Thursday, November 25, 2010

DAY 40: (THUR., Nov. 25)

BLESSING #40: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." - Mark 11:24


"Pray without ceasing" - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Lord, we praise You for providing this means of communication and allowing us to share our concerns with You.

PR: Father, as we end these forty days of prayer, we thank You for the commitment of all those who have participated. We thank You for all of our petitions You have answered in the past.

SG: Father, help us to maintain the discipline of our devotion to You; to continue to come before Your throne daily; to remain dependent on You day by day for our every need. Help us, Father, to grow spiritually as a result of these forty days, and to deepen our faith and love for You.

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

DAY 39 (WED., Nov. 24)

BLESSING 39: "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain" - 1 Corinthians 15:58


"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father we praise You today for the work of our missionaries.
*Pray for each, by name, and ask God to bless their work. (Listed below)

IN: Father, we pray today for the ministry of our Growth Group leaders and co-leaders, as we learn from the prayer life of Jesus. Make all of us aware of opportunities to invite others to share in these conversations with us.

MN: Pray today for our outreach efforts this week; for all those who invite others to worship, to a Growth Group, or to a personal Bible study; for the unsaved who are now considering the claims of Christ, and who are faced with their decision about whether to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

OUR MISSIONARIES
Benny Baker- Mision Para Cristo- Nicaragua
Mischa Fedon- Ukraine
Victor Kalgin- Belarus
Brothers B. Swamidas & N. Moses- India
Pete & Phyllis Nutak- Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Brother Pindeas - Venezuela
Philip & Laura Shero- Mbale, Uganda
Wes & Ariel Woddell- San Francisco

http://www.cacoc.org/

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

DAY 38 (TUES., Nov. 23)

BLESSING #38 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” - John 8:12

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: We ask, Lord, for more caution and more courage as we live our lives in this wicked world. Help us to be more sensitive to the leading of your Spirit and more aware of the many influences that would harden our hearts and lead us away from you. We especially ask today that you give us more discernment in our choice of entertainment.

IN: Father, we commit the future of our young people into your hands for safekeeping. We especially pray that you would be raising up, even now, a future Christian mate for them, a partner with whom they may one day establish a Christian home. We pray that they might be encouraged to purity by the assurance that you are working to honor the desires of their heart.

MN: Father, today we thank you for the work of our deacons. Ask God to bless each of them by name. (Listed below)


OUR DEACONS
Gary Anzalone
Brian Arnold
Scott Barnette
Jack Baumgardner
Rick Brown
Scott Burton
David Coleman
Greg Downum
Dennis Endel
Ralph Flemens
Michael Hammock
Brandon Harrell
Wayne Harrell
Herman Hill
Greg Humphreys
Tony Jones
Jason Laird
Alan Meadows
Clint Meadows
Brent Mitchell
Eric Moree
Gary Morton
Jim Newsom
Rob Newsom
Jack Reynolds
Clint Rhodes
Steve Saulsbury
Leroy Shelton
Tracy Smith
Joe Turbeville
John D. Turbeville
Jerry Webb
Lewis Whatley

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Monday, November 22, 2010

DAY 37 (MON., Nov. 22)

BLESSING #37: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33


"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

CF: Father, we know that we often make poor use of our time, and when we do, we squander our days in worldly and trivial pursuits. Help us to be more disciplined, that we might be more effective in our discipleship.

SG: Lord, help us to make the most of every opportunity, that we might make our lives count for You. Also, help us to order our priorities so that we seek You, and Your kingdom, above all else.

PR: Thank you for the ability to be forgiven. Help us to never take it for granted.

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Sunday, November 21, 2010

DAY 36 (SUN., Nov. 21)

BLESSING #36: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30


"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." -I Peter 5:7

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Lord, we thank You for inviting us to turn our cares into prayers and to bring them to You. We thank You for Your willingness to not only listen to our petitions but to take on our burdens and anxieties.

SG: Lord we ask that You help us to take these verses to heart and live worry-free lives.

MN: We pray that this church family will continue to support our leaders with our prayers, encouragement, and cooperation in works of service. Help each of us to grow and mature and do our part, so that the whole body might be built up in love.

