I just want to take a second and say how proud I am of our One Way interns!
Our first season of interns at One Way have impressed me, they are passionate
and real but above all they know how to get ahold of God.
In fact we've added several of them to our prayer team for altar times. Because
at One Way we have so many students and we have so many needs it takes a huge
team of people to help us connect with each person needing to make a change for Christ.
I won't name them off for the sake of embarassing any of them but I just wanted to
give them something to be proud of and have they have rights to brag, because since
their first Wednesday in action in September, One Way has grown ALOT and is continuing
to do so!
We have really been blessed to be the youth pastors of the best students in the world and I cannot
explain to you how proud we really are of them.
If your an intern at One Way please know, that we love you and that we pray for you daily.
We know that you are the heartbeat of this ministry and we are passionate about you!
If you ever need anything please call us or text and we look forward to many more great
services with you!
As far as the Internship program goes we are almost done with Season 1 coming up in December!
7 Interns will stay on and 7 new Interns will be picked! We are excited to start Season 2 in January '13 and we know that God is going to keep doing amazing things through you!
Finally, this Wednesday we are kickin' off our new series "Home Sweet Home" don't miss it!
Bring a friend! Invite someone to "COME HOME"!!! For more information please visit our
web site at www.onewaysm.org or contact us directly via Facebook or Phone
-Pastor Phil
One Way Student Ministries
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
Sometimes you just have to wait...
Sometimes in life we find ourselves in a weird place, a place where we cannot do anything, where we can't help and a place where we just have to wait.
I'm going to be honest, when these thoughts came to me today it was because we were in a waiting room at a hospital with a precious family from our church.
But sitting there today with their family as they waited brought thoughts into my head.
Sometimes in our life we find ourselves in a waiting room, sometimes we find ourselves helpless and the future within the hands of someone we don't really know that well...
In the same way we can find ourselves in a similar place spiritually, where we find ourselves just waiting! Waiting on an answer to prayer, waiting on a miracle, waiting for direction...
What should we do? Where should we go, what should we say?
I think all of us can relate with a time in our life where it seemed like we were just stuck, maybe you're there right now...
Tonight I want to encourage you with this scripture...
Isaiah 40:27-31 (MSG) says
27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.
Those who trust in God and wait on him, they will find new strength, fresh strength to carry on, but sometimes we just have to wait, he has a plan and a purpose and when all the waiting is done we will be refreshed and renewed!
So, whatever your going through or if you know someone who is going through something! Remind them, sometimes we just have to wait!
But as we do God will begin to refresh us and renew us!
I encourage you if this applies to you or not, find someone it does apply to and encourage them with this thought!
-Pastor Phil
I'm going to be honest, when these thoughts came to me today it was because we were in a waiting room at a hospital with a precious family from our church.
But sitting there today with their family as they waited brought thoughts into my head.
Sometimes in our life we find ourselves in a waiting room, sometimes we find ourselves helpless and the future within the hands of someone we don't really know that well...
In the same way we can find ourselves in a similar place spiritually, where we find ourselves just waiting! Waiting on an answer to prayer, waiting on a miracle, waiting for direction...
What should we do? Where should we go, what should we say?
I think all of us can relate with a time in our life where it seemed like we were just stuck, maybe you're there right now...
Tonight I want to encourage you with this scripture...
Isaiah 40:27-31 (MSG) says
27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.
Those who trust in God and wait on him, they will find new strength, fresh strength to carry on, but sometimes we just have to wait, he has a plan and a purpose and when all the waiting is done we will be refreshed and renewed!
So, whatever your going through or if you know someone who is going through something! Remind them, sometimes we just have to wait!
But as we do God will begin to refresh us and renew us!
I encourage you if this applies to you or not, find someone it does apply to and encourage them with this thought!
-Pastor Phil
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Some amazing quotes!
"Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain, cherish the moment, live, laugh, love, forgive & forget, life's 2 short 2 be, living w/ regrets."
In all your ways acknowledge him, & he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:6
"There are no mistakes in life, just lessons"
You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, & expect to win. -Zig Ziglar
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -Prov 27:17
Whether or not you think you can or you cant. Either way, you are right! -Henry Ford
"The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles."
"Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?"
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, It is about learning to dance in the rain."
In all your ways acknowledge him, & he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:6
"There are no mistakes in life, just lessons"
You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, & expect to win. -Zig Ziglar
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -Prov 27:17
Whether or not you think you can or you cant. Either way, you are right! -Henry Ford
"The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles."
"Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?"
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, It is about learning to dance in the rain."
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Sometimes You Have To Wait...
Mark 8:1-10 (MSG) says "At about this same time he again found himself with a hungry crowd on his hands. He called his disciples together and said, “This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they’ll faint along the way—some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples responded, “What do you expect us to do about it? Buy food out here in the desert?” He asked, “How much bread do you have?” "Seven loaves,” they said. So, Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. After giving thanks, he took the seven bread loaves, broke them into pieces, and gave them to his disciples so they could hand them out to the crowd.
They also had a few fish. He pronounced a blessing over the fish and told his disciples to hand them out as well. The crowd ate its fill. Seven sacks of leftovers were collected. There were well over four thousand at the meal. Then he sent them home. He himself went straight to the boat with his disciples."
This scripture has several points to be made but what I would like to bring out in this short blog is a portion from the very beginning of this scripture.
Jesus is talking and he says "This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat..."
and then later in the chapter we read where Jesus blessed and miraculously fed "well over four thousand" people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish!
The thought that I want to bring out in this is the idea that after three days of listening, after three days of going without food the people began to break the heart of Jesus! He knew they were hungry physically and that they had to be fed...
You see a human body can only go so long without food and water!
And I believe Christians must be fed spiritually as well! I believe we must feed ourselves daily, in fact the Lord's prayer teaches us to pray "give us today our daily bread.." and again in Matthew 4:4 it says
"People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
So, by the words of these scriptures you see it's very important that we are fed spiritually as well and now to our point!
Sometimes, we have to wait on God before we get what we need!
You see I feel like there are a lot of so called Christians that want God to feed us like a fast food restaurant! We go to church, we get our miracle and then we leave! All on our time and when we want it!
But God don't work like that..
You see his ways are higher than ours, his thoughts are higher than ours and he knows the plan he has for us!
God wants us to make him a priority! God wants us to show him that we need him! Because we were made to worship him and give him glory, and by waiting on him we can show him our faithfulness and commitment!
God doesn't always ask us to wait upon him but sometimes he does and just like these scriptures when we reach the heart of God then he meets us where we are. Then he feeds us, then he does miracles and changes our lives!
