A Vehicle for Faith-filled Prayers
By Krysten Case

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

While at church one day, I started thinking of a friend of mine that I work with. I decided to pray every day for her and her family’s salvation. The very next morning, she told me of some serious problems her family was having, and I thought for sure this was a sign that my prayers were timely and needed. Just a few weeks later, we had a conversation in which she led by asking me questions about my church, how I became a Christian, what made me decide to do so, etc…

Needless to say, I was thrilled to discuss these things with her. Because our time to chat at work was limited, we scheduled a time the following week to have dinner and discuss these things further. I felt sure my prayers were working!

That night I came home and shared the news with my husband. Beaming with excitement, I said “I have been praying for her salvation, but I never really expected that she would just start asking me about God!” My wonderful and very direct husband replied: “So…you were basically praying all of that stuff without any faith?”

WHOA! While I was slightly offended for the moment by the way it came out, the weight of what he said really hit me hard. I had been praying without faith, but still expecting God to honor my requests somehow. I then began to wonder… had I really been praying at all?

Bringing our requests before God, on behalf of ourselves or others, is just one of the many reasons we pray. But if we lift a request before Him without what Scripture says is faith (a.k.a. being sure of what we are hoping for and being certain that God can do what we cannot see) are we praying or are we just talking to ourselves, saying words that seem “Christian?” I think envisioning is the key here. When we ask God to help us envision what we cannot see and to make us sure of what we are hoping for when we request something of Him, that will be our vehicle for powerful, faith-filled prayers.

This week, seek the Lord’s vision for your prayers. Then pray faithfully and wait for His response.

Krysten Case and her family have been part of our fellowship since 2002. Krysten serves on the Vineyard Women’s Ministry and teaches Vineyard Kids. She and her husband, Todd lead the Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and the Mt. Sterling Home Group, which meets on the first and third Monday of each month.

Fear of Flying (and probably walking on water)
Pastor Tom Pauquette

“Lord, if that’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“It’s really me,” Jesus replied, “come to me on the water.”
(Matthew 14.28, 29)

Flying for me is always an act of faith. I can be a really anxious passenger. In my mind, there’s just something about flying that shouldn’t work. I mean it still doesn’t make sense that so many tons of steel and plastic and flesh can be moved through the air at 500 mph with such precision that the pilots put skid marks on the runways at exactly the same place every time. I’m not at all saying that it doesn’t work; I’m just saying that there’s something about it that shouldn’t work.

That’s where faith comes in for me. Faith is completely trusting in something I do not thoroughly understand. Peter and the 11 were in a small boat in a big storm and doing everything they could do just to survive. Jesus came walking on the water next to them and eventually said to Peter, “Come to me on the water” (Jesus always talks in red). Peter had a faith decision to make. Everything inside of him must have been telling him that walking on the water shouldn’t work. But he made a decision to put his faith in the very words of Jesus rather than on what his mind was telling him should or should not be. And then he did it… he actually walked on water. Not perfectly, but he’s still the only guy I’ve ever heard of who did at all.

So maybe you’re reading this in the morning and your whole day is ahead of you. You will have opportunities to make faith decisions about some things you don’t fully understand. You actually do it every day… all the time (like answering your cell phone when it rings). So what if we asked Jesus to take the faith we use to get on planes and answer phones and drive through green lights in faith believing that the people on the cross street will stop – and what if we asked Him to do something incredible and eternal through us today? We already have the faith – we just need to learn to release it in eternal ways.

Tom Pauquette is the Senior Pastor at the Vineyard. He and his wife, Karen lead the Jade Court Home Group. To hear the story of how Pastor Tom and Karen started the Grove City Vineyard, sign up for the next Vineyard 101 class coming in May. You will learn the history of the Vineyard and ways to get more involved in the church.

Dried Bones
By Tom Haines

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

My favorite version of this verse comes from The Message: “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.”

Bad things happen in life. Sorrow comes when we lose a loved one, face financial trouble, or are challenged or disappointed by a child.

We often can’t control situations; and we can’t make wiser choices for others.

But we can decide what will break out spirits.

Do you really want to feel bad? Just meditate on all those “woe is me” thoughts. Soon you’ll not only feel depressed, but your body will catch up to your thinking, and you’ll have aches and pains to spare.