PRAYER PARTNERS
"Be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth,
words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make
known the mystery of the gospel" - Paul


Saturday, November 20, 2010

DAY 35 (Sat., Nov. 20)

BLESSING #35: “Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” Zephaniah 3:9

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: Father we thank you for blessing us with a church body that can stand shoulder to shoulder in calling on your name. Father, please use us in mighty ways and may we never break the bond we have in you.

PR: Recall in our hearts each day what we stand for and who we are bonded in. Thank you, Father, for your Son who has made all things possible. Father, thank you for this week of prayer and we eagerly anticipate coming before you in the week to come!

PRAYER OF PRAISE

GOD, we are your children. If only the rest of the world could know what an amazing idea that is! We are the creations of the ultimate Creator! We are the loved ones of a power so far beyond our comprehension that we can’t begin to understand it ourselves.


But we have faith. We have the faith that if we live by the light of your Word, then we will know the way you want us to live. We must be able to live that way. God, help us not to be lead astray by people with more toys than us. Help us to live right. And in living right, we shall be right with you. Because we shall be your children. Amen

-Steven L. Case

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Friday, November 19, 2010

DAY 34 (Fri., Nov. 19)

BLESSING # 34: “Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” -1 Peter 4:7


“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:7

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we thank you for the avenue of prayer that you make available to us each day. Help us Lord to take advantage of the blessing you have offered. As we come before you, clear our minds and focus our hearts that we may commune with you.

IN: Father, help us each to truly concentrate and focus on our prayers to You this day. Allow no other thoughts, worries, or anxieties to penetrate our minds as we come before you.

MN: Lord, we pray for all the men and women that will be entering the workforce today. Please bless them and challenge them to stand for you through each decision and attitude choice. Impact this community today through the example of your people.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

DAY 33 (Thur., Nov. 18)

BLESSING #33: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: Father, we thank you for blessing us when the world is insulting us. Lord, the blessings that you give us each day (when we stand firm for you) far outweigh the insults of the world. Father if living for you brings insults upon us then let us just say, “Bring it on”.

SG: Lord, you know what we face in this world because your Son lived among us. Prepare our spirits to reap the blessings and face the insults without wavering.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

DAY 32 (Wed., Nov. 17)

BLESSING #32: “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him...” Nahum 1:7


“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we thank you for being the Supreme Almighty. You have overcome the world and all the troubles that it carries. You, O Lord, are our refuge from times of trouble and we are so blessed by Your grace with the opportunity to turn to You.

SG: Today, Father, we ask that you increase our trust in you. Build us up for the troubles ahead, and heal our wounded hearts as we deal with the troubles of today. Help our trust in you to ever increase so that we can better live the lives of peace that you have called us to.

MN: Lord, we would like to ask a special blessing on the Boys Scout and Cub Scout ministries here at College Avenue. Father, please continue to bless these groups and the spiritual men that lead them.

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

DAY 31 (Tue., Nov. 16)

BLESSING #31: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21


“For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” Psalm 48:14

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

CF: Father, we thank you for the blessing of guidance. We would be lost in this world without your hand to lead the way. We ask that you work in each one of our lives that we may listen attentively to the ways you desire for us to walk.

IN: Lord, as you have blessed us with your guidance we ask that you give us patience for Your hand to point, willingness to go, and understanding when we are unable to see Your big picture.

MN: Father, we ask that you be with the Elders of this church as they seek your guidance in leading the flock in the direction of eternal life with You.

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Monday, November 15, 2010

DAY 30 (Mon., Nov. 15)

BLESSING #30: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.”  -Proverbs 19:17


“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.”  -Proverbs 28:27


“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” -Proverbs 21:13

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: Father, help us to read these words of scripture with open hearts and willing minds. We ask, Father, that we may share the many blessings given to us and that we know all we have is Yours.

SG: God we pray that we be a people that are looking. Lord, help us to not only recognize those in need, but to be searching for them. You have given our families so much Father, and we know as our families bless others your full blessings will be upon us.

MN: Lord, we pray for the benevolence ministry here at College Avenue. Father, we pray that we will have the ability to truly bless those who walk through our doors with physical and ultimately spiritual needs. Father, help us to each be a benevolence minister in Your Kingdom.

