The Challenge This month, accept the challenge of Praying Scripture. Praying Scripture is a way of entering deeply into the Bible with a heart alert to a unique and personal word from God. Words and verses that catch our attention become invitations to be with God in prayer. When our prayers seem to be more about maintaining control and offering God our agenda for his stamp of approval, praying Scripture can return us to a simpler state of openness and attentiveness to God. W

The Challenge Accountability means accepting responsibility while encouraging one another to stay faithful to Christ, grow spiritually, and continue obeying the Lord’ s commands. We are called to “consider how to spur one another for love and good works." Try One of these for Practice Become an accountability partner. Sign up with someone in the congregation to pray, call, text or send encouraging notes throughout June. Think about the people that have shaped your faith. Refl

The Challenge Service is a way of offering resources, time, treasure, influence, and expertise for the care, protection, justice, and nurture of others. Serving others reflects the helping, caring, and sharing of God’s love in the world. Acts of service give hands to the second greatest commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Practice: Try One of the Following PICK & SERVE Every morning this month pick one person such as your spouse, colleague, neighbor, or frien

THE CHALLENGE To be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to live with a grateful heart, aware of God’s work in your life and your abundance of resources. Internalizing that gratitude and making it a part of your everyday life. To help others to realize the good things God does for them and to be thankful to Him for those things. THE PRACTICE: TRY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING · As part of your day add prayers thanking God for all the things He does for you. Breath prayer

THE CHALLENGE: Choose some verses of scripture and continually remember its words, internalizing them and making them a part of your daily life. Then help encourage others in this practice. You might even write about how it’s going in the comment section of this post! THE PRACTICE: (A) The practice begins with choosing a short, meaningful verse. For example, you could focus on 2 Corinthians 5:7: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” This verse is brief but powerful. (B) Once y

Slowing Challenge: Pick at least 1 of the 3 practices below to try each day. Then comment to this post about what you are trying and how it is going to help encourage others: The Practice: ( 1) SLOW DOWN- Think thru your day’s schedule then do something intentionally slower: drive in the slow lane, choose the longest line at the grocery store, sit longer over your meal, Intentionally chew your food, take a longer shower. Relish the time and make God a part of it. Be in the p

THE BREATH PRAYER CHALLENGE: Try the Breath Prayer out at least once a day (1) right before you pray, (2) a time in the day when you are not very focused on seeking God’s direction, or (3) to as a way to pray more often during the day (see below under When & Why). Then write about which way you are trying the prayer and how it is going in the comment section of this challenge here on our webpage. Help encourage others in this practice! THE PRACTICE: Breath prayers are short,