Lift Off! Winter - Day 01

Lift Off! Winter - Day 01

  Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 11:17 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 01: New Year
Happy New Year! We made it through another year and another Lift Off! campaign. Congratulations!! I hope both this past year and these past few days have been a blessing whether you spent it with family at home or friends at retreat. Keep praying and we'll see you in 2015!


Here are some things to consider and think about this coming year:
1. Are you reading the Bible daily?
2. Are you praying daily?
3. How often will you share the gospel this year?
4. Are you faithfully fighting sin in your life?
5. What scriptures will you memorize this year?
6. Are you serving faithfully in a local church?
7. Who could be walking more with God because of your influence this year?

ALSO! As to help fulfill some commitment this year, Flight ministry challenges everyone to read through the entire Bible in one year for 2015. We'll be following at http://www.bibleinoneyear.org/ (also can be found in reading plans at http://www.youversion.com or on their mobile app) and with #inflightreading2015. Hope you will join and commit together with us!

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 02

Lift Off! Winter - Day 02

  Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 6:56 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 02: Commitment
We're back from retreat! I hope you were able to follow along with us and caught a glimpse at what God had been showing and teaching us this past weekend! While up in the mountains (or if you stayed in the city), I pray that many intentional, rewarding conversations occurred and that you were encouraged to grow. Whether you were at retreat or not, would you consider making a commitment from something you learned this winter break? If you have not been challenged yet, ask someone to share with you a lesson learned--I'm sure they'll have plenty to talk about!

Colossians 3:17
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

• Pray for the lessons learned this winter break. That we would commit to acting and growing further in Christ through them.
• Pray for new (and old) friends and family conversations that occurred this past week (both at retreat or away from it). That God would solidify these relationships and connections to be spiritually beneficial.

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 03

Lift Off! Winter - Day 03

  Monday, December 29, 2014 at 10:58 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 03: The Marathon

Tonight, we learned about running the marathon for Jesus Christ, especially in the campuses and communities we belong to. This purpose and mission He has called us to challenges us to live with a kingdom-mindedness in our places of community. We as Christians are asked to run this race with the intention to share God’s love to those around us. We ought to show our worth with the people God has called us to and when we do this, many may come know and live in God’s purposes as they also share with others. Our application will also be our prayer:

Pray that we 

Pray for refueling throughout this race—that we would find times to rest and recharge in God’s presence and in spiritual disciplines (prayer, Scripture, solitude, etc)

Pray for close individuals and fellowships where we can be encouraged and challenged. That we can be transparent with them and share life together.

Pray that we find people around to pour into. That our lives would be reflected to others in order to encourage them to grow in Christ.

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Lift Off! Winter - New Year's

Lift Off! Winter - New Year's

   at 9:39 PM    Darren Lo

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Lift Off:New Year's
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hall of Truth [Rm TBA]

Greetings! I hope you've been able to following along throughout this Lift Off! campaign during your winter break. I'm excited to announce a very special New Year's Lift Off! event to end this campaign. We'll end the year praying together and celebrate with some ice cream [#icecreamforESPM]! Come join us!

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 04

Lift Off! Winter - Day 04

  Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 8:19 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 04: Pedestals
Tonight, we were challenged by looking at the rebellious attitude of the second son in the Parable of the Two Sons (Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32). He had been so consumed by his role in doing ‘good’ as a field worker for his father, that he actually became trapped and imprisoned by this role. He couldn’t see beyond working in the fields and refused to attend the party his father was throwing for his brother. The second son had built a pedestal where he had to maintain this role. Instead of enjoying the time with his family, he clung to his own goodness and self-worth. He found his value in his own virtue rather than see the celebration set before him. Instead of obeying his Father, he would rather argue and refuse to join in.

Take a moment and think about some sources that you value most in your life.
What do you place your worth in? What have you placed high value in your life?
What do you need to give up because it distracts you from God’s purpose in your life?

