We had a awesome day at the Springs this morning. 5 people gave their hearts to Jesus during our invitation. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Fellowship Lunch. We had great food provided by our mission partners. We tried out our new fellowship hall set up and it was a huge success.
I began a new series called LOST and FOUND. I am convinced that the message of salvation must be preached weekly. People need to have an opportunity to recieve there salvation through Jesus our Savior.
The Holy Spirit must be present in our services so that the convicting power of God will produce repentance and life change. I believe the Bible is Gods complete and trustworthy word. We can trust the Bible to be inspired of God and without error. I will stand on the Word of the Lord.
The Roman Road
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned"
Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death"
Romans 10:13 "Those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved"
Is your name in the Book of Life... Trust Christ today
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Trusting God Through The Transition
We need to keep believing
We need to keep praying
We need to keep attempting new ideas
We need to be positive
We need to keep working
We need to see the big picture
We need to encouarge ourselves in the Lord
We need to be listening to the whispers of the Spirit
We need to do the right things
We need to TRUST GOD
We need to keep praying
We need to keep attempting new ideas
We need to be positive
We need to keep working
We need to see the big picture
We need to encouarge ourselves in the Lord
We need to be listening to the whispers of the Spirit
We need to do the right things
We need to TRUST GOD
Friday, November 4, 2011
If I Could Do It All Over
Billy Graham was asked what he would do different if he had the chance. Here is what he said.
I'd spend more time at home with my family
I'd study more and preach less.
I wouldn't have taken so many speaking engagements.
I would have steered clear of politics.
What about you? What would you do over? When everything is said and done what changes would you make? With a question like this the only one who can address it is you. So I begin. As I reveal my list think about your answers. These are not in any specific order of importance.
I would have applied myself to be a better student when in school.
I would have spent more time with my children when they were younger.
I would have taken more time off from working and traveled with my family.
I would have spent more time in prayer and in the word.
I would have built better relationships with people
I would have been more informed about money(saving and investing)
I would have been a better husband to my wife.
I would have taken better care of my health.
Now for the message in this message. Whatever changes I wish I could make I must not dwell on the mistakes but I need to take steps to improve the areas that I can still impact. As long as we are in this world we can try to make improvements.
I'd spend more time at home with my family
I'd study more and preach less.
I wouldn't have taken so many speaking engagements.
I would have steered clear of politics.
What about you? What would you do over? When everything is said and done what changes would you make? With a question like this the only one who can address it is you. So I begin. As I reveal my list think about your answers. These are not in any specific order of importance.
I would have applied myself to be a better student when in school.
I would have spent more time with my children when they were younger.
I would have taken more time off from working and traveled with my family.
I would have spent more time in prayer and in the word.
I would have built better relationships with people
I would have been more informed about money(saving and investing)
I would have been a better husband to my wife.
I would have taken better care of my health.
Now for the message in this message. Whatever changes I wish I could make I must not dwell on the mistakes but I need to take steps to improve the areas that I can still impact. As long as we are in this world we can try to make improvements.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Pitfalls to be Avoided
We Learn from where others have already been. Paul was making the point in I Corinthians 10 that the people of Israel had traveled the road of life and had made some really bad choices and he has a warning for us. Just because we have trusted in the Lord to be our Savior we still have to make the right choices in our everyday walk. Here is a breakdown of the Pitfalls we should avoid.
We need to keep our lust in check. We all live in a tent of flesh and as a result we crave sinful things. To be tempted is not sin but to yeild to the temptation is. Everyone of us know what sinful things are and we need to keep ourselves away from these things.
Idolatry is anything that we exalt above God. If we put anything before God we have made that thing an idol. Attached to idolatry is worship. If we are not careful we can worship things that are inspired by the enemy. Clearly we are intructed to worship only God and God alone. Satan would have us worship him. Satan will try to decieve us into worshiping him. Rememeber he is the father of lies. Satan glories in anything that is false. Satan loves anything that is opposite of what God is. God is truth-satan is lies. God is holy-satan is filthy.
Nothing can effect us more than sexual sin. When we violate Gods word and act immoral we defile ourselves and become spiritually dull.