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

DAY 29 (SUN., Nov. 14)

BLESSING #29: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16-17

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we thank you this day for the gift of the Holy Spirit. You know that we need your presence in our lives and we realize that we are nothing without you. Thank you, Father, for this great promise and knowledge that we are never alone as we press on, day by day, step by step in Your Kingdom.

SG: Father as we begin this week let the words of the hymn “There is a Redeemer”, be on our hearts.
Thank you, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son, and leaving Your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.

SG: We encourage you to sing the refrain of this song aloud several times through by yourself or with your daily prayer partner.

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Saturday, November 13, 2010

DAY 28 (SAT., NOV. 13)

BLESSING #36: "From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" - 2 Timothy 3:15

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: We praise You today for the blessing of Your Word, which breaks our hard heart, convicts our soul, and directs our path. We pray we will be open to Your leading as you speak to us in Your Word in the worship assembly tomorrow.

MN: We ask You, Father, to bless the ministries of Kent and Dan with this congregation. You have given them the ability to preach in a way that is easy to follow and interesting. We pray they will have a long and effective ministry.

MN: Watch over our Growth Groups as they meet tomorrow, that they might be a blessing not only to our church family but to those who have not yet responded to the gospel of Your grace.


THE SERENITY PRAYER

The “Serenity Prayer” has been prayed by millions since it first appeared in the 1930’s:

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

It has been used in Alcoholics Anonymous since 1941. In 1953 William Spence added a section:

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

At some meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, the line "Just for today" is added to the end of the prayer, in keeping with the statement of Jesus in Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”


–Dan Williams

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Friday, November 12, 2010

DAY 27 (FRI., NOV. 12)

BLESSING #35: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" - Jesus (John 14:27)

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we praise You today for the blessing of a "peace that transcends understanding." We are grateful that we can experience a peace beyond anything this world can provide.

CF: Search us, O God; examine our hearts and innermost thoughts; convict us of wrong and cleanse us of secret sins, that we might love and serve You more fully. Free us from the stranglehold of worry and the burden of guilt.

MN: Lord, we ask that You bless those members of our church family who are struggling with addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, or pornography. We pray that they might be willing to accept help; that they might resist temptation and seek the power of Your Holy Spirit; and that they might experience Your victory over the destructive power of these sins.

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

DAY 26 (THUR., NOV. 11)

BLESSING #34: "The righteous will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green" - Ps 92:14

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: We thank you, Lord, for the encouraging example of so many older saints in our congregation who remain faithful and fruitful. We thank you that they are such positive models for us of the virtues of faith, hope, and love. Bless them physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

MN: Father, we ask your richest grace upon our Prime-Timers Ministry, and upon Norman and Ann Preston, who lead them. We thank you for the many ways they serve our congregation.

IN: Lord, we ask that you watch over the police and firefighters here in Union County who protect our lives and our property. Give them success in their work and keep them secure from harm.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

DAY 25 (WED., NOV. 10)

BLESSING #33: "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we praise You today for the Cross of Christ, which convicts us of the sinfulness of our sin while at the same time assuring us of Your amazing love for us.

SG: We ask for courage to speak up for Biblical truths in a society that is becoming increasingly hostile toward Christian values, and for the wisdom to know what to say.

MN: Bless all our Bible teachers as they present their lessons tonight. Grant them wisdom, patience, and ability as they minister Your Word to us.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Counting to 40...

Oops!  We had the numbering of our daily prayers off for a bit.  Thanks to Tinker for pointing that out!  The actual content of the prayer guides were correct, just with the wrong numbers (we are on Day 24 today, instead of 32 as originally posted).  This has now been corrected. 

How about a bonus article as a peace offering?  The article below was written by Dan Williams.  Enjoy!

Why Does Jesus Have to Remind Us to Pray?

Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount, “Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” - Matthew 7:7-8. Again and again the Bible reminds us that God wants to grant our requests, but first it is up to us to pray. (see 1 John 5:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18, etc.) Since our Lord is so eager to bless us, why in the world would we NOT want to pray?


1. For the same reason the typical man doesn’t want to stop and ask directions when he is driving: none of us like to admit that we are not 100% in control, that we are dependent on anyone else. And yet the very heart of prayer is humility – and one of the most essential results of an active prayer life is a deeper relationship with God.

