Everyone of us has a grace story, which is our God story.
On Sunday I challenged individuals to look for opportunities to share their amazing story and I gave three keys:
1. Look for the opportunities
2. Ask for wisdom
3. Watch God work
I can’t wait to get emails and hear stories from people who begin to believe God can use them on a daily basis to be contributing to the building of God’s kingdom.
I want people to realize there is nothing mundane! God will use every person and situation if they’re open to advance his kingdom, his agenda and his love…. even in the doctor’s office waiting room or in a coffee shop!
Do you believe that?
I do and I hope you do too!
To some extent, the phenomena of the past few decades of Black Friday and the frenzy about shopping is understandable I guess. Who doesn’t love a great deal and as a hunter we know I love the thrill of the hunt.
Although, it can get way out of control as was the case in some stores!
But what I can’t get behind is how this spilled over into Thanksgiving with many stores opening Thursday night. Can’t we just rest for one day and give thanks?
It was great to have Steve Andrews the lead pastor at Kensington Community Church speak on Sunday.
I will forever be grateful for Steve’s and Kensington’s part in assisting us in starting at The River on 59. What I appreciate about Steve is he never stops learning, he never stops growing and he never stops extending grace…especially as you heard from his stories, to ME! (check it out here if you didn’t)
Steve more and more falls in love with Christ every day and as a result he can’t help but give more of Christ to other people. THIS is grace. He was vulnerable, transparent and challenging. People who have experienced grace are transparent, real and make a difference.
Why? Because it’s not them. They are only able to do it as a result of Christ. This is a representation of extending gratitude…
I’m grateful, not just because it’s Thanksgiving, but because of His grace. What about you?
Is the very thing you’re holding onto the one thing that could be holding you back?
Here’s a message I filmed this summer and I wanted to post it today because it just might mean something to someone struggling with their past… check it out:
God doesn’t want you to hold onto the past, so don’t hold back!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)!
What about you?
Filed under: Relevant Rants, Thoughts | Tags: christian atheist, tithe, worry
There has been a lot of “meat” on our bones (spiritually of course!) these last few weeks. Here are just a few of those “bites.”
When you believe in God, but trust more in your own money
We heard from Scott Crownover, pastor at The Green Room in Ann Arbor who spoke about that big subject … money. Some people think tithing is a taboo subject, but Jesus spoke about it 15 percent of the time, so it must be an important issue. Those who give freely have freedom from frustration or even our infamous worry dog, allowing us to partner with God.
We are defined as a follower of Christ by our generosity. Do you trust in God or money?
When we believe in God, but not in his church
We covered the final part of our “True Reflections” series based on Craig Groeschel’s book “Christian Atheist” and I’ve heard from a lot of people about the impactfulness of that message. The church doesn’t exist for us, we are the church and we exist for the world.
Ephesians 3:10 says, “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
Is it possible to stop GOING to church and start BEING the church? Participation is not optional. So how are you going to stand up today and make the church a priority?
What’s so amazing
Grace can be hard to understand. As I said yesterday, it’s a multifaceted, multidimensional act of love and kindness that goes beyond what a person could ever earn ore expect. If you do nothing else with me, read, mediate upon and memorize:
Ephesians 2: 8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Let’s chew on that…