This will be the third year in a row that I have practicing something that we have come to call: NAMING YOUR YEAR. It is simply identifying a theme for what you want to focus upon during the next twelve months. The theme/name gives reminds me throughout the year as to what I need concentrate my efforts upon and also want I need to keep believing God to accomplish.
One of the prayer stations that was available during our week of prayer at APC was focused on this and provided some thought provoking questions to help narrow things down.
- What are you believing God for in 2010? I made a list of fifteen prayer points that I am going to pray about daily.
- What Biblical promises are you standing upon this year? I listed two (Joshua 3:5 and Acts 13:2)
- What personal changes are you asking God to help you make?
- Decide what word or phrase describes the emphasis of God's work in your life in this upcoming year.
I have decided to name 2010: The year of STRATEGIC PREPARATION.
There are some major opportunities and challenges on the horizon for those that I lead. I believe that this fall will be a time of tremendous growth and expansion in so many ways.
Two of my kids will leave home to go to college this fall.
We hope to begin some launch services for a new church in the city of Philadelphia this fall.
By the fall, we hope to have completely launched new churches in the South Side and in Braddock (through PCO).
I am believing that APC is going to aggressively grow throughout this year, but especially during the fall. Some of this is going to happen as each of our Ministry Teams (Women, Men, Couples, Youth, etc) continues to enlarge.
So many of the churches we planted (in MCM Pittsburgh) are moving into new and larger facilities, or launching into 2 services. So there will be a lot of growth there as well.
So the early moments of this new year for me are moments of STRATEGIC PREPARATION. I want to get myself ready spiritually. I want to speak into the lives of my kids as they get ready to launch out. I want to get leaders positioned in the right place, trained, encouraged, and coached so that they can soar into the future.
What about you? What is your spiritual theme for 2010?
