Easter Sunday!
I wanted to do something different from my normal devotionals today. We had our Easter Service at Turning Point Church yesterday and it was one of the most amazing services I have ever been a part of. First of all I want to encourage all those AMAZING volunteers who pulled it all together in order to make some awesome things happen. We had a total of 28 people working on our welcome team, 10 people in our parking lot!!, 10 greeters!!, 8 ushers and stage help. We also had 42 different people working in our children’s ministry in order to minister to a record number of children. We had an awesome tech team, we had 4 people who painted on stage (AMAZING JOB), and had 7 people serving on our worship team. We had a life changing message from Pastor Mike. When you put all these things together and then also have God’s presence what do you get? We had a record breaking number of salvations on a single Sunday! PRAISE GOD!
I can’t believe that God allows me to be a part of such an amazing group of people who are willing to put in the time it takes in fulfilling their opportunity to serve in the Church.
Romans 12:4-5
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Each of these people who served have different gifts, talents and contributions, which they all come together to form one body and with that we were able to have an incredible record breaking Sunday in attendance and salvations.
Volunteers: You guys are all amazing!!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 4
Luke 23:43
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
In the end we all have had two choices in life. Like the two thieves on the cross, one mocked him and the other acknowledges Jesus as the son of God. This scripture shows Jesus answer to the one who acknowledges. We are all given two choices in life, to follow Jesus or not. There are many religions that claim that there are many ways to heaven. But, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one gets to the Father except through me.” Then it comes down to two choices. Do you follow Jesus or not.
Not to confuse you but there are three ways you can view Jesus, Liar, Lunatic or Lord. Either you view him as a liar but there is way too much documented history that proves he did miracles and prophesies he fulfilled from the Old Testament that would deny that he was a liar. He could not be a Lunatic because of all the amazing things He did which brings us to our last conclusion….LORD.
Today lets make the choice are you going to follow Him or are you going to follow the world. Either you are in or out, don’t be lukewarm. Read Revelation 3:14-22 about the Church in Laodicea who was lukewarm. Confess Him as your Lord and follow Him for the rest of your life and never look back. My greatest fear lies in these following scriptures: Matthew 7:21-23 which states: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” This scripture keeps me on the path to HIM.
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
In the end we all have had two choices in life. Like the two thieves on the cross, one mocked him and the other acknowledges Jesus as the son of God. This scripture shows Jesus answer to the one who acknowledges. We are all given two choices in life, to follow Jesus or not. There are many religions that claim that there are many ways to heaven. But, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one gets to the Father except through me.” Then it comes down to two choices. Do you follow Jesus or not.
Not to confuse you but there are three ways you can view Jesus, Liar, Lunatic or Lord. Either you view him as a liar but there is way too much documented history that proves he did miracles and prophesies he fulfilled from the Old Testament that would deny that he was a liar. He could not be a Lunatic because of all the amazing things He did which brings us to our last conclusion….LORD.
Today lets make the choice are you going to follow Him or are you going to follow the world. Either you are in or out, don’t be lukewarm. Read Revelation 3:14-22 about the Church in Laodicea who was lukewarm. Confess Him as your Lord and follow Him for the rest of your life and never look back. My greatest fear lies in these following scriptures: Matthew 7:21-23 which states: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” This scripture keeps me on the path to HIM.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 3
Hosea 10:12
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.”
Have you ever been stuck in a rut? Ever felt down? Ever felt like why is this happening to me? Well maybe you need to break up your unplowed ground. I really love this verse. How many times have you been going through a storm and in order to make it out, you just have to suck it up and fight through.
Let me encourage you today to know that when you plow this ground you are not doing it alone.
Matthew 11:29 says, “Take My yoke upon you.” A yoke is a harness or instrument placed upon two oxen. It causes them to plow together. So, when one gets weak he can continue by being pulled by the other. When we feel weighed down, we need to TAKE HIS YOKE. He is attached to us and will carry the load. Of course, He ends up doing most of the carrying!
Today believe that you can handle anything. Mark 9:23 says, “All things are possible for him who believes.” Nothing is too difficult for God. Jeremiah 32:17 says “if nothing is too difficult for Him and He lives in you then nothing is too difficult for you.”
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.”
Have you ever been stuck in a rut? Ever felt down? Ever felt like why is this happening to me? Well maybe you need to break up your unplowed ground. I really love this verse. How many times have you been going through a storm and in order to make it out, you just have to suck it up and fight through.
Let me encourage you today to know that when you plow this ground you are not doing it alone.
Matthew 11:29 says, “Take My yoke upon you.” A yoke is a harness or instrument placed upon two oxen. It causes them to plow together. So, when one gets weak he can continue by being pulled by the other. When we feel weighed down, we need to TAKE HIS YOKE. He is attached to us and will carry the load. Of course, He ends up doing most of the carrying!
Today believe that you can handle anything. Mark 9:23 says, “All things are possible for him who believes.” Nothing is too difficult for God. Jeremiah 32:17 says “if nothing is too difficult for Him and He lives in you then nothing is too difficult for you.”
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 2
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
What would you do if this was your last day on earth? Have you ever thought about that? Each day is a gift from God and we need to make sure to rejoice and be glad in it. Glad in this text in Hebrew means to brighten up. Let’s go out today and figure out a way to brighten up someone’s day. You never know this could cause a chain reaction and could actually make someone’s day. Today I want us to think of all the good things we have in our life and all we can be thankful for.
