I know...I am doing a terrible job at keeping my blog updated! Sorry about that.
Anyway, today Perry Noble had something in his blog that was amazing. It was a quote he read from Brian Houston. I wanted to put it in my blog too...
“The church that I see is a church of influence. A church so large in size that the city and nation cannot ignore it.
A church growing so quickly that buildings struggle to contain the increase.
I see a church whose heartfelt praise and worship touches heaven and changes earth. Worship which influences the praises of people throughout the earth exalting Christ with powerful songs of faith and hope.
I see a church whose alters are constantly filled with repentant sinners responding to Christ’s call to salvation.
Yes, the church that I see is so dependent on the Holy Spirit that nothing will stop it not stand against it.
A church whose people are unified, praying and full of God’s Spirit.
The church that I see has a message so clear that lives are being changed forever and potential is fulfilled though the power of His Word. A message beamed to the peoples of the earth through their television screens.
I see a church so compassionate that people are drawn from impossible situations into a loving and friendly circle of hope, where answers are found and acceptance is given.
I see a people so kingdom-minded that they will count whatever the cost and pay whatever the price to see revival sweep this land.
The church that I see is a church to committed to raising, training and empowering a leadership generation to reap the end-time harvest that all its ministries are consumed with this goal.
I see a church whose head is Jesus, whose help is the Holy Spirit and whose focus is the Great Commission.
Yes, the church that I see could well be our church.”
Wow! This could be our church... let's make it happen!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Surviving A Crisis
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
3 Levels of growth God desires to take us to:
1. Mature
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature...
Mature is to be fit for the purpose and the assignment that God has for us in our life.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
“God is too good to be unkind. He is to wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand I can always trust His heart.” — Charles Spurgeon
When crisis comes into our lives and we’re mature in Christ, the crisis doesn’t throw us into a panic and we don’t bail on God.
Maturity = unwavering consistency.
2. Complete
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete...
Crisis will do something to your character — it will always introduce you to yourself.
Crisis reveals your integrity (who you are in the dark)
Completeness comes through perseverance — not only the ability to bear things, but also the ability to turn them into greatness or glory.
Completeness comes through contentment:
Philippians 4:11, 12 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
3. Not Lacking Anything
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
When we learn to face crisis correctly, we experience survival frequently.
God is our invisible support.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
When we have nothing to lean on or cling to, we’re in good shape because we have nothing to reach for except God.
Battles produce maturity — maturity brings completeness — completeness is lacking nothing.
We need to allow our faith to carry us through times of crisis.
3 Levels of growth God desires to take us to:
1. Mature
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature...
Mature is to be fit for the purpose and the assignment that God has for us in our life.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
“God is too good to be unkind. He is to wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand I can always trust His heart.” — Charles Spurgeon
When crisis comes into our lives and we’re mature in Christ, the crisis doesn’t throw us into a panic and we don’t bail on God.
Maturity = unwavering consistency.
2. Complete
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete...
Crisis will do something to your character — it will always introduce you to yourself.
Crisis reveals your integrity (who you are in the dark)
Completeness comes through perseverance — not only the ability to bear things, but also the ability to turn them into greatness or glory.
Completeness comes through contentment:
Philippians 4:11, 12 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
3. Not Lacking Anything
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
When we learn to face crisis correctly, we experience survival frequently.
God is our invisible support.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
When we have nothing to lean on or cling to, we’re in good shape because we have nothing to reach for except God.
Battles produce maturity — maturity brings completeness — completeness is lacking nothing.
We need to allow our faith to carry us through times of crisis.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Nothing
Lately I've been thinking about Jeremiah 32:26-27 which says, "Then this message came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is`anything too hard for me?" (NLT)
This is the theme of the Assemblies of God media plan entitled, "Nothing's Too Hard For God".
This thought has been rocking my world lately. Everyday, we meet people who are facing touch situations or circumstances. They need to know that Nothing Is Too Hard For God.
Just recently I met a teenage girl who asked me to pray for her dad because he had a tumor. I prayed and gave her a bracelet that says, Nothing's Too Hard For God. Then I encouraged her that when she wore the bracelet to pray for her dad and believe that Nothing's Too Hard For God.
I also met another couple that is going through some tough circumstances. They told me a pastor actually refused to pray for them concerning what they are going through because he didn't believe in the institution offering them help! That makes me so angry! People don't need a judge, they need someone to be Jesus with skin on to them!
