It's time to get on our knees 

Dear Leeds Vineyard

It is time to get on our knees, which is another way of saying, time to pray. I know we have only just finished a month of prayer and fasting but just like we are always able to keep using social media, so it is good to keep praying - at all times and in all places.

Whether you pray best on your knees or standing up, whilst walking, ironing or driving … I would ask you to pray. Why are you calling us to pray again you may ask?

Well, Alison and I think that last Sunday morning was very significant in the life of the church as we heard from many people about how the Lord is speaking to us. There is a recording of what was said here (along with a graphic by Krystyna which is a great visual version of the words). As soon as we can we’ll add the full text of what was said.

God is speaking to us in fresh and radical ways. We enter the next stage of deciding on the purchase of a building and we sense his challenge to us to start “re-building the walls” and we are, naturally, full of excitement and holy expectation.

But the enemy is not enamoured of our preparedness to step forward into God’s purposes. It has become clear to us that unlike Jesus, who came to bring life in abundance, the enemy has come to steal kill and destroy (John 10:10). Already this week we have heard and prayed for several who have fallen ill or had accidents. The enemy has designs on our health and schemes to spoil our work, frustrate our finances and poison our relationships.

But God has good plans for us, amazing plans, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived, the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). And what he starts and purposes, he finishes, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please”.” (Isaiah 46:10). Nothing is going to stop him!

So please pray – pray for the leadership, for the people in your small group, for the children and young people, for those you know who are facing difficulties. Write their names on cards and keep them in your wallet, set reminders on your phones to pray quickly at intervals during the day, gather with your friends and pray together over coffee or over social media.

Please pray for the negotiations over the building and for the appointment of new staff at this crucial time. Pray that God’s plans will come to fruition, that our finances will be blessed and that the people he wants in place to serve the church will end up in post. Thank you.

Lent

If you haven’t partaken in the highly inventive and positive approach that 40Acts takes to Lent do try this link and see if you’d like to join in over the next 40 days. It starts today 1 March.

SWOT

When he was preaching a couple of weeks ago Matt Button alluded to the question of how we feel about inviting people to Leeds Vineyard. If you haven’t already done so why don’t you click on the link here and answer four simple questions as he does more research about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within our community here. It will be fun to see the results and the more people who participate the better.

Peace

David