Happily Ever After :: passionate living June 3, 2009

Don’t we all want to live Happily Ever After?
We all dream of a perfect future.
Of leaving a legacy behind.
Of finding true love .
And of knowing wealth.

These dreams are a part of our heart and soul, and through the book of Proverbs God has given us a lot of wisdom that can lead to reaching these dreams!  This was our last night in this series, and it was a very special day in the church: Pentecost – the day we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit.  So our topic for the night was the dream we all have of living passionately.  Of joy overflowing into every aspect of our lives.  Of figuring out how to live well and full and abundantly.

We opened with a couple big songs: Happy Day (Hughes) and Fields of Grace (Big Daddy Weave)

Our testimony for the night was shared by Steve Harwood.  Steve is a phenomenal human being.  In addition to a day job, he is our Facilities Manager.  He says that’s a fancy way of saying he’s the janitor.  And he has one of the best attitudes of anyone I’ve ever met.  No matter how much “trash” he’s having to  deal with, when you ask him how he’s doing he’s always, “FANTASTIC!”  He’s got one of those can do and will do mindsets that is beautiful and inspiring, and it’s because of the way that God is living in him.  So he shared his story (even though he was very nervous) and focused in on Proverbs 15:13 (The Message) A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

When Steve finished speaking, I gave the following directions for a Prayer Exercise:

“Pentecost is the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit – that part of the Trinity that is more elusive to our understanding.  It’s more about feeling than knowing;  more about inspiration than understanding.  Because there is this great mystery within our faith – that God lives within us.  And that happens through His Spirit.

We’re going to pass out some markers and pieces of streamer.  (They were red, orange & yellow). 
The invitation I give to you tonight is two fold:

1) on your streamer, first ask God to help you identify the things that hold back your passion – the things that get in the way of living in the joy of the moment, the things that hold you back from abundant life.  List out those things and offer them up to God.  If you aren’t sure what they are – write out a prayer asking God to help you identify them.

2) if you are willing, ask God to fill you with his Spirit.  if you are open to being filled with a passion that is bigger than your own ability to be joyful, then ask him.  If you are looking for a peace that passes all understanding and that leads to a life beyond the everyday, then ask him. 

Simply write out the desires of your heart – ask God to fill up those places where you’ve removed the doubt or darkness or depression.  Ask him to live within you and without you.  To bring new energy and enthusiasm to your tired bones.  To open new springs of living water within your soul.”

While they wrote out these prayers we heard “Everything” by Lifehouse – a beautiful song about God’s desire to fill us.  When they finished, they brought their streamers to the front to a volunteer who collected them and then left the room.

Next, John (our pastor) spoke about the story of Pentecost and what it meant.  What it means for us today.  While he spoke, those volunteers were busy attaching those streamer prayers to three big fans.  When he finished speaking this video began: Pentecost , and the volunteers brought the fans in and put them on the edge of the stage.  When the scipture mentioned the fire and the wind, the fans came on and our prayers began to dance like flames on the wings of the Holy Spirit!

We then sang Make a Joyful Noise (I will not be Silent) and Undignified (both Crowder style) and got people up on their feet, clapping their hands, shouting out their joy and love of God!  It was a fun night!

Here are our other prayer requests this week: (Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes.)

:: Jackie Anderson is still traveling a VERY rough road. Pray for the details to come together. For hope and healing and willingness to hang on tight!

:: Sonya Cooper’s Aunt – Mary – is back in Mexico for more treatment and is feeling good. Pray for healing and hope.

:: Pray for Katie Thompson’s grandparents – the grandmother’s hip replacement surgery went well, but the grandfather has some dementia issues and the situation is difficult.

:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – she’s doing good, but still struggling with several recovery issues. Her sister-in-law is also battling cancer – her name is Susan.

:: Pray for Tony – job is going well, pray that he begins to get his feet under him again. His wife and he are also working on reconciliation – pray God will be in the middle of that process.

:: Pray for Christa and her sons – God provided a miracle in the transportation department!! Still need a place to live. And she is waiting to hear about a great potential job

:: Pray for Lacy Thompson – she’s serving as a missionary in Ecuador until Thanksgiving.