January 22, 2013

Philippians 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Where are your thoughts today?  What is consuming you?  This last weekend we were challenged to move from normal to abnormal in our families.  We were challenged to become the gift God created us to be to our family.  Being a gift to someone is pretty simple to get our heads around, but living it out is more difficult . . . press on anyway!  Today is the day you can reevaluate your commitment to your family.  Speak life-giving words in your homes.  What about the thoughts you give to others . . . are they really worth sharing or just keeping to yourself?  How about your behaviors?  Are we clasping one another’s hands and reaching out to God?  Let’s remember prayers are powerful; they aren’t necessarily eloquent, but they are honest, sincere and even raw.  Truthfully, they amount to nothing if left undone.

God spoke to many hearts on Sunday, and here we are today.  The decision to move forward and press on is in your hands.  It may not be a particularly exciting day for you, but the accumulation of many little God-things from you to your family amount to a really big gift!

Our families are counting on us today whether you are a husband, wife, son, daughter, mom or dad, brother or sister.  Be a gift today!

This coming Sunday we are continuing our series “Abnormal.”  Take a look at Luke 19:1-10 and get a preview.  I know it will be a big day for us again!  Come and bring an open heart to God.

We love you and are excited to gather again as we look to celebrate the goodness of God, the power of His Words to us, the strength of friendship  and the encouragement of serving others.  Make it a great week and we will see you soon!

 

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

 
PS - We are a little over half-way through the 30-day challenge!  Keep going . . . press on.  Don't let a setback knock you out.  This is too important to give up on.

January 16, 2013

"Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me--now let me rejoice . . .Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me. " Psalm 51:7, 8, 10

This was the cry of David after he had been confronted with the true condition of his heart.  He came to recognize that he was beyond the help of anyone else but the living God.  He knew God wanted him to have a clean heart and that God could remake his, if he asked.  The key for us is to believe that God not only could but would do the same for us.  David not only knew that God could and would, he also knew that God wanted to restore his joy!

Joy to your heart might seem too much to ask of God, but I can assure you the scriptures are here to challenge our meager ideas of restoration.  Bring yourself before God today and ask him to cleanse you . . . and you "will be whiter than snow."  He will "let you rejoice again," and you will find a renewed "loyal spirit within you."  The truth is we are all in the place of needing a clean heart.  Each and every day I am in need of bringing my heart before my God in humility and offering it to Him to do His will and work.  Stay committed to 30/30 and keep these things in mind as you do.

This coming Sunday we are going to be speaking about living the "Abnormal" life as a family.  This is going to be so helpful no matter what stage of family you are in.  Look ahead to Philippians 4:8 as we anticipate an eventful day together.

Please know we love you and are praying God's best over your life and future.  We can hardly wait to be with you this coming weekend.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

January 9, 2013

“I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on...” Philippians 3:12-14a

Our time together Sunday was very meaningful as we unpacked this verse.  We started our new series - “Abnormal”.  This series is important because frankly, normal isn’t working for many of us!  We need to push past normal to abnormal, because unless we do, we will remain in the ruts our daily patterns have created.  Let’s forget the past, and look forward to what lies ahead of us...which is a personal, daily walk with Christ.  It’s not a dream or a fading vision, it’s the real deal and we would be wise to challenge ourselves to deeper levels of relationship with Him. 

Many of us have done so and are committed to 30/30.  This is a challenge to spend 30 minutes a day with God in prayer, introspection and reading of the Bible for the next 30 days.  I’m already hearing from you about what’s happening!  I have shaken things up in my life as well and am feeling a fresh wind blowing.  I’m having to force myself to end my time of devotion and begin my day.  Our God is good and faithful and we experience Him when we turn our attention to Him.  If you have already stumbled or haven't gotten in gear yet...it’s time!  Right now.  Stop reading this and get to it!    

We continue our series this week as we turn to the passage found in Psalm 51.  Take an early look and let God speak to you about it before Sunday’s gathering.  If you haven't seen the series preview yet...take a look and like others post on your Facebook page or forward this email to a friend who might visit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA6bVoWyXwQ&feature=em-share_video_user

 

Lastly, we are experiencing large numbers of attendance on Sundays and we need to make good use of our new property.  If you are able, please park next door which makes room for the many new guests we host weekly that don't know about the parking next door yet and leave because they don't see open parking.  If you park there...you may be rewarded for your efforts.

We love you and are praying God’s best over you and your homes.  We look forward to our time together each week as we celebrate Jesus and His work in our lives.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog.

January 2, 2013

Psalm 96:1-2 “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! ² Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.”

It's a new Day!  It’s a new year!  A good reminder that with Christ all things are new.  If 2012 did not go as you hoped, chances are you are looking for a new start.  2013 is not enough to give it to you, but with Christ “all things are possible”.  Begin the new year by grabbing the right tools to aid you in getting where you need to go. I can tell you this, the greatest tool is time with God.  Give Him your time and you will not regret it! 

We are starting a new series Sunday called “Abnormal".  Take a look at the link below to check it out.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blBhZiVG3IQ&sns=em

We are looking so forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather to celebrate the goodness of our God, catch up with friends, encourage one another and open our hearts to the challenge of God’s Word. 

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog.