Functional Differences
February 5th, 2012God uses what we have in common to attract us. Then he uses our differences to define us if we are willing to endure! Every relationship goes through five stages. The initial connection is full of potential and void of disappointment so it’s a GOOD DEAL. When the potential is challenged and a disappointment emerges it’s a BAD DEAL. When the disappointment isn’t resolved by the other person the way you expected it’s a RAW DEAL. It’s at this time that we have to make the decision to give up or redefine our expectations concluding with either the NO DEAL or the NEW DEAL.
This progression takes place in a church or ministry relationship as well. You decide you want to sing on the worship team and it’s a GOOD DEAL. You find out the practices are on Tuesday nights and it’s going to be work – BAD DEAL. Somebody misses and you’re there but they get the solo part the next week – RAW DEAL. You have to decide if you’re going to sulk and quit = NO DEAL or if you’re going to truly do this as your ministry unto the Lord and not man = NEW DEAL.
We are all different and we all carry different points of view. When it comes to marriage if we’re not careful we’ll decide that our differences are a weakness when it actuality they are strengths! A mother is likely to caution a child climbing on the monkey bars while a father is likely to challenge the child to climb to the top. Both perspectives are important for the child to learn. One is not right while the other is wrong. The two perspectives together are complete.
Functional differences in marriage create the perfect standoff when we understand what’s going on. Women are more affection-driven than men. Men are more sexually-driven than women. Women give sex for affection. Men give affection for sex. It’s okay! IT’S A FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCE!
Both have needs for sex & affection but they go at it from two different perspectives and together they are complete. It’s a vicious cycle that’s either a strength or a weakness.
The Bible says we are not to deprive each other sexually or it opens the doorway to the enemy’s temptations in 1 Cor 7. Depriving a woman emotionally is to deprive her sexually and this deprivation doesn’t begin in the bedroom. It’s an atmosphere of our relationships that we must be willing to work at regularly as a ministry to the Lord and to each other.
Many times I’ll hear speakers make reference to 1 Cor 7 as an exhortation for wives not to say no to their husbands. It’s not that this is not an accurate interpretation it’s simply incomplete. The initial responsibility lies with the husband and men need to be taught this truth.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. NIV
The lesson here for all of us is to be our best we must work to be a student not a critic. We don’t have to destroy others to validate ourselves. Even in our differences may we never forget that the fruit of the spirit is for everyone.
Eph 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and blds itself up in love, as each part does its work. NIV //
The NAS says, “each joint supplies.” We must realize that the devil hates our connections and relationships because each joint supplies. Connection brings provision. Sometimes it’s just one connection that takes you to the next dimension of life, work, ministry, marriage, etc. We must learn to value and appreciate relationships. Appreciate means to increase in value. As we value people we discover more about our purpose in life.
1 Pet 4:10 Each one use whatever gift he’s received to serve others. NIV Gifts! www.mintools.com
A non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms. Service and ministry are the same word. Servant and minister is the same word.
On 16th August , 1977 Elvis Presley, at the age of 42. died of obesity and drug dependency. According to his friends he was an unfulfilled and unhappy man. Wife, Priscilla, interviewed, said: “Elvis never came to terms with who he was meant to be or what his purpose in life was. He thought he was here for a reason, maybe to preach, maybe to serve, maybe to save, maybe to care for people. That agonizing desire was always with him and he knew he wasn’t fulfilling it. So he’d go on stage so he wouldn’t have to think about it.”
It’s more tragic to be alive and not know why than to be dead and not know life. A lot of people stop living long before they’re buried.
GPFRL Action Point of the week:
Make a daily effort this week to appreciate, increase value, a relationship God has entrusted to your care. If you are married then make it a point to date your mate this week.
Declaring Truth
January 28th, 2012Stressed spelled backwards is Desserts! We really can reverse stress but we must first understand it. Where does stress come from? Work? Marriage? Kids!? Bills! Dr’s Reports! Stress is a result of a negative attitude resulting from our perceptions & perspectives.
Now we know that stress comes from attitude. Where does attitude come from? Work? Marriage? Kids? Bills? Dr’s reports? Attitude comes from within. Life is not about what happens to us. Life is about what happens in us when things happen to us.
A sustained negative attitude will lead to unhappiness, poor relationships, difficulty at work and ultimately, poor health. Several sources site the top fatal diseases in our country are caused by stress. Stress turns quickly into anxiety, depression and ulcers.
