Wow what a great day at CCAG!
We are truly blessed with an awesome, anointed worship team.
The new song they introduced was great... it's still bouncing around in my head (if only I knew all the words!!!)
Thank you Gary Paschal for blessing us with a great message today. (If you missed it you should get the CD!)
Here are the notes I took from Gary:
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
4 Principles for life:
P - Please God with your choices.
We should ask ourselves about everything in our lives, "God is this what pleases You?"
We must be above what culture is demanding and seek to please God.
L - Let the Spirit Lead Daily!
Are you Full of the Spirit? This is not just for the ability to speak in tongues!
When you're full of the Spirit:
1. You'll be a witness for Christ.
Tell people about the New Life you've been given through Christ.
2. What spills out?
You can tell what you're full of by what spills out!
What spills out of you when things fall apart? When your Full of the Holy Spirit,
He spills out of your life!!!!
A - Ask Somebody.
There is wisdom is a multitude of counselors.
Truth spoken in love brings freedom.
God call us in the Body of Christ to accountability!
N - Never, Never, Never Give Up!
What's the most important decision in life?
Accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.
What's the second most important decision in life?
What are you going to do if you stumble and fall? (will you get up and brush your self off and keep going, or will you just quit?)
God's plan is for you to receive His grace and keep moving forward.
Awesome job Gary.
Alright all you CCAG readers, get out there in your world and let the love of Jesus live through you! God's got a plan for your life. Nothing's Too Hard For God!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Do you Pray?
Just wondering, how often do you pray?
Tonight we started a study based on Philip Yancy's book, "PRAYER - Does It Really Make A Difference?"
In the first chapter, he states, "According to Gallup polls, more Americans will pray this week than will exercise, drive a car, have sex, or go to work. Yancy states that nine in ten of us pray regularly, and three out of four pray everyday."
This got me to wondering, do you pray? How often?
A little further into his book, Yancy writes, "There was a time, Genesis informs us, when God and Adam walked together in the garden and conversed as friends. Nothing seemed more natural to Adam than to commune with the One who had made him, who gave him creative work, who granted his desire for a companion with the lovely gift of Eve. Then, prayer was as natural as conversation with a colleague, or a lover. At the moment of the fall, for Adam and for all who succeeded him, God's presence grew more remote, easier to doubt and even deny."
So do you pray? When you pray is it anything like Adam communing with God?
Can you imagine the intimacy they must have had. Each day Adam had an appointment with God. Genesis says they met. "in the garden, in the cool of the day".
I think it's time we start making daily appointments with our Creator, the One who formed us and desires for us to know Him intimately.
Do you pray, the answer should be yes, often!
Tonight we started a study based on Philip Yancy's book, "PRAYER - Does It Really Make A Difference?"
In the first chapter, he states, "According to Gallup polls, more Americans will pray this week than will exercise, drive a car, have sex, or go to work. Yancy states that nine in ten of us pray regularly, and three out of four pray everyday."
This got me to wondering, do you pray? How often?
A little further into his book, Yancy writes, "There was a time, Genesis informs us, when God and Adam walked together in the garden and conversed as friends. Nothing seemed more natural to Adam than to commune with the One who had made him, who gave him creative work, who granted his desire for a companion with the lovely gift of Eve. Then, prayer was as natural as conversation with a colleague, or a lover. At the moment of the fall, for Adam and for all who succeeded him, God's presence grew more remote, easier to doubt and even deny."
So do you pray? When you pray is it anything like Adam communing with God?
Can you imagine the intimacy they must have had. Each day Adam had an appointment with God. Genesis says they met. "in the garden, in the cool of the day".
I think it's time we start making daily appointments with our Creator, the One who formed us and desires for us to know Him intimately.
Do you pray, the answer should be yes, often!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Weekend Reflections
Wow! What a great day at Christian Center Yesterday.
If you weren't there, we missed you and will be looking for you next week.
Here's a few of my thoughts about Sunday:
1. I love pastoring this amazing church. We had another day of great attendance. As I look back over the last almost 2 years(my 2 year anniversary as pastor at CCAG is coming up April 15) I am truly amazed at what God has allowed me to be a part of.
2. We are so blessed to have the musicians and singers we have.
3. Yesterday's prayer time was very powerful. It always humbles me when people come forward for prayer. Yesterday was no different. I can't wait to see how God answers the prayers we prayed yesterday! Nothing's Too Hard For God!
4. Speaking of Nothing's Too Hard For God. I'm exited to see how many of you are excited about our new campaign. I am believing that we will reach a lot of people this year as we focus on a few areas where we need to be reminded that nothing is too hard for God! (If you'd like a yard sign of a NTHFG wristband let me know. We have ordered more and can place another order if we need too!)
5. Yesterday we had our monthly Board meeting. I was reminded again how God has blessed this church with some great, godly leaders.
6. Hey did you notice this Sunday reflections post was posted on Monday??? At least I made a new post!
7. Have a great week and let love live through you!
If you weren't there, we missed you and will be looking for you next week.
Here's a few of my thoughts about Sunday:
1. I love pastoring this amazing church. We had another day of great attendance. As I look back over the last almost 2 years(my 2 year anniversary as pastor at CCAG is coming up April 15) I am truly amazed at what God has allowed me to be a part of.
2. We are so blessed to have the musicians and singers we have.
3. Yesterday's prayer time was very powerful. It always humbles me when people come forward for prayer. Yesterday was no different. I can't wait to see how God answers the prayers we prayed yesterday! Nothing's Too Hard For God!
