Risk Takers

People who obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.

What if instead of praying, "Lord, we pray for safety as we travel. We ask that no one gets hurt on this trip. Please keep everyone safe until we return, and bring us back safely."

We prayed, "God, bring me closer to you during this trip, whatever it takes..."

Now I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority. We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our loves and in the world...

Francis Chan

Love instead of Hate

This series is taken from the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Each post in this series will be a "profile of the obsessed." I highly recommend reading and purchasing this book {here}

People who are obsessed with Jesus freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.


"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" lend to "sinners," expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Luke six: thirty-two - thirty-six

Prayers for Teacher Part 2

More verses of encouragement for teachers, counselors, and coaches.

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 1:2

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3

Command and teach these things.
1 Timothy 4:11

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
2 Timothy 2:2

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10

It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.
3 John 1:3

Prayers for Teacher Part 1

As a new school year starts this week, class let's lift up the many Catalyst girls who are going back to school as teachers, counselors, and coaches. Here are some verses of encouragement as they start the new year.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night.He is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:2-3

The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
Psalm 37:31

He will be like a tree planted by the waterthat sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of droughtand never fails to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:8

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 1:16

crazy love.

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land there is no water. I ahve seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."

psalm sixty three: one - five.

Daily Bread Day 2.

Daily Bread

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

Matthew six: twenty-five

God's grace is sufficient for every day. God wants us to trust Him daily with our needs. This trust does not make us poor planners or careless about our futures, unprepared to face what may come. Rather, it keeps our relationship with the Lord in its proper perspective as He reminds us daily of our dependence on Him. God is aware of what tomorrow brings & how we should prepare for it. He knows the problems we will face, and He has already made provision for us to overcome them. He asks us to trust in Him daily. Our faith in Him today cannot be substitute for our trust in Him tomorrow. If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow.

Henry & Richard Blackaby - "Experiencing God"

how lovely...

"How lovely is your dwellng place, O LORD of Hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. "

PBC Missioins

Here are some prayer requests for Prestonwood's Missions currently going on:

Sudan: During Aug. 4-15, 17 members from Prestonwood will travel to Southern Sudan for a church planting mission trip. The team will work alongside Pastor David Kaia, an e3 church planter and Sudanese National. Pray for hearts to be open to the gospel and the successful planting of a new church. Check for daily video updates on the Prestonwood missions website.


Sudan: Southern Sudan is experiencing a difficult drought this summer. This has left many without food and water in the area where our team will be ministering. Pray for rain in this region and for provision to meet the people's physical needs and that while our team is there, they will have opportunities to meet physical needs and share the gospel.

Sudan: Prestonwood joins with e3 Partners to help train pastors and missionaries through Bible School in Kajo Keji, Sudan. Pray for the Bible School students who will be sent out to surrounding villages and cities to share the Gospel and plant churches after their training. Pray that they would be established in right doctrine while in school and that they would be bold in their witness for Christ as they go out among the Sudanese.

Serve the City: Pray for all those who will be ministered to during this weekend. Pray for those who are searching for a job, for single mothers who are struggling, and for widows and widowers who need help. Pray that God would call out the people of our church to help meet these needs.


Romania: Pray for Troy Geddes, the IMB missionary with whom we serve in Romania. Many people came to know Christ during last month's trip; pray for Troy as he begins to disciple many of the new believers in Braila, Romania. Pray also for the health of Troy's family members as they invest their lives in the people of Braila.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
1st Corinthians fifteen: fifty-eight

Prayer Request

Please pray for Carol's mom & family today. Today her mom starts her first chemo treatment today. Pray specifically she is not allergic to the chemo, she can be comfortable, and as healthy as possible. Pray for her and her family's strength as they see there mom take in poison into her body. Pray for the Oncology nurses and doctors as they help the Lacey family. May people come to know Christ through this trial. May the others sitting around them in the treatment center see how their family reflects Christ's love and how they shine with his hope of healing and take comfort in his power.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me."
psalm twenty three: one-four

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