Freedom from ...

Fear.

I think this is something that plagues us as a society today but we don't talk about it, especially in the church. I know that as Pastor Robert has been speaking in this series about the blessed life, some of these issues have been raised in my own heart. Even the last few days I have been tempted to fear. When it does happen I pray that the Lord would help my unbelief. I ask that He would take what I beleive in my heart and make it override my head.

So this morning as I was studying and doing a little devotional, He kept encouraging me. I read Psalm 34.

Ps 34:4-6

4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me,
freeing me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard me.
He set me free from all my fears.
NLT

Ps 34:8-10

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
9 Let the LORD's people show him reverence,
for those who honor him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing.
NLT

Ps 34:17-20

17 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous face many troubles,
but the LORD rescues them from each and every one.
20 For the LORD protects them from harm —
not one of their bones will be broken!
NLT

Very powerful scripture. Then I was reading in a journal that I wrote years ago and came upon a page that simply had one thing written in it; a quote by Matthew Henry: "Faith in God will set us above the ensnaring fear of man."

Oh yeah, on the way to work I was listening to the new Hillsong album and the song "Healer" came on. There's some inspiration that'll help cure what ails ya.

As I opened the journal from years ago, a bookmark fell out that had a scripture on it:

Ps 28:7
7 The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger.
I trust in him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
NLT
then I opened my prayer journal and was able to write down several answers to prayer!

Let me tell you, whatever it is, He is able! If you need encouraging today, just spend a little time with the Lord; He's good for it.

Friday mornings

Okay, who likes Cracker Barrel? If you are raising your hand then let me invite you to our Friday morning breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Grapevine. We usually meet at 8 am and just hang out and have breakfast. No Agenda. Just good times with friends. So, with that said, we are having breakfast tomorrow and you are more than welcome to come, in fact, consider this a formal invitation.

Oh the places you'll go!

Howdy everybody!

Here we are on the cusp of another great school year. Can't you just smell walking into the hallway of your school as it has been freshly painted and cleaned all summer? Maybe that's just me. Anyhoo, Summer has been crazy busy and we are now settling down into the final preparation for the fall and spring. We've got several things going on this fall that I am really excited about and I want you to know about.

Parents meet and greet for new 6th graders - August 17th.
Pastor Zach Neese will be preaching at this AMPED for the last service in the Turn Up the Heat series. Kam and I will be hosting parents of the new 6th graders that night and we will have Pastors Ken Jackson and Jelani Lewis with us. Moving up to Jr High is a really big deal for these new 6th graders and their parents and we want to really make them feel welcome.

AMPED Olympics - August 24.
Our own version of the olympics, AMPED style! I am an Olympic nerd. I love to watch the Olympics on tv and online. This will be a crazy fun night where the kids are split into teams and compete in fun games against each other. We really need all of you there to lead and facilitate the games with the students.

Back to School Bash with Skit Guys - August 31.
For those of you that were here last year when we had the Skit Guys, they are hilarious. You won't want to miss this night. We will also give away a free Nintendo Wii to the student that brings the most first time guests. The students will have been in school for a week at this time and we really hope they connect with friends they haven's seen all summer and invite them to come.

There are more events to come but these are the immediate ones that I really want you to be aware of.

I know this becomes a very busy time of year for everyone, but please do your best to make sure you are here at AMPED. If we didn't need you we would tell you. Know that all of you are valued and needed at AMPED. If you are anticipating not making it to AMPED, please let me know at least a week in advance so we can make preparations in your absence.

Have a great week!