I've visited this couple, gave then a NTHFG bracelet, and now I am praying that God proves to them that Nothing Is Too Hard For Him!
Think about it...Is there anything we face that God can't help us overcome or delver us from?
This is the theme of the Assemblies of God media plan entitled, "Nothing's Too Hard For God".
This thought has been rocking my world lately. Everyday, we meet people who are facing touch situations or circumstances. They need to know that Nothing Is Too Hard For God.
Just recently I met a teenage girl who asked me to pray for her dad because he had a tumor. I prayed and gave her a bracelet that says, Nothing's Too Hard For God. Then I encouraged her that when she wore the bracelet to pray for her dad and believe that Nothing's Too Hard For God.
I also met another couple that is going through some tough circumstances. They told me a pastor actually refused to pray for them concerning what they are going through because he didn't believe in the institution offering them help! That makes me so angry! People don't need a judge, they need someone to be Jesus with skin on to them!
I've visited this couple, gave then a NTHFG bracelet, and now I am praying that God proves to them that Nothing Is Too Hard For Him!
Think about it...Is there anything we face that God can't help us overcome or delver us from?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Post Election Statement
Great words from Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God.
The election, at long last, is over.
As fellow believers, we offer to our new leaders the pledge of our prayers and our commitment to be good citizens in this wonderful land that the Lord has privileged us to live in.
In this moment as I talk with you, I do not know the results of the election because this was recorded prior to the election. I wanted to bring these comments to you without knowing who won – because our responsibilities as Christians transcend politics – and we must be who we are regardless of who wins.
The first century Christians lived in a time far different than ours.
The government was a repressive dictatorship. Life was cheap. Slavery was practiced. Infanticide was common. Romans chapter one outlines the steep and deep degradation morally and ethically in the prevailing culture.
Christians then, unlike us, did not have the right to vote. In fact, throughout the first 200 plus years of the Church, Christians were a persecuted minority. Yet, those early Christians turned the world upside down and right side up. How did they do it? Through the ballot box? No. Through electing leaders that were preferential to their point of view? No. They changed the world by being what Jesus called them to be – salt and light.
I must confess that during these past long months of electioneering, I let the externals of
politics take too much of my time and interest. Perhaps you did as well. It’s easy to get so overly
absorbed in politics that we lose sight of the fact that our citizenship is really in heaven – that
governments, presidents, senators, and political leaders come and go – but the kingdom of God lasts forever.
I am not saying that we should not be involved, as citizens, in political issues; but I think it is
vital that we keep perspective. Our focus should be more on winning people to Jesus than winning elections. We need to be more concerned about the progress of the Gospel than the progress of a political party.
I want to call you to refocus on the health of the church – that the real answers to eternal
issues lie not in the government – but in a revitalized body of believers that transforms neighborhoods and communities through our witness in word and deed.
For more from Dr. Wood go to http://www.ag.org/.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Something to think about
Received this e-mail from a friend this morning. Thought it was good enough to publish on my blog . Makes you think!
Ever wonder if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several time a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think, where are our priorities? And no dropped calls!
Ever wonder if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several time a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think, where are our priorities? And no dropped calls!
Monday, November 3, 2008
What a day!
Sunday was a great day!
We had an amazing attendance.
We baptized 4 people. Always fun welcoming people into the Kingdom.
One of my great friends blessed me with tickets to the Dickie's 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. That's quite an experience!
While at the race, I noticed several people around me wearing headphones attached to a scanner. They were listening to the different racing teams talk to their drivers.
This got me to thinking. I wasn't able to hear what was going on because I didn't have one of those radios! Now here's the thing. How often do we not hear what God is saying to us because we aren't tuned in. I enjoyed the race without having a radio to listen to the teams and drivers communicate. But I wouldn't want to go even one day without being tuned in to what God is saying to me.
Are you tuning in and listening as God speaks to you? How does He speak? Through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, through pastors, teachers and through people around us!
Tune in and listen to God. Especially as you head out to vote tomorrow. Pray before casting a ballot and let God lead you in voting for the leaders He has appointed for our nation, state and city!
We had an amazing attendance.
We baptized 4 people. Always fun welcoming people into the Kingdom.
One of my great friends blessed me with tickets to the Dickie's 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. That's quite an experience!
