One of the areas of my blogging I sensed was missing was the area of Scripture Study/Application.  So, I have added a category entitled, “Faith Foundations.” I’d like to make this a Monday staple as much as possible (or at least as much as I can remember to do it on Monday!).

Upon arrival to Starbucks this morning I felt the overwhelming need to be prayed for.  Last week I sent out my Prayer email to my Youthmark Prayer Team (if you’d like to be on that list, please email me–brian@youthmark.com). Even with that letter out there, I sensed the need to start this week by soliciting prayer.  Don’t know why, but He does.  So will you?  I will conclude this post with the specific requests.

The Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

My foundational thought for this morning has to do with the “prayer” part of this passage.  As the church was being formed and before the Apostles dispersed they were held (by the Holy Spirit) in Jerusalem.  They practiced (lived out) their faith in their backyard by being committed to several main areas: community, communion, teaching (The Word), and prayer.

As I recruit pastors (and in turn students) to our 2009 mission training and mission trips, will you be committed to the same things in our Jerusalem?  Before we are sent, we are seasoned.  The seasoning doesn’t not always mean you’ll be sent (in other words, some are called to ALWAYS remain in Jerusalem, but we are all called to make disciples no matter where we are).  In this time of seasoning (for the sake of our own Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria or Uttermost), will you pray for the work of the Holy Spirit?  Specifically pray for the Spirit’s work in the lives of these teens who will be a witness on their own campus, at their own homes, in their own clubs, at their jobs or on their athletic fields.  As they are seasoned, and as the become more and more reliant upon the Him, may we see “The Lord add to their number daily those who are being saved!”  Prayer is such a hard thing to understand, but I do know it works.  It is called for, so we’ll do it.  Please pray for His work and will to be done!

Specific Prayers for This Week:

1. I have scheduled meetings with at least nine different churches, I’d like a few more for this week.
2. Pray for my family and our reliance upon God for all things.
3. For a Thursday breakfast Youthmark is hosting in the Kent/Renton area… to share about Youthmark Mission Ventures and to promote healthy networking in the area.