she goes through more intense
SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS
APRIL 24, 2011
Y For Joshua Pochniak’s brother, Isaac Escoto,
as he is having pain on his knees. For Josh,
his back is giving him problems.
Y For Stephen Muhia and doctor’s decision for
his health.
Y For Kaelyn Owen’s best friend as she is in
the hospital for attempted suicide for the
fourth time in two months.
Y Praise God for new churches!
Y Pray for Frank & Heather Butterfield’s friend
in court-justice, and wisdom from God;
mercy too.
Y For God’s direction as He teaches new
things to Heather Butterfield; that the Holy
Spirit would teach truth.
Y Pray for Adrianne Alexander’s parents as
they face terminal illnesses.
Y For Family of Richard Berg, Cameron Berg’s
grandfather, who recently passed away.
And for family of Carol Johnson.
Y Jane Zech (Barb & Lee Bliss cousin), and her
family. Jane is suffering from brain cancer
and is in her final days of life.
Y Virginia Schober, Amy Moore’s Aunt, who is
recovering from a broken vertebrae and
needs to wear a halo until mid-June.
Y Carole Lloyd as she recovers at home after
successful surgery.
Y Nicholas LaMay, Angelica’s nephew, who is
living with his father in Oregon and is
struggling to finish high school because of
anger and bi-polar disorder.
Y Pray for Angelica Van Iperen’s friends, Paul
and Ruben, and they struggle with infertility
and limited resources to treat it.
Y May all the activities we are doing bring
more people to Christ and the church.
Y Pray for Jonathan and Judith’s family as they
deal with work, childcare, and day to day
living.
Y Jacob Mielke a 19 year old man who is
struggling with cancer. He is getting chemo
at the Mayo Clinic.
Y Peter Ralston, Faith Ralston’s son who is
struggling with addiction.
Y Donna Mc Cullen, Ken Mc Cullen's wife as
chemotherapy treatment.
Y The Pastor Nominating Committee of
Community Presbyterian Church in
Plainview as they discern who God is calling
to be their new pastor.
Y Gary Wassam as he looks for a job.
Y Bill Fink as he looks for a job.
Y Pray for continued courage on Dwight
Zvorak’s recovery from alcoholism.
DEVOTION
This week we have the opportunity to
participate in a Bible Study about
heaven. Heaven is not only a New
Testament concept. We can read about
it in the Old Testament too. In this
devotion we have the chance to receive
a variety of readings from both the Old
Testament and the New Testament
about heaven.
Comments about the devotion can be E-
mailed to pastor@colpres.org
Monday, May 2
Read Genesis 1:6-8
The idea of heaven being above us
comes from the understanding of
heaven in the Old Testament. People
believed that the earth was a dome that
separated waters. When people looked
up and saw blue sky—they believed that
deep in the sky was water. They also
believed that below the earth was
water.
People obviously didn’t have the
advantage of photography and space
exploration that we have.
Heaven isn’t a physical place, but
instead a spiritual relationship that lasts
forever. Though we have ideas about
heaven ultimately heaven is a mystery.
2 3
Today as you pray, give thanks for the
existence of heaven. Pray that
everyone at Chain of Lakes might live
with the confidence of receiving the gift
of eternal life.
Tuesday, May 3
Read John 1:1-5
This is the creation story according to
the gospel of John. Look at the
relationship of light, life and darkness.
The following two verses are powerful:
“What has come into being in him was
life, and the life was the light of all
people. The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness did not
overcome it.” John 1:3b-5
This light that we carry is something
that stays with us after we die. Light is
the indicator of God’s presence. When
we light candles before worship we are
acknowledging the presence of God. At
our Maundy Thursday service after each
person shared what was weighing them
down, the person lit a candle. Sharing
burdens is a sign of God’s light.
In what ways can you shine the light of
God within you today? Take some time
to talk with God about letting this light
which leads to life shine!
Wednesday, May 4
Read Exodus 24:9-18
This is one story of heaven coming to
earth. Moses and the other leaders saw
something “like a pavement of sapphire
stone, like the very heaven for
clearness.” Exodus 24:10
This is an image of perfection—much
like heaven. This image is not
something that only happens after we
die. We all have had times in our life
when we’ve experienced a glimpse of
heaven. John Calvin wrote that when
people celebrate Communion they
receive a glimpse of heaven. The Holy
Spirit lifts people to haven.
When have you had some times in your
life when you’ve received a glimpse of
heaven? This isn’t necessarily a vision,
but instead a moment when everything
seems perfect—much like the perfection
that these people experienced in this
story in Exodus.
As you pray today, give thanks for these
moments in your life. Pray for many
more moments for yourself and others.
Thursday, May 5
Read John 17:1-5
This chapter of John is known as the
“High Priestly prayer.” Jesus shared a
description of eternal life in this prayer.
In the prayer he said,
“And this is eternal life, that they may
know you, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom you have sent.”
John 17:3
A simple definition of heaven could be
“moments that last forever where
people know God.”
Do you think about heaven much? Do
you frequently give thanks to God for
the gift of heaven? This gift can give us
a tremendous source of security in our
life. Through the cross and resurrection
God has conquered death. We can
enjoy moments that last forever where
4
we know God. This gift can fuse our
heart with joy and thanks.
Take a moment to reflect on this
question. On a scale of 1-10 with 10
being the highest, how deeply does the
gift of heaven resonate in your heart?
Does the reality of your own salvation
give you a tremendous source of peace
and encouragement?
As you pray today, talk with God about
these questions. Pray that we at Chain
of Lakes Church can be a congregation
where the gift of salvation burns in our
heart, giving us a tremendous source of
security and comfort.
Friday, May 6
Read 2 Kings 2:1-12
This is an amazing story of Elijah
ascending into heaven. Elijah was
distinguished from Jesus in that Elijah
never died. He ascended into heaven
while he was alive.
Accepting this story might be hard for
some, but accepting heaven is also hard
for some. Appreciating the gift of
heaven takes faith.
Today as you pray, pray for the strength
of faith to accept the mystery of heaven.
Saturday, May 7
Read John 20:19-23
When Jesus breathed on the disciples he
gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This wasn’t the first time that the Holy
Spirit appeared. Throughout their
ministry the disciples carried the breath
of Jesus with them—the Holy Spirit.
2 3 4
Carrying the presence of God is what
happens in heaven. We are always
connected to God, or as Jesus said in the
“High Priestly prayer” people know God
in eternal moments.

You are carrying the Holy Spirit with you

right now. In this sense you are
experiencing heaven. Our reality might
not look like heaven right now, but we
are receiving a foretaste of what heaven
is like.

Today as you pray, pray that you will

have a clear understanding of the Holy
Spirit. Pray that the presence of the
Holy Spirit will give you a glimpse of
heaven. Pray that we at Chain of Lakes
Church can be a group of people who
reveal heaven to others.