Our little papers with The Daily Declaration on them are more than just a silly little idea. The idea of speaking positive truth originated with God and will change your life.
Josh 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)
What you say absolutely affects your life. Neuropeptides are produced by brain cells as chemical messengers to the body. Scientifically these are actually information carriers. Where do they get the information they carry? Scientists tell us that our cells eavesdrop and our dialogue has a cellular effect on our bodies affecting our immune systems. Perhaps this is why the God that designed us speaks so much in Scripture about addressing our dialogue about our situation.
Ps 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (NIV)
I will say of the Lord, “He is taking care of my complicated situation!” There are other ways to see your circumstances. It doesn’t matter how much you may hate going to work everyday it could be worse! Personally I can look at this picture on my most difficult day and give thanks that this isn’t my job!
The Bible says in Joel, “Let the weak say I’m strong!” Let’s evaluate the context of this directive having come from God. This was written about 800 B.C. God’s people had suffered a horrible plague of locusts devastating all of the crops of the land leading to a terrible famine. When man’s perspective is one of devastation the Prophet Joel begins speaking from God’s perspective.
Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’ (NIV)
There are other ways to see your situation. The word of the Lord was to take another look at what’s in your hand from a new perspective. Your plowshares are now to be seen as swords. Your pruning hooks are now to be seen as spears. It’s interesting that this is the first part of this verse. It’s as if God’s saying look at what’s going on in your life from a different perspective and then speak from that place! The place of Truth not facts!
The truth and the facts don’t always line up. The facts are that Jesus was crucified as a criminal. The truth is that Jesus died as the Son of God so we could live.
There really is a lot of confusion about what “Truth” really is in our world today. We are very excited about Darrin & Tami Low’s leadership in a new Destiny Group called, “Truth Seekers”. They are seeking to discover and restore the Christian Worldview that God intends for all believers in order to be relevant in today’s culture. Their group meets the 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month at 6:30 in their home at 1624 Exeter Court, OKC. You can contact them for more information by email: darrinlow@yahoo.com
We all must learn to see what exists in our lives from a different perspective. Our fatih is awakened when we realize that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all we can ask or imagine – Eph 3:20.
There are some things God desires for your life that you simply will not have if you do not pray.
James 4:2 “…you do not have because you do not ask God.”
The Kingdom of God is voice activated. You received Christ by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. This positioned you in a place of relationship with God that empowers you to be used by God to release His Kingdom in the earth. Notice God is not moved to action by our need, he’s moved to action by our words as we pray.
Isa 30:18-19 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion… How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. NIV
GPFRL Action Point of the week:: Practice speaking God’s Truth every morning when you first wake. Pay close attention to what you are saying about every situation throughout the day.
Catalyst Round Table
January 26th, 2012My discussion with leaders today was a blast! Below is a layout of my sketchy notes for any wanting to reference the ideas.
Prov 27:23 Know well the condition of your flocks, {and} pay attention to your herds; (NAS)
HOW DO YOU PURPOSE A CULTURE OF ENCOURAGEMENT:
• PERSONAL
o Email encouragement
o Inspirational music
o Notes/pictures that spk of what it’s all about.
o Relax on purpose – dirt bike.
• FAMILY
o Date night
o Date Daughters
o Make daily life fun & enjoyable on purpose.
• STAFF
• LEADERS
• VOLUNTEERS
o Words
o Cards
o Gifts – cheer coach yelled at
o Staff retreat – Great Wolf Lodge = no work!
• Medieval Festival
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL AND PASTORAL ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE?
• Personal reports – below is a screenshot picture of an excel spreadsheet that we use.
We hire people for what they do. We fire people for who they are. Difference between training and developing.
• Train people in what they do.
• Develop people in who they are.
Jesus Wants You to Stop Whining
January 24th, 2012People do not have a whining problem they have a worship problem. Luke 10 tells a story about Mary and Martha that teaches a valuable lesson. When we are distracted from worship we are prone to complain. As long as you worship the trendy trinity, me myself and mine, you will whine and complain. Get off the throne and serve the King. He’s in control! Bow down and worship him! If you count your blessings you won’t have time to number your complaints.
Inviting Lives
January 21st, 2012We’re all busy but if you’re too busy for people then you’re too busy! Beware of the barrenness of a busy life. Life is more complete when we’re connected. To be interesting we must learn to be interested. To be loved we must learn to be loving. To be helped we must learn to be helpful. Treat others like they are part of your destiny because they are.