So, my challenge for you is this, if you've been waiting on an answer, if you've been praying for a loved one, if you've been looking for that miracle, don't give up, GET HUNGRY!
Because when we get hungry we will move the heart of God and then he will move in our lives! So, don't give up, wait on God and maybe today or tomorrow will be your "third day"
-Pastor Phil
One Way Student Ministries
www.onewaysm.org
They also had a few fish. He pronounced a blessing over the fish and told his disciples to hand them out as well. The crowd ate its fill. Seven sacks of leftovers were collected. There were well over four thousand at the meal. Then he sent them home. He himself went straight to the boat with his disciples."
This scripture has several points to be made but what I would like to bring out in this short blog is a portion from the very beginning of this scripture.
Jesus is talking and he says "This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat..."
and then later in the chapter we read where Jesus blessed and miraculously fed "well over four thousand" people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish!
The thought that I want to bring out in this is the idea that after three days of listening, after three days of going without food the people began to break the heart of Jesus! He knew they were hungry physically and that they had to be fed...
You see a human body can only go so long without food and water!
And I believe Christians must be fed spiritually as well! I believe we must feed ourselves daily, in fact the Lord's prayer teaches us to pray "give us today our daily bread.." and again in Matthew 4:4 it says
"People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
So, by the words of these scriptures you see it's very important that we are fed spiritually as well and now to our point!
Sometimes, we have to wait on God before we get what we need!
You see I feel like there are a lot of so called Christians that want God to feed us like a fast food restaurant! We go to church, we get our miracle and then we leave! All on our time and when we want it!
But God don't work like that..
You see his ways are higher than ours, his thoughts are higher than ours and he knows the plan he has for us!
God wants us to make him a priority! God wants us to show him that we need him! Because we were made to worship him and give him glory, and by waiting on him we can show him our faithfulness and commitment!
God doesn't always ask us to wait upon him but sometimes he does and just like these scriptures when we reach the heart of God then he meets us where we are. Then he feeds us, then he does miracles and changes our lives!
So, my challenge for you is this, if you've been waiting on an answer, if you've been praying for a loved one, if you've been looking for that miracle, don't give up, GET HUNGRY!
Because when we get hungry we will move the heart of God and then he will move in our lives! So, don't give up, wait on God and maybe today or tomorrow will be your "third day"
-Pastor Phil
One Way Student Ministries
www.onewaysm.org
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Leave The Past Behind You
That simple phrase right there is powerful! "Leave the past behind you" don't look back!
Today, as I believe many people do I begin to think about my past, from the time I was a child until now, the things I've done and the things I want to do...
The is a hard subject for most to discuss, I think it's because we regret so many things we've done or maybe failed to do...
Going to college, ending certain friendships, walking away from family who needs us, witnessing to the lost and making poor choices that cause a lot of unnecessary heart ache...
Today, I found this scripture in the Message Translation, it says
3-5 "You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself." 1 Peter 4:3-5 MSG
"Now it's time to be done for good...
You don't have to give an account to THEM...."
This is one of the very personal, selfish reasons you don't wanna live in the past, this is why you don't wanna live in sin...
Because those who do will have to offer an explanation! They are held accountable, so leave your past behind you! It doesn't define you! Give your life, everything to God! He knows your past, present and future! So, stop hiding, stop running and surrender to God!
Proverbs 3:5-7 (MSG) says
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!
Father, help us leave the past behind us, God forgive us of all of our sin, Jesus we believe in you and we know you are the same yesterday, today and forever! You hold our world in your hands! Help us draw closer to you and live for you everyday! -Amen
-Pastor Phil
Today, as I believe many people do I begin to think about my past, from the time I was a child until now, the things I've done and the things I want to do...
The is a hard subject for most to discuss, I think it's because we regret so many things we've done or maybe failed to do...
Going to college, ending certain friendships, walking away from family who needs us, witnessing to the lost and making poor choices that cause a lot of unnecessary heart ache...
Today, I found this scripture in the Message Translation, it says
3-5 "You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself." 1 Peter 4:3-5 MSG
"Now it's time to be done for good...
You don't have to give an account to THEM...."
This is one of the very personal, selfish reasons you don't wanna live in the past, this is why you don't wanna live in sin...
Because those who do will have to offer an explanation! They are held accountable, so leave your past behind you! It doesn't define you! Give your life, everything to God! He knows your past, present and future! So, stop hiding, stop running and surrender to God!
Proverbs 3:5-7 (MSG) says
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!
Father, help us leave the past behind us, God forgive us of all of our sin, Jesus we believe in you and we know you are the same yesterday, today and forever! You hold our world in your hands! Help us draw closer to you and live for you everyday! -Amen
-Pastor Phil
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Stand Up
Today, I was thinking about the scripture in Daniel Chapter 3 where it talks about three men; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The scripture talks about how they took a stand in worshiping and serving the one and only true God. When it seemed like everyone else was giving into the worship of a false idol these young men stood up, they stood up for their beliefs, their God and their right to worship him.
Thinking over this set of scriptures, I realize that I have heard this story multiple times growing up but never before have I realized how relevant this story can be when compared to our world today!
You see in a very similar way, the world around us is changing, we are facing more and more pressure every day to worship and serve the things of this world. We may not see it as that but the pressure is there, with social media and peer pressure and just the way our culture has shifted, the world is trying to force their beliefs and ways of life on us.
Like never before I believe we have a chance to stand up and make a difference, even though we may face persecution like these three Hebrew men did we must remember "That God will never leave us or forsake us" and just like God showed up in the fiery furnace, he will show up in the midst of our trials!
You see God will actually bless us when we stand up for him and he promises that he will not leave our side! So, trust in God and the plan he has for you! And make a stand! Stand up for Christ in our world today, in our schools, at our jobs, represent the one who has never left, who promises to stay with us and who will be with us into the ends of the earth!
Our world needs to see the hope in the people who have enough faith to stand up for Christ! So, stand up and shine your light! Show the world there's a better way to live!
So, I challenge you to read over Daniel Chapter 3 and think about how you can make a stand!
-Pastor Phil
Thinking over this set of scriptures, I realize that I have heard this story multiple times growing up but never before have I realized how relevant this story can be when compared to our world today!
You see in a very similar way, the world around us is changing, we are facing more and more pressure every day to worship and serve the things of this world. We may not see it as that but the pressure is there, with social media and peer pressure and just the way our culture has shifted, the world is trying to force their beliefs and ways of life on us.
Like never before I believe we have a chance to stand up and make a difference, even though we may face persecution like these three Hebrew men did we must remember "That God will never leave us or forsake us" and just like God showed up in the fiery furnace, he will show up in the midst of our trials!