2. Because we don’t have enough faith/trust to believe it is worth our time! Prayer requires the most concentrated application of our faith, and involves the most close and intimate aspect of our relationship with God, of anything that we will ever do in this world.

3. Because prayer is hard work! When Paul writes to the Colossians he send them greetings from one of their former members, a man named Epaphras, and then adds this intriguing comment: “He is always wrestling in prayer for you” (Colossians 4:12). That phrase suggests prayer is a strenuous activity! Serious, fervent prayer is not for the mentally lazy or the spiritually sleepy.
I think that explains the three-fold admonition (“Ask...Seek... Knock”) of Jesus: he is using repetition to drive home the point that our prayer life should be ACTIVE, and we are to KEEP IT UP! Remember: God wants to bless us, but first we must A.S.K. ( A sk... S eek... K nock)! Keep praying throughout these 40 days.

DAY 24 (TUE., NOV. 9)

BLESSING #32: "Come near to God and he will come near to you" - James 4:8

"If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us" - 1 John 4:12

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we praise you for your presence in our hearts. We thank you for our church family, and for the many ways we experience your love through the fellowship here at College Avenue. We thank you for making your love complete in us by giving us the opportunity to respond by demonstrating Your love to others.

SG: We ask You, Lord, to strengthen our spiritual life; to enable us to be more disciplined in our prayer life; to help us to be more dependent on Your power, and to make us more aware of Your presence in our life today.

IN: Father, we intercede today for our missionaries worldwide. We ask that they will find more open doors and receptive hearts. Lift up their hands, and keep them encouraged and strong in their faith.

http://www.cacoc.org/
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Monday, November 8, 2010

DAY 23 (MON., NOV. 8)

BLESSING #31: "Pray for....all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" - 1 Timothy 2:2

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: We thank you, Lord, for the blessing of peace within our nation. We pray that we might always enjoy the liberty to serve and worship You, and that we might make full use of that freedom.

IN: Lord, we know our nation has many enemies who constantly look for ways to create terror and destruction. We ask your watchful care on all the Americans who maintain our security. We especially pray for the men and women who are serving in the military overseas. Watch over them and bring them home safely and soon.

IN: Father, bless the ladies who will work in our "Sewing for the Master" ministry tonight. We thank you for the joy they are bringing to needy children overseas.

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Sunday, November 7, 2010

DAY 22 (SUN., NOV. 7)

BLESSING #30: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" - Jesus (Acts 20:35)
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing on you that you will not have room enough for it" - Malachi 3:10

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, when we inventory our blessings, we are amazed at all the blessings you have lavished on us. We thank you most of all for the opportunity to give; for the privilege of being able to support the ministries of your house; and for the assurance that when we are generous with our money, you will bless us with even more!

IN: Lord, we know there may still be Christians who have not yet learned the secret of generosity. We pray especially for our young families, that they might learn to manage their money wisely, so they can give faithfully and experience the blessings you want to pour out on them.

IN: We thank You for the sweet sisters in our Ladies'class who prepare our communion bread. As we take this bread into our bodies, help us remember the many unseen sacrifices of others that have made it possible for us to be the Body of Christ.

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Saturday, November 6, 2010

DAY 21 (SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6)

BLESSING #21: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” I John 1:7-10

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we thank You for the promise of forgiveness and unmerited favor. Make this passage real in the lives of so many who have a hard time accepting this amazing gift. Ease their minds and bless their hearts.

IN: Father, we pray for those who are on the verge on dedicating their lives to You through baptism as well as for those who need the prayers of the church but are reluctant or fearful to ask. We pray that You will give them the courage to make necessary changes.

PR: Lord, we thank You for the extra hour of sleep tonight as we set our clocks back to observe the ending of Daylight Savings Time. May we use this time wisely so that we may worship you in the morning fully rested and alert to Your presence in our lives.

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Friday, November 5, 2010

DAY 20 (FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5):

BLESSING #20: "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: Father, today as we reach the half-way point of our "40 Days of Prayer" we remember the warning of Jesus to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Give us the strength and resolve to fulfill our commitment to You in this prayer campaign.

MN: Lord, we ask that You use us to built up Your church at College Avenue; that each of us will have the desire to grow, both spiritually and numerically; give us the patience to put our hope in You and to conform to Your time-line and not our own.

