Pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FAITH:
FOR THOSE OF US THAT ATTEND AT SONOMA AVENUE, DON'T FORGET THE PRAYER MEETING TONIGHT, FRIDAY. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!!! And for the others that are reading this, please keep our church in your prayers are we head into 2009 and as we re-new our vision for our congregation.

When God says to pray, He really means it. To pray is the most commonly mentioned command in Scripture. It is mentioned more than "love your neighbor," more than "go to church," and more than "evangelize." More than anything else, God calls us to pray.

We should be people of great prayer. We should be prayer warriors. We should be people who use the ministry prayer to its fullest capacity. The highest and greatest calling of Christians is the ministry or prayer.

I would like to encourage you, admonish you to make a decision to pray more and to set up some specific plans to support that decision. Will you determine in your hearts to pray more? Will you start a prayer group in your home? Pray continually---live in the spirit of prayer. by Max Lucado

Matthew 6:5-15
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. to �Verily they have their reward; to � if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men, it is just that it should be all our reward. Yet there is not a secret, sudden breathing after God, but he observes it. It is called a reward, but it is of grace, not of debt; what merit can there be in begging? If he does not give his people what they ask, it is because he knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. Let us well study what is shown of the frame of mind in which our prayers should be offered, and learn daily from Christ how to pray. (Mt 6:9-15)

FRIENDS:
Father, when you were on earth, you prayer. You prayed in the morning, you prayed at night, you prayed alone, you prayed with people. In your hours of distress, you retreated into times of prayer. In your hours of joy, you lifted your heart and hands to the Father in prayer. Help us to be more like you in this way. . . help us to make prayer a priority in our daily lives. In Jesus' name, Amen

BIBLE CHALLENGE
January 17
Mathew 7:1-14; Acts 10:1-23; Psalms 17; Genesis 37-38
January 18
Matthew 7:15-29; Acts 10:24-48; Psalms 18; Genesis 39-40
January 19
Matthew 8:1-13; Acts 11:1-18; Psalms 19; Genesis 41

Some questions to consider
1. What statements in these Scriptures command us to study God's Word?
Matthew 11:29
Ephesians 5:17
2 Timothy 2:15

2. According to Hebrews 5:11-14, do people become dull of hearing because:
a) They tire of using what they learn?
b) They don't use what they learn?

3. What price did Jesus pay for the church?
Acts 20:28
John 10:11, 15, 17

4. Out of what is the church called?
John 15:19

5. Should we be concerned about what men say or should we go by what the Bible says about the church (or any other subject?)
Acts 5:29


FOOD:
How much is that???
a pinch = 1/8 teaspoon or less
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
1/3 cup = 5 1/3 tablespoons
1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons
2/3 cup = 10 2/3 tablespoons
1 cup = 16 tablespoons
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 4 cups
1 quart = 2 pints
1 gallon = 4 quarts

1/2 stick butter = 1/4 cup or 4 tablespoons
1 stick butter = 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons
1 pound butter = 4 sticks or 2 cups
8 ounces cream cheese = 1 cup
8 ounces cottage cheese = 1 cup
4 ounces Parmesan = 1 1/4 cups grated
12 ounces chocolate chips = 2 cups
1 cup cookie crumbs = 19 chocolate wafers, 22 vanilla Wafers, or 14 graham cracker squares
1 cup dried beans = 2 1/4 cups cooked
2 cups sugar = 1 pound granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups packed brown sugar = 1 pound
1 cup packed brown sugar = 1 cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons molasses
4 1/2 cups confectioners = 1 pound
4 cups shredded cabbage = 1 small cabbage
1 cup grated raw carrots = 1 large carrot
2 1/2 cups sliced carrots = 1 pound raw carrots
4 cups uncooked fresh green beans = 1 pound green beans
1 cup chopped onion = 1 large onion
4 cups sliced raw potatoes = 4 medium sized potatoes
1 cup diced canned tomatoes = 14 1/2 ounce can, drained
1 cup mashed banana = 3 medium sized bananas
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind = 1 medium lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice = 1 medium lemon
4 teaspoons grated orange rind = 1 medium orange
1 cup orange juice = 3 medium sized oranges
4 cups peach slices = 8 medium peaches
2 cups sliced strawberries = 1 pint
2 cups shredded cheese = 8 ounces cheese

FUN:
CAREFUL what you say to Junior.
A father and his 6-year-old son walk into a bank. When they get in line the son notices the very large woman in front of them. The son tugs at the dad’s jacket and says, "Daddy, look! That lady is huge!" the father replies "yes son she's as big as a truck". About a minute later the large woman’s beeper goes off and the kid pushes his father out of the way and yells, "Look out dad!!! It’s backing up!"