If we willfully act in disobiendence and throw it in the face of God we set ourselves up to suffer the consequences of our decsions. We will reap what we sow.
To complain that God is not enough reveals the true condition of our heart and that revelation of our lack of trust will open the door to defeat and compromise.
Clearly the Bible give us pitfalls that must be avoided. We must learn what must be avoided because we have a recorded history of the results of what we will go through if we do not heed the warnings.
We need to keep our lust in check. We all live in a tent of flesh and as a result we crave sinful things. To be tempted is not sin but to yeild to the temptation is. Everyone of us know what sinful things are and we need to keep ourselves away from these things.
Idolatry is anything that we exalt above God. If we put anything before God we have made that thing an idol. Attached to idolatry is worship. If we are not careful we can worship things that are inspired by the enemy. Clearly we are intructed to worship only God and God alone. Satan would have us worship him. Satan will try to decieve us into worshiping him. Rememeber he is the father of lies. Satan glories in anything that is false. Satan loves anything that is opposite of what God is. God is truth-satan is lies. God is holy-satan is filthy.
Nothing can effect us more than sexual sin. When we violate Gods word and act immoral we defile ourselves and become spiritually dull.
If we willfully act in disobiendence and throw it in the face of God we set ourselves up to suffer the consequences of our decsions. We will reap what we sow.
To complain that God is not enough reveals the true condition of our heart and that revelation of our lack of trust will open the door to defeat and compromise.
Clearly the Bible give us pitfalls that must be avoided. We must learn what must be avoided because we have a recorded history of the results of what we will go through if we do not heed the warnings.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Some Do's And Don'ts in Leadership
Always believe in people and try to find ways to help them succeed.
Take risks when giving people opportunities even if you don't know how it will turn out.
Always follow your dreams even if others lose the vision. God will bring others to help you.
Don't second guess yourself when you empower people to do something and if you made a mistake in trusting somebody who proved they were not up to the challenge admit you blew it and move on.
If you know something needs to be addressed don't put if off. When we let things go to long we live to regret it most of the time. If you are on the right side of the issue act quickly because it may hurt at first but it will resolve itself quicker as well.
Don't respond to people who criticize you for things that you know have to be done. Accept the fact that criticism is part of leadership. Learn from constructive criticism and don't let words against you upset you. Most people who criticize in a negative way need our prayers.
Aways remember that God is in control of everything and He brings all things to light. What ever a mans sows that he will reap.
Take risks when giving people opportunities even if you don't know how it will turn out.
Always follow your dreams even if others lose the vision. God will bring others to help you.
Don't second guess yourself when you empower people to do something and if you made a mistake in trusting somebody who proved they were not up to the challenge admit you blew it and move on.
If you know something needs to be addressed don't put if off. When we let things go to long we live to regret it most of the time. If you are on the right side of the issue act quickly because it may hurt at first but it will resolve itself quicker as well.
Don't respond to people who criticize you for things that you know have to be done. Accept the fact that criticism is part of leadership. Learn from constructive criticism and don't let words against you upset you. Most people who criticize in a negative way need our prayers.
Aways remember that God is in control of everything and He brings all things to light. What ever a mans sows that he will reap.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Overcoming Discouragement
Life can be hard at times and sometimes the circumstances we find ourselves in can cause us to become discouraged. There are peaks and valleys in life and sometimes you find yourself in the valley “death valley”. Due to a lot of different reasons many Christians find themselves discouraged.
Spiritual low self esteem, feeling that our life doesn’t make a difference, finding ourselves very busy with little to show for it. These are a few reasons that set us up for discouragement.
I heard Robert Emmitt say in his message to the church leaders during our annual meeting that the biggest reason pastors quit the ministry is not the mishandling of money or even sexual misconduct but discouragement.