• Pray for your own life that you would not be imprisoned by the desires over God’s calling.
• Pray that you would not allow these values to block God from moving in you.
• Pray that you would know that your worth comes from God no matter what happens in your life—failures and successes.

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 05

Lift Off! Winter - Day 05

  Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 7:16 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 05: Depart

Over the next 3 days, our Lift Off! requests will come straight from Flight Retreat. This is an opportunity for those that couldn’t make it to continue to pray and to pray along with us! Follow along and you can have your own ‘retreat’ with God through these prayers.

(By Joyce Lam)

Good morning! As we prepare to leave for retreat, let’s take some time to prepare our hearts to meet with God this weekend. Before we get started, let’s pull out our bible, journal, and pen, to plan!

Turn to Psalm 139:1-10.

In this passage, we are reminded about who we are as sons and daughters of God, and that God knows every detail of our lives. As we get ready to depart for retreat, let’s take some time to write a prayer to God. Reflect on who God is as our Father and acknowledge him for who he is. Pray that as we go to retreat that we will be prepared to meet him and be reminded that we are worth it as his sons and daughters, and that following him and embracing his grace and mercy is worth it.

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 06

Lift Off! Winter - Day 06

  Friday, December 26, 2014 at 10:32 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 06: Gratitude
Did you get what you wanted for Christmas this year? I hope so. But if not, I'd like to encourage us to continue to be grateful and thankful for what we do have. And even if you were given more than you ever wanted this Christmas, I also hope that you would be even more focused on God's blessings for you. In the spirit of giving, I would like us to pray in gratitude for these gifts and many of the other good things God has in store for you. And even if this Christmas wasn't all that you hoped it would be, remember that Christ was (and is) the ultimate gift from God. He was born this season to be given to us as a humble sacrifice.

Philippians 4:3-8

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

• Praise God in gratitude for all the things you experienced and were given this Christmas--no matter how good or bad.
• Pray that your heart would be more humble towards others and God. Pray for sacrificial a heart and attitude, just like Christ is described in the above verse.
• Pray that your spirit of giving would not cease during this season, but would continue throughout the year.

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 07

Lift Off! Winter - Day 07

  Thursday, December 25, 2014 at 1:55 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 07: Come Now Our King
As we celebrate the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, let's reflect on His birth and arrival in prayer! Take a moment and listen to these beautiful lyrics by Chris August. Then pray:

• Praise God for sending His Son to be born this day!
• Pray that Christ would be king in your life today and forever.
• Pray for someone who may not know this servant king personally. 

Come Now Our King (Chris August)
Bethlehem turns in tonight
A town led up by candle lights
All the children tucked in tight
Bethlehem turns in tonight

The Angels start their whispering
About the one they're welcoming
No one knows what's soon to be
Angels start their whispering

They sing glory
In the highest
Come now our king
We've been
Waiting
Come now our king

Silence falls
Yet once again
Shepherds leave for Bethlehem
Baby's cry soon welcomes them
Silence falls yet once again

They sing glory
In the highest
Come now our king
We've been
Waiting
Come now our king

Glory oh glory
You came here to save
Oh Lord we've been waiting so
Come now our king

Now my night has turned to day
An empty manger, empty grave
Baby born so I could say
Now my night has turned to day

Oh oh
We sing glory
In the highest
Come now our king
We've been
Waiting
Come now our king
Oh oh 
Come now our king

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 08

Lift Off! Winter - Day 08

  Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at 7:42 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 08: Parents (Family)
As we venture home for the holidays, would you consider praying for your parents (and family) today? I stumbled across this great article:

But somewhere in the time when a child leaves home the application of this passage (Eph. 6:1-2) gets muddled. We come out from under our parent’s authority to stand on our own two feet. So how are adult children supposed to honor mom and dad? My parents and my wife’s parents do not share our evangelical faith. What does honor look like then? What if the parents are just unwise? What if there is tension in the relationship?