You see God will actually bless us when we stand up for him and he promises that he will not leave our side! So, trust in God and the plan he has for you! And make a stand! Stand up for Christ in our world today, in our schools, at our jobs, represent the one who has never left, who promises to stay with us and who will be with us into the ends of the earth!
Our world needs to see the hope in the people who have enough faith to stand up for Christ! So, stand up and shine your light! Show the world there's a better way to live!
So, I challenge you to read over Daniel Chapter 3 and think about how you can make a stand!
-Pastor Phil
Friday, October 12, 2012
Vision For Your Ministry
Every ministry should have a vision and a mission statement! It's very important that you dream big and that you write down what God speaks into your heart concerning where you are and where you are going!
I thank God that we have always had leaders in our life, mentoring us and pushing us to dream BIG! In fact without that in our ministry I believe we would not be where we are today!
So, dream big and chase after that dream, don't be afraid to criticize yourself and perfect yourself!
Figure out who or what you wanna be like and then begin to watch yourself, begin to record yourself, begin to work towards the person, pastor or leader you were created to be!
Surround yourself with people who will inspire you and help you when you need it, people who will pray for your ministry!
Even though pastors and leaders don't like to have someone tell them the truth or suggest ideas, you will come to the place where you wish you did have someone who would have helped you grow your ministry.
So, my solution is this;
Stay humble and teachable in ministry and don't be afraid to allow yourself to be molded into the great leader God is calling you to be!!
Proverbs 28:18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he."
Pastor Phil
www.onewaysm.org
I thank God that we have always had leaders in our life, mentoring us and pushing us to dream BIG! In fact without that in our ministry I believe we would not be where we are today!
So, dream big and chase after that dream, don't be afraid to criticize yourself and perfect yourself!
Figure out who or what you wanna be like and then begin to watch yourself, begin to record yourself, begin to work towards the person, pastor or leader you were created to be!
Surround yourself with people who will inspire you and help you when you need it, people who will pray for your ministry!
Even though pastors and leaders don't like to have someone tell them the truth or suggest ideas, you will come to the place where you wish you did have someone who would have helped you grow your ministry.
So, my solution is this;
Stay humble and teachable in ministry and don't be afraid to allow yourself to be molded into the great leader God is calling you to be!!
Proverbs 28:18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he."
Pastor Phil
www.onewaysm.org
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Sometimes You Have To Be Selfish..
Sometimes during the moment of prayer the holy spirit begins to speak with you and as a Pastor
you can sometimes forget the things you say.
I believe that happens because the bible says that the holy spirit is interceding for us, that he helps us
know what to pray for and how to do it. Anways, going back to what was said during this prayer I
mentioned how we as people in and of the church can get caught up in doing everything, working,
being prepared, talking to people, working at various tasks and we can overlook ourselves.
So, during this prayer I said something along the lines of "Sometimes you just have to get selfish..."
I honestly don't even remember what else I said as I mentioned, my friend reminded me of this, but
what I was speaking was the simple fact as Christians, as Pastors and as Individuals sometimes we
have to become selfish in our own walk, in our needs and in our own spirituality.
You see for me this really begin to hit home after my friend reminded me of this. Because as a youth pastor, husband, graphic designer, worship leader and all the other things and titles that fall under my name, I
sometimes find myself too busy! Too busy to take the extra time to talk to God during the day for me, for
my family, for my wife, for my personal walk.
It's something I believe the church world really deals with and is very relevant, so therefore I am tossing around the idea of writing a book about it. It may never happen but I know for a fact that we as Christians and those who are Pastors, don't really take the time that we need to, for our selves.
Don't get me wrong, every morning I wake up, throw some Praise & Worship on, I begin to pray, but I don't pray for my stuff. I pray for the church, our pastors, I pray for services, staff, people who are in the hospital, but so many times I can honestly say that I don't get selfish!
In fact its rare for me to get selfish... Can anyone else relate with that?
Maybe it's because normally at church, I'm on the stage, leading in some manner...
Maybe it's because I'm praying for someone else or I'm doing some important task for the service...
Maybe it's because I want people to know that we love them and I'm out in the crowd welcoming people
to the church...
Whatever my excuse is, whatever your excuse is, it's time that we get selfish...
It's time that we fill ourselves backup, so we can continue to pour out into others lives!
God has really spoken to me this wekk and reminded me that it's okay to get selfish, it's okay to get what
I need from him, I'm still going to be a youth pastor afterwards, i'm still going to fufill his will in my life...
So, today as I share these thoughts with you and as my good friend Monroe reminded me this past weekend, that it's okay for us to get selfish...
So, take some time for yourself, get alone with God, get alone and worship, pray and medidate on God,
Get Selfish!
Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message translation says “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Monday, September 24, 2012
Think BIG
Even before we were were born God had a purpose and a plan for our lives. We had value and worth in Him even before we ever did anything. God has big thoughts for us. He wants to use us to accomplish His purpose and plan for our life. The most exciting part for us, is discovering what God created us to do and become. He places passions in our lives for a reason. He gives us dreams and interests for a reason. We are all good at different things for a reason.
Frequently, the only thing that limits God's plan for our lives, is us thinking we aren't good enough. Us thinking he doesn't know what he is doing. Or us deciding that we couldn't ever actually fulfill all the awesome things God places in our hearts.
In the bible, great men had trouble with the idea that God could work through them. They felt insignificant or incapable of accomplishing big things because of their past, or their insecurities. Then God came along, and reminded them of all the things he placed in their hearts, and all the thoughts and dreams he had already dreamed for them. Moses was a great example of something we all go through, the fear of what might happen if we allow God to take us everywhere he wants to go.
Exodus 3:1-12
The Message (MSG)
Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up.
Moses said, “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?”
God saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
He said, “Yes? I’m right here!”
God said, “Don’t come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You’re standing on holy ground.”
Then he said, “I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”
Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
God said, “I’ve taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters; I know all about their pain. And now I have come down to help them, pry them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out of that country and bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
“The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I’ve seen for myself how cruelly they’re being treated by the Egyptians. It’s time for you to go back: I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
I'll be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain.”
God's plan for us is big, and sometimes a little intimidating. It is supposed to be. God doesn't want us to be able to accomplish it without him. But he does promise us that he will be with us in the midst of everything. He will be there to prove he sent us and help us accomplish big things in his name. What are some things God has put on your heart to do? Today is the day to get started! He will be there with you in the midst of it!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Complaceny (Part 1)
Complacent is defined as;
Pleased, especially with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect.
A feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect
Today I feel like God has opened my eyes to the church and their Complacency in our world.
You see, complacency has a good definition and a bad definition.
