A Time To Ask
                                           August 29, 2010
                                         5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Dear Members and Friends of Isle of Hope UMC, this Sunday evening, August 29th, we will share together in a powerful time of corporate prayer in our sanctuary. This is a moment when we as a congregation will turn our hearts toward heaven and beseech the Lord of heaven and earth for His provisions for our Church. Isle of Hope UMC, like many other congregations, has not gone untouched by the economic challenges of our time. Many of you have been praying individually for the Lord to provide for our needs, but on August 29th we have the glorious opportunity to unite our hearts and our voices in corporate prayer for God's supply. We are responding to the instruction of God's Word and practicing two important Kingdom principles.
The First is found in Matthew 7:7 where Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you;" Prayer is fundamental in facing a resource shortage. I know this seems simple but nearly all of the missionaries, pastors and church leaders I know in third world nations understand this. They have no other recourse but to seek God for the provisions needed to carry out ministry. They ask. They pray. They cry out. God faithfully answers. Praying for God to supply the resources necessary to carry out our "agreed upon ministry vision" develops humility, trust, faith and a healthy dependence upon God. I believe the Lord enjoys seeing those qualities in the life of His people (see Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.") In James 4:2d the Word states, "You do not have, because you do not ask God." So, we are committing ourselves to intentionally pray for God to supply the resources necessary to fulfill His ministry vision for Isle of Hope UMC.
The Second foundational principle in Kingdom economics is found in Luke 6:38 where Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you." The concept of giving, or sowing, in challenging times, especially in challenging times, is throughout the Bible.  In each case the sacrificial giving of God's people always produced a great harvest of blessings (1 Kings 17:7-16; John 6:5-13 for example).
So this Sunday evening, August 29, at 5:00 p.m., I invite you to join me in the sanctuary here at Isle of Hope for a special time of prayer. We will share in a time of corporate worship and "call upon the Lord" together for our Church, its mission, its future and God's provision. Prayer should not be our "last resort," but our first response to inadequacy. Pleasing God should be the number one objective of God's people. Expressing faith is the number one way to please Him. Moreover, as Hebrews 11:6 declares, "... whoever comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Our purpose in praying and asking is not some feeble attempt to twist God's arm. That is silly. It is simple obedience to the instruction of His Word. Resistance to spend time humbling ourselves before God and asking for His help, His blessing, His provision would be just another reflection of our biggest human problem- pride. On Sunday, August 29th, we will be praying not only for the Lord's provision but for clarity regarding His vision for our ministries now and in the future. May the Lord of the harvest bless you as you seek His heart on behalf of this great Church.

Trusting God's grace,
Mike