Day 1

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

 Clarity -- focusing on our mission is key to moving ahead as a congregation. "Strive for excellence, promote fraternity, serve the
community, educate the family, care for seniors, grow our membership."

Staying focused on these good and honorable things is key right? Actually, they are taken from the mission statement of the Loyal Order
of Moose (a wonderful organization by the way). Good things to be sure -- but the BEST thing?

We have seen, we have heard our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—our creator, our redeemer, our very life! Clarity - proclaim what we have
seen and heard. Tell everyone with words, with actions, with the Love we have received from him. So they too may join the fellowship of believers -- here or wherever the Spirit may lead them. For when they come to faith, they too will have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we see more clearly your love for us in sending your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us for eternity.
May we share your love with those we meet that more may come to saving faith in you each day. Amen

Day 2

We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15 ESV

Growing up… that’s a subject that is much on mind as a parent. I remember being 6. My main drive was pursuing what was good for me, right now. As a parent my drive is not centered on my own good, but the good for my kids. I’m no longer at the center of my world, and my horizon for good is further down the road than it used to be. I want my kids to grow up, to have that ability to seek the good for another and do it with a long horizon view.

When Trinity considers the options for all of our activities and pursuits we want to remember the purpose of growing up. We want to have the perspective of Christ, who put others at the center of his interest and aimed at a horizon of eternal good. 

Consider your activity in Trinity’s ministry. Who’s good is at the center of your efforts? How long is the horizon for that good? Pray for the growing up of Trinity’s mission and ministry as we develop a perspective for the eternal good of others through accessible, relational, and transformational ministry.

Day 3
Daniel 1

Watch America’s Funniest Videos a few times and you clearly see the truth of this statement - Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Daniel and his companions might have felt like they had won the lottery. They had gone from POW status to the fast track in the bureaucracy of the empire. But Daniel decided just because he could eat anything on the lavish buffet, he wouldn’t. God honored Daniel’s focus.

Church in the suburbs can look like a buffet and people come to feast. Our ministry filters bring a nutritional focus as we lay out the buffet. We want to put it where our community has access. We want the buffet to be relevant to their present state and in the interest of their eternal needs. We want to build a relationship that walks with them through the long term of transformation God wants to bring not just to them but to the whole world.

Pray for Trinity’s leadership and for each person who attends, that we learn the truth; just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

Day 4
1 Corinthians 9:19-23

We’ve been talking about the large picture of congregational ministry. Paul brings it down to the personal level. He shows the focus of his own life, his own interactions with the people who cross his path. It raises the question, can the ministry filters of accessible, relational, transformational be applied to your own life? Does your life need some focus and reorientation? Pray for God’s guidance in these areas putting your thoughts into a prayer conversation relying on His gracious will to make you an active agent for His Kingdom:

• Approaching your day’s activities in a way that makes you accessible and open to the people you cross paths with, people who could be part of God’s Kingdom given some small contact. Mark the value of each activity according to God’s Kingdom metrics.
• Consider your relationships. 
Which relationship do you consider as God’s call to love someone just as Jesus does? 
Which relationship do you need to cling to because that person grows you to be more like Christ?
• Good wants you and all people to have an abundant life, a life filled full according to his design and will. Are you surrendering to that transformation of your own goals and purpose? Do you soak in God’s Word regularly and put what you hear into action? Are you speaking the beauty and grace of life with God into the life of another person?

Day 5

John 1:14 says God sent His Only Son to be made flesh, to walk, and live among us so we would have tangible access to His love, grace, and faithfulness. God knew sometimes we need to see before we can believe so He met us where we were at and sent a flesh and bone example of how we should love and carry out His mission. A magnificent characteristic of God demonstrated in His family is His love of diversity. He knew it would take all kinds to gather all His sheep so He equipped us each with unique gifts and talents to show the world His love. For us to stay on task and be about our Father’s business, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to guide us, to give us strategy, to help us filter out the unnecessary stimuli that we are inundated with daily. He will guide us in the ways of Jesus to fulfill the call God has on our lives.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6–8 (ESV)

Spend some time in quiet this week to hear the still small voice that provides all you need to carry out the commitments you’ve made to the ministry at Trinity.