Tommy Mitchell / The Rurban Church Blog

24/7 Week of Prayer

Tomorrow at ABC, we will begin a 24/7 Week of Prayer!  This is the fourth time we have conducted this type of prayer ministry.  We ask for people to take an hour of prayer and come to the prayer room at the church to pray. It is open 24/7!  Inside, we have several notebooks of prayer materials.  The idea is to fill 168 hours of prayer - concentrated prayer - on a series of topics and needs. 

Perhaps one of the greatest blessings during the last three of these praying weeks was the "Praises" and further prayer requests written by our people.  I have had the privilege to read some of the most beautiful prayers written by our people!  We share these with all our people, usually during a Sunday evening or Wednesday evening service.

This particular week has about 116 hours filled. That leaves us about 52 hours short.  This is our lowest number - which tells me it is time to change the approach to something a bit different next time.  Several people have suggested that we do the praying at home - which would probably fill the hours - like the Watchman Prayer Ministry.  We will have to develop a more concise prayer guide for each praying person if we do it that way!  But it is a possibility!

However, I am looking on the bright side. Anytime you can fill 116 hours of the week with praying people, it has to be a good thing!

I take the first hour and the last hour!  It is a blessed hour!

A Great Revival!

Last night we studied Revelation 7.  Just a few thoughts that flow from that scripture!

1. Never doubt that God is at work behind the scenes. Things may look impossible - but God is at work!  In the midst of the time of tribulation, moving into THE GREAT TRIBULATION, God produces 144,000 sold out, solid, Jewish evangelists!  WOW!

2. Never doubt that God can do a great work in our time!  As carnal and secular as our society has become, it is nothing in comparison to the days of the tribulation.  Yet we will see the greatest world-wide revival ever known in those last days.  People from every nation, tribe, language and people will be brought to Christ. If God can (and will) bring that GREAT revival then - He can do it NOW as well!

3. Never give up!  Regardless of the hard hearts of the unsaved, or the opposition of believers, or the direct opposition of governments - God's purposes will be accomplished in the world in those last days - and God will reward you - Christ will refresh you - God will wipe away every tear!!

4. Give those who block God's plans over to Him!  Sadly, there are always people who think their job in life is to block the work of God. These are folks within the church!  Don't let them bug you or overly burden you. Don't hate - don't be frustrated.  Just hand them over to God! He can take care of those things. Just be faithful in what God has called you to do. He rewards faithfulness - results are up to Him!

A Great Month Ahead!

The month of March is at hand and I am so pumped about the Sunday services.

On Sunday mornings we will be looking at the topic - "Radical Discipleship!"  For about 5 weeks we will look at discipleship through the eyes of Jesus!  Hopefully, we will all deepen our faith, our walk, and our devotion to Christ.

On Sunday evenings we will begin to study The Lord's Supper! This will conclude on the Sunday before Easter in the whole church taking the Lord's supper together.  This should be an awesome study. We will have books available and a special study during DT in addition to the evening services.

Can God Provide?

Yesterday we walked through Psalm 78 during Morning Worship!  There are a few "Big Ones" in that chapter worth remembering!

1. God is an awesome provider!

2. Seeing doesn't mean believing! Some people say, "If I could just see God do a miracle in my day - then I would have no trouble believing."  God's people saw His mighty acts over and over - and still asked, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

3. Unfaithful people expect everyone else to be unfaithful!

4. Faithlessness breeds forgetfulness.

5. Assurance is one of the first casualties of sin!

6. You really have to trust God to see His provision.

7. Being on the wrong side of God is the absolutely worst place you can be!

The Lord's Day - and a Busy One at That!

The day is at hand!  Unfortunately for the church, it fell to me to lead worship today!  We have our run through at 9:00 am.  Sunday School and Worship of course follow!  I will be preaching on the topic, "Can God Provide?"  Seems timely in light of all the economic upheaval and uncertainty right now.

This afternoon I have a funeral - followed by an important organizational meeting of our newly formed Music Minister Search team at 4:00 pm - followed by KidStuf and then worship.  Then a reception for our secretary who is going home to be a grandmother!  Now that is a REAL and ENJOYABLE job!

One of Our Best Blessings!

We did not know for sure it would ever happen, but it did! Through the efforts of my two sisters, yesterday they arrived at our house for a visit with my Mom and Dad!  We weren't sure if Daddy would ever be able to make the trip - but he did!  He is a little stiff from the trip, but has enjoyed being here.

We had a great time sitting on the back porch yesterday afternoon - sitting in the sun - talking - catching up - while I grilled pork loin!

He and mother love the house! I don't care how old you are - you always feel good when your Mom and Dad brag on you!!!!!!!!

Four of the Greatest Ways to Tell Your Spouse That You Love Them!

We finished the "Four Greatest Statements...." series of messages before Valentine's Day. Here they are - four of the greatest things you can say to your spouse - four of the greatest ways to say "I love you!

1. I am Satisfied
2. I am Sorry
3. I am Your Servant
4. I am Saved (genuinely)

Five Important Questions

I was reading George Hunter III 's book tonight, Radical Outreach, and was struck by the five important questions that he says every church must answer "yes" if they are to move beyond tradition to missional.

Here they are:
1. Do we want to know them?
2. Are we willing to go where they are?
3. Are we willing to spend time with them?
4. Do we want secular and outside-the-establishment people in our churches?
5. Are we willing for our church to become their church?

Interesting questions!

Marriage Enrichment!

Sorry for the week long absence in posting. The "back" thing has been a bit more of a challenge than I anticipated - and I just felt more like laying down in the evenings than typing on a blog. 

In the meantime - I had committed several months ago to speaking in two worship services and two breakout sessions at a Marriage Enrichment event sponsored by Ronnie Cottingham and Jus' Jesus Ministries. It was held over Valentine's Day weekend.  Since all I had to do was speak - I got the go ahead to do this.  Plus, it was at the Hilton on the Pensacola Beach!! The beds there are wonderful. I got some good back rest as well as great fellowship with the group.

Below are just a few pics!  Andrea and I had a blast just relaxing and meeting new folks.

The View from our Balcony!

Break Time - Some of the Folks Getting Acquainted!

One Couple Renewing Vows! (It was a surprise for her!)

Yikes!

The MRI is done and it is a good news /bad news situation.  Good, in my mind, is the fact that I have no ruptures, herniations, etc. of my discs.  Bad news - I have a compression fracture of my L1 Vertebrae in my back.  They are looking into all this - could need a surgical procedure on it to inject "concrete" into it - or - they might let it heal.  Don't know yet. Will know tomorrow.

Yuck!  In the meantime - NO lifting and NO great movement activities.  Just sitting and etc.  That won't hinder me too much - just slow me down a bit until we know what to do with all this.

Keep Praying!