Going in for a Spiritual WOF!

Dear LifeChurch Family.

Over the next 10 Days starting tomorrow, our Church will enter into a time of prayer and fasting. A time to repent, refocus and retune ourselves spiritually.

Fasting is a form of spiritual discipline that informs God that you are serious about repentance. Fasting is a significant part of your Christian walk just as praying and reading the Bible is significant. Fasting is for everyone who desires to draw closer to God.

10 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a time to get ourselves checked out.  The best analogy for me is like taking your car in for a service. The mechanic will change the oil, filters, tyres, check all the lights, seat belts, tune the engine, wheel alignment  etc… to make sure you are fit for the road. Its going to be another long journey this year, its vital that we are have a current spiritual Warrant Of Fitness, allowing God to change some stuff in our lives (repentance), remove old oil with a new one (fresh anointing from heaven)…….our lives are aligned to his will.

Three Areas of Prayer

1. Personal: Use the next 10 Days  to draw closer to Jesus. Use this time to allow God to examine you, then confess and repent of what may be keeping you from Him. Get ready to change.

2. Ask God to do something huge in our church this year. Praying the Prayer of Jabez!

3. LifeChurch Ministries:

• Both Local and Overseas.
• New Building Project
• Pastors and Leaders
• Kingdom Partnerships
• Servolution

Most of us will be doing a water fast. No food for 10 days except water. Others may opt to do a media fast including no TV and computer games. This will be best of the children. Including no movies or TV. You may want to fast from your cell phone, Internet or Social Media. Up to you!

Don’t forget to FacetheBook – read the Word of God in 12 months.

Pursue God!

 

A Revived Passion

A man by the name of Richard Maniapoto who was my Media teacher back in 1990 first introduced me to black and white photography. I loved working in the darkroom developing photos. Photography became a very expensive hobby back then.

I had two precious cameras that got stolen and that was the end of my photography career.

This year I have decided to revive my love for the art of photography.  Now with great digital cameras in market, its not so expensive anymore.

Here’s one of my assignments – using a tripod. I had hair back then – lol !!

LifeSavers

I was at Sunset Beach with my family the other day. Had a chat to the Lifeguards about what they do each day. During our fun time surfing with the kids, the lifeguards rushed off for a rescue on the other side of the beach. It’s what they are trained to do each day – with huge urgency.

Got me thinking about what we do in reaching out and saving the lost. How much preparation, willingness and urgency do we place on it.

My desire is to see many lives touched and changed by the love of God. I want to see souls saved, especially this year. Let’s save one more soul for Jesus!

Photo: (I shot this one of  Nick & Dereck from LifeChurch. These young men are passionate for God and want to see many lives saved! Picture taken at Orewa Beach during church picnic).

THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO END!

THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO END in 2012! Believe me! The Bible is clear on how the world will end. Have a Happy New Year.

Today I have been on my desk all day thinking, planning, praying and looking at the calendar. From the beginning of last year we declared 2011 the year of ‘Faith at another level’. After 12 months I can honestly say that it was definitely a ‘faith stretching’ year.

God enabled us to do so much. This year I’m open to more faith stretching opportunities. The need to pray is greater. Praying for wisdom and understanding. Praying for God’s favor.

10 Years: 2012 will be our 10th year pastoring LifeChurch. I can’t believe we are still here. Ane and I have learned so much right from day 1 and we are still learning how to lead. Some of the kids that were in our Sunday School back then are now our church leaders. Exciting times and greater things are ahead of us. We are blessed to have a great team of leaders and volunteers at LifeChurch who are so passionate about God and the Vision of the House.

I believe the best days of leading and pastoring are ahead of us.

New Church Building    We have bought a place in Manurewa. We will move into our new church home this year. Renovations will commence soon. Our new church home is right next to the town centre next to the red light street of Manurewa. Homeless people sleep on the front steps. A strategic location! We see a church that is open 24/7 not just Sundays.

New Frontiers:   This year we will sending missionaries to India, Indonesia and Bangladesh. The message of the Gospel must reach the ends of the earth.

International Partnership:   Once again we will be hosting and partnering with some international ministries in the Great Commission. More on this later.

Servolution:    This year Servolution is spreading to cities and towns outside of Auckland. We were so blessed to work with 48 different churches and denomination right across Auckland in 2011. This year, more churches are coming on aboard to serve and share the love of Christ in our communities through simple acts of kindness.  Mark your calendar and get involved 23-25 March. Email: info@servolution.co.nz

Please pray and partner with us to reach Manurewa, South Auckland and the World with the simple message of Hope through Christ.