Crafted Prayer
The following is a crafted prayer given to us by Graham Cooke's intercessory team, prior to the Unveiling the Kingdom Conference a couple weeks ago. Be blessed as you read it!
"Papa, we rejoice that your royal scepter is held out to Vinelife and Colorado.
Ignite brilliant mindsets and release strategies for heaven's mandate on earth.
Burst forth flaming upgrades of your possibilities.
Fling open the windows of heaven to pour double portions of generational blessing and inheritances.
Break open frozen promises with a revelation of your faithfulness.
Prime deep wells with your goodness;call up hidden springs.
We recognize Vinelife as a co-heir in Colorado's inheritance.
We declare a new confidence, crowned by freedom to dance on the enemy's head."
"Papa, we rejoice that your royal scepter is held out to Vinelife and Colorado.
Ignite brilliant mindsets and release strategies for heaven's mandate on earth.
Burst forth flaming upgrades of your possibilities.
Fling open the windows of heaven to pour double portions of generational blessing and inheritances.
Break open frozen promises with a revelation of your faithfulness.
Prime deep wells with your goodness;call up hidden springs.
We recognize Vinelife as a co-heir in Colorado's inheritance.
We declare a new confidence, crowned by freedom to dance on the enemy's head."
The Other Side of the Coin
Post by Bob Young
In Malachi 3:10, God speaking through the prophet, paints a picture of a major principal of His Kingdom - The Rule of Generosity. In fact, He even goes further and challenges us to "test Him' in accessing this promise. He says, "It's OK."
Recently I was reading this scripture and the picture of a coin popped into my head. On one side, instead of the image of famous American personality, I saw the word "generosity". On the other face were the words "multiplied blessings".
I quickly realized that with this “coin” like any other, you cannot pick up one side without picking up the other as well.
Everyone knows a coin with a blank face on one side would be a counterfeit - worthless. A blind person, in touching that coin would feel the smooth face and be able to "see" its worthlessness.
The "coin" our Father is describing is complete and inseparable.
We cannot receive blessing without being generous - and we cannot be generous without receiving a blessings. It's a Promise!
As the televisions commercials say, "Wait, there's more!" Multiplied generosity.
The Father promises our move of generosity will result in a multiplied response - a blessing far beyond the boundaries of our need.
Besides - who can out-give God?
Letter to the Vinelife Family
Post by Walt Roberson
Dear Vinelilfe,
Acts 2:17 (NASB)
'And it shall be in the last days,' God says,
'That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all MANKIND;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
I’m about to turn 63 so I guess that places me solidly in the “old men” category! As confirmation, I recently had a dream about Vinelife and what the Lord is doing in our midst.
• We know we’re in an unstoppable move of His Spirit.
• We know we’re increasingly becoming an Equipping Church in the Kingdom.
• We know we’re in transition individually and corporately to embrace our identity and move in a Culture of Honor as we grow in intimacy with God, live in community and expand the Kingdom.
• We know many of us are seeking the Lord regarding finding our place in ministries that we want to start, strengthen or renew.
• We know there is a growing desire for genuine community in our midst.
So here’s the dream:
I was riding with the Heavenly Father in the Engine Car that was pulling a long string of pod cars filled with people from the Vinelife family. We were pulling up to a parking lot and the pod cars were lining up with the parking spaces beautifully. I was amazed how wonderfully they were lining up (thinking only God could do this) when I noticed that the pod car at the very end did not completely line up. In the dream I turned to the Father (our driver) and told Him that it wasn’t all lined up yet. (I guess we try to do this kind of thing even in our dreams!) He was not concerned or anxious about it. He didn’t even respond to me about it. So I got out and walked back to the end of the pod-car train. As I reached the back I noticed that some people couldn’t move from their parking space because they were blocked by the train; and they were angry and yelling at me! (Yes, that kind of thing happens even in my dreams!) I did my best to assure them that everything would be OK. “The Father is driving; just be patient.” I then went back to climb into the Engine Car with the Father and wait for Him to drive forward and line everything up. End of Dream.
I’m still waiting… How about you? I honestly don’t like to wait for Him to line everything up in my life, family and the church. I’m impatient in the waiting but learning through His dealings to rest and wait on Him. It takes maturity to wait. Adolescents can’t wait for life to “line up”. They’re impatient to finish school, get married, get on with their calling/vocation, etc. But there’s real value in waiting.
• Waiting on God releases POWER
Acts 1:4, 8 (NASB)
“And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; …
but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
• Waiting on God gives us NEW STRENGTH.
Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
As I reflect on why the Father would give me this dream I realize the dream is a confirmation of scripture the Lord gave me upon becoming the Senior Pastor at Vinelife.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB)
“…And the government will rest on His shoulders;…
[7] There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,…
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”
From Is. 9:6-7 and this dream I conclude the following for Vinelife:
• The government really IS on His shoulders!
