Thank YOU! to this week's Volunteers!
Greeters- John & Bev Selph
Nursery- Pam Wier & Connie Plas
Cleaning- Maria Reyes
LIFE Kids- Heather & Celeste Loser
If you're interested in plugging in to areas of service, please see Sister Chrissy.

Comments? How can we serve you better? Please let us know by emailing us @ abundantlifechurchofgod@gmail.com

Big Idea: Last week we celebrated the National Day of Prayer. Today I want us to look at the Lord’s Prayer, specifically the phrase, hallowed be thy name.

Matthew's larger statement is, "Our Father who art in heaven." You start with a recognition that God is the source, that God is your loving, caring Father who has no limits on what He can provide His beloved children. All prayer begins with the recognition that God cares. If we didn't believe that, why bother Him?

To hallow something- to make it sacred, holy, separate

And so to guard against abusing or overusing, or misunderstanding that intimacy, immediately our Lord says, "After you have acknowledged that He is your tender-hearted, compassionate, loving Abba, you need to remember this, hallowed be His name." It's really the perfect balance.

When you cherish the desire for God to be glorified, and God to be honored, you will then ask only for those things which God will see as the means to that end. It's a warning against self-seeking. It's a warning against asserting your will and your ambition and your goals and your dreams. God does not exist in heaven to fulfill your dreams, contrary to what you hear so much today. He does not exist in heaven to give you what you want. He exists in heaven and has redeemed you and made you His child in order that in you He might display His will and His kingdom and His glory. "Hallowed be Thy name."

It is really a recognition of a whole sphere of respect and reference and awe and appreciation for who God is.

Here's how you pray. You go, knowing that God loves you and cares for you as a tenderhearted, compassionate, merciful, gracious Father. And as you rush into His presence and say, "Papa, Abba," and celebrate that intimacy and that tenderness and that availability and that acceptance, you immediately stop and say, "Father, may Your person, Your identity, Your character, Your nature, Your attributes, Your glory be hallowed. This isn't about me, this is about You. I bring whatever I bring as a request to give You opportunity to put Your glory on display, if it will do that."

I say, this is a protection, you see, against the tendency to get too familiar. This is a kind of a trend in Christianity today, the Abba, Father and you get people treating God in a rather sentimental fashion that doesn't really rush into His presence because there's an open invitation but immediately struck by the awesomeness of God, crying out, “Hallowed be Your name.”

Conclusion- We rush into Your presence with all our anxieties, all our cares. And before we cry, “Father, save me from this hour,” we stop and say, "But maybe, maybe for Your purpose we've come to this hour." And so with our Savior we stop and say, "Father, glorify Your name. Hallow Your name. Put Your glory on display. Hear this prayer offered in Your name if and how it will bring You glory." And may we know that in such praying we are aligning ourselves with displays of glory which will enrich our lives beyond all comprehension. I don't want You to give me what I want. I only want You to give me what You know is best for me. I don't want to have anything that elevates me. I want to have what glorifies You and humbles me. It is Your glory we seek. Thank You, Father, for letting us come and giving us a context in which to pour out our hearts in which there's a guarantee that You will only do what in the end will honor You. We are protected and comforted in that reality and eager to embrace it in Your Son's name. Amen.

Prayer- Holy Spirit, teach me to hallow Your name.

Action Steps for this Week
- How is your prayer life? What can you do to improve it? Share with your accountability partner, family and friends so they can pray with you.

- How can you hallow God’s name better? Write out what God is speaking to you and share with your accountability partner, family and friends.

- How can you share what God shows you this week on hallowing His name? Share with your accountability partner, family and friends, so they are encouraged to hallow God’s name also.

2018 Goals
Physically- Break 200 consistently in attendance, "We’re THAT Church," our theme for this year, building addition, new daycare facility and parking lot renovation

Financially- 100% tithing (continual process, but worth striving for), Begin saving for addition (in process), families debt free

Spiritually- 100% Read through the Bible, 100% Mission Trip, Salvations- 120, Holy Spirit Baptism- 50, Water Baptisms- 120

Word from the Lord, 11.13.16- ”The heavens are open! The Heavens are open! The heavens have been open since the Day of Pentecost when I poured out My Spirit on My Church. A mighty river started to flow and has flowed through all generations since that day. Sometimes it has flowed underground and couldn't be seen but believers in every generation have been filled with My Spirit. The River is within My People! Lay hands on one another and pray for one another that you might be healed. Testify of what I have done among you to others that I might receive the Glory. Take my gift and release it to others that My Power might be seen in My Church. Take what happens inside out to the outside. I will receive Glory when My Power is released in My Church."