This is our neighborhood in Boardman, OH.  A beautiful Christmas scene, right?

Wrong.

These pictures were taken on November 18 of this year.  Now, just one week before Christmas, there’s not a snow flake in sight.  I’ve dreamed of a white Christmas every year of my life, and always got them when we lived in upstate NY.  So, these are pictures of what might be on this day next week.  There’s something about snow that makes Christmas more Christmasy.

Vanda and I took the kids out of town last week end.  On the way back from our trip we stopped by a relatively new church in nearby Cranberry, PA, called Grace Community Church. They launched as a new church about six years ago and now have about 1,600 in worship during four services each week-end.  Their attendance at the end of the second year was about 250.  Talk about making an impact for Jesus!  To top it off, they are very similar to what our vision for The Gate is.  Vanda mentioned on the way out that Grace Community Church could be what we will be for Columbiana (with regard to impact on the community) by our sixth year, if God so designs it.

I’m not saying that we’ve followed any formula to success and are depending on growth as a result.  That would be a great mistake.  We have our own vision; our own journey.  But, it was more than enough to encourage us to continue working to become what God has always dreamed for us to be in Columbiana.

Thanks for the encouragement, friends at Grace Community Church!

What a week!  God’s done a lot for a few Gaters who have been waiting for answers to their prayers.  If anybody wants to share answered prayer, feel free to comment.

 I’m really liking this text/prayer thing.  How many of you have taken on the text/prayer challenge post of the previous post?

Vanda and I just added texting to our phones.  The 200-text-per-month plan was our first choice because it was the cheapest.  And, we really wouldn’t text more than that, right?

Wrong.

The first two texting “conversations” I had with this new-found burst of technological prowess saw me sending or receiving 12 messages.  So, we immediately upgraded to the 400 per month plan with unlimited to people using the same company and those within our circle.  It’s amazing how much is said in this quick, very convenient way of communication.

Prayer is the same way.  We tend to identify real prayer warriors as those who can pray for 37 hours straight.  The Bible does say “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but what if we took that as meaning several short, powerful chats with God?  This doesn’t suggest that we avoid times of extended prayer.  If you’re struggling with prayer time, be intentional but don’t overdo it and scare yourself away.  Try pinpointing two or three times during the week when you can set aside 20 -30 minutes for a short devotional reading and simply talk to God as you would anybody else sitting next to you.  Texting is great, but if we only communicate in this way there wouldn’t be much of a personal relationship.  We still need to listen for God’s voice and look forward to spending time with Him.  But, it’s a great way to let friends, both human and Divine, to know that you are thinking about them.

For you texters out there, try over the next week to send God as many ”text messages” as you send to others.  Each time you send a message to a friend using your phone, just thank God for something, ask Him about something, pray for someone or whatever in just a sentence or two.  It could prove to be a great new burst of spiritual prowess for you.  I’m gonna try it and let you know how it goes.  I’d love to hear how it goes with any of you as well.