What I mean is this, it is a good thing for us to feel pleased and be confident with where we are. Security is a great thing for a leader to have, it is a great thing for Christians to have, but the part that alarms me is the end of the definition that states, "...often without awareness of some potential danger or defect" or "...often while unaware of some potential danger, defect".
Unfortunately I feel like the church as a whole is in this dangerous mindset and attitude. We are so comfortable numerically, financially, spiritually and so on and I feel as if we are heading towards danger and defect without being aware of it!
I believe as Christians, we are also in this mindset. Being complacent in our personal walk with Christ.
Today my challenge for you is this;
Get out of the box, do something wild! Yes, wild! Do something with zeal, do something crazy to reach people for Christ, do something that will cause people to talk within the church and outside of the church.
Do this in your personal life as well, find a way to bring that family member to church, find a new way to worship God, find something fresh to focus on when you go to church, try a different bible translation, try sitting in a new place, start praying for your church and pastor before you get to church.
There's alot we could talk about concerning complacency and the fear of where it could lead us. I believe the ultimate reaping of complacency is being lukewarm. And lukewarmness is a very dangerous place to be.
The main point I want to communicate today is this; don't allow yourself to be comfortable with where your at! But keep it real! Keep striving for the best of God. Keep yourself and your church relevant to the world!
If your church isn't growing, change things! If people are getting frustrated change! Be relevant...
(To Be Continued...)
Pastor Phil
Pleased, especially with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect.
A feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect
Today I feel like God has opened my eyes to the church and their Complacency in our world.
You see, complacency has a good definition and a bad definition.
What I mean is this, it is a good thing for us to feel pleased and be confident with where we are. Security is a great thing for a leader to have, it is a great thing for Christians to have, but the part that alarms me is the end of the definition that states, "...often without awareness of some potential danger or defect" or "...often while unaware of some potential danger, defect".
Unfortunately I feel like the church as a whole is in this dangerous mindset and attitude. We are so comfortable numerically, financially, spiritually and so on and I feel as if we are heading towards danger and defect without being aware of it!
I believe as Christians, we are also in this mindset. Being complacent in our personal walk with Christ.
Today my challenge for you is this;
Get out of the box, do something wild! Yes, wild! Do something with zeal, do something crazy to reach people for Christ, do something that will cause people to talk within the church and outside of the church.
Do this in your personal life as well, find a way to bring that family member to church, find a new way to worship God, find something fresh to focus on when you go to church, try a different bible translation, try sitting in a new place, start praying for your church and pastor before you get to church.
There's alot we could talk about concerning complacency and the fear of where it could lead us. I believe the ultimate reaping of complacency is being lukewarm. And lukewarmness is a very dangerous place to be.
The main point I want to communicate today is this; don't allow yourself to be comfortable with where your at! But keep it real! Keep striving for the best of God. Keep yourself and your church relevant to the world!
If your church isn't growing, change things! If people are getting frustrated change! Be relevant...
(To Be Continued...)
Pastor Phil
Monday, September 10, 2012
It's a new day, a new week, a fresh start
Good morning friends
I just wanted to write a short blog with some thoughts for you today, it's been a while since I've sit
myself down to actually write something on here. I hope to get back in the groove of blogging.
As you know today is Monday, September 10th 2012. It's the start of a new day, the start of a new week and for many, if they choose, a fresh start.
You see every morning we are blessed to wake up and have breath in our lungs, every day there are thousands, perhaps millions who struggle or even may take their last breath here on earth.
For me, I am excited, because I realize the opportunity that is in front of me. Opportunity to shine the love of Christ into this world, to love my beautiful wife more than I did yesterday, to be there for our students when even their parents are not and finally to serve.
For me, I have always had a servants heart. Many times throughout my life I have been given the opportunity to help others by serving them or by lending a hand, to show them someone cares enough to help or listen or even do what they say.
So, for me today is about opportunity. what are you going to do with it?
Will you GO! for God? Will you shine for Christ? Will you decide to have a good attitude in the middle of the negativity that seems to surround us all. Will you be thankful for the breath you have in your lungs?
Whatever you do, please don't take this life for granted. We are blessed to live in this country, to have families, to have our church (hopefully you have a church) and to have each other and a God who loves and is jealous for us.
So, for me today is a fresh start. A fresh opportunity to do the things I didn't yesterday, to live with a grateful heart and to give back to God for all he has given me.
What are you doing with your Monday?
-Pastor Phil
I just wanted to write a short blog with some thoughts for you today, it's been a while since I've sit
myself down to actually write something on here. I hope to get back in the groove of blogging.
As you know today is Monday, September 10th 2012. It's the start of a new day, the start of a new week and for many, if they choose, a fresh start.
You see every morning we are blessed to wake up and have breath in our lungs, every day there are thousands, perhaps millions who struggle or even may take their last breath here on earth.
For me, I am excited, because I realize the opportunity that is in front of me. Opportunity to shine the love of Christ into this world, to love my beautiful wife more than I did yesterday, to be there for our students when even their parents are not and finally to serve.
For me, I have always had a servants heart. Many times throughout my life I have been given the opportunity to help others by serving them or by lending a hand, to show them someone cares enough to help or listen or even do what they say.
So, for me today is about opportunity. what are you going to do with it?
Will you GO! for God? Will you shine for Christ? Will you decide to have a good attitude in the middle of the negativity that seems to surround us all. Will you be thankful for the breath you have in your lungs?
Whatever you do, please don't take this life for granted. We are blessed to live in this country, to have families, to have our church (hopefully you have a church) and to have each other and a God who loves and is jealous for us.
So, for me today is a fresh start. A fresh opportunity to do the things I didn't yesterday, to live with a grateful heart and to give back to God for all he has given me.
What are you doing with your Monday?
-Pastor Phil
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Great Resource Steven Furtick.com
More Favor, More Faith
This past weekend I started a 2 week teaching on God’s Favor at Elevation Church. We’re calling it Found Favor.
You can watch the first sermon here.
I told the church, and I meant it, that only setting aside 2 weeks for this study was a miscalculation on my part. I had no idea how much God would show me in His Word about favor as I began to study. Honestly, I don’t think I had a clue how central the concept of Favor is in the Scriptures.
Since I walked to the pulpit with 10 pages of notes, and only got through about 3 of them this weekend, I wanted to take a moment to elaborate on one of the facts about favor I briefly mentioned.
The more favor you receive, the more faith it will require.
God’s favor brings abundant blessing into our lives. God’s blessing is usually associated with serenity, tranquility, and other Thomas Kinkade type good sensations. So it’s easy to see why we can begin to incorrectly assume that when we have God’s favor, life will be more comfortable.
