Prayer Guide - Thanksgiving - Scripture

Psalm 95

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,

8 “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,

9 where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

10 For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’

11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” 

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

Psalm 118:29

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Philippians 4:6

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Psalm 103: 1-5

1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 28:7

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 136:1-5

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.

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Prayer Guide - Thanksgiving - Statements of Gratitude

Statements of Gratitude

"Thank you, God for the times You have said "no." They have helped me depend on You so much more.
Thank you, God, for unanswered prayer. It reminds me that You know what's best for me, even when my opinion differs from Yours.
Thank You, Lord, for the things you have withheld from me. You have protected me from what I may never realize.
Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented me from going where You would rather not have me go.
Thank you, Lord, for the physical pain You've allowed in my life. It has helped me more closely relate to Your sufferings on my behalf.
Thank you, Lord, for the alone times in my life. Those times have forced me to lean in closer to You.
Thank you, God, for the uncertainties I've experienced. They have deepened my trust in You.
Thank You, Lord, for the times You came through for me when I didn't even know I needed a rescue.
Thank You, Lord, for the losses I have experienced. They have been a reminder that You are my greatest gain.
Thank You, God, for the tears I have shed. They have kept my heart soft and mold-able.
Thank You, God, for the times I haven't been able to control my circumstances. They have reminded me that You are sovereign and on the throne.
Thank You, God, for those people in my life whom You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth keeps my heart longing for heaven.
Thank You, God, that I have an inheritance in the heavenly places...something that this world can never steal from me and I could never selfishly squander.
Thank You, God, for the greatest gift You could ever give me: forgiveness through Your perfect Son's death on the cross on my behalf.
Thank You, God, for the righteousness You credited toward me, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It's a righteousness I could never earn or attain on my own.
Thank You, Father, that You know me, You hear me, and You see my tears. Remind me through difficult times that You are God, You are on the throne, and You are eternally good.
And thank You, Lord, not only for my eternal salvation, but for the salvation You afford every day of my life as You save me from myself, my foolishness, my own limited insights, and my frailties in light of Your power and strength."

- Cindy McMenamin, Author

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Testimony - Jen

Jen shared a testimony about an impactful piece of the 5 fold ministry teaching.

One of the teachers talked about how much time we have left on earth, according to average lifespans. We were asked to take our age, calculate how many years we have left, then how many days left, showing us how many days we have left to witness to others the salvation of Christ. She looked over and saw that her young daughter had calculated hers and written it down. That really moved her heart!

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IGNITE (11/11)

5 Fold Ministry Recap, Testimonies, and Commissioning Prayer - Lyle Schut

Ephesians 4: 11-13 - So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

A few words that Lyle emphasized were unity, maturity, fullness.
The gifts are so that the unity in the body for Christ can explode, the body can grow into maturity, to experience the fullness of what he purchased. 

God is restoring and raising up the 5 Fold Ministry gifts before his son, Jesus, returns.

If you took the 5 Fold Ministry test, you most likely scored higher on one or two of the giftings, which means you operate highly in one of those. However, you still have all 5 of the gifts and are called to walk in them because Jesus was the perfect example of all of the gifts and lives inside of you through the Holy Spirit.

Recap of each of the giftings:

Apostle means "sent one". They awaken peoples' dreams in the Kingdom of God. They help people see their giftings and callings in the body of believer. They help people see who they are and walk along side of them to get there. Apostles forge new paths in the Kingdom and are a catalyst for change, bringing and releasing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. 

Teachers study scripture, fellowship with the Holy Spirit in the Word, receive revelation, and they long to share what they've received. They are light-givers in the Kingdom of God. They make truth and the knowledge of God accessible to all. They help people to know God and how God and truth apply to their life. 

Evangelists are story tellers in the body of Christ. Everyone has a story, we should share them. An evangelist has a heart to see all people saved and to know Christ as their Savior and Lord. Evangelists continually invite people into the family of God. They know the power of the cross and they reveal the power of Jesus' death and resurrection to the body. 

Prophets are heart-revealers, they reveal God's heart for His people. Prophets can see what is coming and alert the people. Prophets are intercessors and they stand between God and man. They are the voice of God to the people and they are the voice of the people back to God. 

Pastors are soul-healers in the Kingdom of God. They are instrumental in guiding people from brokenness into healing and whole-ness. They create safe environments and create a family. They help people feel like they belong. 

Lyle then invited people to share how they were encouraged or what they learned from the series. The finished with a time of prayer over groups of people in each of the giftings. Click here to listen to the testimonies (27:30), prayer time (37:10), or watch the entire service.

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Prayer Guide - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Prayer Guide

• Give thanks to God for salvation and the spiritual blessings
He brings into your life every day. Take a moment to recite
those blessings to Him in your prayers.

• Pray that you will express gratitude to God for spiritual
blessings by strengthening your commitment to Him and
growing in your Christian walk.

• Give thanks to God for loved ones in your life who have
a relationship with Christ and are growing in the Lord.

• Pray for loved ones who don’t know or serve Christ,
that they will embrace Him, as well as for those who
are struggling in their Christian commitment.