There is a fable that the devil decided once to have an auction. He decided to go out of business and sell his tools. The auction day came and a great crowd of people gathered. He placed all his tools on a red plush mat. The tools were envy, jealousy, greed, vengeance, resentment and hatred- all of them. Off to the side he had a silver wedge. Someone asked him what it was and he said, that’s a silver wedge. See how bright and shiny it is? I use it all the time. It is the best tool I have. I put it over there because it is the most valuable. It is worth more than all the other tools put together. They asked how do you use it? Satan answered “that’s the wedge of discouragement". You take the finest Christian, one who has received Jesus Christ into his life and who is trying to serve Him, and drive the wedge of discouragement into his Christian work and wreck his usefulness. I can drive that wedge in and pry open a door, and all the rest of my cohorts can go in. I can breakdown that life down with discouragement.
As a pastor what concerns me most about God’s people is that having been in the Lord for 3, 4,5 years many have lost their song. There is no fire, excitement, no joy , no hope, they are not using their gifts to the fullest, they are discouraged and defeated.
If we are going to have growing Christian lives, growing churches and growing ministries, if we are going to win the world to Christ we have to realize it will not be done with disheartened, defeated Christian’s. We must recapture our enthusiasm. We must sing a new song.
2 Timothy 1:6 says “Stir up the gift of God which is within you”. The word “stir” in the original language means to “fan again the flames”. The picture is a fire that once burned bright, has gone out. But underneath the dull gray ashes there are still some hot coals capable of bursting into flames again if they were just stirred up, if they were fanned.
If discouragement has set into your life here are some things to remember and consider.
1. Remember the laws of God- The law of the harvest teaches us “not to grow weary in well doing because in due season we will reap if we faint not” Gal 6:9.
2. Remember the Promises of God- The blessing of God come to the obedient but we must stay faithful and engaged.
3. Remember the Love of God- While we were still sinners Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
4. Count your blessing- Don’t focus on what’s wrong but on what’s right. Look at the things God has blessed you with.
5. Tomorrow is a new day- The mercies of God are new every morning.
6. Your best days are ahead of you- He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
7. God is with us- Who can pluck you out of His hand? If God is for you who can be against you? He said he would never leave us or forsake us.
8. All things work together for the good- God takes the good and the bad and works it on our behalf because we are his and He has a plan. We serve a God of purpose and destiny.
9. Jesus sits on the throne- God is in control of this universe and He is Lord over all. Every power and dominion is under His feet.
Encourage yourself in the Lord my brother and sister. Don’t allow the devil or the circumstances of life to rob you of God best for your life. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. AMEN
Spiritual low self esteem, feeling that our life doesn’t make a difference, finding ourselves very busy with little to show for it. These are a few reasons that set us up for discouragement.
I heard Robert Emmitt say in his message to the church leaders during our annual meeting that the biggest reason pastors quit the ministry is not the mishandling of money or even sexual misconduct but discouragement.
There is a fable that the devil decided once to have an auction. He decided to go out of business and sell his tools. The auction day came and a great crowd of people gathered. He placed all his tools on a red plush mat. The tools were envy, jealousy, greed, vengeance, resentment and hatred- all of them. Off to the side he had a silver wedge. Someone asked him what it was and he said, that’s a silver wedge. See how bright and shiny it is? I use it all the time. It is the best tool I have. I put it over there because it is the most valuable. It is worth more than all the other tools put together. They asked how do you use it? Satan answered “that’s the wedge of discouragement". You take the finest Christian, one who has received Jesus Christ into his life and who is trying to serve Him, and drive the wedge of discouragement into his Christian work and wreck his usefulness. I can drive that wedge in and pry open a door, and all the rest of my cohorts can go in. I can breakdown that life down with discouragement.
As a pastor what concerns me most about God’s people is that having been in the Lord for 3, 4,5 years many have lost their song. There is no fire, excitement, no joy , no hope, they are not using their gifts to the fullest, they are discouraged and defeated.
If we are going to have growing Christian lives, growing churches and growing ministries, if we are going to win the world to Christ we have to realize it will not be done with disheartened, defeated Christian’s. We must recapture our enthusiasm. We must sing a new song.
2 Timothy 1:6 says “Stir up the gift of God which is within you”. The word “stir” in the original language means to “fan again the flames”. The picture is a fire that once burned bright, has gone out. But underneath the dull gray ashes there are still some hot coals capable of bursting into flames again if they were just stirred up, if they were fanned.