But if you come to God seeking favor in order to establish your comfort, you’ll be disappointed more often than not.
Because what you begin to discover as you walk in God’s favor is that, as much as anything, favor is a disruptive force.
Remember, for mother Mary, being blessed and highly favored meant giving birth in a barn. And bearing public shame and ridicule.
I’m not saying this to depress you. Just to prepare you.
Favor isn’t always synonymous with a series of fortunate events. It doesn’t usually lead to sitting back and relaxing.
Walking in more favor will require you to exert more faith. Because it’s going to take you places you’ve never been, and require you to do things you’ve never done. Things you can’t do, apart from Jesus.
When you ask God for favor, He answers with opportunity.
As you seize the opportunity, He empowers you with His presence, and equips you with His power.
It’s just the way favor flows.
You can watch the first sermon here.
I told the church, and I meant it, that only setting aside 2 weeks for this study was a miscalculation on my part. I had no idea how much God would show me in His Word about favor as I began to study. Honestly, I don’t think I had a clue how central the concept of Favor is in the Scriptures.
Since I walked to the pulpit with 10 pages of notes, and only got through about 3 of them this weekend, I wanted to take a moment to elaborate on one of the facts about favor I briefly mentioned.
The more favor you receive, the more faith it will require.
God’s favor brings abundant blessing into our lives. God’s blessing is usually associated with serenity, tranquility, and other Thomas Kinkade type good sensations. So it’s easy to see why we can begin to incorrectly assume that when we have God’s favor, life will be more comfortable.
But if you come to God seeking favor in order to establish your comfort, you’ll be disappointed more often than not.
Because what you begin to discover as you walk in God’s favor is that, as much as anything, favor is a disruptive force.
Remember, for mother Mary, being blessed and highly favored meant giving birth in a barn. And bearing public shame and ridicule.
I’m not saying this to depress you. Just to prepare you.
Favor isn’t always synonymous with a series of fortunate events. It doesn’t usually lead to sitting back and relaxing.
Walking in more favor will require you to exert more faith. Because it’s going to take you places you’ve never been, and require you to do things you’ve never done. Things you can’t do, apart from Jesus.
When you ask God for favor, He answers with opportunity.
As you seize the opportunity, He empowers you with His presence, and equips you with His power.
It’s just the way favor flows.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Summer Camp Devo Notes 1
devotionals
tuesday, july 10
th | summer camp east texas '12
“You are here for a reason”
This morning for just a few minutes I want to share with you
about this subject, that “You are here for a reason”
•
Everyone here today has come here for a reason.
•
What was something that drawed you here? Why did you come to
camp?
•
For myself I have always loved Summer Camp because its where I
find myself closest to God.
•
Did you know that there is 14 million students at Camp this summer?
That is a lot of people.
•
We may all have different things that drawed us here but now
“We Are Here, Together!”
•
In our eyes, many things have brought us here, but in God's eyes we
are here for a reason!
•
In God's eyes this has been a divine appointment.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the L
ORD. “They are plans for
good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those
days when you pray, I will listen.
•
God's word says he knows the plan he has for you, they are plans for
good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
•
You attending this camp has been part of God's plan.
•
And I want to tell you today that the plan God has for you is an
amazing one.
•
This week, God is going to shake East Texas! I am believing their will
be souls saved from Hell, I believe that their will be students filled
with the holy spirit, with evidence of speaking in tongues. But more
than that God is going to change lives so lives can be changed.
•
I believe this week God is going to give us the strength and power to
do his plan.
•
I believe that for some of you it's going to be hard to decide, but I
want to encourage you this morning to trust in God's plan.
•
God is capable of doing unbelievable things this week at Summer
Camp.
•
But it has to start with us accepting his plan. It has to start with us
acknowledging that we are here for a reason.
•
It has to start with us making a decision that we want to change and
be the man that God has created us to be.
Today God wants to challenge you to change your world.
•
Don't just say yeah the world needs to be changed, but ask yourself
this morning “How can I change the world?”
•
This week at camp God is going to give you the tools, strength and
guidance to do that, but you have to accept it!
•
You have to be willing to change your world.
•
Your world is ready for someone to change it!
•
People are restless, they are looking for answers, they are scared, they
are mad, they are hurting.
•
And we have the answers!
•
Jesus talked about the world being ready for change.
John 4:35 - 38
35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I
say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe[
e] for harvest. 36
The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people
brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester
alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s
true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already
done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
In closing, lets decide that this year of camp is going to be
life changing!
•
That when we go home to our churches and youth groups we are
going to go out into the harvest field and save souls.
•
The way we do that is by knowing we are here for a reason! That reason
is to get filled up with the power of God. To be encouraged by each other!
To allow God to call us, and empower us and show us how important we
are to him.
Everyone say “I am important”
Come on say that out today, “I am important”!
You are important and our enemy knows that. The devil wants to take you
out! That's why camp is so important for you! This is where we get
equipped with the spiritual weapons to defend ourselves and this is where
we get the courage to go on the offense!
Our reason for being here is simply so we can allow God to do an amazing
work in us so we can go reach the lost for him.
God's dreams are big, his reason is big, his plan is big.
I believe God wants us to grow the areas we are in and next year bring
twice as many people to camp.
Your never too small or too big to grow in salvations. To grow isn't about
numbers, its about saving people from hell.
I challenge you today, to accept the reason that you are here. PrayerMonday, June 11, 2012
A New Life Has Begun
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
This morning as I was reading this passage, I was also thinking about why we do what we do. Youth ministry in itself can be a difficult thing. Teenagers deal with more today then ever before. Students literally face things on a daily basis that were unspeakable 50 years ago! Rape, pornography, drugs, alcohol, family crisis, the loss of a loved one, things that no one should go through even more so a young person of their age.
I was thinking about how in ministry, especially youth ministry, people around us like to focus on the negative side. This person did this, this person broke that rule, this person said this word, that person wasn't here, those people needed that. It seems like we like to point our finger alot at everyone else's failures and sins.
For myself I have always been a self motivator and I have always liked to go against the status quo.
I believe that it is very important that people acknowledge their own sin before our holy God. But I also believe we should acknowledge God when he is changing a persons life.
Not what happened in the past, not even what happened yesterday. Why? Because you can't go back and fix it. Instead look at what God is capable of and what he is doing today.
Earlier today I posted on twitter "To see a young person crying out to God through worship and prayer. Thats what its all about!" and for me that is what its all about. To see change in the lives of students and people who were once broken but now they have become new.
This is how we stay motivated. Find the small things that God is doing. Focus on the people who are changing, focus on the person who lifts their hands out of the norm. Focus on the ones who continuously come up for prayer, because their getting it, don't over look them.