While at the race, I noticed several people around me wearing headphones attached to a scanner. They were listening to the different racing teams talk to their drivers.
This got me to thinking. I wasn't able to hear what was going on because I didn't have one of those radios! Now here's the thing. How often do we not hear what God is saying to us because we aren't tuned in. I enjoyed the race without having a radio to listen to the teams and drivers communicate. But I wouldn't want to go even one day without being tuned in to what God is saying to me.
Are you tuning in and listening as God speaks to you? How does He speak? Through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, through pastors, teachers and through people around us!
Tune in and listen to God. Especially as you head out to vote tomorrow. Pray before casting a ballot and let God lead you in voting for the leaders He has appointed for our nation, state and city!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Enough Already!
I have lost count of how many negative e-mails I have received concerning this Presidential election.
So just for a moment allow me to get on a soapbox!
Obama is not Hitler and not the anti-Christ.I didn't vote for him nor do I agree with his views. However, if he is elected as president I will accept that as God's divine will for our nation. Romans 13:1-2 reminds us that all authority is established by God. Therefore we should pray for our leaders and authority's and we are to submit to and honor them even if we don't like them or agree with them. So we right now should simply be praying for our nation, and for John McCain and Barak Obama.
The important thing is get out and vote. I don't care which candidate you vote for but just vote.
Then after the votes are counted commit to pray for our President.
And whether your candidate wins or not, decide that you are going to honor and submit to the position of authority over us. When we as followers of Christ lead by example it speaks volumes into the lives of the people who are watching us. When we bad mouth, disrespect, and rebel against authorities, this too speaks volumes to those who are watching us.
Okay, I feel better now. Guess I can get off of the soapbox now.
So just for a moment allow me to get on a soapbox!
Obama is not Hitler and not the anti-Christ.I didn't vote for him nor do I agree with his views. However, if he is elected as president I will accept that as God's divine will for our nation. Romans 13:1-2 reminds us that all authority is established by God. Therefore we should pray for our leaders and authority's and we are to submit to and honor them even if we don't like them or agree with them. So we right now should simply be praying for our nation, and for John McCain and Barak Obama.
The important thing is get out and vote. I don't care which candidate you vote for but just vote.
Then after the votes are counted commit to pray for our President.
And whether your candidate wins or not, decide that you are going to honor and submit to the position of authority over us. When we as followers of Christ lead by example it speaks volumes into the lives of the people who are watching us. When we bad mouth, disrespect, and rebel against authorities, this too speaks volumes to those who are watching us.
Okay, I feel better now. Guess I can get off of the soapbox now.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Can you see where you are going?
So I was thinking the other day...(I know scary huh?)
Anyway... Psalms 119:105 says "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
To rephrase this scripture, the Bible is our flashlight that helps us see where we are going.
So the thing I was thinking about is this: How many times do we find ourselves too busy to read the Bible. Each day we make time for things like, Facebook or MySpace, Instant Messaging, Text Messaging, reading e-mail, and news stories, and other pointless information on the Internet...yet we say we don't have time to read our Bible!
If God's Word is a light for our path, shouldn't we keep it with us and use it often? Just a thought.
Instead of stumbling around in the darkness, why not turn on the light!
Anyway... Psalms 119:105 says "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
To rephrase this scripture, the Bible is our flashlight that helps us see where we are going.
So the thing I was thinking about is this: How many times do we find ourselves too busy to read the Bible. Each day we make time for things like, Facebook or MySpace, Instant Messaging, Text Messaging, reading e-mail, and news stories, and other pointless information on the Internet...yet we say we don't have time to read our Bible!
If God's Word is a light for our path, shouldn't we keep it with us and use it often? Just a thought.
Instead of stumbling around in the darkness, why not turn on the light!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Death of the Blackberry!
Early Friday morning...my blackberry died!
If you've been trying to reach my by calling my cell #, you probably got my voicemail, which I can't check because I HAVE NO CELL PHONE.
The people at the AT&T store very very uncooperative, so here I sit Monday morning waiting on AT&T to send out a replacement that I'm not even sure is what I needed, but how could I know since the guy at the AT&T store blew me off and had me call the warranty 800#.
Anyway, there's a bit of frustration in this post...I am not a big AT&T wireless fan right now.
Guess I need to pray that the Lord will help me forgive and forget.
But boy, it sure is frustrating not having a cell phone for several days.
So if you need to contact me, call my home # or the church. I always at one of either of these places.
Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations to my blog readers ( if there are any!!!!!!)
If you've been trying to reach my by calling my cell #, you probably got my voicemail, which I can't check because I HAVE NO CELL PHONE.
The people at the AT&T store very very uncooperative, so here I sit Monday morning waiting on AT&T to send out a replacement that I'm not even sure is what I needed, but how could I know since the guy at the AT&T store blew me off and had me call the warranty 800#.
Anyway, there's a bit of frustration in this post...I am not a big AT&T wireless fan right now.
Guess I need to pray that the Lord will help me forgive and forget.
But boy, it sure is frustrating not having a cell phone for several days.
So if you need to contact me, call my home # or the church. I always at one of either of these places.
Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations to my blog readers ( if there are any!!!!!!)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
What else can they fry?
Just got home from a day at the State Fair of Texas with my family.
Couldn't believe all the food booths and the things they offered. Living in the south is great!!!
I saw a booth that had chicken fried bacon, another one offered fired lattes, still another had fried banana splits, and even fried s'mores and fried cheesecake. And if that wasn't enough they even had something a bit healthier...fried green beans.
I think I heard my arteries clogging just walking through the food booths.
What's even worse is I didn't get to try any of the things I listed above.
But buddy, that chicken fried bacon sure was tempting!!!
I guess here in the south you can fry anything!
Just thought I'd share some of the sights and smells I experienced today.
Couldn't believe all the food booths and the things they offered. Living in the south is great!!!
I saw a booth that had chicken fried bacon, another one offered fired lattes, still another had fried banana splits, and even fried s'mores and fried cheesecake. And if that wasn't enough they even had something a bit healthier...fried green beans.
I think I heard my arteries clogging just walking through the food booths.
What's even worse is I didn't get to try any of the things I listed above.
But buddy, that chicken fried bacon sure was tempting!!!
I guess here in the south you can fry anything!
Just thought I'd share some of the sights and smells I experienced today.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
that which cost me nothing
Ran across this while cleaning out some old youth ministry files.
It comes from a resource I used to receive from Jeanne Mayo.
I is taken from 2 Samuel 24:24 where David says, "I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing."
Thanks "Aunt Jeanne" for sharing your awesome resources. (She's not really my aunt but that is what I call her. f.y.i.)
It comes from a resource I used to receive from Jeanne Mayo.
I is taken from 2 Samuel 24:24 where David says, "I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing."
Thanks "Aunt Jeanne" for sharing your awesome resources. (She's not really my aunt but that is what I call her. f.y.i.)
On the windows of my heart,
I hear the tappings...
Voices, needs, and drives
That peer through the "glass" of my heart
And beg for entrance to my soul.
"The fantasy dream"...
"The fantasy desire"...
"The fantasy person"...
BUT I WILL NOT GIVE TO THE LORD MY GOD THAT WHICH COSTS ME NOTHING.
For though the tappings be quite constant
And the glass be fogged by tears...
I have a higher "fantasy" than most--
a "fantasy" of pleasing HIM...
The God of every dream I hold...
The God of every desire I pulse...
The God of every person I pursue...
And though my "fantasy" may cause me
Lonely moments...
Unfinished sentences...
And even aching's from within...
I WILL NOT GIVE TO THE LORD MY GOD THAT WHICH COSTS ME NOTHING.
And what of you, my friend?
How high is your "price tag?"...
How quickly will you sell your soul?...
Or your moment?
Or your worth?
You scream of the cost
And selfishly murmur to yourself
Of the "price tag" of it all...
Yet the God of all my "fantasies"
Never said it would be easy...
Never said the crowd would cheer...
Never even said the crowds would know...
He just quietly, patiently
Taps at the window of your heart...
Peers through the glass to your soul...
And soberly whispers,
"Will you also go away?"
I pause for a moment...
Hold my breath...
Raise my eyes to His...
And slowly answer...
I answer slowly because
Answers that are given quickly
Are often forgotten quickly ...
"I WILL NOT GIVE THEE, LIVING GOD, THAT WHICH COSTS ME NOTHING."
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Good Day vs. Great Day
Do you know the difference between a good day and a great day?
A good day is any day the sun comes up, you wake up, get to spend time with your family, maybe even get to go to work. A good day can be every day of the week. A good day is every day.
