New Series: Ruth & Relationships

The teaching team is excited to look through the book of Ruth and see what made this womans relationships so exceptional. The book of Ruth depicts God's hand at work in the day to day lives of his people to bring about his plans through redemption. It points to Christ and God's love for his people. As you read this short story, you can find comfort in knowing that God is present in your daily life. It portrays God as involved in the details of life and how him working through his faithful people.

These great theological themes run through an intensely intimate story of a two woman in need of saving and finding help in the hands of a faithful man. It is a passionate story of the exceptional relationships of Ruth and Boaz. We will learn from her "singleness" in chapter one and look into the "dating" relationship between Boaz and Ruth in chapter 2. Then we will watch the actions of Boaz as he prepares for marriage in a type of "Engagement" in chapter 3 and eventually their marriage in chapter 4.

This romantic and and down right intimate story of dependence, redemption and relationship will be fodder for some great discussion. I hope you will join us on Tuesday nights at 7pm.


Pastor Phil

Pray on Purpose

 

The “Pray on Purpose” Campaign was an initiative for participants to not only commit to prayer for 30 days, but to commit to prayer on purpose.

The idea was launched on January 11, 2011 in alignment with the Awakening’s “Life on Purpose” 3-week series.  The “Pray on Purpose” Campaign challenged us to pray for 3 purposes: 1) Personal Life on Purpose; 2) The Awakening is a Ministry on Purpose; 3) Salvation of Three Others.

God assures us that prayer is effective and that He does hear our voice. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15).

In the book of Matthew, we are able to read of Jesus’ confirmation of the idea behind the “Pray on Purpose” Campaign: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Matthew 6:5-8)

“Do not be like the hypocrites…do not [babble] like pagans”… pray with a purpose! God knows our hearts before we speak to Him. He is merely waiting for us to pray to Him in recognition of the purpose He has laid before us: to live a personal life on purpose for Him and to be an outwardly disciple on purpose for Him.

In the midst of our 30 days of the “Pray on Purpose” Campaign, how have you already seen God move in your life, in the Awakening ministry & community, or in the life of others?

We encourage you to share your stories!

If you haven’t already started the “Pray on Purpose” Campaign, you are never too late.

In Him,

Kendall Johnson & Whitney Mildren

Are You Running With a Purpose?

Run…Run….We live a life on purpose when we are running to glorify God through what we do; through our abilities, as well as our passions.


The writer of Hebrews encourages us to follow Jesus' example in taking the long view of life: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus...who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." This is so we "will not grow weary and lose heart" (Heb. 12:1-3).


* Jesus had a strong sense of purpose. It kept him focused through every challenge, every diversion, every opposition, and ultimately through his suffering on the cross.


The Apostle Paul wrote: "...God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles" (Gal. 1:15-16). He too faced incredible hardship and distraction, but his sense of purpose kept him on course, so that he was able to write:


* But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal, to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14).


So what about you and me? Jesus and Paul are unique in the course of human history. God gave them each a very special, monumental purpose. Does He have a specific purpose in mind for each of us? I think He does. One passage in particular that leads me to that conclusion:


* For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10).


Think about the magnitude of that statement: We are His special creation, placed on this earth with a purpose, to work on his behalf in accordance with His plan for our lives. As with Paul, God had something specific in mind for us even before we were born:


* For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be (Psa. 139:13-16).


And He doesn't simply leave us to our own resources to attempt to fulfill His purpose. He indwells the believer with his presence, enabling us to do what He created us to do:


* For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose (Phil. 2:13).


Each of us is specifically called by God according to His sovereign will and purpose. This call is described at two levels: (1) Eternal calling--God desires for us to enjoy His presence forever, so by grace He has saved us from the deadly consequences of sin (Eph. 2:8-9) and (2) Earthly calling--God has called us to a specific mission here on earth, to serve Him and bring glory to His name (Eph. 2:10). Are you running the race of life with purpose? Do you feel you have a full life? Don’t let Satan steal your joy. Trust in God and pursue a relationship with Him. Through that, He will show us the joy and purpose for our life.


As Randy Thompson said: Don’t sit at the starting line acting like the gun hasn’t been shot off just because you are not yet aware of your passions or abilities! The second you stepped in to a relationship with God, the gun went off! RUN. He will show you the way. He will make you aware of your passions and your abilities. RUN. And as you run, ask yourself, “How can I glorify God today, tomorrow, this year, and in my life?” RUN.


In Him,
Whitney Mildren & Kendall Johnson

NEW BLOGGING TEAM!!!

Hey folks, we are starting a new blogging team so that the Awakening community can share their stories.  Right now the team consist of Pastor Phil, Whitney Mildren, Kendall Johnson, and Bunmi Ishola.  We are looking for more team members, want to join?  Email Whitney at wmildren@gmail.com.