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ONE PRAYER: Make Us Shine

Welcome to all of the churches around the world who are participating in One Prayer! We are excited and honored to be a part of this wonderful endeavor that joins our hearts and hands together to make a difference for God and His church.  

We are praying for all of you – that God will bless you and your church will flourish in all God has planned for you. 

A new day is here for the church.  For too long the church has been known for what we have been against.  It’s time we are known for what we actually stand for.

For too long we have represented God as against people – when all the time God has been totally for people. 

John 3:16 - 17

God loves the world. He’s not mad at the world.  He loves people – He’s not sitting in judgment.  He didn’t send his son to judge – but to save. 

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, And deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you.  And nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.  Lift up your eyes round about, and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you.”   – Isaiah 60:1-5

It is true – it seems like ever new levels of darkness want to cover the earth and the people of the earth. 

However - while darkness is happening, the Lord will rise upon you.  While the world gets darker - the church gets brighter. 

While all of this is going on - it’s our day to rise and shine, to bring answers, to bring faith, hope, love, light, blessing and strength. 

Key Elements to Shining:

1. We have to Arise

156 times in the Bible we see the word “arise” – pick your head up, pick your heart up, pick your vision up…

Life can knock you around a little – but we have to keep getting UP. 

Proverbs 24:16

2. Walk in the light you have

Go towards where the lights are on for you.  You don’t know everything – and you don’t have to. 

What revelation has God shown you?  What do you get?

Live in your answers – not in your questions.
Live in your faith – not in your doubts.
Live in your certainties – not your uncertainties.

3. Carry the presence of God with you

We live on the same earth, have to face the same issues, have to sit in the same traffic, have to pay for our gas like everyone else. 

Our difference – We don’t have to do it alone.

Our God is with us – really with us!  Not in theory – but in reality. 

4. See darkness as an opportunity to shine

When our church was 18 months old, we had just outgrown our second location.

Our country was entering into the Gulf War, and we needed to move. 

Our landlord was cautioning me about moving forward in a time of uncertainty.  But I felt that this time of darkness was exactly the right time to move forward, to make room for people who needed the church, who needed God and His help. 

Dark times need our light to shine!

5. Understand that people are drawn to light

People will go where there is light, beauty, color, love, laughter, hope and connection.  Church is called to be the bright spot! 

We want Sunday to be the best 100 minutes of a person’s week! 

From the minute they drive onto our property we want people to be encouraged, healed, helped and inspired!  We want to actually answer the questions they’re asking. 

My one prayer for the church is that God would make us shine.  Let us be bright and radiant for the glory of God!