I was in prayer yesterday and this verse was shouting in my spirit and I was reminded to make sure I am renewing my mind. Too many times the world is making deposits in our spirit that should not be there.
Romans 12:2 says,
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
With all the evil and corruption in this world we have to be transformed which in this verse is not a single event but a process. This leads to the spiritual and moral growth of the Christian. This process will have to take place continually especially if we are letting the world input fear, doubt and insecurity into us. We must remember to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23) and remember that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Come Together
Life Group
We all started this week back with our Life Groups meeting. Stacey and I met with our group last night. We had a great meeting where we got to fellowship and have time to discuss the future of our group. We discussed in about making sure we are a group that is not only inwardly focused but also outwardly focused. The men and women split off while the men discussed prayer the women discussed our future outreach strategies. They came up with some awesome ideas.
Matthew 28:19 says,
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I am extremely excited to see some of the things we are going to be doing in our life group this upcoming semester where we will grow not only inside but also grow in our community development and fulfilling The Great Commission.
We all started this week back with our Life Groups meeting. Stacey and I met with our group last night. We had a great meeting where we got to fellowship and have time to discuss the future of our group. We discussed in about making sure we are a group that is not only inwardly focused but also outwardly focused. The men and women split off while the men discussed prayer the women discussed our future outreach strategies. They came up with some awesome ideas.
Matthew 28:19 says,
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I am extremely excited to see some of the things we are going to be doing in our life group this upcoming semester where we will grow not only inside but also grow in our community development and fulfilling The Great Commission.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Power In Numbers
Deuteronomy 32:30
How could one person chase on thousand and two put ten thousand to flight?
There is power in numbers and I want to share with you today the power of teamwork. This past Saturday we held out biggest outreach to our community to date at Turning Point Church. Our amazing planning team had been meeting for months planning this when about two weeks out God told our Senior Pastor Michael Turner to go bigger. He told me to let the team know we were not going to give just 150 backpacks away filled with school supplies we were going to give 300 away. I said ok and let our amazing planning team know the new numbers. With little concern they knew they could pull it off with God on our side.
This past Saturday we served 300 kids and had more than 500 people out to receive backpacks, free hot dogs, drinks, chips and fun and games. With our phenomenal dream team of volunteers we did all this in 2 hours. Oh and did I mention we had 6 people give their lives to Christ and 3 get water baptized. PRAISE GOD!!!
So remember there is power in numbers and we can do so much more together as a team than we ever could do alone.
How could one person chase on thousand and two put ten thousand to flight?
There is power in numbers and I want to share with you today the power of teamwork. This past Saturday we held out biggest outreach to our community to date at Turning Point Church. Our amazing planning team had been meeting for months planning this when about two weeks out God told our Senior Pastor Michael Turner to go bigger. He told me to let the team know we were not going to give just 150 backpacks away filled with school supplies we were going to give 300 away. I said ok and let our amazing planning team know the new numbers. With little concern they knew they could pull it off with God on our side.
This past Saturday we served 300 kids and had more than 500 people out to receive backpacks, free hot dogs, drinks, chips and fun and games. With our phenomenal dream team of volunteers we did all this in 2 hours. Oh and did I mention we had 6 people give their lives to Christ and 3 get water baptized. PRAISE GOD!!!
So remember there is power in numbers and we can do so much more together as a team than we ever could do alone.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
How Good is Good Enough? Part 3
While I always thought I knew and had a relationship with God, I never really knew Him. I confessed with my mouth that I know God, I know who Jesus is, but there is still much more time for me to get right with Him. I used to only do my body harm and not affect anyone else’s. That is good right? I would drink a lot and also experiment in other things. Until I truly realized that my life needed to change. I needed to change. Ever felt that way?
I always thought that if I did good things and still told people I was a Christian but did not exactly do what the Bible said, I would for sure go to Heaven. But where there is a tree there will be fruit right? My greatest fear would be to die and not go to Heaven. Now my greatest fear is for Jesus to say He never knew me.
Matthew 7:21-23 says,
“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 evil doers!”
Sometimes we might think to ourselves, well we did good deeds, but Jesus said even if you prophesy, drive out demons and perform miracles but does not do His will, then you will not be able to enter into His kingdom.
I always thought that if I did good things and still told people I was a Christian but did not exactly do what the Bible said, I would for sure go to Heaven. But where there is a tree there will be fruit right? My greatest fear would be to die and not go to Heaven. Now my greatest fear is for Jesus to say He never knew me.
Matthew 7:21-23 says,
“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 evil doers!”
Sometimes we might think to ourselves, well we did good deeds, but Jesus said even if you prophesy, drive out demons and perform miracles but does not do His will, then you will not be able to enter into His kingdom.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
How Good is Good Enough? Part 2
This week I will be discussing the question How Good is Good Enough? Basically answering the question when I die will my deeds be enough to get me to Heaven?
Basically you have to be dead to go to heaven therein lies the problem. If God appeared to you and asked, “Why should I let you into heaven” How would you answer?