A great day is one of those good days, but with a little something extra. A great day is any day you get to lead someone in accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This could happen every day!
Each Sunday people ask me if we had a good day. It's always a good day. Any day we get to meet together, worship an amazing God and be challenged by His Word is a good day.
But a great day is when God takes the mess of a sermon I have prepared and uses it to break down the walls in some one's life, and at the end of the service they decide to surrender their life to Christ. That is a great Sunday. Today was a great Sunday...I'm looking forward to next Sunday, hoping it too will be a Great Sunday and the first day as a Christ Follower for someone who came in looking for something!
Jesus makes everyday a Great Day!
A good day is any day the sun comes up, you wake up, get to spend time with your family, maybe even get to go to work. A good day can be every day of the week. A good day is every day.
A great day is one of those good days, but with a little something extra. A great day is any day you get to lead someone in accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This could happen every day!
Each Sunday people ask me if we had a good day. It's always a good day. Any day we get to meet together, worship an amazing God and be challenged by His Word is a good day.
But a great day is when God takes the mess of a sermon I have prepared and uses it to break down the walls in some one's life, and at the end of the service they decide to surrender their life to Christ. That is a great Sunday. Today was a great Sunday...I'm looking forward to next Sunday, hoping it too will be a Great Sunday and the first day as a Christ Follower for someone who came in looking for something!
Jesus makes everyday a Great Day!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Law of Compensation
Read this incredible devotion this morning by Leroy Brownlow entitled "The Law of Compensation." It was based on Jesus words in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
The devotion stated that the world operates on the bases of paying each other by what we receive from each other. If someone smiles at us we usually return a smile. If they frown, we might frown back. If we sing, we might be invitedto join the choir. If we think, someone might ask our advice. If we love each other, we will be surrounded by loving people. And if we criticize, hate, and discriminate, we will suffer the same from those who are around us. The Law of Compensation.
Sounds a lot like the Law of sowing and reaping!
This week I've been thinking about what it means to let Jesus "shine" in us and through us.
I tried a little experiment with a total stranger. I kept seeing this person as I was walking around... one time around I just smiled at the guy. He hadn't looked very happy all morning. When I smiled at him, slowly a smile crept across his face! The Law of Compensation.
For the rest of the day I kept remembering two different songs:
1 - "Shine, make them wonder what you've got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking in."
2 - "Shine on, shine on, and on to something new, its long and overdue, I will remember you.
Shine on, shine on."
So today as you go about your day, think about the law of compensation and remember, if you've got Jesus in your heart... "Shine on"!!
The devotion stated that the world operates on the bases of paying each other by what we receive from each other. If someone smiles at us we usually return a smile. If they frown, we might frown back. If we sing, we might be invitedto join the choir. If we think, someone might ask our advice. If we love each other, we will be surrounded by loving people. And if we criticize, hate, and discriminate, we will suffer the same from those who are around us. The Law of Compensation.
Sounds a lot like the Law of sowing and reaping!
This week I've been thinking about what it means to let Jesus "shine" in us and through us.
I tried a little experiment with a total stranger. I kept seeing this person as I was walking around... one time around I just smiled at the guy. He hadn't looked very happy all morning. When I smiled at him, slowly a smile crept across his face! The Law of Compensation.
For the rest of the day I kept remembering two different songs:
1 - "Shine, make them wonder what you've got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking in."
2 - "Shine on, shine on, and on to something new, its long and overdue, I will remember you.
Shine on, shine on."
So today as you go about your day, think about the law of compensation and remember, if you've got Jesus in your heart... "Shine on"!!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Here we go again
Alright,
Several people have asked what happened to my blog.
I deleted it! Didn't feel like anyone was reading it and thought I could find a better way to use my time and share my thoughts.
I WAS WRONG!!!
So today I am creating a new blog. I hope that it encourages and blesses you. And most importantly helps you grow closer to Jesus.
Hope to see you all tomorrow (Sunday, 9/21) as we begin our new series CSI (Christians Should Investigate).
Several people have asked what happened to my blog.
I deleted it! Didn't feel like anyone was reading it and thought I could find a better way to use my time and share my thoughts.
I WAS WRONG!!!
So today I am creating a new blog. I hope that it encourages and blesses you. And most importantly helps you grow closer to Jesus.
Hope to see you all tomorrow (Sunday, 9/21) as we begin our new series CSI (Christians Should Investigate).
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