UNSTOPPABLE Journarl

Nehemiah 1:4—When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

I want to follow-up with you from Sunday.  I spoke about our UNSTOPPABLE Vision.  God calls you to make a difference for Him.  He looks at Ponca City, and asks one question; “Will my people, who are called by my name, stand in the gap and TRANSFORM Ponca City?”

Have you made your list of 3 people that you are going to invited to church this Sunday?  Have you invited them yet? If not, WHY?

Have you looked around the room to see who is hurting?  Have you reached out to them, yet?  If not, WHY?

Johann Von Goethe said, “What is not started today, is not finished tomorrow.”  Brookfield lets get to work!

God’s call shouldn’t just lead you to tears, it should lead you to action.  Call someone this week!  Pray for someone this week!  Pray with someone this week!  Ask God to give you favor with those that you are inviting to church.

Remember we were called to GO!

Fight the good fight,

 

 

UNSTOPPABLE Vision

This Sunday we are starting our brand new series, UNSTOPPABLE.  This Sunday is about Vision.

Nehemiah was a man that God used in a mighty way.  When he first felt God’s call on his life, he wept, then he prayed and fasted.  What would you do about God’s calling in your life?  Do you feel it?  Do you desire more God?

Here is a phrase for your life. IF NOT NOW, WHEN?  IF NOT ME, WHO?  God calls people to an awesome and wonderful life, but if we don’t stand up and take our calling, we live outside of God’s blessing.

We used excuses all the time, and we say that they are valid reason for not accepting God’s call.  BUT I want you to know something.  A God-sized vision will not lack a God-sized supply.

Walk by faith today!

 

It’s a Steal

Sunday I taught (with hoarse voice and all) about how we steal.  I wonder . . . if we look at things differently know.  We steal time from our children.  We steal work from our bosses.  We steal from the Church.  We steal love from our spouses and family.

I think that we get so consumed with ourselves that consumption is all that we can do.  We are consumers of God, and not followers.  We are consumers of church and not servants.  We are consumers of relationships, and not producers.

I still have the same challenge, “Am I willing to give more than I take.”  What about you?

 

WOW! What season is it?

It’s November, it is getting colder, the leaves are changing colors; and I know that it is only a matter of time before winter is here.  I am not a huge fan of winter, I love summer!  Every year when winter approaches I think of the C.S. Lewis quote from The Lion, the Witch, and hte Wardrobe, “It’s always winter, but never Christmas.”

So many people live their lives that way.  Just like our world has seasons, so does your spiritual life.  It is easy to fall into the duldrums and just coast; BUT you were created for so much more.  I realize that you can’t always be green and growing; but don’t just sit in the wasteland of winter and never expect anything.  Get ready for “spring” and start planting, so that you can reap a harvest in the “fall”.

Read God’s word.  Pray. Go to Church. Get involved.  Don’t just sit there . . . DO SOMETHING!

 

What are we here for?

The other night I talked with a good friend of mine.  He told me of another church in town that has recently had 3 or 4 influential people transfer to their church.  They left another church in town and went to this one.

In Ponca City, I feel that we have let the Spiritual Disconected down.  It seems to me that we are more interested in influential people coming through our doors, people who can give more money to our church, people who are successful in life; but we don’t go out and look for people who God misses most.

This is just my thoughts, but I want people to know this about me and about the church that I lead.  We are more interested in transforming lives than we are in making money. My dream is still the same . . . I want to make an eternal difference in Ponca City!

How about you?

 

But, I Thought This Was a Good Thing . . .

As I am reading this week about King Saul, I am caught and cautioned by how much the American Church resembles him.  Sometimes as I read about King Saul . . . I am embarassed by what it reveals in my life.

Do I try to Justify my short comings?  Do you?  The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:14, that “the devil masquerades as an angel of light.”  What does that mean?  That Satan makes sin look OK.  King Saul justified his sin by saying he was going to make a sacrifice to God.  We justify our sin by saying . . . “Its just temporary”  “If God didn’t want me to do this, then he would take away my desire.” “I have no other choices.”

Let’s stop making excuses and start obeying the WORD of God!

 

King Saul – Day 1 on the job

I find it interesting that King Saul hid from the people the day that he was announced as King.  I wonder in my life, or in your life, how many times we hide from doing what God calls us to do.

Saul looked the part of a king, he stood head and shoulders above the rest; but he never realized that he truly needed to lean on God.  Does this sound like your story?  Does it sound like my story?

What areas of your life, are you not relying on God?

 

Back From Vacation

Terri, Jack, Lance, and I had an AWESOME vacation.  We went and visited my brother and his family in Northern Indiana and stopped at the Lincoln museum on the way home.

As I was feeding Lance at the Lincoln Museum, I had an AWESOME worship experience.  They were playing background music on the PA, and I recognized the song.  They were playing Amazing Grace, over and over again.

So as I toured the museum, I could see that the hand of God was upon Lincoln and our great country during those dark days of the civil war.  How does God speak to you through ordinary events in your life?

 

Forgiveness

As I pray and read the Bible to get ready for this week’s message.  I am struck how Jesus defended the weak.  He fulfilled Isaiah 61: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom fot the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

The Enemy loves to tell us that God can’t forgive us, and so it is useless to ask; but that isn’t what Jesus tells us.  Jesus said that he was sent to save (forgive) the world, not to condemn.  I wonder what lies the Enemy will tell us now that we have exposed them all!

 

WOW!

I am not a builder, but I am so amazed at how well the foyer expansion project is going.  In just two weeks, we have built a wall, and knocked down three walls.

Terri, the boys, and I took three days off last week, and when we got back I could hardly recognize the place.  I can’t wait until we are done & and I can’t wait to see how God blesses our church.

It is really neat the way that the people have come together to work as a team.