4. Speaking of Nothing's Too Hard For God. I'm exited to see how many of you are excited about our new campaign. I am believing that we will reach a lot of people this year as we focus on a few areas where we need to be reminded that nothing is too hard for God! (If you'd like a yard sign of a NTHFG wristband let me know. We have ordered more and can place another order if we need too!)
5. Yesterday we had our monthly Board meeting. I was reminded again how God has blessed this church with some great, godly leaders.
6. Hey did you notice this Sunday reflections post was posted on Monday??? At least I made a new post!
7. Have a great week and let love live through you!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Still Trusting!
This has been as busy week! Which is obvious since I haven't had a blog post in several days. Sorry about that.
This past week, I have had many conversations with people who are going through tough times.
I still can't stop thinking about Psalms 73:25 look how it reads in the New Living Translation: "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."
I don't know what your week has been like, but one thing I know: God is STILL God!
No matter what comes or way, no matter what happens to us, God is faithful and in control!
When your health fails, He is your healer. When spirit grows weak, He is your strength. When your finances seem to be getting worse and it's harder to make ends meet, He is your provider.
What is it you need? God can provide. Nothing is Too Hard for God!
Are you still trusting God?
This past week, I have had many conversations with people who are going through tough times.
I still can't stop thinking about Psalms 73:25 look how it reads in the New Living Translation: "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."
I don't know what your week has been like, but one thing I know: God is STILL God!
No matter what comes or way, no matter what happens to us, God is faithful and in control!
When your health fails, He is your healer. When spirit grows weak, He is your strength. When your finances seem to be getting worse and it's harder to make ends meet, He is your provider.
What is it you need? God can provide. Nothing is Too Hard for God!
Are you still trusting God?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Strength
This weekend I preached a sermon out of Psalms 73. One verse in this incredible psalm stands out to me still (even though I forgot to mention it in the sermon!!!)
Psalms 73:26 My Flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
As I continue to think about this verse, here's what I come up with:
All that I have may fail, my health, my relationships, my ministry, everything, but God will still be my strength. If I put my trust in anything besides God, I will be disappointed.
But when I trust in God, He is always faithful. When I turn to Him to be my strength, He strengthens my health, my relationships, my ministry, everything!
God is my strength, without Him I am nothing!
Psalms 73:26 My Flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
As I continue to think about this verse, here's what I come up with:
All that I have may fail, my health, my relationships, my ministry, everything, but God will still be my strength. If I put my trust in anything besides God, I will be disappointed.
But when I trust in God, He is always faithful. When I turn to Him to be my strength, He strengthens my health, my relationships, my ministry, everything!
God is my strength, without Him I am nothing!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Grace Flood - Part 2
Still be thinking about James 4:6 which reads, "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"
So here's the thing... God has a great supply of grace and He readily makes it available to us!
Grace is not "the big cover up". Grace is the ability of God in me.
John 1:17 says "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
God continually provides His grace to us to empower us to live in obedience to Him and His Word. We need His grace to make through each and every day. Without His grace we are hopeless.
So each day our prayer should be, "God give me more of your grace, enable me to live my life today in complete obedience."
Again, just something to think about!
So here's the thing... God has a great supply of grace and He readily makes it available to us!
Grace is not "the big cover up". Grace is the ability of God in me.
John 1:17 says "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
God continually provides His grace to us to empower us to live in obedience to Him and His Word. We need His grace to make through each and every day. Without His grace we are hopeless.
So each day our prayer should be, "God give me more of your grace, enable me to live my life today in complete obedience."
Again, just something to think about!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Grace Flood!
This morning during my time I regularly call "having coffee with Jesus", which is my prayer time, I was reading in the Book of James when verse 6 of chapter 4 stood out in my mind.
James 4:6 But he [God] gives more us grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
God gives us more grace. God gives us more grace. Yes that is not a typo, I typed it twice. Read it again, God gives us more grace.
Think about it, God has a never ending supply of His grace to see us through any situation, trial, temptation, or whatever we may be facing. When it seems like we can't go on, God gives us more grace. When we feel like we've failed Him again. God gives us more grace. When we can't see through the clouds that seem to hover over our lives, God gives us more grace.
As I thought about this verse, God gives us more grace. I started thinking, why? Why does God give us more grace? Isn't what He's given us already enough?
Then I thought of Paul's writing in 2 Corinthians 12:9; "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
God gives us more grace, because when our strength is gone we need His. The more we rely on His grace and His strength and His provision, the closer we cling to Him. In our moments of weakness, He is strong.
When we can't, He can! When we think it's over, He's not finished!
Just something to think about.
James 4:6 But he [God] gives more us grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
God gives us more grace. God gives us more grace. Yes that is not a typo, I typed it twice. Read it again, God gives us more grace.
Think about it, God has a never ending supply of His grace to see us through any situation, trial, temptation, or whatever we may be facing. When it seems like we can't go on, God gives us more grace. When we feel like we've failed Him again. God gives us more grace. When we can't see through the clouds that seem to hover over our lives, God gives us more grace.
As I thought about this verse, God gives us more grace. I started thinking, why? Why does God give us more grace? Isn't what He's given us already enough?
Then I thought of Paul's writing in 2 Corinthians 12:9; "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
God gives us more grace, because when our strength is gone we need His. The more we rely on His grace and His strength and His provision, the closer we cling to Him. In our moments of weakness, He is strong.
When we can't, He can! When we think it's over, He's not finished!
Just something to think about.
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