Red Letter Day was such a challenging series and I really do believe from the conversations each week that God has brought about and started many wonderful changes throughout the lives in our congregation. Besides all the blessings that I see for people in this, I am excited by what Jerris referred to one week as a real spiritual momentum at Grace Community Church. I can see this momentum in the ways that I am growing closer to God, the changes that I see in my family, and the changes I can see in the students and families of Grace.
Where can you see spiritual momentum in your life and the lives of those around you?
This past weekend’s message about unfinished business has been whirling around in my head this week.I have had this “holy discontent” for several months, actually through most of the fall and winter.I know God has something for me to do.Not sure what that is yet, but I have been seeking Him through fasting, prayer and just alone time with Him.
One thing I realized last fall was that if I was going to be ready for whatever God has for me that I had better get in shape physically.So that has been my next step over the winter.I get anxious wanting to know “what’s next”.But God knows me and probably isn’t going to put the next agenda item in front of me until I have finished the first task.It is too easy for me to get distracted before I finish the task at hand.I found myself saying, “yep, that’s me,” when Aaron talked this past Sunday about one of his professors telling him that he was good at starting many things, but not so good at finishing.Anybody else like that?
Have you been thinking about your next step this past week?Is it just not starting anything new until you finish the task at hand?Or is it seeking God for what that next step is?Or are you jumping into something that has been calling you for some time?I’d love to hear what is going on with your Unfinished Business.
You might notice a change or two around Grace Community. We have received a fresh round of painting throughout most of the building and we definitely want to express appreciation to the group from Abilene and all those Grace partners who took part in that project. Did you also know that while the group was here we were able to make further connection with students on campus as well as people in the community surrounding our church? Several boxes of granola bars were distributed on campus and team members took time to ask those they contacted on campus and in neighborhoods a few questions for us to be able to better love those around us. I am thrilled to see God continuing to build momentum for his kingdom as we build relationships with those God has placed around us.
So, for a few days a group from Texas invaded our church. I have a few thoughts about the weekend with the expanded version to come later.
1. I love Grace Community Church! I was reminded again of the amazing fellowship, passion, vision and unity that we share.
2. I love being around University Students! There was a different vibe in our church for a few days.
3. I love the opportunity to share our (Grace Community) story and try to inspire the next generation of leaders to think about the possibility of a better way of doing church. I believe in our church to the core and want others to see that everything can be done in a life giving way.
4. A fresh coat of paint is worth the effort.
What did you enjoy about this weekend? I would love to hear your thoughts about the invasion of a group of Texans. What did God show you as we served and lived together for couple of days?
1. to move one’s hand or an implement continuously or repeatedly through (a liquid or other substance) in order to cool, mix, agitate, dissolve, etc., any or all of the component parts: to stir one’s coffee with a spoon.
2. to set in tremulous, fluttering motion: A soft breeze stirred the leaves.
3. to affect strongly; excite; to stir one’s heart.
4. to incite, instigate, or prompt
5. to move briskly; bestir: to stir oneself.
6. to move,
7. to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc.
8.to bring up for notice or discussion.
9.to disturb;
This morning i looked up the definition to the word stir, because I just needed a word to describe the little somethings here and there that I have observed. It fit perfectly. I am reading a book called Forgotten God, by Francis Chan. In the book he talks about the tragedy of living your life with out ever discovering the power of the Holy Spirit inside of you. He asks a really interesting question, one that I would like to ask to you, “When was the last time I undeniably saw the Spirit at work in or around me?”
When was the last time that you undeniably saw the Spirit at work (stirring) in or around you? Go back up and read the definition of stir. Can you see the Holy Spirit doing some of those things in your life? Are you affected? Have you felt set into motion? Felt discontent (disturbed)? Are you feeling “roused” from inactivity, indifference, contentment?
I have talked to several of you and the Holy Spirit is stirring. Let’s seek it out. Find out more about who the Holy Spirit even is. Find out why or why not you are feeling the Holy Spirit. Let’s be proactive about our faith…about our lives…about our purpose. Are you being stirred? If so, what are you doing about it?
(p.s I really would love love love to hear about how you have seen the Spirit at work in or around you!)
Last night was the launch of the second online experience that Grace Community Church is hosting (I think the 41st experience offered by Lifechurch) and it was such a blessing to see God’s hand at work. We were joined by volunteers from Texas and one from another network church in Franklin, NC. What an awesome thing to see the body come together from three different states in our country to minister to individuals from 28 different countries as God’s word was shared! Healing began as people received prayer and support in the love of Christ and we celebrated as 6 more surrendered their lives to Christ. Continue to pray for this tremendous ministry and be sure to check out church online at http://live.lifechurch.tv and see our great teams from right here at Grace Community Church be used by God at 6:30 pm on Mondays or 10:00 pm on Wednesdays!
