Walking by Faith -- You're Not Alone

Week 4 into the 36 weeks (see 2010 Challenge) : Reading - Proverbs 25, John 14-15-16

John 14: 18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (KJ)

Entering the 4th Week of our 36 week in the 2010 Challenge, we now get to WALK OUT everything God's been speaking to us in the 21 days of prayer and fasting. As we walk by faith, He sends the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us -- holding our hand along the way.

I have been reading the book, Walking With God by John Eldredge. It gives a vulnerable look into his journals, and shows how he walks with God through the challenges and celebrations. I thought this passage was poignant...

"When it comes to crises or events that really upset us, this I have learned: you can have God or you can have understanding. Sometimes you can have them both. But if you insist on understanding, it often doesn't come. And that can create distance between you and God, because your upset and demanding an explanation in order to move on, but the explanation isn't coming so you withdraw a bit from God and lose the GRACE THAT GOD IS GIVING. He doesn't explain everything. But he always offers us himself."
John Eldredge, Walking with God

No matter what circumstance we are facing--He wants to be there with us to help us through it. Invite Him into your every day life, invite him in to heal your past--no matter how messy. He longs to walk out this journey of life with us--as a great adventure! Our life is not meant to be an episode of "Survivor" where God is watching from the sky wondering if we'll go the right direction, eat something poisonous, or be able to hack the elements. He is there with us taking our hand, and guiding us along the way. You are never alone. (Read John 14 & 15)


Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because you are with me. Your rod and your walking stick comfort me. Psalm 23: 4 (NCV)

21 Days Ends Sunday--Join the Celebration!

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate the conclusion of the 21 days of prayer and fasting with testimonies, special music and Duane's final message in the Faith For the Future series. WE ARE ALSO STEPPING OUT IN FAITH FOR A FUTURE "BRIDGE BUILDING" AND TURNING IN OUR BUILDING PLEDGES!


Challenged to GROW
(Watch funny video from Sunday by clicking on pic.)

Yes, we've almost completed our 21 days of prayer and fasting for the 2010 Challenge! In these past weeks God has really challenged me personally to receive a NEW STRENGTH for this decade.

Isaiah 40:29-31 says, "Those who WAIT (hope in, expect) on the Lord will gain NEW STRENGTH, they will mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not get tired, and they will walk and be weary."

I found myself frustrated a few weeks ago and couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. (Ok, lack of coffee might have been part of the problem, but I knew it was deeper than that!) Then during morning prayer, I felt God showing me that I couldn't go into this year with the same faith of last year, or the same power--I needed a NEW STRENGTH, which meant I was going to have to grow!

Psalm 84:7 - "...we go from STRENGTH to STRENGTH before we appear before Him..."
2 Corinthians 3:18 - "...transformed from GLORY to GLORY..."
Romans 1:17 - "...revealed from FAITH to FAITH..."

I so appreciate how God never expects us to be perfect, but to keep growing and being "reshaped" from faith to faith, strength to strength and glory to glory. I once heard a great man of God say, "The price of greatness is your ability to be RESHAPED." During this last week of the 21 days, let's ask God how He needs to grow and reshape us, and give us the STRATEGY we need to walk out the 36 weeks!

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to SHAPE the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended SHAPE of our lives there in him. Romans 8:29 (Message)

Take the 2010 Challenge

Challenge: a call or summons to engage

It's the beginning of a new decade! We want to begin this decade with "Faith for the Future" by discovering God's dream over our lives for this year and the next decade to come. That's where the 2010 CHALLENGE comes in...
36 hours (to de-tox from negative thinking) / 21 days (fasting and prayer for our future) / 36 weeks (to walk out the vision).

Note: If you missed the starting date--just begin now!

36 hours – This first 36 hours is a detox of all fearful, anxious and negative thoughts. It is 36 hours to reset your direction by only thinking and speaking things that are in agreement with God’s dream over your life. In these 36 hours we’ll focus on the promises of God instead of complaining about the problems. (See special verses for this time, but write out your own that God gives you for your specific circumstances.)

21 days – They say it takes 21 days to form new habits. The next 21 days is a focused fast* and time of prayer. (You can choose to do a different fast each week.) We believe for God to speak to us about his dreams over our lives, to reshape our hearts and to change our mindsets. During this process keep a journal about what God is speaking to you and write out what your goals are for this year spiritually, physically, and financially. (It's also great to add goals for your family as a whole.) Write out your “Declaration of Faith” and pray it out loud. We will focus praying and believing the Apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17-20. Ends January 31, 2001.

36 weeks- In the next 9 months continue to walk in your new revelation and healthy habits formed from the 21 days. Look at your list of goals or what you’re believing God for in 2010 and make an “Action Plan” of practical steps to see your dream come true. Share your goals with someone to hold you accountable and keep a weekly journal of your progress. Read and mediate on the weekly verses provided. Ends September 19, 2010.

As we take the 2010 Challenge, The Bridge is “entering in” to all God has for us in 2010!

Listen to the video message "2010 Challenge" to hear Pastor Duane explain the challenge, and how to discover God's dream over your life.

Scripture Guide:
Write these out in your journal or note cards where you can see them throughout the day. Make sure you have a translation you can understand. For more in-depth study, or to look up different translations go to www.biblegateway.com or www.crosswalk.com.

36 Hour Detox:

• Psalm 19:14, Proverbs 18: 20-21, Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:23 & 29, Colossians 1:9
• Add other scriptures of personal promises to you this year

21 Day: Read through the book of Ephesians, specially praying 1:17-20 over your life every day. Continue declaring the other verses the Lord gives you.

36 Weeks:

Week 1-3 – as above

Week 4 – Proverbs 25, John 14-16; Week 5 – Psalm 16, Philippians Ch. 1-3; Week 6 – Proverbs 1, Philippians Ch.3 -4; Week 7 - Isaiah 35, Romans 5 & 6; Week 8 – Psalm 18, Romans 7 & 8; Week 9 – Proverbs 2, Romans 10 & 12; Week 10 – Isaiah 40, Romans 13-15; Week 11 - Psalm 23, 1 Corinthians 1 & 2; Week 12- Proverbs 3, 1 Cor. 4-6; Week 13 - Isaiah 41, 1 Cor. 12-14; Week 14- Psalms 24 & 25, Romans 15; Week 15 - Proverbs 4, 2 Corinthians 1-3; Week 16 - Isaiah 42, 2 Cor. 4-7; Week 17- Psalm 27 & 28, 2 Cor. 8-10; Week 18 - Proverbs 5, 2 Cor. 11-13; Week 19 - Isaiah 43, Galatians 1-3; Week 20- Psalm 31, Galatians 4-6; Week 21- Proverbs 6, Colossians 1-2; Week 22 - Isaiah 44, Colossians 3-4; Week 23- Psalm 34, 1 Thessalonians 1-5; Week 24- Proverbs 7, 2 Thessalonians; Week 25 - Psalm 37, 1 Timothy 1-3; Week 26- Isaiah 45, 1 Timothy 4-6; Week 27 - Proverbs 8, 2 Timothy 1-4; Week 28 - Psalm 42-43, Titus 1-3; Week 29- Isaiah 52, Philemon 1 & Hebrews 1-3; Week 30 - Psalm 51 & 52, Hebrews 4-6; Week 31- Proverbs 9, Hebrews 10 & 11, Week 32 - Isaiah 54 , Hebrews 12 & 13; Week 33 - Psalm 62 & 63, James 1-3; Week 34 - Proverbs 10, James 4-5; Week 35 - Isaiah 61, 1 Peter 2-5, 2 Peter 1; Week 36 - Psalm 118, 1 John 1-5.