IN: Father, as the weekend begins we know that we have many families who will be travelling for a variety of reasons. We ask for their safety as they travel.

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Thursday, November 4, 2010

DAY 19 (THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4)

BLESSING #19: "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." - I Peter 5:5-6

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: Father, help us to strive for a greater sense of humility as we live in a world that promotes a high value of self.

SG: Father, help us to be less self-centered, and more aware of the needs of others, and of our own need for God. We especially ask as we go through these "40 Days of Prayer" that we might grow in our faith and dependence upon You.

MN: Father, today we are thankful for the "willing unknowns" among us, for those who go about their daily walk quietly serving You in both big and small ways with no regard as to who gets the credit. Continue to bless them as they serve You and may we all learn from their example.

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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

DAY 18 (WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3)

BLESSING #18: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise— 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.' Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:1-4

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, today we thank You for kids. We know that they are truly a gift from You. Bless our moms and dads as they daily equip their children for adulthood in a world that does not always support Christian values.

IN: Lord, we pray today for the faithfulness of husbands and wives. We ask that You would preserve the marriages of our church family from the attacks of Satan; that the hearts of mates might be turned to each other, and away from distractions. Help those who are married remember their promises to each other and to You when they are tempted.

MN: Father, we thank You for a great lineup of Bible classes this Fall quarter. Be with Lewis & Carol Whatley and others who are involved in recruiting teachers for the upcoming Winter quarter.

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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

DAY SEVENTEEN (TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2)

BLESSING #17: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." -Psalm 33:12

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: We thank you today for the incredible privilege of living in this land of liberty, where we may worship freely. We pray that we might use our freedom to be salt and light in our nation and our world.

IN: Father, we ask today that You be with our nation as we head to the polls and choose leaders to represent our interests locally, statewide, and nationally. Bless those who are victorious today. We pray that they will seek Your Guidance and Your Will over all else.

MN: Father, we pray that You guide our president and his advisors in their day to day business. Strengthen them and work in their lives as they make daily decisions that affect so many.

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Monday, November 1, 2010

DAY SIXTEEN (MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1)

BLESSING #16: “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” -Luke 14:13-14

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” -Mt. 25:35

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we thank you for the opportunity to participate in your mission by reaching out to those around us.

SG: One of the components of our mission statement is to be a "warm and caring family.” Father, help us to live up to our mission statement and reach out to those both inside and outside our walls. Open our eyes to those in our own congregation that need encouragement and support.

IN: Father, be with the outreach coordinators in each of our adult Bible classes as well as Clint Meadows (our New Members deacon), as they strive to strengthen the flock by including visitors and new members and helping them find a place they can call home.

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Sunday, October 31, 2010

DAY FIFTEEN (SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31)

BLESSING #15: "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" -Psalm 133:1

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we are thankful for the unity we enjoy here at College Avenue. We are also thankful for the unity we enjoy in Union County and the surrounding area. Continue to bless the area congregations as they seek Your grace and favor.

IN: Father, we are mindful today of those in our congregation who are shut ins. May your hand of comfort continue to be on each of them as well as those who are caring for them.

Pray today for each of our shut-ins by name (they are listed in our worship bulletin).

MN: Lord, we are thankful for those who serve in our Sunday evening Children’s ministries. Be with Brenda Creel, Syndi Langford, Ashley Lyons, Tina Newsom, Magen Parker, Todd & Janis Patrick, Chris Reaves, Hayden Ponder, and Beth Strate as they teach and model Your truths to our young children.

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

DAY FOURTEEN (SATURDAY, October, 30)

BLESSING #14: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

IN: Father, we thank you for the peace that you give us through Your Son. Father help us to understand that in all circumstances Your peace can rule in our lives. Father please help us to not allow this world to cloud the eternal peace that you have abundantly given to us all.

PR: Lord, we thank you for blessing us with a great office staff that is always willing to serve in the opportunities that come into the office daily. Thank you for their example and hearts.

SUNRISE PRAYER

GOD, make us as the sun. Let the light of your love shine through us. Let your joy shoot from our bodies so we are shining.

Let us take your love into a world of darkness. There are so many people out there who are lost and waiting for someone to light the way. On this new day, make us your servants, God.