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
What would you do if this was your last day on earth? Have you ever thought about that? Each day is a gift from God and we need to make sure to rejoice and be glad in it. Glad in this text in Hebrew means to brighten up. Let’s go out today and figure out a way to brighten up someone’s day. You never know this could cause a chain reaction and could actually make someone’s day. Today I want us to think of all the good things we have in our life and all we can be thankful for.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 1
Ecclesiastes 11:4
“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”
This week we will be discussing how to embrace eternity. We need to be sure to live every day as if it is our last. Each and every morning say to yourself, “this is the day that the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.” Because we are not promised a tomorrow and what we really need to be thinking about is there an afterlife?
I want to discuss today the issue of procrastination. Procrastination can be addictive, it does damage to us and others around us, causes pressures and problems and it wastes opportunities, time and money. Today let’s do these 3 things:
1) Stop making excuses!
Too many times, we put off tasks until tomorrow what we can get done today. We live each day as if there is a tomorrow.
2) Face your fears!
Focus on the gain and not the pain it takes to get it done. There are many things that can hold us back but fear should not be one of them. Fear is the absence of faith and we need faith to get the job done.
3) Do it now!
Realize that perfectionism paralyzes performance and there is not going to be a better time than NOW. There is not going to be any better conditions than the present.
What is something you have been putting off that you should not any more? Are you putting off something until tomorrow that can be done today? DO IT!
“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”
This week we will be discussing how to embrace eternity. We need to be sure to live every day as if it is our last. Each and every morning say to yourself, “this is the day that the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.” Because we are not promised a tomorrow and what we really need to be thinking about is there an afterlife?
I want to discuss today the issue of procrastination. Procrastination can be addictive, it does damage to us and others around us, causes pressures and problems and it wastes opportunities, time and money. Today let’s do these 3 things:
1) Stop making excuses!
Too many times, we put off tasks until tomorrow what we can get done today. We live each day as if there is a tomorrow.
2) Face your fears!
Focus on the gain and not the pain it takes to get it done. There are many things that can hold us back but fear should not be one of them. Fear is the absence of faith and we need faith to get the job done.
3) Do it now!
Realize that perfectionism paralyzes performance and there is not going to be a better time than NOW. There is not going to be any better conditions than the present.
What is something you have been putting off that you should not any more? Are you putting off something until tomorrow that can be done today? DO IT!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Give Forgiveness Part 4
Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The NLT version states we are to make allowances for one another’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Offense come from the enemy who wants to divide us from the word God has given us. If the enemy can get us off track he will and we need to remember in order to move forward in what God has for us we must forgive and make allowances for one another’s faults. Too many times the enemy wins and we get offended and never speak to that person again. There are many who get offended by a church and never go back to that church or worse, never go back to church. I encourage you today to take an inventory of anyone in your life you need to forgive
Today I want you to ask someone close to you possibly a spouse, a friend or a relative if there is anyone you need to forgive.
Before you can move forward in what God has for you, you need to forgive.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The NLT version states we are to make allowances for one another’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Offense come from the enemy who wants to divide us from the word God has given us. If the enemy can get us off track he will and we need to remember in order to move forward in what God has for us we must forgive and make allowances for one another’s faults. Too many times the enemy wins and we get offended and never speak to that person again. There are many who get offended by a church and never go back to that church or worse, never go back to church. I encourage you today to take an inventory of anyone in your life you need to forgive
Today I want you to ask someone close to you possibly a spouse, a friend or a relative if there is anyone you need to forgive.
Before you can move forward in what God has for you, you need to forgive.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Give Forgiveness Part 3
Luke 6:37
“Do no judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Too many times we are quick to jump to conclusions when something happens to us, especially when someone does something to us. If we are not spoken to or if we feel like someone did not say hi to us. But we need to remember this verse because we sometimes are too quick to judge and jump to conclusions about someone. It reminds me of a story where two men were riding home on the subway. One of the men had 3 kids who were unruly, jumping around and yelling. The father just sat there and did nothing about it. The other man a businessman trying to read his newspaper kept getting more aggravated minute by minute. The kids kept bumping into him and hitting his newspaper. The father did nothing and just sat there looking down at the ground. Finally the businessman had enough and said to the father, “Aren’t you going to do anything about your kids, they keep bumping into me and hitting my newspaper!” The father looked up and said, “I am sorry but we are just leaving the hospital where their mother died and I have no idea what we are going to do.”
Don’t be quick to jump to conclusions this week. If someone did not say hi to you or give you a proper greeting, say well maybe there is something else there. Bottom line you need to forgive them.
“Do no judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Too many times we are quick to jump to conclusions when something happens to us, especially when someone does something to us. If we are not spoken to or if we feel like someone did not say hi to us. But we need to remember this verse because we sometimes are too quick to judge and jump to conclusions about someone. It reminds me of a story where two men were riding home on the subway. One of the men had 3 kids who were unruly, jumping around and yelling. The father just sat there and did nothing about it. The other man a businessman trying to read his newspaper kept getting more aggravated minute by minute. The kids kept bumping into him and hitting his newspaper. The father did nothing and just sat there looking down at the ground. Finally the businessman had enough and said to the father, “Aren’t you going to do anything about your kids, they keep bumping into me and hitting my newspaper!” The father looked up and said, “I am sorry but we are just leaving the hospital where their mother died and I have no idea what we are going to do.”
Don’t be quick to jump to conclusions this week. If someone did not say hi to you or give you a proper greeting, say well maybe there is something else there. Bottom line you need to forgive them.
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