It is the responsibility of every christian to try and make things better in every aspect of life and ministry. I learned this lesson from my dad in the early days of his ministry. In every church my father served as pastor he always left it better than he found it.
The people of God need leaders who will challenge them to do things in a way that will enhance ministry and make our churches more effective.
When it comes to our personal lives we should make sure we are growing and doing things in a way that does not put us into ruts and routines. There is still so much to do and learn but we have to keep focused on making things better.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Living Springs Update
I am very excited about some of the things God is doing at Living Springs. I wanted to list a few of the highlights.
The Church unified under phase 1 of our future growth plan. The plan has three general points.
1. To focus our attention on improving our worship experience and first impressions ministry
2. To Focus our attention in becoming a church that excels in evangelism
3. To Focus our attention in becoming a church that provides excellent small group ministry
The Church unified under a call to renovate our current facility and to provide upgrades in all areas.
Over the last 40 days we have baptized 5 people and seen numerous conversions and re dedications. Attendance and giving has been increasing weekly. Living Springs has allowed for Fellowship66 a new church start to use there building at the 1:00 pm time.
Of course all the honor and glory belongs to God.
More to come.
The Church unified under phase 1 of our future growth plan. The plan has three general points.
1. To focus our attention on improving our worship experience and first impressions ministry
2. To Focus our attention in becoming a church that excels in evangelism
3. To Focus our attention in becoming a church that provides excellent small group ministry
The Church unified under a call to renovate our current facility and to provide upgrades in all areas.
Over the last 40 days we have baptized 5 people and seen numerous conversions and re dedications. Attendance and giving has been increasing weekly. Living Springs has allowed for Fellowship66 a new church start to use there building at the 1:00 pm time.
Of course all the honor and glory belongs to God.
More to come.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Wild Weather
To say that the weather hasn't been wild lately here in the US would be an understatement. As I write a hurricane is heading to the Gulf Coast region if Texas. The people who report this stuff say it is a big one. Weather is so very much like life.
If you are going through a storm right now let me write a few things down to try and help encourage you.
1. Storms come to everyone. No one is immune from stormy weather it's just a matter of time.
2. Storms come in different categories. They can go from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane.
3. Storms come and storms end. You can just hold on to the fact that you will get through it.
4. No matter what the size of your storm Jesus cares. It could be a bad headache or cancer. Jesus cares!
5. Jesus will bring you peace in the middle of your storm if you call on Him. He is there!
I encourage you to read any of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and find Gods help through your storm. I encourage you to pray and ask God to help you through your storm. Find a good Christian friend to talk to and pray with. Remember God is for you.
If you are going through a storm right now let me write a few things down to try and help encourage you.
1. Storms come to everyone. No one is immune from stormy weather it's just a matter of time.
2. Storms come in different categories. They can go from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane.
3. Storms come and storms end. You can just hold on to the fact that you will get through it.
4. No matter what the size of your storm Jesus cares. It could be a bad headache or cancer. Jesus cares!
5. Jesus will bring you peace in the middle of your storm if you call on Him. He is there!
I encourage you to read any of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and find Gods help through your storm. I encourage you to pray and ask God to help you through your storm. Find a good Christian friend to talk to and pray with. Remember God is for you.
Friday, September 5, 2008
radom thoughts
I was thinking about the way things sometimes go in life. As a believer in Jesus Christ I have really clung to the verse Romans 8:28 that says "All things work together for the good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose". I am so glad that God knows our hearts. God knows whether we love Him or not. Sometimes God will ask us do you love me? When Peter had made some huge mistakes in his life Jesus asked him three times "Peter do you love Me?"
Even though Peter had failed, God used those failures to help him prepare for new and bigger challenges. There were probably some people who didn't like the fact that Peter went on to better things. Peter had left the ministry after the death of Jesus and ran away when confronted about his faith. Jesus, after His resurrection, told the the women at the empty tomb "go and tell my Disciple and Peter that I am alive". It is interesting that Jesus specifically mentions Peter by name.
God used the bad and the good in Peter's life. God wants the best for us at all times. God does not want us to get away from His will. God never wants us to live in sin. But the word of God reminds us that the Blood of Christ forgives and forgets when true repentence takes place.
Where are you today? Hear are some words of advise from someone who has been there.
1. Repent and begin to walk with God
2. Don't live in the past but learn from it
3. Don't let what others may say dictate your future
4. Allow God to put others in your life to replace those who turn away from you
5. When asked, admit failure but leave it there because it over
6. Realize that the consequences of decision made in the past will still be there
7. Don't be afraid to dream again and don't be afraid to dream bigger
Some very true statements
1. God is good
2. God cares
3. God loves
4. God is there
5. God has a plan
6. God never fails
7. God brings life
Even though Peter had failed, God used those failures to help him prepare for new and bigger challenges. There were probably some people who didn't like the fact that Peter went on to better things. Peter had left the ministry after the death of Jesus and ran away when confronted about his faith. Jesus, after His resurrection, told the the women at the empty tomb "go and tell my Disciple and Peter that I am alive". It is interesting that Jesus specifically mentions Peter by name.
God used the bad and the good in Peter's life. God wants the best for us at all times. God does not want us to get away from His will. God never wants us to live in sin. But the word of God reminds us that the Blood of Christ forgives and forgets when true repentence takes place.
Where are you today? Hear are some words of advise from someone who has been there.
1. Repent and begin to walk with God
2. Don't live in the past but learn from it
3. Don't let what others may say dictate your future
4. Allow God to put others in your life to replace those who turn away from you
5. When asked, admit failure but leave it there because it over
6. Realize that the consequences of decision made in the past will still be there
7. Don't be afraid to dream again and don't be afraid to dream bigger
Some very true statements
1. God is good
2. God cares
3. God loves
4. God is there
5. God has a plan
6. God never fails
7. God brings life
Monday, September 1, 2008
EL
Here are just a few of the names of given to God through the scriptures.
