health.
SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS
NOVEMBER 21, 2010
Y Pray for Amy Moore’s son and
daughter-in-law in Japan as
they await the birth of their
son in early January.
Y Pray for Mary Ann’s son
Michael.
Y Pray for Kristina, Angelica’s
sister, to remain strong during
a stressful time with her
teenage son and his father
trying to sue her.
Y Pray for Chandu Y’s father
who is suffering with a heart
condition.
Y Pray for more blessings to
come. Good health. More
strength in every trials to
come.
Y Continue to pray for Bill Fink
as he looks for a job.
Y Continue to pray for Stephen
Muhia as he struggles with
finances.
Y Continue to pray for Kevin and
Nancy for their health and
recovery.
Y Continue to pray for Bill Fink’s
dad who is struggling with his
Y Pray for continued courage on
Dwight Zvorak’s recovery
from alcoholism
DEVOTION
This devotion is meant to equip us to
invite friends and family to “Be My
Guest Sunday” on Sunday,
December 5. This promises to be a
very special day of worship at Chain
of Lakes. We are celebrating the
one-year birthday of the start of
worship at Chain of Lakes; we are
celebrating the baptism of Manka &
Bih Tse; we will enjoy special music
shared by Kellie Burriss, and Pastor
Paul is beginning a sermon series
about Getting Off the Treadmill in
preparation for Christmas. We are
planning on having a Treadmill at
worship!
During worship this past Sunday,
Pastor Paul asked everyone to pray
the following prayer every day until
Sunday, December 5. “Lord, open
my eyes to the people you want me
to invite to ‘Be My Guest Sunday’.”
Give me the courage to extend an
invitation. Help me know that when
I invite someone, you are helping
me. Let me open to situations
during the day where I could invite
someone.”
2 3
Please pray this prayer every day
after you do the Devotion.
Some folks asked that an extra day
be added to this Devotion. Because
of your comments an extra day will
be added. Other comments and
thoughts about the devotion can be
E-mailed to Pastor Paul at:
pastor@colpres.org.
Monday, November 29
Read John 1:43-51
Inviting people is thought of as
Evangelism and sometimes we make
Evangelism into something that is
much bigger than it is. Look at Philip
in this story. Jesus found Philip and
said, “follow me.” Then Philip found
Nathaniel and told Nathaniel that
someone very special had come into
the world—Jesus. Then Philip invited
Nathaniel to check Jesus out by
saying, “Come and see,” John 1:46.
This basic progression can guide us
as we invite people to “Be My Guest
Sunday.” This past Sunday Pastor
Paul encouraged us to identify three
characteristics of Chain of Lakes that
we enjoy. When we invite someone
to worship, we’ll share these
characteristics with the person.
Once you know them, think about
how you could communicate these
ideas with someone else. In sharing
your thoughts you aren’t imposing
on another person; you’re only
sharing why this is important to you.
So once again—what are two simple
reasons you have decided to attend
this dinner? The final comment by
Philip to Nathaniel is the best
invitation—“come and see!” Come
check it out. If we can’t think of
anything else to say to someone
when you are extending an
invitation, say “come and check out
‘Be My Guest Sunday’”
Pray the prayer in the opening of
this devotion
Tuesday, November 30
Read Psalm 23
Today is a day to make a list of
people who might be interested in
“Be My Guest Sunday.” Take ten
minutes and think about the
following people—the ten houses
closest to us, our banker, our
barber/stylist, our boss, the teach of
our kids or grandkids, the coaches of
our kids or grandkids, people in our
social groups, our dentist, our eye
doctor, our doctor, a co-worker.
After you’ve gone through this list I
would be surprised if you don’t have
at least five people who don’t attend
a church. Consider sending these
five people a card, or an E-mail
invitation about “Be My Guest
Sunday.” If you need more
information call the church office.
Pray the prayer in the opening of
this devotion
Wednesday, December 1
Read John 4:1-30
Just the fact that Jesus would speak
to a woman was astonishing for
women in Jesus’ day were viewed as
second class citizens. In this story
we can see that the disciples were
4
wondering why Jesus was speak to
this woman—especially a woman
who had been divorced many times.
You probably know someone like this
—a person that normally wouldn’t
come to a church but someone who
needs God, who is searching and
seeking. In addition to the prayer in
the opening of this devotion,
specifically pray God would put in
your mind the name of someone
who wouldn’t be viewed as a good
church person, but the name of
someone who God loves very much.
Would you consider bringing this
person to “Be My Guest Sunday?”
Thursday, December 2
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Read verse 3 again. This is probably
how some of us feel when we invite
someone to “Be My Guest Sunday.”
We feel weak and in fear and in
trembling. Remember, though that
God is with us. God wants us to
share an invitation with people—in
fact God will encourage us and help
us. So if we are nervous about
talking to people about “Be My
Guest Sunday” think about letting
God work through us. God is on our
side, but if we don’t extend an
invitation we are partially preventing
God from working through us. If you
haven’t invited someone yet, tonight
is the night to make the call.
Pray the prayer that is in the
opening of this devotion
Friday, December 3
Read Judges 6:11-24
2 3 4
This is story about Gideon is not well
known among people, but Gideon’s
response to the angel describes how
many people view God. Read verse
13. Gideon put God on the spot; he
had stopped believing that God was
interested in him and the Israelites.
Many people have this same attitude
about God. They believe that God
has given up on them. By extending
an invitation to “Be My Guest
Sunday” you have the opportunity to
share a different perspective on God
—that God really does love the
person.

Pray the prayer that is in the

opening of this devotion

Saturday, December 4
Read Luke 10:25-28
No matter what happens at Be My
Guest Sunday, please know that God
loves you deeply. Hopefully this
devotion has given you an
opportunity to explore some
Scriptures that teach about God and
the sharing of God’s love for others.
Today pray for a wonderful day in
worship tomorrow at Chain of Lakes
and pray the prayer that is in the
opening of this devotion.