not serving in a ministry consider serving in the nursery, preschool, elementary, or student ministry.
3. Give – Will you consider giving (above your tithe) an offering toward the above projects? The estimated cost is $5,000.

You can give here. Please put "Family Ministry" in the memo.

These are exciting time in our church. Let's partner together to impact a new generation of Christ followers.

Prayer: You’ve Been Acquitted…Pass It On

Prayer does not change God….Prayer changes us.

During week three of Prayer 101, we continued to investigate the Lord's Prayer as our model to follow.

We focused on Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Unforgiveness blocks the effectiveness of our prayers

We all stand in need of forgiveness of our sins and the Good News is WE ARE! Jesus paid the price for our sins and the debt has been cancelled. You've been acquitted.

Once forgiven, we are called to PASS IT ON!

If you have someone in your life with whom you are withholding forgiveness, don't allow this to block the effectiveness of your prayers.

We must use our freedom to free others. Self-centeredness causes short-sightedness. Reconciliation must be our ultimate goal.

I know this is easier said than done. Not everyone you are in conflict with wants to truly reconcile. I have experienced this recently in my life. I have struggled learning to forgive a person who will not take responsibility for their role in the situation. But despite this, Jesus teaches us to forgive over and over if needed. Though the relationship doesn't fully reconcile, your willingness to forgive, removes the blockades between you and God through prayer.

Is Unforgiveness blocking the effectiveness of your prayers?

Who are you harboring bitterness toward?

You are forgiven…Pass it on! Always make relationship the priority.

Take a listen to our Podcast for more about forgiveness and the power of prayer.

I would love to hear about the difference prayer is making in your life.

Prayer: Your Agenda or His?

Prayer does not change God….Prayer changes us.

During week two of Prayer 101, we continued to investigate the Lord's Prayer as our model to follow.

We looked at two phrases: You kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. AND Give us this day our daily bread.

When we pray, we must learn to pray according to God's agenda not ours.

It is very tempting, when we pray, to come to God with our list of things we want done. This is ineffective and frustrating.

Effective prayer is prayed according to God's agenda. His will and not ours.

What is the focus of your prayers? Is it His agenda or yours?

Are you asking God to make your will happen or His?

Are you seeking His provision or giving Him your list of wants?

Take a listen to our Podcast for more about praying God's agenda.

I would love to hear about the difference prayer is making in your life.

Prayer: Know Who You Approach!

The past four weeks have been a blast as I've preached at SpringWell. We have been discussing the topic of Prayer.

Prayer does not change God….Prayer changes us.

The Lord's Prayer has been the model we have investigated.

The opening statement is Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name

When we pray, we must know who we are approaching.

God is Jehovah. He is the God who has always been, He is the God who IS, and He is the God who will always be.

Jehovah God is our Righteousness, our Sanctifier, our Peace, our Healer, our Provider, and our Shepherd.

WOW! When you pray….do you really know who you are approaching?

Take a listen to our Podcast for more about approaching God.

I would love to hear about the difference pray is making in your life.

My Prayer List

I am praying about the following things this week.

• For eyes to see what God is up to
• The boldness to join what He is doing
• My son to be healed of the hurts in his life
• The 10 families who will no longer be homeless over the next 10 years because of the GAIHN Project
• For lives to be changed this weekend at SpringWell
• For Scott to have wisdom as he leads the church
• For those in my Home Group
• For TJ (my grandson) to be protected despite his parents impending divorce
• For Renee and I to be a blessing in the lives around us
• For the weekly finances at SpringWell to increase so we can make a bigger impact
• For our staff and their families
• The message I am preaching at SpringWell in August
• For wisdom as we hire a Connection Pastor
• The money to hire an Executive Assistant

My Prayer List

These are things I am praying about this week:

• Wisdom – My roles as a father, husband, and church leader have demanded wisdom I do not possess. I pray James 1:5 every day.
• Rose – She is a dear friend who lost her sister this week.
• Rick – He is a good friend who needs God to intervene in a situation.
• SpringWell – This week we had to make some hard decisions. Now we need the strength to stand by them.
• Renee – My wife is awesome. I thank God for the stability she brings to my life.
• Teddy – Being a father brings me great joy. But it has been harder being the father of an adult child then it was when he was young. His illness and its after-effects still require daily prayers.
• Sunday at SpringWell – We start a new series this week called: Supernatural. It will deal with the reality of Spiritual Warfare.