Feb 2008
Did you see that?
Feb 22, 2008
"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
-John 4:35
Have you ever heard the cry, "did you see that?" Missing the action, we usually are responding, "No, what happened? What did you see?"
In the busyness of life, it is possible that the Father has so much more for us to see yet we are so preoccupied! I believe that every day is filled with sights and sounds of the Father's footsteps as well as opportunities for us to visually catch a glimpse of Him at work. Will you join me this Saturday February 23rd in a journey of anticipation and observation as we intentionally walk and pray for the areas that we live, work and play? This is not an attempt to put another activity on our schedules but to help set aside a time of intentional awareness of the fact that God is at work around us. Remember, "the fields are ripe and ready for harvest! We just need to see the landscape as God see it.
You will find a copy of a prayer walk guide to the right. You may download it to help you better understand the importance of prayer walking as well as some tips to help you in your journey of walking and praying for your community.
Happy walking!
-John 4:35
Have you ever heard the cry, "did you see that?" Missing the action, we usually are responding, "No, what happened? What did you see?"
In the busyness of life, it is possible that the Father has so much more for us to see yet we are so preoccupied! I believe that every day is filled with sights and sounds of the Father's footsteps as well as opportunities for us to visually catch a glimpse of Him at work. Will you join me this Saturday February 23rd in a journey of anticipation and observation as we intentionally walk and pray for the areas that we live, work and play? This is not an attempt to put another activity on our schedules but to help set aside a time of intentional awareness of the fact that God is at work around us. Remember, "the fields are ripe and ready for harvest! We just need to see the landscape as God see it.
You will find a copy of a prayer walk guide to the right. You may download it to help you better understand the importance of prayer walking as well as some tips to help you in your journey of walking and praying for your community.
Happy walking!
First Hand
Feb 18, 2008
"My ears have heard of You but now my eyes have seen You..."
-Job 42:5
While attending a conference in Phoenix, Arizona several years ago, Merideth and I decided to drive up to the Grand Canyon for a day to see God's creation. We had seen pictures and heard the stories of others, but we were excited about seeing the Grand Canyon personally.
What a day it was as we drove around and looked at the different sights! However, the highlight of our trip was a private helicopter ride that we were lucky enough to experience (that is a story in itself). What a ride! The things that we saw that day are forever etched in our minds. No book, movie or someone else's account of their trip there could ever replace our personal experience. It was awesome!! Even today as we tell stories of our trip, it was like we were just there yesterday.
What a statement by Job, "I have heard about you, but now my eyes have seen you"! Job moved from hear say to personal experience with this declaration. He got it! No more wondering if what he had heard was true. Job experienced God first hand and what a difference it made in his story telling. How will you experience God today? Don't settle with the stories of others. Join the journey and capture the excitement first hand so you can live a legacy of faith.
-Job 42:5
While attending a conference in Phoenix, Arizona several years ago, Merideth and I decided to drive up to the Grand Canyon for a day to see God's creation. We had seen pictures and heard the stories of others, but we were excited about seeing the Grand Canyon personally.
What a day it was as we drove around and looked at the different sights! However, the highlight of our trip was a private helicopter ride that we were lucky enough to experience (that is a story in itself). What a ride! The things that we saw that day are forever etched in our minds. No book, movie or someone else's account of their trip there could ever replace our personal experience. It was awesome!! Even today as we tell stories of our trip, it was like we were just there yesterday.
What a statement by Job, "I have heard about you, but now my eyes have seen you"! Job moved from hear say to personal experience with this declaration. He got it! No more wondering if what he had heard was true. Job experienced God first hand and what a difference it made in his story telling. How will you experience God today? Don't settle with the stories of others. Join the journey and capture the excitement first hand so you can live a legacy of faith.
Love Check
Feb 12, 2008
....but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
What good is love without action? Everyday we are called to a place of deeper understanding of the true meaning of love. As we interact with one another, followers of Christ are challenged to move to a place demonstrating that which we say we believe. It seems that the greatest place to exhibit the characteristics of love is within the context of the home environment; with those that know us the best.
After I got home today, I took the kids outside and we laid down on a blanket. As we laid there wrestling and tussling with one another under the blue sky, I watched the kids as they jockeyed for position on who would sit closest to Dad. Finally, one of the kids won the position of sitting closet when one of them announced to another, "I don't like you anymore!" It reminded me of how our love for others is based on circumstances and situations. Children aren't as good as adults at disguising their feelings so out of the mouth comes the condition of the heart without coverings and with full force; if we don't get our way, our affections soon turn sour and off we go angry with the world.
Paul reminds us that real love cannot be expressed in selfishness but only self sacrifice. As we celebrate Valentine's Day this week, it is a good time for a love check! It is so easy for our outward appearance to give the indication that everything is good until we examine the motives of our hearts. How do you score? Read 1 Corinthians 13 and take the test. If you really want to be brave, ask someone who knows you best to score you based on Paul's words.
Happy testing!
What good is love without action? Everyday we are called to a place of deeper understanding of the true meaning of love. As we interact with one another, followers of Christ are challenged to move to a place demonstrating that which we say we believe. It seems that the greatest place to exhibit the characteristics of love is within the context of the home environment; with those that know us the best.
After I got home today, I took the kids outside and we laid down on a blanket. As we laid there wrestling and tussling with one another under the blue sky, I watched the kids as they jockeyed for position on who would sit closest to Dad. Finally, one of the kids won the position of sitting closet when one of them announced to another, "I don't like you anymore!" It reminded me of how our love for others is based on circumstances and situations. Children aren't as good as adults at disguising their feelings so out of the mouth comes the condition of the heart without coverings and with full force; if we don't get our way, our affections soon turn sour and off we go angry with the world.
Paul reminds us that real love cannot be expressed in selfishness but only self sacrifice. As we celebrate Valentine's Day this week, it is a good time for a love check! It is so easy for our outward appearance to give the indication that everything is good until we examine the motives of our hearts. How do you score? Read 1 Corinthians 13 and take the test. If you really want to be brave, ask someone who knows you best to score you based on Paul's words.
Happy testing!
God's Team
Feb 05, 2008
Super Bowl 42 is over, and the Giants are champions. I told Merideth last night that the Giants would win by three and guess what? They did!!! It goes to prove the value of team; a group of guys headed in the same direction knowing their positions and carrying out those responsibilities with passion.
It reminded me of the stories that we told this past Sunday in our morning worship time as we discussed the potential of the church that functions as God designed it to. What is the end result of the church that functions as the body of Christ? Impact. Great impact! As a believer, what spiritual gift has the Holy Spirit blessed you with? How are you using that gift to build the kingdom? It is a good reminder to understand that there are no bench warmers on God's team!!! Everyone is important!!
-Pastor Sidney
It reminded me of the stories that we told this past Sunday in our morning worship time as we discussed the potential of the church that functions as God designed it to. What is the end result of the church that functions as the body of Christ? Impact. Great impact! As a believer, what spiritual gift has the Holy Spirit blessed you with? How are you using that gift to build the kingdom? It is a good reminder to understand that there are no bench warmers on God's team!!! Everyone is important!!
-Pastor Sidney
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