Already we are facing down February. It feels like we JUST finished Christmas and New Year's. Certainly, we did, but if just feels like it was days ago, not a month ago.

We started the year with "A Promise for 2007", our annual time with Roger Smets. Having memorized thousands of Scriptures, Roger prophesies over people with Scripture promises. This is the fourth year we've had Roger start the year with us, and again, it was a time filled with special experiences and promises.

Not being around regularly, Roger doesn't know most of us personally. It was amazing to watch how the Lord revealed to him certain circumstances in people's lives that were right on target.

One of the words Roger shared with us corporately was that he felt this would be a year of challenges for us as a church. Not a word that I was necessarily embracing! Personally, I feel like we've faced our fair share of challenges as a church family over the last few years.

However, Roger also shared that he believed this would also be a year of miracles. That word I was all over! Let the miracles abound, Lord!

I should have known the Lord would start tinkering with my heart about that first word ... challenges. For the most part, you can't really have a miracle without a challenge. Challenges are precursors to miracles. Without a challenge, you don't need a miracle.

Then, as I was speaking with a couple that serve on our Intercessory Prayer Team, they were sharing that the Lord had given the group the phrase, "Turning Challenges Into Miracles". (By the way, if you'd like to join them, the Intercessory Prayer Team meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday at 8:00 am in the Sanctuary.)

As we were talking about the phrase, I began to sense the Holy Spirit stirring that fresh word/phrase in my heart ... Turning Challenges Into Miracles. The last weekend of January, we began a series of teachings that aren't all planned out yet, but are in formation.

What does it mean ... Turning Challenges Into Miracles? What does it take? What is a life and heart prepared for challenges to be turned into miracles?

Interesting to me that as we head into this season, it's the season where we begin to prepare for the celebration of the Miracle of all Miracles ... the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Talk about turning a challenge into a miracle! Does it get any better than that?

We all have challenges we're facing, and we are desperately in need of a miracle from God! What's yours? What will you bring to lay down at the feet of Jesus so that your heart can be ready for His Spirit to move afresh in and on you?

As we move through this season together, keep your ears open. I will be inviting NewHeart toward a 40 day period of concerted prayer and intentional fasting as we prepare for Easter.

Maybe your church background has included the old tradition of "Lent". Those of us in the contemporary church movements/preferences sometimes tend to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Don't worry, I'm not reverting to my 2nd or 3rd grade days in a Catholic school. (Bet you didn't know that about me, did you?) I am simply saying I believe that in the midst of some tradition and "routine", God has something for us.

Let's be ready for what God wants to do in '07! Will you join me in seeking more of Him in our lives, whatever that means and whatever it takes?

Together, with you, bringing my heart closer to Jesus!