praying continually and at all times, big and small

Do you find yourself praying more or praying less? Isn't it amazing that God can hear all prayers and all times, whether big or small, spoken loudly or whispered in the recesses of our mind! I'm so thankful that even when my heart yearns with a concern or prayer God knows it. This week, I find myself flooded with thankfulness of the good and perfect things that God is doing in so many people lives. I also find myself praying for many needs in our Rejoice family and throughout the world. This week I have been praying for a friend and spouse who were facing some major health questions. Today they got some really good news that their tests were negative and that was a huge positive! Today, I prayed for a family who filled out a Sunday communication card-they asked for prayer for their son and his emotional needs and social skills. I don't know who it is or their name-but God does. So I am praying for them. I have been praying for my relatives who are facing court battles with their children. God I want to lift up my brother-in-law Daniel while he is serving our country and Iraq in the middle east. God, I want to pray for my friend Gary and his healing from ear and jaw problems and my friend Eric in Nashville and his recovery from brain surgery. I find myself praying for the 14 people who have been baptized in the last 2 months at Rejoice, the many teens who have given their life to Christ...the three families that just attended church recently who I know are going through marriage difficulties! Last night, I was praying that God will continue to raise up men in our church who want to lead their families toward Christ. This morning I got to meet with 16 of them who are learning what it means to be the POINT MAN in their homes because of the gospel. Today, I found myself praying for a friend who had a "routine" procedure, but I also know that any time you have to go to the hospital and get a huge shot with lots of meds, it isn't routine. Today, I found myself praying for my family and thanking God for them. Praying that my wife would have a great day, be encouraged and reminded that God is using her in great ways to impact our children and our community. I have been praying for my son to grow in his understanding of who Christ is and his need so that he could come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. My prayers have been also for my daughter that God will give her a heart of learning, obedience, and an ability to communicate with her words. The nations who don't know Christ comes to my mind, all those people, so many needs...
Lots of things to pray for and about...What are you praying about? What do you sense God asking you to pray about? When was the last time you were overwhelmed with all your needs and it drove you to actually pray? -casey

nehemiah: reforming our lives in order to rebuild our communities

This past Sunday we started our REBUILD preaching series from the book of Nehemiah. One of the main teaching portions of this book is that God has called Nehemiah to be a catalyst for rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem which was a city for God's people and glory. This seemed to be an impossible task, since Nehemiah lived 800 miles away, the walls had been broken for mnay years and the wall was 4.5 miles long. The walls also covered 960 acres, which is about 1. 5 square miles. This task that Nehemiah had for leadership was incredible. Tons of people challenges, money needs, families represented, cultural understandings, opinions by multiple generations, expectations from thousands, enemies at bay, etc... What is really incredible is the task was accomplished in 52 days! Wow. However, when I think about how impossible this task was and yet it was accomplished by God through people in 52 days, that has me thinking. What could we accomplish if we set our minds, hearts, and souls toward over the next 52 days. What might God want to do amongst us and within us over the next 52 days? God could save a marriage over the next 52 days if we were willing to be led by God and serve our spouse. God could reorganize our finances in 52 days and take us from drowning in debt, to setting a new course, and having a new plan of action. God could enable us to forgive something or someone that we have been bitter towards for years in just 52 days. God may even want us to see more life change in the next 52 days than we have seen in the last 52 months? Who knows what God will do, if only we will set our hearts toward His plan over the next 52 days! -casey

Nehemiah: reforming our lives in order to rebuild our communities

Quick: What do you know about the book of Nehemiah? What can you tell us about his leadership, his culture, his task? How do you think it relates to our own lives? Join with hundreds of others this Sunday as we gather to look at how we can reform our own lives in order to help rebuild our own communities! -casey

free leadership church conference on wed. at 9 am

Tomorrow a conference called "The Nines" will be held, beginning at 9am CST. Rejoice will be hosting it all day at the south campus in the band room/ampi-theatre room. If you would like to join the Rejoice Staff just email me at ccariker@rejoicechurch.com -casey

need some ideas for christmas? guys-expecting company?

Just over 110 days till Christmas? Looking for an early Christmas present for your dad or grandfather? Tired of having to wear really nice clothes around the house? Any better ideas? -casey c.

training on leadership for free!

Next Wednesday, Sept. 9th, 2009 ( a week from tomorrow), our church staff will be hosting a free web conference called "the nines". Our staff will be gathering for lunch and a specific one hour of these 9 minute leadership talks. The great news is that you don't have to be at Rejoice Church or any specific building to be encouraged by 75 Godly leaders across the nation. You can go to http://thenines.leadnet.org/ You can register for free, get it on your computer, watch it from home, bring lunch to work and then eat it at your desk, etc.. There will be 75 leaders who will present one thought for 9 minutes. Check it out! -casey c.