• Give thanks to God for good health in your life and the
lives of friends and loved ones.

• Pray for healing and strength regarding physical needs in
your life as well as the lives of friends and loved ones.

• Give thanks to God for the various ways He has met your
daily needs.

• Pray that God will continue to meet your needs no matter
what the future holds. Also remember in prayer those who
struggle every day just to obtain the basics of life such
as food and shelter. Ask God to give you opportunities to

help wherever possible.

• Give thanks to God for your church, including spiritual

leaders and fellow Christians.

• Pray for your church, pastor, and other spiritual leaders.
Ask God to bring your church together in unity around
His purpose and direction. Pray that spiritual leaders will
receive anointing and wisdom, and that each ministry in
the church will receive adequate funding and volunteer

support.

• Give thanks to God for opportunities to serve Him through

the gifts, talents, and abilities He has given you.

• Pray that God will open new opportunities for ministry and
service in your life, and challenge you to move beyond your
own understanding, conquer any fears, and minister in ways
you never thought possible.

Prayer Guide from

https://ag.org/-/media/Prayer/Ways-to-Pray/Ways-to-Pray-Holiday-Prayer-Guide.pdf

1. Cached

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Spark Notes (11/4)

Qualities of a Pastoral Person and a Pastor - Brad Vermeer

1. Called a shepherd -  a coach, guide, and leader

2. Cares for the flock, which is God's people. 

3. A big emphasis on relationships - many of them I the church

4. Enjoys caring for the personal needs of the people in the flock

5. Tends to the wounded

6. Nurture, protect, and love God's people

7. Granted wisdom to teach God's Word

8. Able to restore calm and order when necessary

9. Able to display God's unconditional love that He has for HIS own

10. Can speak Truth in Love to the wayward

11. Has a genuine love for people

12. Looks for hurting people, and guides them to healing

13. Often equipped with special grace and long in patience. 

14. Blessed with wisdom, knowledge, and discerning spirit

15. Able to return love for hate when criticized

16. Ability to create an atmosphere for family and belonging

17. Often can guide people through brokenness

18. Assist people in making better choices in life

19. Has a concern for people's hearts

20. Most often a very good listener. 

21. Able to lead healthy people into a deeper understanding

22. Definitely has a one on one relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

23. Usually equipped with a giving attitude instead of taking. 

24. Help the flock see the consequences of not walking in Truth. 

25. Yearning to have people be fed, grow, and be quipped and develop their gifting so they can step into their calling for their lives. 

26. Blessed with a huge heart that never gives up on people

27. Is a prayer warrior and willing to teach others by example. 

28. Good preaching skills.

29. Organizational skills with leadership and the flock

To watch the full service, click here. 

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Testimony - Caroline

HOME Staff Member Caroline shares a testimony - 

"When I came to Sioux Center a year ago, I thought drawing and painting were a long-lost ghost of my childhood, confined to the 20-year-old art supplies heaped in the back of the closet in the spare room. Little did I know that--and much more, how--God was going to revive them. But here I was in October of 2017, walking the pleasant, shade-dappled fall streets of Sioux Center, staring up into the leaf-dropping, breezy trees, and learning to rest in the Lord.  I had just had a year that was as busy as they come. Between college graduation, a two-month mission trip to Spain, and moving out of my childhood home, I had slept in over ten different places during the previous four months. I was ready for a rest. And so, as I walked slowly, staring up into the leaf-hung boughs soon becoming barren branches revealing their intricate design, the Lord brought me into rest. Deep rest. And creativity. Though I wouldn't have named it as such. All I knew was that if God thought He had enough time to individually design and then watch over every branching-off bough, stick, and twig of every oak, maple, and birch, then why did I have to be worried about my life if God was taking even better care of every branching-off detail of my soul? Anxiety melted off me. My heart and my mind were impermeable to its advances. Deep rest in the Father's arms was all there was, and anxiety's lies became a far-off fable. It was from this place of rest that I was set free to dream again, to imagine again, to wonder again. To grab my childhood toolbox long forgotten, and to create again. In January of 2018, in mid-winter when prickly trees poke their stark branches above the fresh white snow, I began to color again. And I will never be the same. Drawing one day what I thought was simply going to be an illustration of a prayer based on John 15 for a friend and her husband two thousand miles away, I was awakened to a whole new reality: interacting with God through art. I couldn't stop. Soon, the blank white pages of my journal were filled with these prayer illustrations for friends. My journal was a skeleton of its former self because I was ripping so many pages out of it to give to others!  I couldn't keep up with the inspiration that was coming into my mind! I didn't want to keep it to myself! Art and creativity and the truths they can communicate are meant to be shared! Since then, the Lord, aside from teaching me to keep creativity a part of my daily life--even if it's as small as a 5-minute drawing to give to the store clerk--has taught me to share what I've learned with others. Over the last several months I've had the opportunity to interact with the Holy Spirit through art with adults and children alike--to teach, and more importantly, to be taught by them. Each day I am growing in rest and in wonder at my King and in His creation. And this is just the beginning. Will you join me?"

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