Think BIG

One of the things I love most about God is the fact that he really knows me. He isn't just some supreme being that hangs out in heaven and some times pays attention to all the thing happening down here in my life. He loves us enough to really know us. He knows every detail of our lives and our innermost thoughts. He cares enough about us to have detailed plans for our futures. He has big hopes for our lives.

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!

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

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