PRAY IT! PRAISING BACKWARD & FORWARD

Good morning PoC!!! 

This week in the "PRAY IT" portion of the blog, I get to get my praise on to GOD for YOU.  That's right!!!

You see, PoC is gonna be three!  And we wouldn't be PoC without YOU.  

Whether you've been with us since before the beginning, or this past Sunday was your first Sunday,  or you're somewhere in between, you're a part of PoC.  We are thankful for you.  We are better because you are with us.  You are loved!

Whether you've been with us since the beginning, or this past Sunday was your first Sunday, or you're somewhere in between, you've got a lot to thank/praise God for...  So let's all join together in that today!  You see, when you say YES to Jesus, you become part of God's story... there has been so much going on in this one little chapter of the very, very, very big book of God's story...

This week, in preparation of our third anniversary celebration, let us all reflect back on our own stories (the first time Jesus drew near to you, and you to him... the first time you came to PoC... significant next steps, such as baptism, etc... that time God provided when you really needed it... etc. etc. etc.)  As you reflect back... praise!  Let this fuel you with encouragement and lead you into praise for what God is doing right now, and catapult you into confident praise and thanksgiving for what God is going to continue to do in the future!!!  The SAME God who ___(past praise)___ is the same God you can pray to right now who is perfectly capable of ___(future praise)______.

Aren't we blessed?  Yes.  Enjoy this Psalm of praise, and continue reading below.

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord!

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
    as I meet with his godly people.
2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
    All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
    His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
    How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
5 He gives food to those who fear him;
    he always remembers his covenant.
6 He has shown his great power to his people
    by giving them the lands of other nations.
7 All he does is just and good,
    and all his commandments are trustworthy.
8 They are forever true,
    to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.
    He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
    What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
    All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

PoC, I'm so glad that God spoke to me when I needed His direction, and that about 3 1/2 years ago He sent me along with a group of 50-60 of his kids to be a part of a launch team/church plant on steroids.  God accelerated our timeframe and planted us in an unusually quick manner, providing for our needs EVERY step of the way.  And it has been a JOY! 

Fast forward to obedience to God's call into pastoral ministry, joining the PoC staff, time as children's pastor, getting licensed on our Northwestern Illinois district, followed by time as pastor of prayer and encouragement... I now sit here reflecting on all that God has done and has blessed us with, and in turn as we seek to obey, all that God has done in and through us.

As I "blogged" back in 2012, prior to our September launch date:

Praise God! 

We're ready. 

Self-supporting. 

Mission-giving. 

Jesus-loving. 

To paraphrase and/or quote Desert Song, "All of my life, in every season, you are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship."

PoC, as we prepare for this Sunday (and well, every day of our lives...) let us spend a good bit of our time in worship and praise to God for His many blessings.  Remember - when your needs have been met, you have been loved.  PoC, we have all been loved greatly.  And when you meet needs, you love.  Thank you for the ways in which you love on other people, both within and outside of PoC's four walls. 

You're lovely, church!  You're my favorite part!  (Well, you and the mighty move of God around us, in us, through us...!)  I can't imagine doing life without any of you!!!  Where have you been all our lives???!!! 

See you tonight at PoC|Coverage for an all-hands-on-deck time of active prayer projects.  See you possibly Saturday for our work day in preparation for our new look and re-design.  (Contact Kim Keller if you have not done so already).  And see you Sunday for our birthday.  Bring the praise!  Bring the thanksgiving!  The same God who has done so much already is going to continue to do what He wants to accomplish his mission/plans/purposes.  We're so blessed to be a part of it. 

Enjoy your time with God today.

Pastor Celia