I’ve lived that “woe is me” life. There were times when I couldn’t see beyond one painful hour. In 2002, I made some choices that took me as far from the Lord as I could possibly get. My marriage seemed like it was over; I was facing not seeing my children again and to be honest, I had a really bad attitude. However, there was one person with the faith of a mustard seed – faith that God would set me back on the right path and restore my family: my wife. I stretched her faith to the limits, but she never gave up on me.

Perhaps today you are facing a struggle you have never faced before; perhaps your faith is being tested and you can’t see beyond a painful hour. Remember, that you are surrounded by those in our church who will exercise their faith, pray with you, and walk alongside you.

Tom Haines and his wife, Jennie, lead the Keller Farms Home Group, meeting on the first and third Thursday of each month. Tom and his family have been members of the church since 2007 and are out doing a street ministry every Tuesday night called “Bridge Builders” (see the church bulletin for details). Tom also serves as a member of the Leadership Council at the Vineyard.

Living Sacrifice
By Todd Case

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

The King James translation offers verse 1 in this way: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. The NIV states, “this is your spiritual act of worship.” Are these two renderings really talking about the same thing? One seems to be talking about doing something basic; the other seems to be worshipping God in some way through a spiritual act. The truth is, they are the same thing. What we do is how we worship God. Every one of our actions is a representation of how we offer our whole selves to Him in our lives. So how do we know if we are doing the right things?

Start with what Paul says in verse 2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Wow, what a powerful way of saying: you’ve got it all wrong! This is not the life God wants for you. God has given us a measure of faith. With this measure of faith, we should check out of the world’s view of right and wrong and focus on his plan for us. How do we accomplish this in a world so full of distractions and interference?

We need to shift our focus, let ourselves be transformed by allowing our minds to be renewed. For me personally, I know I cannot zone out in front of the TV six nights a week and expect God to tell me any thing other than “renew your mind.” I can become desensitized to what God has for me by allowing all kinds of messages into my mind that are clearly not from Him. Then I wonder why I can’t hear Him very well! Think of what might be keeping you from allowing God to transform your mind, and then just tell Him: “God, You mean more to me than this. I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice to You, even if it means living without this for a while. Transform me through the renewing of my mind.” This simple act of saying “GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ________” is a step in the right direction! I believe this our reasonable service as well as a defining moment in our spiritual act of worship. Stand by for a revealing look into our God’s power in your life.

If you are so inclined, join me on a media fast, for seven days after receiving this devotion. This means turning off the television, internet, pod-casts, or any other source of media interaction in your life and focus on your relationship with your God.

Todd Case is an Elder in Training at the Vineyard. He and his family have been a part of our fellowship since 2004. Among other ministries, Todd and his wife, Krysten, lead the Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and the Mount Sterling Home Group at the church.

Faith’s Test
By Pastor Bob

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep [died].” (Acts 7:59-60)

Faith is trusting. Trusting is faith. Faith is believing. Believing is faith. To have faith is to fully rest on the promises God has given us in Christ. In this world, faith is always put to the test. Every day it will be put to the test. Every day you will have an opportunity to trust God or to turn from Him.

Say you are going for a job interview. You want this job. You need this job. You know that God wants honesty, but if you just exaggerate your experience a little… here is faith’s test. Will you trust God that He knows what is best or will you follow your own path? The essence of sin is doubting God. You will face a hundred tests like this every day. Some small, some larger. What will you do? Will you trust God?

Stephen was a man of great faith. He held on to the name of Christ even though it cost him his life. He was the first of many, right down to this very day, who demonstrated that they would rather die than deny Christ. How will you fare in faith’s test today?

Read Hebrews 11:1 – 6

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

How can you please God?

Everyone wants to please those that they love. If you are married, you want to make your spouse happy. Parents love doing things for their children. And there’s a special delight in giving an unexpected present to a friend.

But how do we please God? What can we possibly give Him? He already has everything He needs! What can we do for Him that He can’t do for Himself? Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to please human beings – how much harder to please God!

But the Scripture tells us how to please God. It is by faith – by trusting Him and believing in Him as He has revealed Himself to us. God wants us to know Him and be known by Him. Faith alone allows us to do this. If we wish to please God more and more, we will cultivate, strengthen and grow in our faith.

Are you pleasing God?

Pastor Bob Stiles is the Associate Pastor at the Vineyard, handling all the hospital and personal care issues of the church along with leading worship during our Sunday services. He and his family have been a part of our fellowship since 2005. Bob and his wife, Leann, lead the Alkire Lakes Home Group meeting on the first and third Wednesday of each month.