Well, I have almost completed my first real Winter and so far feel as if we have fared pretty well, but I am ready for Spring! I’ve noticed that even as temps still remain chilly, I’ve begun to wear short sleeve, lighter materialed shirts, and leaving my jacket at home. When asked by my wife why in the world I hadn’t worn a jacket when we went to the store this last weekend I told her, “I’m protesting Winter!”
As ridiculous as it sounds to think that I can somehow change the weather by acting as if it isn’t cold, I gave it further thought and realized that I can be guilty of trying the same ridiculous thinking in other parts of my life. How many times have I simply replied, “I’m doing great!” when someone asked how I was doing even though I was having a horrible time? Maybe it’s just a matter of being lazy and not wanting to enter into that long of an answer, maybe it’s pride that keeps me from admitting my struggles to others, but I think somewhere deep down I may actually think that I can change painful things by acting as if they don’t exist. The only problem is, that just as I stay cold by refusing to put on a coat, the pain of struggles remains in my life when I refuse to admit them and allow opportunity for needed help.
If you where not able to be at Grace yesterday here is what you missed.
1. A fantastic sermon dealing with Hosea and Gomer. The message will be available over 40 times this week at church online or on the Grace website. Our church online team would love to have you join us Wednesday night at 10pm.
2. Next Monday, March 8th at 6:30pm our church will launch a second online experience. If you are looking for a place to volunteer we would love to have you join the team. Contact Aaron Carpenter for more information.
3. Saturday, March 13th we will be working with the students from Texas to paint the church. We will be painting from 11am - 5pm and 7pm - 9pm. I will send a complete schedule for the weekend later this week. If you have any painting supplies you can donate that would be helpful. We need rollers, brushes, drop cloth, scaffolding, buckets, extension poles for rollers and anything else paint related you can share. You can either drop stuff by the church or bring it on Sunday.
4. Next week we will begin a new series called “Red letter Day”. Craig will be looking at the final words of Jesus as we lead up to Easter Sunday. This is a wonderful time of year to invite someone to church. Easter is a time of year when people feel like they should attend church, so invite them and see what God chooses to do in their life.
In January the youth began looking at our acronym of IMAGE, which stands for five things we will do as a student ministry to lead students to become fully devoted followers of Christ: Invest, Magnify, Approach, Grow, Enjoy. We have had a great time in the youth group lately looking at what it means to magnify God with our lives. We’ve asked ourselves the question, do I show God for how good he is with how I live my life? As we’ve examined this question we have been viewing videos from a movement called I Am Second where several individuals, including current and former athletes and musicians, tell their story of how God has changed their lives and why they place God first in their lives. I encourage you to visit the site, watch a few of the videos, and ask yourself who or what is first in your life?
Do you ever commit to something, then wonder a little later “what was I thinking?”? Last week, I committed to running the Illinois Marathon 5K with my good friend Brittany. Since November, we have been motivating and encouraging each other with our fitness goals. At that moment, this race seemed like a fun thing to do together.
After the initial “Rah! Rah!” we can do this, the doubts started in my brain. I started going through all the reasons I can’t or shouldn’t do this. The list went something like this; I’m way too old, still out of shape, slow, I don’t think I have ever run a 5K in my life, I can’t remember the last time I ran 5 blocks, I’ll collapse , I’ll embarrass myself… I won’t bore you with the complete list but I can assure you it got quite long.
After about a half a day of listening to all those thoughts spin around in my head, I realized that two of my old companions had showed up again. Fear and Pride. Argh! Why do I keep letting those guys have their way with me? How often do I let them run my life? God does not want that for me. Both of those totally block the abundant life God has for me.
Honestly, most of my fears were driven by my pride. The same pride that keeps my struggles in the dark, the same pride that won’t admit that I need help with something, the same pride that sometimes thinks I need to present this neat little life all tied up with a pretty bow, the same pride that often thinks I can “fix” whatever by myself without bothering anyone including God. Pride almost kept me from writing about pride. How ridiculously absurd is that?!
So this week, I am spending lots of time reflecting on how adversely pride has affected my life and reading lots of scriptures about how great God is and how He feels about pride and humility. Job 38 is very humbling reading.
Do you struggle with pride? If so, what does pride look like in your life?
James 4:6 (NIV)
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”[b]
James 4:10 (NIV)
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
