rELENTLESS
Dick and Kim Speight invite you to join them in
A “Full Court Press” After
Constant Companionship with Jesus
February 21-April 8
We believe the Lord is saying, “Prepare room enough for Me.” This is both an invitation and warning of love. The Lord is relentless in reaching out to all. Let us become relentless in reaching out to Him. Then, and only then, can He help us help others in truly fruitful ways. Major changes are coming soon to our lives in this nation and the world. It is time to prepare. I am not talking about disaster preparedness. If you want sound information about that, contact our wonderful friends at Wind and Fire Ministries here in Cedar Rapids. Yes, it is important to have a 30-day supply of food and water stored for emergency. Go ahead and do that. We have. If a crisis comes it’s important for you and your family to maintain strength so you can help other people and to witness for Jesus. However, some disaster preparedness (or denial and avoidance thereof) is driven by fear of death and suffering, not His love for the lost and the poor.
The most important Way to prepare for what is coming is to die to sin and rise in love; to die to our fears of pain, suffering, deprivation, dying, and death; to rise as relentless companions of Christ. It is time we stop making Jesus follow us around. It is time to follow Him around. It is time to stop playing self-absorbed church and start being self-sacrificial church. We say we want to walk with Jesus. But we most often want it on our terms, not His. It is time to end business as usual. Fear must die, love must rise. We must decrease, He must increase.
The term “Full Court Press” comes from basketball. A coach calls for a press to attack the opponent the moment he steps onto the court, instead of waiting for him to come to you. A coach sometimes calls for a press to wake up his own team, to snap them out of lethargy and bad habits, to find the way to victory. Kim and I invite you to join us in pressing into Jesus like a when a little child hugs his or her parent especially tight. Join us in following Jesus in His full court attack on fear, sin, disease, and the devil. By fasting and other means, let’s hold fast to Him!
We will seek the Lord during the Christian season of Lent which begins on Feb. 22nd and gives way to Easter on April 8th. Lent is 46 days of honoring our victorious sacrificial Lord Jesus: 40 days of prayer and fasting honoring Jesus for His 40 days of Spirit-led fasting in the wilderness and His ultimate self-denial atoning for our sin on the Cross; plus 6 Sundays of feasting celebrating His Risen Spirit-led Life for all who truly believe in Him. Join us as we prepare by emptying ourselves of worldly sin so He can fill us to overflowing with His love and power to truly help people in their sin and fears. Honestly, Kim and I see these 46 days as a time to experiment and train with the Lord, to make a radical adjustment in our lifestyle with Him to run with Him in the challenging times ahead.
Maybe you want to pray and live in the following ways with Kim and I in Lent 2012…and beyond. Come rest in Jesus’ love. But Come Rest does not mean come sleep! He gives real rest from sin and fear, and real fruitful lives, to all who become His constant companions. He does not expect you to be perfect to follow Him, but He does expect you to pick up your cross and follow Him nonetheless…relentless in resting, trusting, fasting, serving, paying praising, loving, witnessing with Him.
rELENTLESS after Jesus
“Jesus, help us become Your constant companions! Help us rest from all that is not of You, and be relentless in seeking and following You! Help us make room enough in our lives for You to love us and lead us through …”
· Walking with You, Lord, in Fasting…
o Every Tuesday—Liquids only.(From light supper Monday to light supper Tuesday)
o Mondays and Wednesdays thru Saturdays—Eat small portions of fish, plain yogurt, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, cold pressed vegetable oils, herbs, and spices. Refrain from processed foods, sweets, fast food, carbonated and fermented beverages.
o Sundays, the Lord’s Day, will be feast days (no fasting) to celebrate You, Risen Jesus!
o Refraining from broadcast media & movies, relentless in thanksgiving and praise.
o Use Christian CD/DVD’s for prayer/praise.
o Experiment with non-electronic means of play and recreation in You, Lord.
o Resting from lust of the flesh(comforting self with worldly pleasure), lust of the eyes(covetessnous, comparison, envy), pride of life(sitting on the throne of our own life, manipulation, doubt, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, grudges). Relentless in letting You comfort us, focusing on You alone, resting on Your merciful throne in our hearts.
o Taking every thought captive to Jesus before speaking or acting on it. Learn to stay before Him in all your thinking, speaking, and actions.
· Walking with You, Lord, in prayer and meditation on scripture…
o 1 hr/day in 20/20/20--silent resting prayer, scripture meditation, & intercession.(We will provide our detailed guides on request.)
o 30 min/day using the Seek God for the City prayer guide.(Contact servethecity.org)
o 1 hr/wk gathered in one accord with committed believers(Our home will be open 730-830pm Tuesday nights from Feb.21-April 3, or gather with your own friends at your home or church at other times.)
· Walking with You, Lord, in outreach…
o 90 min/wk in real New Testament fellowship(Acts 2:41-47).(Our home will be open from 7-830pm for our Isaiah 58 Outreach Group for sold out believers who are hungry to live for, Jesus, not themselves. The Lord may be calling you and your friends to open your homes to your gatherings. What have you got to lose? )
o 1 hr/wk in a Men’s or Women’s group for prayer support/accountability.(Our home will be open from 6-7pm for our new Wellsprings Groups starting March 4. Groups only open to those who attend Isaiah 58)
o 30 min/day prayer walking in our neighborhoods. (We are happy to give you suggestions as to how.)
o Refrain from speaking ill of anyone one and relentless in speaking to build them up. Refrain from all rumors, gossip, lies, and accusations as in Isaiah 58.
o Refrain from pressing down on people, relentless in lifting burdens off them.
o Seeking Him for spontaneous divine appointments to love, witness, and pray for people.
o Seeking Him for intentionally planned helping the poor, hungry, and troubled according to Isaiah 58. (Who do you know that is worse off than you? Ask them how you can help them. Do it. If it’s too big for you, ask others to help you. Also, explore volunteering with local ministries to the poor, hungry, and troubled. You might contact our wonderful friends at Serve the City.org!)
Come rest, come press--relentlessly as His constant companions!
Blessings,
Dick Speight
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