Watch for the ones that had an old life but are becoming new, because Christ is changing them into a new creature, a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-20 MSG
16-20Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!
I love this scripture because it points out that when Christ walked this earth we looked at him and judged him, we got it all wrong and crucified him. We overlooked the messiah because we are negative people. Because our focus is in the wrong place.
Don't overlook what God is doing in your life, and in the people around you. Focus on that fresh start, focus on the ones who are a new creation. Their old life is gone and a new life has begun.
Today, don't look at others and judge them, don't be negative and look at their failures. Instead look for the positives, focus on the people who are getting it! Focus on what Christ is doing in your life and stay away from the negativity, because if we are in Christ the old life has gone and a new one has come. We have a fresh start in him, every single day!
What are you going to do with it?
Pastor Phil
onewaysm.org
philipjkeller@hotmail.com
This morning as I was reading this passage, I was also thinking about why we do what we do. Youth ministry in itself can be a difficult thing. Teenagers deal with more today then ever before. Students literally face things on a daily basis that were unspeakable 50 years ago! Rape, pornography, drugs, alcohol, family crisis, the loss of a loved one, things that no one should go through even more so a young person of their age.
I was thinking about how in ministry, especially youth ministry, people around us like to focus on the negative side. This person did this, this person broke that rule, this person said this word, that person wasn't here, those people needed that. It seems like we like to point our finger alot at everyone else's failures and sins.
For myself I have always been a self motivator and I have always liked to go against the status quo.
I believe that it is very important that people acknowledge their own sin before our holy God. But I also believe we should acknowledge God when he is changing a persons life.
Not what happened in the past, not even what happened yesterday. Why? Because you can't go back and fix it. Instead look at what God is capable of and what he is doing today.
Earlier today I posted on twitter "To see a young person crying out to God through worship and prayer. Thats what its all about!" and for me that is what its all about. To see change in the lives of students and people who were once broken but now they have become new.
This is how we stay motivated. Find the small things that God is doing. Focus on the people who are changing, focus on the person who lifts their hands out of the norm. Focus on the ones who continuously come up for prayer, because their getting it, don't over look them.
Watch for the ones that had an old life but are becoming new, because Christ is changing them into a new creature, a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-20 MSG
16-20Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!
I love this scripture because it points out that when Christ walked this earth we looked at him and judged him, we got it all wrong and crucified him. We overlooked the messiah because we are negative people. Because our focus is in the wrong place.
Don't overlook what God is doing in your life, and in the people around you. Focus on that fresh start, focus on the ones who are a new creation. Their old life is gone and a new life has begun.
Today, don't look at others and judge them, don't be negative and look at their failures. Instead look for the positives, focus on the people who are getting it! Focus on what Christ is doing in your life and stay away from the negativity, because if we are in Christ the old life has gone and a new one has come. We have a fresh start in him, every single day!
What are you going to do with it?
Pastor Phil
onewaysm.org
philipjkeller@hotmail.com
Monday, June 4, 2012
Worship | Monday, June 4th 2012
Malachi 1:6-7, 9-10, 14 MSG
"Isn't it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I'm your Father, where's the honor? If I'm your Master, where's the respect?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: "You priests despise me! "You say, 'Not so! How do we despise you?' "By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship. "You ask, 'What do you mean, "defiling"? What's defiling about it?' "When you say, 'The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,' that's defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you're trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn't that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.
"Get on your knees and pray that I will be gracious to you. You priests have gotten everyone in trouble. With this kind of conduct, do you think I'll pay attention to you?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you. "Why doesn't one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don't want any more of this so-called worship! Offering God Something Hand-Me-Down, Broken, or Useless "
A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!"
This morning as I read these scriptures my heart breaks for God. Not only was these words used back in the times of Malachi but I feel their still relevant today. Our Heavenly Father, the one who spoke creation into being the one who can do anything and everything, the all powerful God of the universe, the one who sent his only son, Jesus Christ to earth and was beaten for our sins for our mistakes and was killed on the cross of calvary, that precious God is disgusted, dispised and upset at us with our worship.
For me, my worship is precious, because for me, my life and the worship I show to God through it is the only way I can truly "give back" to God for all he's done for me. I could really take these scriptures on bring out the frustrations I have and i believe God has with churches today, with our style, with our rituals and religious ideas but I won't. Because for me this is all about God and I. Am I truly worshipping God and is it worthy of what he desires? I believe our lives should worship God but I also believe that during our times of worship, if that's at a church or in your private times that God expects something from us. I believe he wants us to be very REAL with him, not religious, not stuck in a tradition but brutally and severely honest with him. I believe he wants us to thank him, plead with him, petition him and ask for forgiveness everytime we come before him.
I believe that God doesn't want us to take our worship for granted. But I feel like in the church world, we do just that. Are we really giving God our all? Are we giving him the best we have or just the left overs or the things that are easy. That is what they were doing in the book of Malachi. Offering the sick and crippled animals as a sacrifice to God. God doesn't want sloppy worship, he doesn't want empty headed worship, he wants real, passionate worship from us. Something from the heart. Something that doesn't take memorization, something that is true and meaningful.
My challenge for you today is this; think about your worship and ask yourself am I pleasing God with real worship that is heart-felt or am I upsetting God like in Malachi with empty-headed worship, with sloppy worship? No matter what your answer is, evaluate yourself first before anyone else and make the necessary changes to your worship. Maybe you should pray more or sing louder, maybe you should start lifting your hands in worship, maybe you need to change your style or stop a tradition. Whatever you feel lead to start doing or change, make sure your worship is fresh, so when God looks down on your worship, he smiles, he is excited. With that comes blessings and answers in your life.
"Isn't it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I'm your Father, where's the honor? If I'm your Master, where's the respect?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: "You priests despise me! "You say, 'Not so! How do we despise you?' "By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship. "You ask, 'What do you mean, "defiling"? What's defiling about it?' "When you say, 'The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,' that's defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you're trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn't that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.
"Get on your knees and pray that I will be gracious to you. You priests have gotten everyone in trouble. With this kind of conduct, do you think I'll pay attention to you?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you. "Why doesn't one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don't want any more of this so-called worship! Offering God Something Hand-Me-Down, Broken, or Useless "
A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!"
This morning as I read these scriptures my heart breaks for God. Not only was these words used back in the times of Malachi but I feel their still relevant today. Our Heavenly Father, the one who spoke creation into being the one who can do anything and everything, the all powerful God of the universe, the one who sent his only son, Jesus Christ to earth and was beaten for our sins for our mistakes and was killed on the cross of calvary, that precious God is disgusted, dispised and upset at us with our worship.