Let people look to us for light. The sun shines on everybody, Lord. Anyone can stand in its warmth and see by its light. Make us like the sun, God.

Help us to be worthy of the job. When people look to us, let us show them the light of your love. Let us light the path so that they can find you, too. Amen

-Steven L. Case

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Friday, October 29, 2010

DAY THIRTEEN (FRIDAY, October, 29)

BLESSING # 13: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

IN: Father, we thank you for the promise of eternal life with You. Lord, as we seek that life we ask that you purify us from all ways that are not of You. Help us to take everything that is impure and throw it out, never to see it again. We know, God, that the lives you have created us to live can only be fully lived with pure and clean hearts.

MN: Please bless the Men’s Ministry that continues to grow in our congregation and bless the work of Greg Humphries and John David Turbeville as they lead it. Father, we ask that you be with all of our men that they will lead their households not with you as a part of their lives, but that you will be their lives. Father, we pray that all of our dads will be able to provide physically, but more importantly spiritually.

SG: Read Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

DAY TWELVE (THURSDAY, October 28)

BLESSING # 12: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...” John 1:12

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: Father, we thank you for the blessing of being Your children. We know the love a parent has for a child and we seek to understand that your love for us is even greater. We are Yours.

MN: Lord, we thank you for all of our children’s Bible Class teachers. We also thank you for all those that work with the Sunday evening children’s ministries. We are so blessed to have gifted teachers that are willing to give their time and love to our youth.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

DAY ELEVEN (WEDNESDAY, October 27)

BLESSING #11: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.” Psalm 119: 18-20

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Lord, we thank you today for the blessings of your laws and commands. Father, help us to see that all these were put in place for our good. Without these blessings Father ,we would be lost in a very confusing and chaotic world.

SG: Father, we thank you for the avenues of communication you have put in place so that we may better understand your will for our lives. Father, we ask for understanding and an increasing hunger to communicate with you through your Word and through our daily prayers.

MN: Bless the classes that will be meeting this evening. We ask that Your hand be on all of our teachers as they present Your Word. Help us all Lord to come with eager and open hearts so that we can carry the knowledge we gain.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

DAY TEN (TUESDAY, October 26)

BLESSING #10: “When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.” Matthew 14:26-29

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

SG: Father, we thank you for the courageous examples that you give us in serving you. Help us to be a people that will step out of the boat and come to You. We ask that You take away the fear and doubt in our lives this day and fill them with courage and truth. We thank you for being a God that does not sit in the boat and say “Go”, but you stand in the water and say, “Come.”

IN: Father, we thank you for the many generations we have in our church body. Lord, you have blessed us with an inspiring group of “Primetimers” that models the Christian walk each day. Thank you Lord for the courage they have shown in their lives and help us to gain strength and maturity from their successes and failures.

SG: Today, Father, we ask that you help us see that we are always being watched by someone in this world. Help us Father, to keep your word and example constant on our hearts so that we may be an example that will bring others closer to Your Kingdom.

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Monday, October 25, 2010

DAY NINE (MONDAY, October 25)

BLESSING #9: “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” Psalm 118:15


“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 1 Peter 1:8


PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)


PR: Father, we thank you for the joy it is to be a part of your mighty Kingdom! There is no greater joy than to have You as our strength.

PR: Today we thank you, God, for the assurance of our future that gives us greater joy than this earth could ever offer. We know Father, that the victory is ours and that the price has been paid. We have great joy as we receive your grace and forgiveness that pulls us from darkness into light.

IN: God, we ask that you be with those among our congregation and in our community that have suffered loss this past year. Father, even in our times of great loss help us to see the joy that has been laid out before us.

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

DAY EIGHT (Sunday, October 24)

BLESSING #8: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16


PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, as we enter into this week of prayer we are thankful for the abundance of love that you shower on us each moment of each day. Help us as your beloved creation to truly live in love.

IN: Thank you Father, for the loving hearts within our congregation. We ask Father, that we be a people that understands Your love so deeply within that we go outside of our comfort zones and share Your love to the lost. You, Father, have given us all we have and all we so eagerly anticipate in the future.

PR: Father, thank you for loving me!

