The Work of His Hands

During June when the classrooms are quiet, please pray for the admin staff who faithfully support the mission of Greenhouse. Pray for David Bendele as he oversees a number of facility projects this summer, that each will be completed effectively in a safe and timely manner. Pray for Operations Manager Jerry Smith as he oversees the transition to Google classroom and trains teachers and families. Pray for Barb Kiehn as she oversees purchasing for the new year and helps families transition to a new billing system. Pray that the entire Mission Support team will carry out their responsibilities in ways that manifest the love and glory of God.

With the backdrop of the quiet and impactful ministry of the business office, let’s prayerfully expand our thoughts to consider the formative work of our heavenly Father.

Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

But now, O Lord, you are our Father;

    we are the clay, and you are our potter;

    we are all the work of your hand.

Consider what it means for you to be clay in the hands of the divine potter. How is God shaping or forming you right now? A clay creation is most easily damaged or deformed before it is fired (bisqued). Contemplate those times when you have been placed in a holy but fiery kiln in order to become solidly formed in Christ. Each ceramic piece is individually formed. How does it impact your life that we are all the work of His hand? Pray for eyes to see and honor that reality throughout the Greenhouse community, as well as in your family and your life.

True Greatness

During May, please join in praying for the Board, as they steward the mission of Greenhouse along with the Leadership Team. Pray that the mission of developing young servant leaders will be central to all that we do. Pray that the Board will provide accountability and godly overall direction for Greenhouse. Ask the Lord for wisdom for them, as well as prayerfulness and foresight in discerning the long-term plans and strategies for Greenhouse. Pray with gratitude for those who are completing their terms, as well as those who are continuing to serve. Seek the Lord for additional members to serve on the Board starting in June.

It helps to be reminded of the heart of Christ as we contemplate notions of servant leadership. Consider His instructive, corrective and illuminating words to His disciples who were indignant about those who would claim places of honor. 

Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV)

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Contemplate whether you have retained vestiges of “lording it over others” that need to be renounced. From what has Christ ransomed you? Consider how Jesus, the Son of Man, has served you. Ponder His acts of service and loving-kindness not only in history, but in your personal history. Then as you worship the Lord, ask whom He would have you serve during this season of your life.

God's Special Possession

Thank you, Builders, for the many ways you support Greenhouse.

During April, we invite you to pray especially for those involved in the admissions process for next year at Greenhouse. We pray that God will draw those students and families to Greenhouse who will be best served and best contribute to the life of this learning community. We pray especially for additional 1st and 2nd graders to begin co-schooling. We pray for strong attendance at the final Open House on April 23, and that the presenters will accurately and winsomely represent Greenhouse. We pray that the admissions interviews will help the families and staff to discern whether Greenhouse is the best option for each household. We pray that the Lord will weave together the student body for each core day just as He desires for His purposes.

Recall how the apostle Peter says that believers are fitted together as living stones within the temple of God as we think about the community being formed at Greenhouse. Peter goes on to say…

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Ponder the position we have in Christ. In what ways do you declare His praises? How has He pulled you out of darkness into His wonderful light? Prayerfully consider what places you within the people of God. Have you sought connections which are too shallow, that deny our common root in Christ Himself? Relish His abundant mercy.

Trusting in the Lord

We are thankful for each Builder who prays for, provides for and promotes the mission of Greenhouse.

During March, we invite you to pray especially for the students who are part of the rhetoric program (high school) at Greenhouse. We pray that they will love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We pray that each cohort will grow in camaraderie as scholars, friends, and followers of Christ. We pray that they will encourage, accept, and bear with one another, while also spurring one another on to love and good deeds. We pray for healthy and fruitful relationships with their teachers. We pray that students will find the right balance and cadence for their studies and other pursuits in life. We pray for the seniors as they complete and present their thesis projects. We pray that they will finish well, encourage the younger students, and trust God with their future plans.

Many of us, like the senior class, are making plans. Let’s recall prayerfully a few of Solomon’s familiar proverbs as we do so.