The One God /EL EHED
Mal. 2:10
10"Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
The Faithful God/EL HANITEMEN
Deut. 7:9
9"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
The God of Truth/ EL EMIT
Psalms 31:5
5”Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.
The God of Righteousness/ EL SADDIK
Isa. 45: 21
Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.
The All Sufficient God/ EL SHADDAI
Shad means “breast” in Hebrew. Gen 17:1
1Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.
The Most High God/EL ELYON
Stresses sovereignty and supremacy
Ps. 9:2 I will be glad and exult in You, I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Gen.14:20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." He gave him a tenth of all.
The Everlasting God/ EL OLAM
Gen 21:33
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
The God who sees me/ EL ROI
Gen 16:13
Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees"; for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?"
The One God /EL EHED
Mal. 2:10
10"Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
The Faithful God/EL HANITEMEN
Deut. 7:9
9"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
The God of Truth/ EL EMIT
Psalms 31:5
5”Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.
The God of Righteousness/ EL SADDIK
Isa. 45: 21
Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.
The All Sufficient God/ EL SHADDAI
Shad means “breast” in Hebrew. Gen 17:1
1Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.
The Most High God/EL ELYON
Stresses sovereignty and supremacy
Ps. 9:2 I will be glad and exult in You, I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Gen.14:20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." He gave him a tenth of all.
The Everlasting God/ EL OLAM
Gen 21:33
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
The God who sees me/ EL ROI
Gen 16:13
Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees"; for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?"
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Who is God
I found this work by Ray Stedman and thought it might be helpful
Who Is God?
By Ray C. Stedman
God consists of three persons: Father, Son and Spirit. We cannot experience him in any other way. But though we usually list him as Father, Son and Spirit, the actual experience of God is different. We first meet the Son, by means of the Spirit, and then the Father.
The Father is the source. The Father is unseen, unknown, except as he continually embodies himself (makes himself visible) in the Son. The Son is who we see and hear and know. He is ceaselessly embodying the Father, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. He is perpetually revealing the Father, hitherto invisible.
The Father is logically first, but not chronologically. For the Son exists as long as the Father exists, and is coexistent with the Father. The Father acts through and in the Son. He makes himself visible only in the Son.
It is in the Son that the Father becomes a part of human life, and so is born and lives and dies in human life.
The Spirit, in turn, comes from the Son . He does not embody the Son. On the contrary, God, in issuing from the Son into the Spirit becomes invisible again. The Spirit proceeds silently, endlessly, invisibly from the Son.
But the Son is not the source of the Spirit which proceeds from him. The Father is the source of both the Son and the Spirit. Back of the Son is the Father out of which the Son comes. The Spirit issues and proceeds from the Father, through the Son.
The Son therefore comes out from the invisible Father and perpetually and ever-newly embodies the Father in visible, audible, livable form, and returns again into invisible God in the Spirit.
The Spirit acts invisibly. He continually influences us with regard to the Son. He casts light upon the Son. That is his great function. He helps us to live in the Son which we know, and with reference to the Father whom we expect to see.
Who Is God?
By Ray C. Stedman
God consists of three persons: Father, Son and Spirit. We cannot experience him in any other way. But though we usually list him as Father, Son and Spirit, the actual experience of God is different. We first meet the Son, by means of the Spirit, and then the Father.
The Father is the source. The Father is unseen, unknown, except as he continually embodies himself (makes himself visible) in the Son. The Son is who we see and hear and know. He is ceaselessly embodying the Father, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. He is perpetually revealing the Father, hitherto invisible.
The Father is logically first, but not chronologically. For the Son exists as long as the Father exists, and is coexistent with the Father. The Father acts through and in the Son. He makes himself visible only in the Son.
It is in the Son that the Father becomes a part of human life, and so is born and lives and dies in human life.
The Spirit, in turn, comes from the Son . He does not embody the Son. On the contrary, God, in issuing from the Son into the Spirit becomes invisible again. The Spirit proceeds silently, endlessly, invisibly from the Son.
But the Son is not the source of the Spirit which proceeds from him. The Father is the source of both the Son and the Spirit. Back of the Son is the Father out of which the Son comes. The Spirit issues and proceeds from the Father, through the Son.
The Son therefore comes out from the invisible Father and perpetually and ever-newly embodies the Father in visible, audible, livable form, and returns again into invisible God in the Spirit.
The Spirit acts invisibly. He continually influences us with regard to the Son. He casts light upon the Son. That is his great function. He helps us to live in the Son which we know, and with reference to the Father whom we expect to see.
Monday, August 25, 2008
One True God
Thank God we have the Bible to teach us about who God is. It is truly amazing how the revelation of our God comes forth from the pages of His word. From the very first verse in Genesis we find God. "In the beginning God..."
God clearly teaches us that we are not to put any thing in front of Him. God says that our worship and focus should be Him and Him alone. We do not need the thoughts of men and religion but we do need the inspired word of God.
God teaches us the reality of who He is and has placed in everyone of us that knowledge.
Gods word directs us to the truth that Jesus is God. The God of creation is the God who provides our salvation. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the God of Peter, James and John.
God clearly teaches us that we are not to put any thing in front of Him. God says that our worship and focus should be Him and Him alone. We do not need the thoughts of men and religion but we do need the inspired word of God.
God teaches us the reality of who He is and has placed in everyone of us that knowledge.
Gods word directs us to the truth that Jesus is God. The God of creation is the God who provides our salvation. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the God of Peter, James and John.
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