change

Do you resist change? When I was younger I loved change. Let me re-phrase, I liked good change; change that benefited me. As I grow older I have learned that change, no matter if it is perceived good or bad, is necessary. Not just every once in a blue moon change, but consistent and constant change. In fact, don't even think of it in the term of "change", but think of it as growth. Growth is always a byproduct of living, of health. If there is no growth, then there is dying or decaying.

The next time change comes your way, think of this:

Rom 5:3-5
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us — they help us learn to endure. 4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
NLT

wow

are we really surprised?

http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/media/newsreleases/nr2009/sphstudy.htm

worship

When did you first adopt the worship style you have now? I mean when you are in a service and you have the opportunity to worship alongside the music, how do you express yourself, if you do at all? I ask you and want you to also ask yourself these questions:

Am I expressive in worship?
Why / why not?
Can you remember when you first started to be like that?
Did you have any influences?

Keep these in mind as we go into our final service on the topic of worship this Sunday. We are going for an experience that fully involves you getting fully involved. I challenge you, if you don't classify yourself as someone who "gets into it", allow yourself to have some freedom this week and lose it all. As the scriptures say, "I will be even more undignified than this" 2 Sam 6:22.

Ask

Ask the Lord to start a revolution in your life today, starting in your heart. Ask Him what that looks like.

new

I gotta tell ya, God is so great and his mercies are new everymorning! I'm not saying this from the perspective of a person that always has great days, I'm coming as someone who didn't have a great day yesterday but this morning the Father has shown ways to shower His love on me and my family, even if it is just in the small ways that most would miss.

I want to remind you to keep praying. Spend some time with the Father to foster that intimate relationship with Him and give Him the things that worry and concern you the most. He really wants to lavish His affection on you. Let Him.

pray

"we need to pray, just to make it today", okay, sorry for the MC Hammer reference. Just a little note about our reliance on God. Remember, without Him, nothing is possible; with Him, ALL things are possible. So don't worry about what you see around you, just rest in who He is and y0our relationship with Him. He's got your back.

goals part 1

In a previous post I spoke about some goals and what we need to be good at this year. So I am interested to know, as I talke about goals, what do you think are the goals we need to have this year? What is the list numbered by priority? I sat down to type this out with a specific goal in mind, but realized just after I typed the title that there is one that goes before all else; love.

You see goals may be the what, but love is the "why". We need to know "why" before "what" because the why motivates us to do any "what".

Love for God should motivate and drive anything, nay, everything we do. That love for god will cause an unmistakeable love for each other. Our goals this year have to do with people. It is our love for people, centered around Jr High students, that will give us excellence as we reach our goals. If love is not the motivating force, it's all done out of vanity and pride, and God will not be in it. I want God to bless all of our efforts and even do more than we can alone.

Number one goal? Be driven by an unstoppable love for God.