For me, my worship is precious, because for me, my life and the worship I show to God through it is the only way I can truly "give back" to God for all he's done for me. I could really take these scriptures on bring out the frustrations I have and i believe God has with churches today, with our style, with our rituals and religious ideas but I won't. Because for me this is all about God and I. Am I truly worshipping God and is it worthy of what he desires? I believe our lives should worship God but I also believe that during our times of worship, if that's at a church or in your private times that God expects something from us. I believe he wants us to be very REAL with him, not religious, not stuck in a tradition but brutally and severely honest with him. I believe he wants us to thank him, plead with him, petition him and ask for forgiveness everytime we come before him.
I believe that God doesn't want us to take our worship for granted. But I feel like in the church world, we do just that. Are we really giving God our all? Are we giving him the best we have or just the left overs or the things that are easy. That is what they were doing in the book of Malachi. Offering the sick and crippled animals as a sacrifice to God. God doesn't want sloppy worship, he doesn't want empty headed worship, he wants real, passionate worship from us. Something from the heart. Something that doesn't take memorization, something that is true and meaningful.
My challenge for you today is this; think about your worship and ask yourself am I pleasing God with real worship that is heart-felt or am I upsetting God like in Malachi with empty-headed worship, with sloppy worship? No matter what your answer is, evaluate yourself first before anyone else and make the necessary changes to your worship. Maybe you should pray more or sing louder, maybe you should start lifting your hands in worship, maybe you need to change your style or stop a tradition. Whatever you feel lead to start doing or change, make sure your worship is fresh, so when God looks down on your worship, he smiles, he is excited. With that comes blessings and answers in your life.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Trusting God
This morning I want to talk about trusting God.
Trust is a really hard thing to obtain in todays culture. In the business world or in our
own personal relationships, trust is not an easy thing we just do or allow.
When I was growing up it didn't take me very long to learn to listen and trust my parents.
In fact there was a few times that I didn't listen to them and I had to reap what I sowed.
After that I learned that I should probably trust my parents and when they gave me advice they were only looking out for my best interest.
As a nation, church and as an individual we have fallen away from trusting God with our lives.
We need to realize that God has only the best for us in mind. He is just looking out for our best interest. He is our heavenly father and we are his children.
At times, we try to do our own thing and God politely allows us to. Sometimes we learn the hard way, by falling, by getting hurt and by messing everything up! Then God waits, he waits for us to realize if we just did it his way, if we would of just listened and followed his plan for our life, things would be so much easier.
I believe this has also happened in our country. I believe we were once a nation and in God we trusted, but now we've tried to do our own thing, we've tried make up our own rules and we've went our own way.
Today I pray that our country would wake up and see that we have fallen, that we should of listened to our father God.
Today I pray that you would realize that. You may have fallen but God still loves you, theres still time for you to turn this thing around. But we must first start with Trust!
Trust him, trust his ways, trust his plan and trust our father who sees and knows everything.
Just like my parents knew when I was a child, God knows whats best for you, he knows what decisions are good for you and which ones are bad. And he wants to help guide you down the right path, the least painful path.
Trust God. He loves you and he wants the best for you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.
If you have time today, listen to the song "Walk by faith" by Jeremy Camp its an oldie but a goodie!
Pastor Phil
Trust is a really hard thing to obtain in todays culture. In the business world or in our
own personal relationships, trust is not an easy thing we just do or allow.
When I was growing up it didn't take me very long to learn to listen and trust my parents.
In fact there was a few times that I didn't listen to them and I had to reap what I sowed.
After that I learned that I should probably trust my parents and when they gave me advice they were only looking out for my best interest.
As a nation, church and as an individual we have fallen away from trusting God with our lives.
We need to realize that God has only the best for us in mind. He is just looking out for our best interest. He is our heavenly father and we are his children.
At times, we try to do our own thing and God politely allows us to. Sometimes we learn the hard way, by falling, by getting hurt and by messing everything up! Then God waits, he waits for us to realize if we just did it his way, if we would of just listened and followed his plan for our life, things would be so much easier.
I believe this has also happened in our country. I believe we were once a nation and in God we trusted, but now we've tried to do our own thing, we've tried make up our own rules and we've went our own way.
Today I pray that our country would wake up and see that we have fallen, that we should of listened to our father God.
Today I pray that you would realize that. You may have fallen but God still loves you, theres still time for you to turn this thing around. But we must first start with Trust!
Trust him, trust his ways, trust his plan and trust our father who sees and knows everything.
Just like my parents knew when I was a child, God knows whats best for you, he knows what decisions are good for you and which ones are bad. And he wants to help guide you down the right path, the least painful path.
Trust God. He loves you and he wants the best for you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.
If you have time today, listen to the song "Walk by faith" by Jeremy Camp its an oldie but a goodie!
Pastor Phil
Monday, May 21, 2012
Direction
Psalm 119:1-3
You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You're blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That's right—you don't go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
Today I just want to be an encouragement to those of you who are traveling down the path that God has laid out for you. If your a pastor, youth pastor or if you clean the bathrooms in your church, you can easily get weary and tired of doing that work for the body of Christ.
So many times we get burnt out on church because we don't set aside time for rest or because we don't read enough of God's word to re-confrim that the work we are doing is worth it and then sometimes things people say or the way people act bring us down.
Today Monday, May 21st 2012 I want to tell you that "you are blessed when you stay on course" that "you are blessed when you follow his directions" and even though we can get burnt out at times or get discouraged, its gonna be worth it all.
There may be some of you who are looking for answers on which way to go. There may be a few of you who are looking at your options and wandering what in the world is God doing.
Today I want to remind you to simply Trust Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 in the MSG says "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track."
In the middle of confusion or being burnt out on church, we need to remind ourselves to trust God, because his plan for us is good, his plan for us is to be blessed and to guide us through this life.
You may not see the purpose now, but one day you'll see the entire picture and you'll know why God allowed certain things that you didn't understand to happen.
Trust him, lean on him, stay on the course that he has set before you and follow his directions (read the word)
Father, I pray today that you would just be with everyone who reads this blog. That you would remind them today that they are blessed and highly favored! And that even though we are in the middle of our battle, if its being burnt out or discouraged, that you see and know the bigger plan and purpose of it all God and we trust you. Jesus help us be real today, help us love others as you have called us to. We love you and thank you
Amen
Pastor Phil
One Way Student Ministries
www.onewaysm.org
Monday, May 7, 2012
Kings & Queens (Week 2 Starts Wed. Nite)
Hello All
We wanted to officially announce the scores from the first week of Battle of the Sexes from our new series entitled "Kings & Queens"
The Guys represented well in the games and spirit all night long, but it was the girls taking over with the most in attendance and the most given in offering!