Rom 12:9-13 Don’t just pretend that U love others. Really love them…get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner NLT
Others must be on our radar if we are to experience true life the way God designed for us to experience it. To live an inviting life we must be not only open to but, interested in others.
You are designed by God to have an eternal legacy in the earth.
When I met Jesus my world began to change.
Tracy was a very godly church girl.
How in the world were we to get from there to here?
The first godly example of marriage I saw after becoming a Christian was in Dan Mooney’s home!
Nathan gave his heart to Jesus, free from drugs came here for ministry training in my home for two years.
He and Renee would build a relationship.
Nathan and Dan Mooney would later be on staff together right here at Destiny.
God would give Nathan and Renee a wonderful family.
Nathan’s son would be just like him.
My world was better because the Mooney world was available to me. Nathan’s world was better because our world was available to him. When somebody thanks Nathan for his family’s influence in their life they’re actually thanking Dan and Julie as well as the influences in their lives.
Rom 12:9-13 Don’t just pretend that U love others. Really love them…get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner NLT
When you invite others into your world you’re introducing them to Jesus and mentoring them in His ways! Our church family should be central to all of our lives. This is where we come to celebrate the core of who we are – and – WE ARE BETTER BECAUSE OF IT!
GPFRL Action Point of the week: Make it a point to invite somebody to attend church with you next Sunday if at all possible.
Loving & Giving
January 15th, 2012Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim..You won’t be able to keep up…everywhere you look, blessings! – Amos 9:13-15 (MSG) We are believing for this to be the year of the great turn around! The 40-Day Challenge involves five areas: Pray, Connect, Give, Invite and Declare. If you really want to grow in your relationship with the Lord you must do more than hope for growth. Hope is not a strategy. The milk of the mother is not contingent on the supply of the mom but the hunger of the child. God responds to our appetite.
Giving is an attitude. It’s a lifestyle. A person who is truly giving has become so because they are very loving and caring. Whiz Kids is a great avenue for people to get involved to make a difference by giving yourself into the life of a child. 20,000 kids in the Oklahoma City public schools read below grade level and are living in poverty! Contact our office today to learn more details about how to get involved volunteering just one afternoon a week. Love gives.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his son…
God loved so God gave. As a baby you are the center of everybody’s attention. As you grow older you have to work at being the center of everybody’s attention. The older you are the more unattractive you become as you work at this. When age is not coupled with maturity it is very unattractive. Immaturity demands to be at the center of the story. Maturity looks for opportunities to be part of other people’s stories.
You are part of a greater story, a bigger picture.
1 Cor 3:9 “…we are God’s fellow workers…” God is not our fellow worker! We are His! We’re not trying to talk God into something. He’s drawing us into his plans to love the world and leave it a better place! Loving and caring about others is the reason you were born. Your deepest sense of purpose is born from learning to be part of somebody else’s story.
Eph 2:10 It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. (TLB)
This generous lifestyle takes practice. God provides a steady training to help us with this if we’re willing to be trained.
Deuteronomy 14:23 “The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives.” (TLB)
Gathering as a church family in a place of sacrifice, worship and giving is VERY HEALTHY. Giving is healthy because it’s a perpetual reminder that we are not the center of everybody’s attention. When we give our tithes and offerings it’s an expression of worship and surrender to a story and a plan bigger than our own lives.
Tithing has a purpose in our personal lives! Tithing teaches us continually to always put God first and helps us know where our hearts genuinely are and are not. All of the world’s resources came from God. God owns and God loans it. You have nothing before you come into this world and nothing after you leave. The average life span in the U.S. is 77 years. This means God owns it and loans it for about 80 years.
He’s put the tool of finances in your life for the purpose of teaching you to always put God first in your life. Judas had a problem with money. Obviously discerning Jesus knew this was the case but chose to make him the keeper of the money bag. Jesus wasn’t setting him up for failure. Jesus was causing him to come face-to-face with his problem on a regular basis. If he would have admitted his struggle and asked for help he could have been truly free. Are you free in the area of your personal finances. Do you express generosity in obedience to God and in giving into the lives of others?
GPFRL Action Point of the week: Take a look at the giving letters and evaluate this important area of your personal ministry to the Lord. Destiny offers financial tools online to help you in budgeting.
