I recently heard it said, “Don’t just develop a prayer life.  Develop a life of prayer.”  I believe the psalmist described a life of prayer when he wrote this, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).  

Note the terms “dwells” and “abide.”  They translate two different Hebrew words.  The first means to settle.  Think of moving into a house.  No longer are you moving here and there.  You have settled.  The second means to stay permanently.  Not only have you moved into your new house, but you are there to stay.

There are many people who lack a life of prayer, and yet in certain circumstances will be motivated to pray.  The psalmist described them, “They are at their wits’ end.  Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses” (Psalm 107:27-28).

These are like the old farmer who gave this interesting testimony — ​

Of course, God hears us whenever we cry out for help (Psalm 34:6).  But prayer is intended to be more than an occasional SOS sent heavenward in times of crisis.  God’s Word invites us to dwell and abide in the secret place of prayer.  Rather than sporadic exchanges and periodic discussions with God, we are invited to enjoy an ongoing conversation with the “Most High,” the “Almighty,” the “LORD,” who is “my God” (Psalm 91:1-2).

The September theme at RLA is PRAY.  Each Sunday we will present a different message on the subject of prayer.  On Sunday, September 11th, we will join Assemblies of God churches in a nationwide prayer meeting called Cry Out America.  A special seven-day prayer emphasis will begin this Sunday, September 4th, leading up to the fifteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11.   Plan now to be a part of these exciting services.

I also encourage you to make RLA POWER on Sunday evenings a regular part of your Lord’s Day schedule.  RLA POWER is a one-hour (5:00-6:00pm) service that includes worship, a message of instruction and encouragement on prayer, and then time spent actually praying. 

Finally, I want to point out that the word “pray” is a verb.  A verb is an action word.  God doesn’t just want us to talk about prayer and learn about prayer.  He wants us to pray!  So let’s do it.  Take advantage of the opportunities for prayer offered this month at RLA, and seek to develop not just a prayer life, but a life of prayer.

Pastor Todd Weston

In last week’s newsletter I shared thoughts about why I’m so personally  passionate about the vision of RLA.  This week I hope to communicate why each of you have reason to be crazy excited about it too!

For the past several years I have lived in the world of intergenerational ministry.  The only problem was that it wasn’t a very big world; just a couple of random books and an article every now and then were the sum total of my diligent searching.  It was probably a similar experience to panning for gold.  When I did find something, I would immediately tell anyone who would listen because it was such a rare find.

But that is no longer the case.  In 2006-2007 the Fuller Research Institute was completing a project that began in 2004 entitled College Transition Project.  The goal was to discover links between a student’s current spiritual status and their teen years.  One of the main outcomes of that research was the finding that a key player in the spiritual life of college students was the amount and quality of intergenerational relationships in the church during adolescent years.

Since that time an amazing thing has begun to happen!  Intergenerational worship is fast becoming the most relevant worship experience on the horizon as more and more entities are recognizing the need for vital relationships between the generations as essential to a young person’s spiritual fitness.

The Assemblies of God leadership magazine, Influence,  was recently quoted as saying, “To prepare the next generation, we need more than better content, training and mentoring; we need the heart of a father.”  And in the same issue, an article by Kara Powell emphasized again, “Of 13 different youth group variables we examined, the one most correlated with Sticky Faith (faith that sticks) was intergenerational relationships and worship.”  

Why should this excite you?  Because RLA is already doing it!  God chose us to be part of a significant work that He is doing in these last days.  He is busy “turning the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers.” Malachi 4:6  And He put that into the heart of this church long before it had viable research to support it.  He was using RLA as pioneers in His work as we simply followed His lead.  Now that is exciting!

It has been a long journey, and we are still fine tuning along the way; but there is a sense of great expectation as we progress.  Todd and I want to thank you for your faithfulness.  God has formed an exceptional church body to accomplish this task.  You could consider yourself as part of God’s A-team for this mission assignment.  What an honor!  Let’s be all in for His glory.
  
Pastor Sheri

​​Any of you who have known me for very long at all, know that my heart beats with a passion to see the generations reconnected in their Christian journey. The most basic question is, why? Why does it fill so much of who I am, how I pray, what I say, and how I serve? There are several reasons. 