If discouragement has set into your life here are some things to remember and consider.
1. Remember the laws of God- The law of the harvest teaches us “not to grow weary in well doing because in due season we will reap if we faint not” Gal 6:9.
2. Remember the Promises of God- The blessing of God come to the obedient but we must stay faithful and engaged.
3. Remember the Love of God- While we were still sinners Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
4. Count your blessing- Don’t focus on what’s wrong but on what’s right. Look at the things God has blessed you with.
5. Tomorrow is a new day- The mercies of God are new every morning.
6. Your best days are ahead of you- He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
7. God is with us- Who can pluck you out of His hand? If God is for you who can be against you? He said he would never leave us or forsake us.
8. All things work together for the good- God takes the good and the bad and works it on our behalf because we are his and He has a plan. We serve a God of purpose and destiny.
9. Jesus sits on the throne- God is in control of this universe and He is Lord over all. Every power and dominion is under His feet.
Encourage yourself in the Lord my brother and sister. Don’t allow the devil or the circumstances of life to rob you of God best for your life. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. AMEN
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Awaken
A new definition of insanity- “keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results”.
Unfortunately that is the story of many Christians today.
When we peek into the lives of people it is like watching the reruns of your favorite sitcoms. Everything stays the same, nothing changes.
We find the same hang ups, problems, patterns of life mixed in with a few good days. Is it any wonder why people are so frustrated with the lack of progress in their lives.
When you read a message like this you might think that the call is for radical and immediate change but that is not the reality we are seeking. This call is more about challenging people to take personal leadership to start turning around the ship that is your life.
One of the problem we face is about change. People don't like change and resisit it when possible. We like our little clicks in life. We like our small thinking. It has been said "Little thinkers are the big stinkers". People are hesitant to bring real change in there live because we have tried to make changes. We try but then fall back to our old ways. Because of this we become gun shy of change and those who propose it.
This tension brings me to the purpose of the message. How can I wake you up. How can you awaken from you daze and apathy. How can the dawn of a new day be a new start for you? It is a given, if you keep doing what what you've always done you will keep getting what you've always gotten. Change then is essential to progress. So how do we change things to take us foward?
Take pride in who you are through Christ. Ask the the Lord to restore the joy of your salvation. Return to your first love. Start a spirtual makeover. Make renewed commitment to the spirtual disciplines. Get involved in the ministry of the church. Start to pray for people. Help someone in need. Ask God to put a new spiritual spring in your step. Stop and smell the roses. Start to care about the things that are really important. If people know that you care it will make a huge diffrence.
Unfortunately that is the story of many Christians today.
When we peek into the lives of people it is like watching the reruns of your favorite sitcoms. Everything stays the same, nothing changes.
We find the same hang ups, problems, patterns of life mixed in with a few good days. Is it any wonder why people are so frustrated with the lack of progress in their lives.
When you read a message like this you might think that the call is for radical and immediate change but that is not the reality we are seeking. This call is more about challenging people to take personal leadership to start turning around the ship that is your life.
One of the problem we face is about change. People don't like change and resisit it when possible. We like our little clicks in life. We like our small thinking. It has been said "Little thinkers are the big stinkers". People are hesitant to bring real change in there live because we have tried to make changes. We try but then fall back to our old ways. Because of this we become gun shy of change and those who propose it.
This tension brings me to the purpose of the message. How can I wake you up. How can you awaken from you daze and apathy. How can the dawn of a new day be a new start for you? It is a given, if you keep doing what what you've always done you will keep getting what you've always gotten. Change then is essential to progress. So how do we change things to take us foward?
Take pride in who you are through Christ. Ask the the Lord to restore the joy of your salvation. Return to your first love. Start a spirtual makeover. Make renewed commitment to the spirtual disciplines. Get involved in the ministry of the church. Start to pray for people. Help someone in need. Ask God to put a new spiritual spring in your step. Stop and smell the roses. Start to care about the things that are really important. If people know that you care it will make a huge diffrence.
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