If you’re struggling in your finances enroll in one of our Destiny Groups and start getting on top of this. Financial Peace and Mind Over Money are available again this year to offer assistance in personal finances.
FINALLY – This weekend marks the five year anniversary of the ice storm that took our gymnasium building with a kitchen and classrooms.
Here is a progression of how far we’ve come in five years. God has provided in amazing ways. I want to personally thank everybody who’s giving so sacrificially to get us from there to here. We give thanks for God’s amazing provision through the surrendered hands of his people!!!
Our next journey is from here to there, five years from now. We are looking forward believing God for guidance and direction as we continue to make sacrifices to further God’s Kingdom. We build buildings so we can build people.
Levels Of Leadership & Maturity
January 4th, 2012Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. NAS
Next week we begin focusing on understanding spiritual gifts. Specifically we’ll be focusing on motivational gifts. You can take this 35 question test online to help you understand more about your gifts. http://mintools.com/spiritual-gifts-test.htm
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them … NKJV
“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”-Peter F. Drucker
Eph 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and blds itself up in love, as each part does its work. NIV
Not as each part does work but rather “its work” indicating that there is a specific work for each of our lives. God has created, designed and equipped us for a specific work. Growing in maturity to accomplish that work as we help others is crucial. Aging is inevitable. Maturing is optional.
Heb 5:12-14 …Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant (Nepios), is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. solid food is for the mature, who by constant use trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
The phrase defines the phase.
1. Mine – possessive (Nobody’s needs are on my radar but mine. Unable to give my stuff because self-absorbed with my circumstances.)
a. Don’t need a lot of explanation here. Unbeliever or baby believer. Some have been Christians for years never growing or maturing.
CHILDREN: 1 Cor 14:20 Brothers, stop thinking like children…
2. Me – obsessive (We all have needs and I know other people are in need but please don’t overlook me. Nobody called me when I wasn’t there.)
a. This person talks about groups & relationships in terms of how these things help them grow.
b. These people tend to serve with “me” motives and continue to serve as long as the benefits outweigh the challenges.
TEENAGER: Gal 4:19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you. NAS
3. Us – exclusive (This is now my family & I’m in the group. This is a great place for US to have our needs met!)
i. I love my group!
ii. I’ve never felt so loved!
iii. I’ve finally found home!
1. Notice “I” over and over again.
iv. A self-centered attitude produces attitudes “They better not try to split my group”, “I was working in the nursery but I quit because they don’t appreciate me”
b. It is okay for people to be here for a season and you’ll notice change by phrase from the phase.
SONS: Gal 4:6-7 “…So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (NIV)
4. We – inclusive (We are aware of and working to meet other people’s needs.)
a. The phrase begins to be distinctly different when people start moving to this level. They start talking about others in their group.
i. I wonder where Megan is tonight?
ii. I noticed she seemed a bit down last week.
iii. I was thinking about taking her a meal.
b. Their heart begins coming out in what do.
c. They come to church saying, “Isn’t this amazing! The pkg lot is totally full and I had a hard time finding a seat – isn’t this awesome!!!
d. They’re becoming a giver rather than a taker, a servant for the right reasons.
e. Walk into a room – don’t think who’s going to talk to me or notice me but rather who needs help?!
FATHER: 1 Cor 4:15-16 “…for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”
5. Others-Focused = Understand mentoring is legacy
a. Before long these people begin desiring to do more than care for a need.
b. They begin asking questions who can I get to help me reach more people in this ministry?
c. Focus becomes training others do – God has put in their heart.
d. Phrases from this phase are
i. He’s really talented with those kids; he should be using those gifts for the Lord.
ii. I have been going to the hospital to pray for our older people and I was thinking about taking George with me.
The church MUST have the ultimate goal of raising up those who can make disciples.
Renew commitment. 2 things we ask every person attending Discover Destiny: Show Up & Pay Dues.
• Leaders – if you’re debating about coming to church or not, please make the decision to come.
o Attend church for others not just self.
• Leaders – Giving is what we do to make the way for others God entrusts to our care.
o Tithe Storehouse = balancing a lot. Please take your commitment to the Lord very seriously here.
NEXT LEVEL DESTINY 5 AREAS: Pray – Connect – Give – Invite – Declare / What can my family and I do that we’re not currently doing that is going to next level?
BE FRUITFUL & MULTIPLY – Find just one person you can involve in ministry = this will deepen their life and will help all areas of ministry. Jody Wednesdays!
Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. NAS
Atmosphere Of Prayer
January 1st, 2012Today we’re introducing the idea of the 40 Day Challenge. The first challenge is to cultivate the atmosphere of prayer. Your atmosphere is more important than you may realize. Children worldwide move from absolute joy to sheer terror in seconds just by introducing the atmosphere of a large man in a costume.
The presence of faith is the absence of fear. The presence of fear is the absence of faith. We were designed by God to process the atmosphere of His presence into fullness of life. It’s in his presence that we find fullness of joy – Ps 16:11. As I’ve been praying and looking to God for a New Year’s Revelation for 2012 I’ve sensed for my life the word is, “Brighten Your Perspective.” This is all about bringing attention to God’s presence in my every day life. This is going to be my focus for our church family as I speak this year.
We’re asking that you post our 40 Day Handout by your toothbrush. Every morning as you brush your teeth you can be reminded to speak to your day before it begins happening to you. As you wear your “church is a verb” bracelet you will be reminded to be about the business of God’s Love in our every day lives.
We are believing for this to be the year of the great turn around! 40 Days of understanding more about God’s desires in the way we Pray, Connect, Give, Invite and Declare His Word!
This season is about moving beyond merely existing to truly living. God wants UR life 2B awesome! He didn’t die so you could go to church. He gave his life so we could have and enjoy life – John 10:10. Many people reduce this to having and enjoying vacation while simply enduring life.
Do you really want to grow in your relationship with the Lord? A dream without a strategy is just a fantasy. The milk of the mother is not contingent on the supply of the mom but the hunger of the child. God responds to our appetite.
Matt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled…Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. NIV
What are peace makers? The Jews commonly express the Hebrew word for peace as their greeting, “Shalom.” This word means so much more than peace. It’s actually translated in Scripture as, Peace, Prosperity, Health, Rest, Wellness, Welfare, Happy and Friendly. The blessing to peacemakers is an expression of God’s blessings to “Shalom” creators. We are called to create Shalom in the earth.
Shalom is man’s natural response to the atmosphere of God’s presence. Fostering awareness of God’s presence creates Shalom in the earth. Jesus taught the disciples to usher God’s Kingdom into the earth as a lifestyle of prayer, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!”
Your design is to express your atmosphere. This is why change is a process not an event. Most of us target actions we want to change but we should be cultivating the right atmosphere.
Fostering awareness creates expression. Mankind was created in God’s image with a “creator gene”. Fostering awareness creates an expression in the earth. Fostering awareness of perversion creates Strip clubs. Fostering awareness of a love for money creates greedy empires. To the contrary fostering awareness of those in need creates ministry centers like homeless shelters, soup kitchens, etc.
Fostering awareness creates expression both good and bad. If you foster awareness of your problems it creates an expression of depression that is released into the atmosphere around you. We simply can’t afford to be impressed by the devil.
Something happens when you’re aware of the presence of God. We hear amazing stories at church and feel like we’re ready to conquer the world. Then we go back to work and we switch what we’re primarily aware of in our lives. The key is to cultivate a constant and steady awareness of God’s presence in our everyday lives.
The atmosphere of our lives is vitally important. God is a God of atmosphere! He didn’t create the fish until he first created the water. He didn’t create plants until he first created the atmosphere of soil. Change is a process and not an event. This means change needs an atmosphere not a single decision.
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live w encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
When the atmosphere is right you simply do what you were designed to do. Fish don’t have to learn to swim just put them in water. Take fish out of water and the fish has problems. Angels are designed to live in the presence of God. Take an angel out of the atmosphere of God’s presence and the angel malfunctions becoming a demon. Mankind is designed to live in the atmosphere of God’s presence as kings and priests. Take the man out of the atmosphere of God’s presence and he malfunctions becoming a slave.
Jesus teaches us that men ought to always pray and not to faint in Luke 18:1. If you’re praying you’re not fainting. If you’re fainting you’re not praying. When we are primarily aware of God’s presence we experience and express Shalom. We are Shalom Creators.
GPFRL Action Point of the week:
Commit to 40 Day Challenge by challenging someone to make the commitment with you. Practice being primarily aware of God’s Presence every day this week!
