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Gratitude As we near the end of this prayer challenge, I’d like to encourage us in the direction of thanksgiving. Here are a few wise words from well respected Vineyard worship leader and liturgist, Dan Wilt: “Christ helps us attain, maintain, and retain a thankful heart. Expressing thanks is often viewed by the culture as […]

A Call to Prayer: leadership If Aliens were to land and say “take us to your leader”, we’d have to point them to Jesus. He is the chief shepherd; the head of the church. He is our leader. However, his leadership is exercised through humans. Every organization and organism needs visionary, servant-hearted leadership. In WCV,

A Call to Prayer: provision Jesus taught us to ask for what we need. Paul said that our Father would supply all our needs from his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4). As we look around our community, we can see many needs. Throughout this Prayer Challenge, we’ve turned our attention to many of

Prophetic Witness It is in the very nature of light, to dispel darkness.  A candle doesn’t have to be convinced to shine – it just does.  It is the same with goodness, truth and love.  Their very existence dispels evil, deceit and indifference.  However, there are powers that work to extinguish the light.  Like we’ve

Prophetic Ministry The chief aim of prophecy is to strengthen, encourage and comfort others. Paul encourages the church in Corinth to let love be your highest goal, but also to eagerly desire the gifts of the spirit, especially prophecy. It’s because, when done in love the person on the receiving end will feel loved. Who

Prophetic Ministry Prophecy is one of those highly misrepresented activities in Christianity. We either have ideas of some crazy from the Old Testament hurling warnings from God on a godless people (no offence to the OT), or big-haired men on TV making some kind of pronouncement about the end of the world (no offence to

Prayer that Listens: God’s list Making lists can be a great way to get things done. Grocery lists help us shop – school lists help keep track of when assignments are due – Christmas lists ensure we’ll have at least one favourite toy under the tree (hey, a kid can hope). We often approach God

Prayer that Listens: God’s surprises Sometimes God throws curveballs – loopers – puts us in unexpected situations. This was the case for Philip in Acts 8. Philip had begun preaching in Samaria with great success. Crowds were coming to Jesus, signs and miracles performed, and demons were being cast out. By all accounts, it was

Intercession: seeking the good of the city Jeremiah gave a prophecy to the exiled people of Judah in Babylon. It wasn’t a sweet message promising their quick return to Jerusalem (like some other false prophets were doing). Instead, Jeremiah’s letter told them to buckle down. He said, build houses, plant gardens and build lives for

Intercession: standing in the gap A classic definition of intercession is praying for someone else who cannot pray for him or herself. Ezekiel calls this “standing in the gap.” It’s a reference to someone who stands in a hole in a defensive wall in order to protect those inside. They are strengthening the weak spot

Intercession: the God who sees These days news headlines come and go like frost in September. There one day, gone the next. However, in our city, one headline has become all too familiar shouting at us: ANOTHER ABORIGINAL WOMAN MURDERED. Just last week our attention turned to the brutal assault and attempted murder of a

 Intercession: what’s on God’s heart? Congratulations – you’ve made it ½ way through the Prayer Challenge!  If your daily cues to remind you to pray aren’t working, make sure you find new cues. A little over halfway though the book of Daniel, we get an interesting glimpse into his perspective on prayer.  He said “We