​First of all, the Bible speaks of it often. One of the core verses at RLA is, “Turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to the fathers” Mal. 4:6. And that is only one of many passages that speak to the need for intergenerational faith formation. 

Secondly, because it makes a difference. It makes a difference on so many levels. To the young, it is wisdom and security. To the middle aged, it is support and vital relationship. To the mature, it is vitality and fresh perspective. There is not a group that does not benefit from the generations being together in relationship and faith formation. 

Finally, because it could be the definer of someone’s eternity. We who have known and loved Jesus for a lifetime will not “miss out on heaven” if we do not connect with the generations behind us. For most, our eternal destiny is secure (though it won’t be nearly as much fun without the “littles”)

On the other hand, ever-growing bodies of research indicate that without strong intergenerational connections in the church, many children and youth will depart from the faith as they reach adulthood. In other words, their eternal destiny becomes very insecure without those connections. I’m not sure I understand all the nuances of “why” it is that way, but it is an observable truth.

And so it drives me… this vision to see the generations together in order to protect the young. 

Because I see things. Like I see the generations re-embracing each other. I see a generation of youth that has been loved and nurtured and strengthened in the safety and security of the walls of God’s familyl. I see them rising up, not as a weak, barely hanging on, hardly saved group, but I see them leading in strength, knowing that the generations around them have got their back. I see an older generation re-awakened to their place of usefulness in the body of Christ. How great a loss the church has suffered as many of that generation have melted into the background feeling like their days of “usefulness” are over. I see the youth running to them for support, and I see them running to the youth for invigoration, reawakening, and even care. I see a church beginning to multiply among the “least of these” as we set them in families (Psalms 68:6), training and releasing our “people of honor” to be their spiritual foster parents. (Isaiah 49:23: Think Paul and Timothy!) I see more youth staying in the faith than leaving it. I see a nation looking at all of it and saying, “that is powerful”. I see the enemy looking at all of it and saying “that is my destruction”. 

And I don’t just see it in our church…

As a church, River of Life is a pioneer in intergenerational ministry. And God is blessing in many ways. If the Lord tarries, I truly believe River of Life will be a flagship church, paving the way for other churches embarking on the intergenerational journey. May the Holy Spirit keep our hearts united and our bodies and minds engaged as we do the work of the ministry together!

Pastor Sheri Weston

​It was the French general and emperor Napoleon who wished to strike the word impossible from his dictionary.  He said, “Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.”  To Napoleon, no enemy was too strong; no army too numerous.  Napoleon firmly believed that, that is, until he suffered a devastating defeat at the battle of Waterloo that brought his reign to a sudden and inglorious conclusion.

While Napoleon failed at having the word impossible removed from the dictionary, he succeeded in bringing a new meaning to the word Waterloo.  When a person is said to have met their Waterloo, it means they have come up against their final and insurmountable challenge.

King Jehoshaphat probably felt like he was about to meet his Waterloo in 2 Chronicles 20.  A confederacy of armies had invaded the southern kingdom of Judah and were preparing to attack.  The army of Judah was hopelessly outnumbered, and Jehoshaphat was aware of it.  From the human standpoint, it looked like it was over for Jehoshaphat and the southern kingdom of Judah.

But Jehoshaphat was a man of faith.  In v12 he looked to the God of the impossible.  Listen to his prayer, “O our God, will You not judge them?  For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”  This king of Judah learned the lesson presented by Jesus in Mark 10:27, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”  What was an impossibility for Jehoshaphat was no problem for God.

When Abraham was faced with a seemingly impossible situation in Genesis 18, the Lord presented a rhetorical question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (v14).  While the question was asked to make a point, not elicit a response, the prophet Jeremiah gave this response, “Ah, Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17).

God never has and never will meet His Waterloo.  No challenge is too great.  No problem too difficult.  The same cannot be said for us.  We are reminded all too often of the truth of Jesus’ words, “With men it is impossible.”  We are made aware of our human limitations on a daily basis.  There is only so much we can do.  But our God can do anything!  

So when you come up against something that threatens to be your Waterloo; when you face an enemy that is stronger or a problem that is greater than you are, look to the God of the impossible.  There is nothing too hard for Him!

Pastor Todd Weston