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Saturday, October 23, 2010

DAY SEVEN (SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23)

DAY SEVEN (SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23)

BLESSING #7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends al understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 4:6-7

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Thank you, Lord, for guarding our hearts from anxiety and our minds from worry. Calm our souls and grant us rest this night.

PR: Father, we praise you today for the growth of our Bible classes. We especially thank you for the increasing number of parents who are bringing their children to Bible class. Give these fathers and mothers the patience, strength, and wisdom they need to be good models of Your Word at home.

MN: Lord, guide all of our teachers as they prepare themselves to share the riches of God's Word with their classes tomorrow. We pray especially that our children's classes will continue to grow.

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Friday, October 22, 2010

DAY SIX (FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22)

DAY SIX (FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22)

BLESSING #6: "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread" - Psalm 37:25

"My God will meet all of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 4:19

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Father, we have been living in troubled times, with economic uncertainty and financial crisis. We confess that over the past three years we have been shaken and insecure. Thank you for answering our prayers and bringing us through this recession.

PR: Father, we praise you today for our jobs. We thank you for the opportunity to work, to make an honest living, and to provide for our families. We recognize there are many throughout the world who are not so fortunate. We thank you for the opportunity to be useful and productive, and ask that you provide us with opportunities to be witnesses in our workplace.

IN: Lord, you know that some in our church family are looking for employment; help them find the work they need.

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Thursday, October 21, 2010

DAY FIVE (THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21)

DAY FIVE (THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21)

BLESSING #5: "The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" - Romans 8:26

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

IN: Thank you, Father, for the gift of your Holy Spirit in us. We thank you for his ministry in our life as the Spirit enables us to resist temptation and makes us more like You.

SG: Father, we confess that we are often inattentive to the leading of your Spirit in our lives; that we can be blind to needs of even those close to us, and often grumble about the service that we do render in your name. Help us to be greater servants; to be cheerful givers; to be willing workers in your kingdom. Prevent us from falling in love with the pleasures and possessions of the world and neglecting our own spiritual growth or the opportunity to serve others.

MN: Lord, we lift up to you the work of Jason & Julie Baker as they seek to strengthen our families and to lead young people to the Lord. Bless our Youth Council as it coordinates our ministries. Bless the parents of our young people as they seek to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And most of all, bless our young people that they might not give in to the many temptations of this world but instead walk by your Spirit.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

DAY FOUR (WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20)

DAY FOUR (WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20)


BLESSING #4: "Is any one of you sick? He shuld call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well" - James 5:14-15

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: We thank God today for those who in our church family who have experienced recovery from physical infirmities. We ask your blessings on those who are still ailing. We thank you for the prayer ministry of our shepherds, who regularly pray for us when we are sick.

MN: We ask You to guide Dan Williams as he teaches from the Sermon on the Mount tonight, that it might be enriching to those who attend.

SG: Father, help us better control our tongues. Enable us to resist the temptations of gossip, of grumbling, and of ugly words. Make us more sensitive to the needs of others, that we might speak words which build up, and not tear down. Give us more patience and discretion, that we might be quick to hear and slow to speak.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

DAY THREE (TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19)

DAY THREE (TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19)


BLESSING #3: "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" - Jesus (John 14:13-14)

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

MN: We pray that the name of Jesus might be glorified in all we do, and that we might truly be a church "of Christ."

MN: Today we thank You, Lord for the growth of our Ladies' ministry over the past year. Father, please continue to bless the ministry of our Ladies' Grief Recovery group; all three of our Ladies' classes; our "Sewing for the Master" group; and our Care Ministry.

CF: Father, as we examine our hearts we recognize we are not always as gracious and patient with our loved ones as You have been with us. Help us reflect the grace we have received from you in a relationship with a loved one today. Give us a forgiving spirit, Lord, that we might be forgiven by you.

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Monday, October 18, 2010

DAY TWO (MONDAY, OCTOBER 18)

DAY TWO (MONDAY, OCTOBER 18)

BLESSING #2: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God unto salvation." - Romans 1:16

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Thank you, Father, for answering our prayers for the lost; for the souls that have been brought to Christ here at College Avenue in the past twelve months; for the new members of our church family; and for blessing us with a spirit of love and unity.

CF: We confess that we are not always as bold as we should be in speaking up for Christ; that we have not always taken the opportunities You have given us to share our faith. Grant us more courage and more compassion for those who are unsaved.