Honoring generally means showing esteem or respect for a person. It also means “to weigh” or “make heavy.” In Proverbs, honor is tied to humility (15:33, 18:12) and kindness (21:21). Scripture teaches us not just to honor our parents, but all those in authority (Rom. 13:1) as well as all people (1 Pet. 2:17). Double honor goes to the elders of a local church (1 Tim. 5:17). Honor is even tied to love (Rom. 12:10).

Read the rest of the article here. Then come back here to pray for:

• Your parents. That they would grow spiritually and continue to grow in wisdom to support the family. If they are not Christians, pray that they will come to know Him soon.
• Your family. As you spend time at home, pray for harmony in the house. This is both a transition (even for this short period of time) for you and your family. Pray for any struggles that may be occurring and courage to smooth out any difficulties.
• Yourself. Pray for patience, understanding, and humility. Whether you get along with your parents (and family) or not, pray that God would provide you with these traits as you spend time at home. And pray that you would make an effort to appreciate your parents/family this holiday season--if you haven't thanked them, do so today!

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 09

Lift Off! Winter - Day 09

  Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 7:25 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 09: Solitude
Yesterday, we prayed for community and on the flip side, today, we'll pray for solitude. This is not simply being alone, in your room, unmotivated to do anything. In fact, we prayed against this yesterday! Solitude is actually spiritual work while being alone. Taking the time to plan, prepare, and practice being alone physically, to spend time with God spiritually. It's an important discipline and something we should do often--not just while we have time. But while we're on break, let's practice this aspect of time with God for a significant amount of time. This is a great way to pause in the busy-ness of life (and this season) to just sit, listen, read Scripture, and/or pray. Think about these things:

Lamentations 3:25-28
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and be silent since He has laid it on him.

• Pray for some extended, planned, time with God alone.
• Pray for growth and connection with God throughout this time.
• Pray that we remember what this time of Winter Break is about, not just hanging out and having fun, but to also find reconnection with our Heavenly Father.

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Lift Off! Winter - Day 10

Lift Off! Winter - Day 10

  Monday, December 22, 2014 at 7:05 PM    Darren Lo

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Day 10: Community
As we all finally enter into Winter Break (congrats to those that already have been!), let's pray and think about being in intentional community. As it's especially easy to hide away in our rooms, playing video games, (binge) watching tv, or burying ourselves in a book, let's not forget to continue to meet up and hangout with others. Whether it be individuals, groups of friends, or your 'grade', seek out these relationships especially when you have the time! But more than that, let's meet up with spiritual intention--perhaps this is an opportunity for you to be an example and light of Christ to your previous high school friends that don't know Him; or maybe you haven't had a deep, meaningful conversation with someone at church since summer; or lastly, you haven't connected with your grade since the school term started. I encourage you to meet up and pray for those that may also need community around you.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. 

• Pray for intentional community this winter--especially while on break.
• Pray against isolation and detachment this winter (see Sherry's post).
• Pray that your gatherings and meet-ups have spiritual focus and transparency.
• Pray for opportunities to share about your faith through meeting up.

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Lift Off! - Winter Break

Lift Off! - Winter Break

   at 6:49 PM    Darren Lo

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3...2...1...Lift Off! [Dec 21-31]
10 DAYS, 10 REQUESTS, 10 MINUTES
Are you ready for our next Lift Off! Campaign? We will be praying over the next 10 days for topics pertaining to being on Winter Break: community, spiritual growth, holidays, and retreat! As this particular campaign will run through retreat, look out for topics based off of our Winter Retreat theme too! Even if you're not with us at retreat, posts will continue each day so that you can pray along with us. Hope you'll pray everyday throughout this holiday season--we start in a few MINUTES!

Just a reminder...
Lift Off! is an aspect of Flight Ministry that encourages participants to pray. Over 10 days, we will be presenting 10 prayer requests that we ask you to pray over for 10 (solid) minutes. Lift Off! presents 10 areas of prayer that may include specific people, ministries, or aspects of growth. It is meant to be a blast of encouragement and intercession by a committed group of people over the course of 10 days. Keep an eye out, the countdown begins soon...

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