Journey Day 2

Today is day two of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - One Hour

Prayer Reflection - This time I spent the last five minutes just listening. I really felt God say "I am here" and that I need to keep pressing in. He has always been there I just need to reposition myself to sense and hear Him more.

Bible Time - Acts 2 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 2:1 AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,

Scripture Reflection - This probably ties in a little with yesterday's reflection. God didn't give them a time it would happen, He just gave them a command to wait. I wonder if it felt like an eternity. I wonder if they sat there day after day wondering what was going to happen.

What I do see though is that they were together in one place. I almost want to say that the place wasn't just about being in one location although it was for them. I think that you could say that they were united and in purpose they were all in the same place. Imagine if today's church could do that. I think it will only be possible when everyone coming actually gets in the same place. To many people in church don't know why they are there and many are there for their own religious duty.

What would happen if we all came to a place where we were waiting on God to just explode His presence in our church and over our city?????

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 85-88

Book Reflection - These four pages begin the chapter called Going Public.

Vision is not something you do alone. God usually raises up a point person to paint a compelling picture.

An effective vision includes: the problem, the solution, the reason something must be done, and the reason something must be done now.

When communicating your vision you must be able to state your problem that the vision addresses. Often this is not a problem that people don't already know. They may have just gotten accustomed to living in this problem. Visioncasting often wakes people up from their apathy. Presenting the problem provides the context for presenting the solution.

My Prayer - Lord, help me to see clearly the issues of our area. The areas we as the church have allowed to grow where people have become apathetic. Burn this deep within me to the point where I cannot stand it no more.

50 Day Spiritual Challenge

So I've decided to take this to myspace and beyond. I encourage you to take the challenge and pass it on. Check it out. Here is what I posted:

I encourage you to read and forward this on...so much junk gets forwarded here on myspace...why not start a spiritual revolution.

With Tomorrow being Easter and the Day of Pentecost scheduled on the calendar for May 11th, I have been sensing God challenging me to step it up and position myself spiritually for what he is about to do.

I am going on a 50 day fast/spiritual journey.

I really feel God has been challenging me to take my spiritual life up a notch.

This is going to be a 50 day push beginning today, March 22nd, and will end May 10th. One day before the calendar date for the Day of Pentecost.

Here is what I feel God challenging me to do.

I will be chronicling it on my blog at jasoncurlee.com to help hold myself accountable as well as journal through my thoughts during this time. I believe that will challenge me. You may want to use your own blog or myspace blog as well.

Here Are My Details:

• Pray one hour a day. 50 days = 50 hours
• Read through book of Acts twice during this time.
• I’m also going to read through Visioneering by Andy Stanley. No other books unless I get some on Multi-Sites as this is an area I’m going to focus on.
• Fast one day a week from eating. Only drinking water for a 24 hour period. 7 weeks=7 days
• Cut back to 50 blog subscriptions. And once a week on my fast day not read any of them. This week, I cut it back from 115 to 50. This was a brutal one for me. One of my strengths is being a learner. Through blogging I have made so many friends and it was hard to narrow down to whom to cut and not cut. (Why not cut them all out? Glad you asked...cutting this amount is almost the equivalent of that. It’s like drinking water for me for a day.)
• Cut back on the Podcasts I listen to. Not sure how this one is going to shape up just yet. But I already cut out 10 subscriptions on it at the time I’m writing this.
• I also feel during the last 7 to 10 days God is going to take it up a notch too…not sure how just yet.

****** Important Note ******

The challenge is not so much as for you to fast or do exactly the same as what I am doing. Decide what areas God may challenge you to give up or to step up. I am doing some specific things like the book of Acts and Visioneering…as well as the once a week food fast and praying an hour a day. The blog reading and podcast part is an area I felt God challenging me specifically. I tend to take in an enormous amount of info and during this time I want to limit it to hear more from Him.

For each of you that may be different…it may mean no TV or music…it may mean changing your diet for 50 days in an area…like no sweets or sodas…it may mean doing a Daniel Fast type diet. Ultimately it may mean a variety of things.

It really is about preparing yourself and positioning yourself for whatever God may do.

****** Important Note Over******

If anyone else out there feels like they could accept this challenge, or even part of it, let me know by Leaving A Message For Me On My Myspace at myspace.com/pastorjcurl or Leave A Comment At My Post Taking The Cut Up A Notch

I’d like to know specifically who and maybe how you will go though this challenge.

