21 days of focused prayers...

I have committed to pray 21 days for a few specific things that involve the ministry I am apart of here in the Pacific Northwest. I am taking 21 days to really spend some time focusing on praying and seeking God for direction and answers. Below are a few things that I am praying for.

1) Closer Intimate Relationship w/ God - Our relationship with God is a journey. So we are constantly being worked on, changed, and seeing growth through our relationship with Christ. That is my prayer. That God take me to a deeper level, so that the overflowing of that will pour into our church and community.

2) Rental Home - I am specifically praying that God will give me clarity on renting a 3 or 4 bedroom home. I can't afford it, which makes things interesting, but I can't get it out of my head. The rental home has a multitude of reasons behind it.

1. 1st- Know that I am perfectly content with my little apartment. So to clear any misconceptions that Cham wants bigger. I don't apart from this vision.
2. I want to have a place that can provide authentic community (small groups, gatherings, cookout outreaches, and more) - can't really do that in a 900 sq. ft. apt.
3. I want to have a place that houses & connects people and mission groups to the Pacific Northwest. If people experience what God is up to here, then that cast major vision. It also cheapens room and board cost. I want to be a blessing & people not bear burdens.
4. I want to have a place that can be a refuge. A place wear people can heal or recover. If a pastor is down on his luck and needs a get-a-way place or a place to live to be restored, then I want to provide that. I want to reach out. Even if it means housing the whole family, I will not turn anyone down.
5. Place for the student ministry to hang and grow.
6. A place where I can invite the neighborhood over and build new relationships.

So that is a few reason why I am praying for direction on this God-potential resource. I don't have the money to sustain a rental home, so it will definitely be a God thing.

3) Student Ministry - I am praying for an uprising. I have now been here a year and have seen everything that involves my students. I am now praying for specific vision and direction. I am praying for salvations, growth, and a young generation to rise up starting with the ones in this student ministry. My heart is for them to impact the community with their relationship with Christ.

4) The Commons - Praying that God will continue blessing us. We have grown so much in so many areas in 2009. We are at a defining moment right now, and praying for guidance, resources, and ultimately God's vision and provision.

5) Praying for an awakening in our area.

6) Praying for the awareness, response, and needs in the Pacific Northwest specifically the spiritual needs. This is a very unchurch area. I will be honest. It is tough for someone to understand that coming from another area of the US. It was tough for me until I moved here. I am praying that God will place what He is up to in the Pacific Northwest on the hearts of those outside of this area.

These are just a few things that I am investing some serious prayer in. I encourage you to pray for these as well. If you know me, then you know that I want what God wants and not what Cham wants. That is why I place these items on a blog for you to partner-prayer with me. I am taking these prayer items seriously.

I love you all. Thank you for everything...prayer, encouragement, e-mails, financial support. It is hard to think, but today a year ago I stepped out of a Penski truck and call this place "home".

-Cham