Proverbs 3:5-6 and 16:3 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

In what areas of your life are you tempted to lean on your own understanding? What would it look like fully to trust in the Lord in those areas?  Pray that He will help you identity and dismantle any obstacles which hinder committing your work to the Lord. May the Lord straighten your paths and establish your plans to the glory of His Name.

Living Near to the Lord

In the winter, we appreciate the Builders who pray for, provide for and promote Greenhouse and its mission.

Throughout February, we invite you to pray especially for the Greenhouse teachers, whose roles are central to our mission. (We have listed them by name at the foot of the email.) We pray that they may walk humbly with the Lord, and love Him whole-heartedly. We pray that they will skillfully teach the students in their care, and invite their students into the joy and wonder of learning in a supportive community. We pray that they will be eager and diligent fellow-learners alongside their students. We pray they will winsomely shepherd students’ hearts in tandem with parents and in collaboration with the Holy Spirit.

More broadly, we encourage you to recall David’s words in Psalm 145.

Psalm 145:18-19 (ESV)

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

What are the cries of your heart during this season? Pray them out believing that the Lord hears and saves. What are the desires of your heart for yourself, your family, and Greenhouse? Name your desires in His presence, knowing He is near and trusting His Word is true.

Live a Worthy Life

We enter 2024 with thankful hearts for all the Builders who pray for, provide for and promote Greenhouse and its mission.

During the month of January, we invite you to pray especially for our former students and alumni, many of whom are now young adults. We pray that they will follow the Lord, and trust Him wherever He leads. We pray that they will lead by humbly serving those around them. We pray for the Lord’s shepherd-like care of those who have wandered, those who have been wounded, and those who struggle to hear His voice.

Especially if you know former students by name, we invite you to fashion your prayer for them, and your own household, after Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NLT)

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Are there good things which you are being prompted to do by faith? If so, pray that the Lord will empower you to accomplish that which flows from a sincere faith in Him. Pray that the same will be true throughout the Greenhouse community... all for the glory of God.

Flooded with Light!

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we approach the solemn and exuberant celebration of Christmas, let us pray these powerful prayers over our families and the Greenhouse community!

Ephesians 1:15-23 (NLT)

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you.

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 

Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

May the sweep and grandeur of this passage help transform the way we pray for one another.

Experience the Love of Christ!

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we enjoy the colors of autumn and then celebrate Thanksgiving, let us pray this powerful and worshipful prayer over our families and the Greenhouse community! 

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

In the opening sentence, Paul refers to the preceding passage. Take some time, like Paul, to “think of all of this” as you pray, asking what role Greenhouse has to play in the outworking of God’s mysterious eternal plan.

Unstoppable Love!

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we experience the beautiful and subtle shifting of the seasons, please continue praying through Romans 8 with us. We suggest also thoughtfully reading Romans 5 multiple times this month. Before we spotlight verses 38-39, recall the crucial question in verse 35: Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Allow these verses to speak for themselves. Ponder them. Pray that each student at Greenhouse would know the love of God deeply and personally, that they would be “convinced” of it. As we head toward the celebration of the incarnation of this amazing and powerful Love, consider ways we can show this side of God’s love to one another this season.

Overwhelming Victory!

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we begin the academic year, please continue praying through Romans 8 with us. We will focus on this passage over the next two months. We recommend also thoughtfully reading Romans 6 & 7 multiple times. Now let’s spotlight verses 35-37.

Romans 8:35-37 (NLT)

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

We encourage you to pray Paul’s powerful questions and culminating response before the Lord. As you do, in what ways is the Spirit nudging you to respond? Perhaps he will nudge you to pray for those who are experiencing “trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death.” If the Lord brings specific people to mind, consider letting them know that you are praying for them. How else might the Spirit be prompting you to encourage or support these people? 

Please specifically pray that Greenhouse students will know the breadth and depth of God’s love for each of them personally. As we pray for those in our community, contemplate that “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Allow that reality to affect your prayers, your posture of heart, and your active service for our King.

What Shall We Say?

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we wrap up summer and head into the academic year, please join us in praying through Romans 8:31-39.  In fact, we expect to focus on this passage over the next three months. Consider reading the entire chapter of Romans 8 multiple times in the weeks ahead. This month we will spotlight verses 31-34.