Don’t worry if you weren’t prepared for this today when you are reading it just join in wherever we are and push through to May 10th.

For some of you pastors out there reading this, I encourage you to challenge your team as well and let me know the results.

I encourage you to forward this on...so much junk gets forwarded here on myspace...why not start a spiritual revolution and let me know if you are participating!!!!!

Jason Curlee
jasoncurlee. com
myspace.com/pastorjcurl

Journey Day 1

Today is day one of my kind of 50 day spiritual journey. I'm actually using this blog as my accountability partner. David has also jumped on board the journey with me.

Prayer Time - One Hour

Bible Time - Read Acts 1 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 1:7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.

Scripture Reflection - As Christians we get caught up in this whole time thing. We are fascinated with prophecy and trying to figure out when Jesus is "coming back". Or what season God has us in...whether we should be doing this or that right now. Should I go with the opportunity before me or is it right.

God has all that lined out. He knows your past, present, and future. Our true responsibility is living in close relationship with Him and fulfilling the mission He has for us. The neat thing about God is that it sometimes doesn't work out as we see it. I am the type of person who likes to have it all planned out. God often through's a monkey wrench into my plans just to keep me seeking Him.

Book Reading - Visioneering Chapter 6

Book Reflection - Since God has the perfect view of our life and where we are going it is vital for us to be in close communion with Him. There are many times we have a vision and we see how we might get there. The real truth about it is that few destinations have only one point of access. There are many alternatives to living out the vision you feel God has laid on your heart. I think this is where I have come to over the past three months.

I have a vision to DOMINATE the Coastal Bend area with the life of Christ. There is more than one way for that to happen. Often we get caught up in how we picture it. I am willing though to lay down something I truly love to allow God to make that vision a reality in this area.

My Prayer - Lord, this is your vision and your responsibility to make it happen. I am just one small part of how you want to do it. I'd rather be a small part of something big...than a big part of something small.

Taking The Cut Up A Notch

Ok friends...nitty gritty time...I feel a fast/spiritual awakening time coming on. If I'm going to do what we are about to do then I'm going to need His presence and fire in me more than ever.

This is going to be a 50 day push beginning tomorrow, March 22nd, and will end May 10th. Here is what I feel God challenging me to do. Don't worry I'm really asking him if He is sure.

I'm going to do my best to chronicle this here. I believe that will challenge me.

If anyone else out there feels like they could accept this challenge, or even part of it, let me know. I could use a partner to help keep me honest.

The Details:

• Cut back to 50 blog subscriptions. And once a week on my fast day not read any of them. Today, I cut it back from 115 to 50. Don't worry Bill I still have both of yours in there...although Batterson, Noble, Arment, Stevens, Morgan, Furtick, and Lamb didn't make the cut. I figure enough people follow them and they wouldn't miss me for 50 days. This was a brutal one for me. I have made so many friends and it was hard to narrow down to who to cut and not cut. If you didn't make it don't take offense. I am also not reading my twitter friends feed during this time. It's just gotten too big for now. (Why not cut them all out? Glad you asked...cutting this amount is almost the equivalent of that. It's like drinking water for me for a day.)
  
• Read through book of Acts twice during this time. I'm also going to read through Visioneering by Andy Stanley. No other books unless I get some on Multi-Sites.
  
• Fast one day a week from eating. Only drinking water for a 24 hour period. 7 weeks=7 days
• Pray one hour a day. 50 days = 50 hours
• Cut back on the Podcasts I listen to. Not sure how this one is going to shape up just yet. But I already cut out 10 subscriptions on it at the time I'm writing this.
  

Help With Your Prayers

Well since this is my new world I thought I would post up some prayer requests for you guys and gals out there.

Specific, targeted prayers are the best prayers I know of.

John 5:16 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. (The Message)

With that here are some for you to add to your prayer list:

1. My wife has been sick for a few days. Today she checked her blood pressure and it was sky high. Her pulse is also racing. Pray for healing.
2. There has been a cough going around with the kids. Our middle one got a check up today and they told her she had a mild case of bronchitis. Again pray for healing over our children.
3. This week we have our first launch meeting for those interested in partnering with us. Pray for favor and connections as we set out to reach those far from God and connect them to the life flow of Christ.
4. Financially we have been struggling since July. We were not prepared for what happened then and have not recovered. We need a financial miracle and supply as we set out to do what God has called us to. Pray for finances for our home.