So the results from the first week are..................(drum roll please)
The GIRLS leading with 97,000 total points and the Guys trailing with 55,000 total points.
The ladies are rocking it out!! Guys where are you? :)
Don't forget the two easiest ways to earn points! For every $1 your team earns 1,000 points. I have a little inside information for you all, last week the boys were leading by 10,000 points until we counted offering! The ladies brought the MONIE$$$$$$!!!!!
This week is gonna be jam packed with presentations and games so don't miss out! Bring a friend and fight for your team!
Remember the winning teams gets served dinner by the losers at the end of the month and there will be a walk of shame for the entire losing team filled with LOTS of embarassing pictures!
Don't miss out on Battle of the Sexes and our new series "Kings & Queens"
Pastor Phil
Monday, April 30, 2012
Speak life
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.[b]
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
James 3:3-10
Today in a very short blog I want to talk to you about our words and our tongue.
The bible talks about the things that exit our mouth and the power they have over our life, our world.
It is very important for us as Jesus followers to talk positive. To speak encouraging words, pass on the negative and embrace the positive.
In the church world there has been a continous growth of gossip and judgemental words.
I'll admit that I myself have even fallen to these things in the past. Sometimes we "jump on the band wagon" and begin to talk negative, about the body of Christ, fellow Christians and even the called of God.
This morning we need to realize as we read in James chapter 3, that our tongue and the words that come out of our mouth have the power to speak blessings or cursings and the choice is up to us.
Do you choose to speak life into people's lives? Or are you choosing to speak discouragement, negativity and evil into other's lives...
In Philippians chapter four, verse eight it says;
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The bible clearly teaches us what we should be thinking about and what should be coming out of us.
Love, truth... whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is admirable, we should think on these things.
This morning I challenge you to evaluate your life and your speech. Think about how you talk and the things that come out of your mouth, maybe you need to make some changes? I'll admit there are a few things I need to adjust when it comes to speaking more positive and have a positive outlook on everyday life.
Maybe thats you? Maybe you need to readjust your outlook, maybe you need to change your outlook. Maybe you need to just step back and look at the way you talk and ask God to help you become more like him.
Wherever you are today, choose to speak life, choose to speak love, choose to shine your light through your words.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.[b]
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
James 3:3-10
Today in a very short blog I want to talk to you about our words and our tongue.
The bible talks about the things that exit our mouth and the power they have over our life, our world.
It is very important for us as Jesus followers to talk positive. To speak encouraging words, pass on the negative and embrace the positive.
In the church world there has been a continous growth of gossip and judgemental words.
I'll admit that I myself have even fallen to these things in the past. Sometimes we "jump on the band wagon" and begin to talk negative, about the body of Christ, fellow Christians and even the called of God.
This morning we need to realize as we read in James chapter 3, that our tongue and the words that come out of our mouth have the power to speak blessings or cursings and the choice is up to us.
Do you choose to speak life into people's lives? Or are you choosing to speak discouragement, negativity and evil into other's lives...
In Philippians chapter four, verse eight it says;
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The bible clearly teaches us what we should be thinking about and what should be coming out of us.
Love, truth... whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is admirable, we should think on these things.
This morning I challenge you to evaluate your life and your speech. Think about how you talk and the things that come out of your mouth, maybe you need to make some changes? I'll admit there are a few things I need to adjust when it comes to speaking more positive and have a positive outlook on everyday life.
Maybe thats you? Maybe you need to readjust your outlook, maybe you need to change your outlook. Maybe you need to just step back and look at the way you talk and ask God to help you become more like him.
Wherever you are today, choose to speak life, choose to speak love, choose to shine your light through your words.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Romans 8:28 says And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Today I just want to take a few minutes out of the day to encourage you.
The love and mercy of Jesus Christ will never fail us.
People, our careers, money and even family will let us down from time to time.
But the one person who we can trust. The one thing that stays the same yesterday, today and forever,
is the love of Jesus Christ. The bible says over and over again that his love endures forever.
Today, remind yourself of the love of God. That he died for you, that he loves you and that he has a
plan and a purpose for you.
Today, you have Jesus Christ the son of God and all of heaven on your side. Don't waste it caught up
in those things that let you down. Spend it praising him and lifting him up for the love that he has shown us.
And tell others of his love, tell others of his plan and purpose for them. And remind yourself that his love never fails, that it endures forever.
Our God is good and he loves us so much.
Let's live our best for him today!
'Your Love Never Fails' by Jesus Culture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoezWBPGRAc
Pastor Phil
One Way Student Ministries
www.onewaysm.org
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A Time For Everything
2-8 A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
In our lives you will soon find out there is a time and a place for everything. Soloman wrote in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 that in life we will go through seasons and times of change. A time for good and bad, a time for birth and a time for death and so on and so on.
Basically, there will be ups and downs, there will be times when you don't understand. There will be times that you feel like you are in the valley of the shadow of death and there will be times where you feel like you are on the mountain, above all your troubles and fear.
The thing we have to remember through all these seasons and times of change is that God does not change! And if we are in a season that is hard or easy, we have to hold tight to our faith in him.
Today if you are going through one of those seasons, we will refer to them as a "down season" I want to encourage you. In our life we will experience many things. These times of change or seasons if you will, can shape and mold us into who we are supposed to be. But so many times that choice is up to us. How we react and deal with these "down seasons" determine our attiude, how people may see us and who we become.
Some people feel like life has dealt them a bad hand. Some people go around sad, confused and depressed and our reaction and outlook determines these things.
Today I encourage you to remind yourself who God is. He is the creator of all things, he is everywhere and he knows everything, we cannot hide from him nor can we out smart him.
God is also our abba father God and he loves unconditionally, that is why he sent Jesus to bring
us back to him, through the cross. God is also an administrator or designer, he creates a plan and purpose for us. He is the author and finisher of our faith.
When we begin to look at the characteristics of God it helps us endure these times.
God is for us not against us. His arms are open wide. His word says we should cast are cares
upon him because he cares for us.
Today I don't know where you are at, I don't know what season you may be going through but I do know who created you, I do know you are precious and important in God's eyes and you are loved with an everlasting love. As you go through a valley or maybe you are celebrating while on a mountain. Praise God that he sees us through it all. Praise God that his love endures through all things. Praise God because he never lets go and his word says he will never leave us or forsake us.
Today, if you have the time listen to this song by Hillsong titled "Desert Song"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WYK6TxWX7s
Pastor Philip
Student Pastor of One Way Student Ministries
www.onewaysm.org
philipjkeller@hotmail.com
Phone # 281.689.7065
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