• It may not always feel like it but the Father IS in charge/driving at Vinelife!
• We need to continue like the disciples in the upper room to wait and pray for the fulfillment of His promises to us. (See Vinelife 2011 Prayer Guide)
• We need to be patient in the waiting for Him to do all in His time. Don’t be angry (frustrated) if you’re one who’s being affected by the waiting. Be patient. (If you need help with this just ask Joyce to sing her “Be patient” song. She’s sung it to the kids and me for years! At least it seems to work on the kids)
• It is a process. He IS at work in us and He WILL complete it but we must wait on His timing for everything!
Grace to you!
Dear Vinelilfe,
Acts 2:17 (NASB)
'And it shall be in the last days,' God says,
'That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all MANKIND;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
I’m about to turn 63 so I guess that places me solidly in the “old men” category! As confirmation, I recently had a dream about Vinelife and what the Lord is doing in our midst.
• We know we’re in an unstoppable move of His Spirit.
• We know we’re increasingly becoming an Equipping Church in the Kingdom.
• We know we’re in transition individually and corporately to embrace our identity and move in a Culture of Honor as we grow in intimacy with God, live in community and expand the Kingdom.
• We know many of us are seeking the Lord regarding finding our place in ministries that we want to start, strengthen or renew.
• We know there is a growing desire for genuine community in our midst.
So here’s the dream:
I was riding with the Heavenly Father in the Engine Car that was pulling a long string of pod cars filled with people from the Vinelife family. We were pulling up to a parking lot and the pod cars were lining up with the parking spaces beautifully. I was amazed how wonderfully they were lining up (thinking only God could do this) when I noticed that the pod car at the very end did not completely line up. In the dream I turned to the Father (our driver) and told Him that it wasn’t all lined up yet. (I guess we try to do this kind of thing even in our dreams!) He was not concerned or anxious about it. He didn’t even respond to me about it. So I got out and walked back to the end of the pod-car train. As I reached the back I noticed that some people couldn’t move from their parking space because they were blocked by the train; and they were angry and yelling at me! (Yes, that kind of thing happens even in my dreams!) I did my best to assure them that everything would be OK. “The Father is driving; just be patient.” I then went back to climb into the Engine Car with the Father and wait for Him to drive forward and line everything up. End of Dream.
I’m still waiting… How about you? I honestly don’t like to wait for Him to line everything up in my life, family and the church. I’m impatient in the waiting but learning through His dealings to rest and wait on Him. It takes maturity to wait. Adolescents can’t wait for life to “line up”. They’re impatient to finish school, get married, get on with their calling/vocation, etc. But there’s real value in waiting.
• Waiting on God releases POWER
Acts 1:4, 8 (NASB)
“And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; …
but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
• Waiting on God gives us NEW STRENGTH.
Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
As I reflect on why the Father would give me this dream I realize the dream is a confirmation of scripture the Lord gave me upon becoming the Senior Pastor at Vinelife.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB)
“…And the government will rest on His shoulders;…
[7] There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,…
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”
From Is. 9:6-7 and this dream I conclude the following for Vinelife:
• The government really IS on His shoulders!
• It may not always feel like it but the Father IS in charge/driving at Vinelife!
• We need to continue like the disciples in the upper room to wait and pray for the fulfillment of His promises to us. (See Vinelife 2011 Prayer Guide)
• We need to be patient in the waiting for Him to do all in His time. Don’t be angry (frustrated) if you’re one who’s being affected by the waiting. Be patient. (If you need help with this just ask Joyce to sing her “Be patient” song. She’s sung it to the kids and me for years! At least it seems to work on the kids)
• It is a process. He IS at work in us and He WILL complete it but we must wait on His timing for everything!
Grace to you!
Devotions for Advent :: The Last One!!
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Tomorrow we celebrate the One who came to this earth to show us the Father. He didn’t come empty. He came full! Full of grace and truth! Where do you feel empty today? What is lacking? What part of you needs His grace and truth to come fill you up?
Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus to show me what you’re like. You are full of compassion and mercy, grace and truth. I ask you to come into my life this very moment. I not only want You to live in me but with me. I need you and want you to be my Savior and King, Father and Friend. I open up my heart to you right now and welcome you in. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Amen.
Devotions for Advent :: December 23
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace…”
Grace is God meeting us at our point of need in the Person of Jesus with all His power and provision. We have One living with us who gives us divine capability in all things. It’s His ability and not ours. That should give us REST! Relax, you have One living with you who can handle whatever comes your way. Receive a fresh infusion of strength today!
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