Romans 8:31-34

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 

Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Pray Paul’s powerful questions and responses out to the Lord. As you do, consider how the Spirit may be nudging you to respond. Perhaps he will nudge you to seek other scriptural answers to these important questions, responses beyond the obvious initial answers. Perhaps he will nudge you to turn these questions into prayers for your family and loved ones; for the Greenhouse faculty, staff and students; for our community and country. 

As we pray for others in our community, how does the reality that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father “pleading for us” affect your prayers and the posture of your heart?

Seeking the Lord, Experiencing His Blessing

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As summer unfolds with its unique rhythms and adventures, let us pray through portions of Isaiah 55 together. In praying, consider how the Spirit may nudge you to respond.

Isaiah 55:6-13

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.

Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.

Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

---

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

---

“You will live in joy and peace.

The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.

Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.

These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;

They will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

During the month, take some time – alone or in a small group – to turn these powerful words into focused prayers and blessings. For example, “Lord, help me to seek you and call on you because you are near and able to be found.  Show me my wicked ways so that I can, in the power of your Spirit, change and banish any wicked thoughts...”  We encourage you to use each of the three sections to pray for your family and loved ones, Greenhouse faculty, staff, and students, our community and country.

Wisdom in Community

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we transition into summer let us pray for wisdom in navigating our relationships, our travel, and our ministry opportunities. Receive this nudge to consider reading and praying through Proverbs with your family, a friend, or other loved ones this summer. 

Pray for God’s wisdom to flow throughout the Greenhouse community: faculty, staff, students, and parents. Pray that our community will be strengthened as we grow in wisdom. As you prayerfully read the Proverbs, ask the Holy Spirit to prompt you in what…

• to grow personally

• to act on within our community

• to humbly receive from someone else.

Proverbs 1: 1-7

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;

for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—

let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—

for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

At the Year-End Celebrations last week, Grammar 2 students recited Saint Patrick’s prayer. Pray these words over ourselves, each other, and the Greenhouse community on our adventures this summer. Consider praying this daily.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

The Power of Blessing

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we prepare for the end of the school year and transition into summer let us pray through this ancient and timeless blessing from Numbers 6.  We invite you to pray this blessing over the Greenhouse community, students, faculty, and staff. 

Numbers 6:22-26

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

When you think about praying this over someone, who does the Holy Spirit bring to mind? Consider praying it aloud, or better yet, in-person?

Act in tandem with this blessing. Contemplate in what ways may God be inviting you to extend His heart to bless, keep, shine upon, be gracious to, lift up his countenance upon, and offer peace?  To whom is the Spirit nudging you to offer such blessings in the Lord?

Perhaps the same Lord who spoke to Moses is pressing other blessings upon you to pray over our community. Consider Ephesians 3:14-21 for example. Let us build up our community through pronouncing and activating blessings! As we bless each other in the name of the Lord, may we see new growth in our community as we see it all around us in creation.

Love Each Other

Thank you, Greenhouse Builders, for your prayer, promotion, and provision on behalf of our mission. As we prepare to celebrate the passion and resurrection of Jesus, let us use His poignant words to pray over the Greenhouse community this month. 

Consider the iconic image of Christ washing Peter’s feet (below).  In John’s gospel this scene transpires in John 13 at the Last Supper. Ponder what it would be like to have Jesus kneeling on the floor before you with His hands holding and washing your bare feet.

Ford Maddox Brown Jesus Washing Peter's Feet

Now as we pray these words from John 15, let the reality of Jesus’ sacrifice add gravitas to His admonition for His disciples, for us, and for the Greenhouse community to “Love each other.” We have broken up the passage and highlighted some phrases for deliberate reflection as you pray. After you read what Jesus says, let the Holy Spirit guide you to reframe those words into a prayer for yourself, your family, and the Greenhouse community. Consider speaking Jesus’ words and your prayers out loud. Note how the Holy Spirit may prompt you to act as you pray these prayers. Take note of what Jesus says about action and love throughout this passage. 

John 15:9-17

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” 

‘When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” 

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” 

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” 

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” 

“This is my command: Love each other.”

May you remain in the Father’s love and may your joy overflow during the culmination of Lent and into Eastertide.