If you are like most people you probably said;
“I always tried to…”
“I never…”
“I do my best…”
Many years ago before I had a relationship with God, I always said to myself those exact words and thought that I would go to Heaven based on the good works that I did. I even struggled developing a relationship with God because I thought he would want me to put my wife and family first. I struggled with the fact that God wants me to put Him first and then my family. I said, “How could God create me and my wonderful children and be so selfish to want me to put him first.” This bothered me for years.
Until I finally developed a relationship with Him and He healed my marriage, healed my finances, healed my worries and anxiety and my family. There are still some times that these areas might suffer but I know that if I put my faith in God then He gives me the strength and direction.
Basically you have to be dead to go to heaven therein lies the problem. If God appeared to you and asked, “Why should I let you into heaven” How would you answer?
If you are like most people you probably said;
“I always tried to…”
“I never…”
“I do my best…”
Many years ago before I had a relationship with God, I always said to myself those exact words and thought that I would go to Heaven based on the good works that I did. I even struggled developing a relationship with God because I thought he would want me to put my wife and family first. I struggled with the fact that God wants me to put Him first and then my family. I said, “How could God create me and my wonderful children and be so selfish to want me to put him first.” This bothered me for years.
Until I finally developed a relationship with Him and He healed my marriage, healed my finances, healed my worries and anxiety and my family. There are still some times that these areas might suffer but I know that if I put my faith in God then He gives me the strength and direction.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
How Good is Good Enough? Part 1
Have you ever wondered will I make it to heaven? Will I make it? I heard songs recently by Coldplay Here are the lyrics:
“Those who are dead are not dead
They’re just living in my head
And since I fell for that spell
I am living there as well
Time is so short and I’m sure
There must be something more
You thought you might be a ghost
You thought you might be a ghost
You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close
You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close”
This week I will be discussing how good is good enough.
Let me know your thoughts about what does it take to make it to heaven.
“Those who are dead are not dead
They’re just living in my head
And since I fell for that spell
I am living there as well
Time is so short and I’m sure
There must be something more
You thought you might be a ghost
You thought you might be a ghost
You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close
You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close”
This week I will be discussing how good is good enough.
Let me know your thoughts about what does it take to make it to heaven.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Rosa Mexicano Anyone?
First of all I want to say that I am completely honored and humbled to lead such an awesome welcome team at our church. So each Sunday morning I will lead a VIP (Vision Information and Prayer) meeting to get out team inspired and motivated to welcome in our remarkable members and visitors into Turning Point Church.
Today this is what I shared:
My wife, her family, my kids and myself all went down to Atlantic Station this past week. My wife, mother in law and grandmother in law loved it. My grandfather in law, the kids and I were not so loving it, but we still went and enjoyed ourselves.
We all were getting hungry for dinner so we decided to go into Rosa Mexicano where we were impressed by first walking in the doors. I had 8 in our party with our kids and the hostess kindly walks up to us and asks how many are in our party and lets my son know that they ask all gentleman to kindly remove their hats before sitting. She corrected him but did it is such a graceful way that we were not offended in anyway. My son was a little embarrassed but after we explained it to him he understood. I felt a little underdressed after that comment with my camo shorts and flip flops but I did not seem to stick out.
As soon as we sat down our waitress was extremely polite and went over the menu with us, made recommendations, brought out samples for my grandfather in law and promptly served us in every fashion. The service there was amazing. I asked the waitress what the process was when getting hired there and she said they go through a 2 week process before getting in the restaurant.
So I compared that experience to us as the church, we should be overwhelmingly welcoming to our guests and make sure we are coming off extremely polite and warming to make everyone feel welcomed.
Today and every Sunday our Welcome Team does just that!!
Keep up the great work Turning Point Welcome Team!!
Today this is what I shared:
My wife, her family, my kids and myself all went down to Atlantic Station this past week. My wife, mother in law and grandmother in law loved it. My grandfather in law, the kids and I were not so loving it, but we still went and enjoyed ourselves.
We all were getting hungry for dinner so we decided to go into Rosa Mexicano where we were impressed by first walking in the doors. I had 8 in our party with our kids and the hostess kindly walks up to us and asks how many are in our party and lets my son know that they ask all gentleman to kindly remove their hats before sitting. She corrected him but did it is such a graceful way that we were not offended in anyway. My son was a little embarrassed but after we explained it to him he understood. I felt a little underdressed after that comment with my camo shorts and flip flops but I did not seem to stick out.
As soon as we sat down our waitress was extremely polite and went over the menu with us, made recommendations, brought out samples for my grandfather in law and promptly served us in every fashion. The service there was amazing. I asked the waitress what the process was when getting hired there and she said they go through a 2 week process before getting in the restaurant.
So I compared that experience to us as the church, we should be overwhelmingly welcoming to our guests and make sure we are coming off extremely polite and warming to make everyone feel welcomed.
Today and every Sunday our Welcome Team does just that!!
Keep up the great work Turning Point Welcome Team!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)