MN: Bless the outreach of our Growth Groups; lead us to someone today who is seeking the Lord; give us the wisdom and courage to invite them to share in the fellowship of our group.

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

DAY ONE (SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17)

In keeping with our goal of truly being a church "of Christ," our shepherds have called us to follow the example of Jesus by spending the next 40 days in concentrated, coordinated, congregational prayer. If you are willing to be a part of this spiritual discipline, please use each week's prayer guide to pray for at least five minutes a day for 40 days, and to pray for the specific needs identified by the overseers of our church family. The following prayer items for this week are labeled either PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), SG (Spiritual Growth), or MN (Ministry Needs).

The theme of this year's prayer campaign is "Showers of Blessing." We are humbled here at College Avenue by the unusual outpouring of God's favor over the past year, and in response we want to offer our daily praise to the Lord for His goodness. In addition, through these prayers and scripture meditations we seek to claim, by faith the full riches of God 's promises to us.

In Week One our daily meditations will focus on "The Blessing of Answered Prayers." This week's guide was prepared by Dan.

DAY ONE (SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17)

BLESSING #1: "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them" - Psalm 145:18-19

PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), CF (Confession), SG (Spiritual Growth), MN (Ministry Needs)

PR: Thank you, Father, for the amazing blessing of being able to talk to You at any time with the confidence that You are near, You care, and You are willing and able to answer our petitions. We especially thank you for the mediation of Jesus, our High Priest, who speaks on our behalf when we approach Your throne; and for the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us when we do not even know what we ought to pray for.

PR: Thank you, Father, for the additional shepherds you have added to our church family this year. Bless Bruce and Jim with long lives as leaders. Grant wisdom and unity to Mike Arnold, Bret Garrett, David Hogg, Mike Meadows, David Ponder, Bruce Simpson, Jim Welch, and Allen White as they serve together.

SG: Father, we boldly ask in the name of Jesus that you bless us in the next 40 days with the strength we need to face life's challenges; through our High Priest we claim your promise to draw near to us as we draw near to You; we ask that through your Spirit you will grant us a deeper sense of Your presence in our lives in the days ahead.

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Friday, October 15, 2010

E-mail me, Twitter me... You pick


Thanks to technology and our fast-paced society, we are connected to the world in so many ways.  From Facebook, to E-mail, to blogging, and everything in between, we are constantly connected with others.  Won't it be refreshing to spend a little time during each of the next 40 days in concentrated, coordinated, congregational connection with our God in prayer?

It's going to be easy to follow the prayer guides each day by choosing the most convenient way for you to receive the daily updates.  Since we're already connected, we are offering several ways for you to receive the daily prayer guides via the Internet and social media.  Simply follow the link below to find out how you can receive the daily prayer guides!

http://cacoc40days.blogspot.com/p/5-ways-to-get-daily-prayer-guides.html

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

College Ave. Church of Christ 40 Days of Prayer 2010

In keeping with our goal of truly being a church "of Christ," our shepherds have called us to follow the example of Jesus by spending 40 days in concentrated, coordinated, congregational prayer.  This year's prayer campaign will begin Sunday, October 17, 2010. 

If you are willing to be a part of this spiritual discipline, please use each day's prayer guide to pray for at least five minutes a day for 40 days, and to pray for the specific needs identified by the overseers of our church family. The following prayer items for this week are labeled either PR (Praise), IN (Intercession), SG (Spiritual Growth), or MN (Ministry Needs).

The theme of this year's prayer campaign is "Showers of Blessing." We are humbled here at College Avenue by the unusual outpouring of God's favor over the past year, and in response we want to offer our daily praise to the Lord for His goodness. In addition, through these prayers and scripture meditations we seek to claim, by faith the full riches of God 's promises to us.

If you received this as an e-mail, you are still signed up to receive the daily prayer guides and will begin receiving them for the 2010 campaign on the morning of October 17.  Otherwise, follow the link below to subscribe via e-mail.  Note that once you enter your e-mail on the form, you must click the link in the e-mail you receive in order to activate this subscription.  Thank you.

Subscribe to College Ave. Church of Christ - 40 Days of Prayer by Email

http://www.cacoc.org/