If you’ve not been Scripturally baptized in water please contact our office to get signed up today for the 2/1/12 Baptism Service:
40 Day Challenge
December 30th, 2011God’s will does NOT just happen. It’s not God’s will that anybody should perish yet many do. Augustine said, “He who created you without you will not justify you without you.” Some things in your life simply will not come to pass if you don’t get into a place of cooperation with God regarding his desires for your life.
THIS IS WHAT THE 40 DAY CHALLENGE IS ALL ABOUT!!!
Each year we focus in on a tithe of the year. 10% of 365 days is 36.5 days rounded up to 40 days. Jesus was transformed by 40 days in the wilderness. Noah’s life was transformed by 40 days of rain. Moses transformed 40 days on the mountain. The disciples were transformed 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection. Are you ready for a new season in your relationship with the Lord? Spend some personal time with God over the next few weeks listening for a theme for your year and then purpose to focus on that theme for the year.
Begin planning now to find a quiet place daily for these first 40 days of the year. Spend some quality time in your morning reading portions of Scripture, journaling about what you’ve read, meditating in prayer about the ideas. This gives God room to work with the deposits that come as a result of our being in God’s Word. If you don’t have a starting point then simply read the corresponding date in the book of Proverbs.
We are believing for this to be a transforming season in all of our lives. There are five commitments to the challenge:
1. Prayer
a. Attend Tues prayer at either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m.
b. Take a prayer bracelet and begin praying for someone else every time you notice the bracelet.
2. Give
a. Practice generosity in every way making a daily difference in somebody’s life.
b. Lead your family in bringing your tithe before the Lord.
3. Connect
a. Commit to attend church and life group over these 40 days.
b. Make your home a ministry center that is reaching others.
4. Declare
a. Every day when you brush your teeth make the daily declaration speaking to your day in advance.
5. Invite
a. Invite friends and family into your home.
b. Invite them into your church making a conscious effort to further God’s Kingdom.
Click here to download the handout and to hear more details about the 40 days.
Do you really want your family to grow in relationship with God? A dream without a strategy is just a fantasy. Let’s not just hope for a stronger faith one year from now. Let’s come together and devote ourselves to understanding more of God’s desires. The milk of the mother is not contingent on the supply of the mom but the hunger of the child. In the same way God responds to our appetite.
A mind that is stretched by God’s ideas never returns to its original dimensions. Dream! Pray! Live! 40 Days!!!
You decide a resolution. You discover a revelation. You didn’t make self so you can’t tell yourself why you were made! Instead of merely focusing on personal resolutions may we bring a devoted focus to discovering what may be in God’s heart for our lives.
Jesus Is THE LIGHT
December 24th, 2011Unto us this child was born. Jesus came bringing community with God and community with each other bringing relational enlightening that changes the world. Jesus is the light who enlightens our lives and our world.
John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life. NAS
In 165 BC Jerusalem was liberated from the Syrian King. Oil was needed for the menorah in the Temple but there was only enough to last for a day. Miraculously the oil burned for eight days. An eight day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. To the Jews, these eight days are dedicated specifically to the Inner Light, (internal illumination) which brightens the soul.
The Bible shows that Jesus was in Jerusalem and interestingly enough it was during Hanukkah that Jesus announced, “I am the Light of the world”. Jesus was saying, I am that inner light and l have been since the beginning.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. NIV
In the beginning was The Light but mankind preferred darkness to light. God tried to break through the darkness through the judges, prophets and other leaders of Israel, never fully succeeded until – At the right moment, in the right place – God said again, “Let there be light,” and Jesus was born.
1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. NAS
Lead your families in understanding the reason behind the traditions. Lights are a wonderful part of the Christmas season. As you’re decorating your houses and Christmas trees reflect on the light of Christ and rehearse this in your home. The traditional star on top of the tree far above the gifts below the tree also speaks of the glorious announcement of the gift of Jesus’ birth. The star above this gift led the Wise Men to discover the true gift of Christmas.
The Light of Christ displaces darkness. The origin of the world “light” is the same origin of the word “knowledge.” Interestingly the origin of the word “darkness” is the same origin of the word “ignorance.” To be enlightened is to be informed of the conversation our God is working so desperately to have with a fallen world. He’s so interested in having this conversation he initiated it by sending his Word to express his love.
Ebenezer Scrooge awakened to the reality that his life was lacking any consideration or compassion for others. It’s the life of Christ in us that shines into the lives of others when we allow Him to do so. This is what this clip expresses!
Who is more alive today because you’re alive in Christ?
Merry Christmas everybody!!!