An Invitation
This morning, I was driving west down 37th Street toward Kansas Ave. I saw people on the side of the road at the Capital City Church of God with signs stating to stop and they would pray for you. By the time I processed the signs, I was beyond the church. I believe the Holy Spirit told me to turn around and stop to pray. I turned around in the former Josten’s drive and pulled into their parking lot.
Lawrence came out to greet me from the lawn chair where he was sitting and waiting. Later, I looked at their website and found out that he was the pastor of the church. He introduced himself to me and asked my name. He asked a question of why I was driving by and I told him I had come from our church. He guessed (because of the day of the week and time, I suspect) I was coming from choir practice and wanted me to sing something after we had prayed. I laughed and said I wasn’t driving home from choir practice and he didn’t want to hear me sing. He laughed with me.
He then asked what he could pray with me for and I told him what was on my heart (I believe what the Holy Spirit was prompting me to ask for). He prayed, then wrote down my first name in a pocket notebook. Finally, he mentioned they were going to be doing this again in a week and encouraged me to tell others to stop with specific things to pray for.
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-21 ESV
As I drove home, I realized I wanted to steal from them and offer to do something similar. If you know who I am and you’d like me to pray for you and with you, come find me; the invitation is open. If you don’t know who I am, see Patrick or one of the Elders; not only will they help you get in touch with me, but I’m sure they will be happy to pray for you and with you as well.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:12-17
You should know that I’m not a polished prayer. Many, many people pray more eloquently than I can. But, also know that my offer is genuine and whatever we talk about will be confidential and from my heart.
The church of Jesus Christ is made up of all believers. You are all my brothers and sisters in Christ.
