Life is a journey that will often take you to some of the most unexpected places!  Life can be fun, rewarding and exciting, as well as dull, burdensome and scary.  Of all the words used to describe life – I think that one of my favorites would have to be adventure!  Life is an adventure that brings both challenges to overcome and opportunities to seize.

God intends for us to live fulfilling, growing and blessed lives.  No matter where you perceive your life to be right at this moment, you can rest assured that it is somehow in some way moving toward a place that God has picked out for you to have a life-changing encounter with Him. There will be moments when you are afraid, but if you will trust in Him, He will see you through.  There will be times when you set and reach goals, but never ever start to think that you achieved anything by yourself!  There will be plenty of surprises that come your way – enjoy and get the most from each one!

I want to encourage you to take some time to meditate and think about where your life is right now in this very moment and where does God want to take it?  What does God’s Word – the Bible have to say about where you are and what you are going through?  Apply the wisdom of God’s Word by living in obedience to His directions and you will be amazed at how God can take the most mundane and achieve the supernatural.

Your life is a book that is not fully written – you get to decide right now what the next chapter will be and influence how it will end – hopefully in a new beginning!

Most of the people that I know live very blessed lives.  We have and know a lot of stuff.  God has been good to us in so many different ways!  One would think that our blessings would motivate us to live our lives for the One Who has blessed us, but the truth is – we tend to just keep living for ourselves!

This has got to change!  We need to enjoy the stuff that God has given us, but we also need to remember that we are stewards:  How can you use what God has given you for your enjoyment for His glory?  We need to enjoy the knowldge that God has placed into our lives.  But we need to do more than just know, we need to use what we know to live a life that gives God glory!

Stop for a minute today and think about all that God has given you!  What are you using and and will you use the gifts of God for more than just yourself?  I’ve got some work to do – how about you?  Join me this coming Sunday and we will take a few more foward steps!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to Laurens with some other pastors to spend some time with a pastor from Atlanta who shared the following insight from Reggie McNeal that used to work in leadership with our State Convention.  He said that Reggie had told him that our churches had reached everyone that looks like us, talks like us and acts like us and everyone that was willing to change so that they could look, talk and act like us.  And the reason that so many churches are beginning to struggle, is because they are not willing to get out of their comfort zones to reach the people that are different.

On my ride back from Laurens I could not help but to think about the fact that on any given Sunday, statistics tell us that about 22% of South Carolinians are in church.  That means that the other 78% are still in bed, cutting grass or on their way to beating the local baptist to the best restaurants.  78% of our neighbors are not coming or going to church anywhere!  That means that you and I can’t help but to cross paths with some of these folks at some time or another, but because they do not look, talk or act like us, we fail to even give them a glance!

If we know and really believe that Jesus loves us, then we must love Him back – we can’t help but to love Him back!  And if we are really loving Him back, then we must love others – all others – the ones that look like us and the ones that do not!

Who are you reaching?  Who are you showing love to and sharing love with?  It is not our job to get people into Heaven.  It is our job to love people – just as Jesus first loved us.  Who are you reaching?  Stop right now and think about it – who have you shown and shared love with this week, month, year?  If each one of us 22% that are in church on any given Sunday were busy on the other days of the week loving as Jesus loved – then the percentages would change and I believe they would change big time!

We are always looking for someone to blame!  But, before you are so quick to place blame – take a look in the mirror and answer this question honestly = Who Are You Reaching?

We had a great day yesterday and I just wanted to take a moment to remind everyone to G3 = GIVE GOD GLORY!  Take those blinders off and make sure that you do not miss the opportunities that God is putting all around you to minister and build bridges into other people’s lives!  There is a blessing for you and a blessing for them just waiting to be opened up and shared!

Practice obedience – you may not be perfect, but we can all be better and do better!  Remember God’s faithfulness – God has always been there for you and He is not going to leave now.  This reminder motivates me to stay true to Him!  Live in humility – anything good in me or through me is because of Him!  god is awesome and the amazing thing is He loves and cares for you and me!  Let’s love Him back real good today!

I hope that everyone is doing great today!  What a blast at church yesterday and last night!  I always love that feeling of the presence of God - in and around us, getting ready to show out in an amazing way.  Can you feel it?  Just wanted to remind you of a few things to keep in mind this week as you seek to live as a Christ Follower!  Remember:

God Has A Plan!  God has always had a plan.  He did not just come up with one in a pinch.  God has a plan for your life and it is the most amazing plan that anyone has ever seen or heard.  God is all about you and has amazing things in store for your life.  And by the way your life is for eternity!  Life is about so much more than we make it!  Take some time everyday to be reminded that the life you are living is God’s creation!

Man Has A Problem!  What you think is your problem is probably not your problem.  Realize that most of what you worry about is not worth worrying about.  Realize that most of what you worry about is temporary and not eternal.  Why waste your precious energy on worrying about something that is not eternal?  God has been good to each one of us and in our sin of choosing our will over His, we cheat ourselves and miss out on the things that really matter.  God is your CREATOR!  He created you because He loves and cares about you!  Don’t believe the lie of the enemy, instead look for the truth of your God!

There Is A Solution!  When we sin (do things we shoud not or fail to do things that we should), it messes up our relationships, possessions and Spirit.  Sin messes up more than just your day!  When we have a relationship with Jesus – we are forgiven and our relationships which really matter take on a whole new significance.  We begin to understand that our possessions have a purpose that is much deeper than our personal happiness.  And our Spirit begins to soar in places that we never dreamed about going.

Get Back To God’s Plan!  Admit that you’ve messed it up.  Believe that even though you have messed it up – God always had and still has an amazing plan for your life!  Commit to get out of His way, so that He can do His thing to you and through you!

Why is it that some believers seem to have an “on fire – spiritually alive” life, while others act like they could care less and maybe even seem a little depressed about life?  Some of our churches are on fire, filled with meaningful activity for the Kingdom, while others seem to be a good place to take a nap, because very little is happening.  What is the difference?  What make the difference?  A better way to ask the question is Who is it that makes thedifference?  The answer is obvious if you stop and think about it:  The Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit of God is absolutely essential to my living the life of faith that God has called, gifted and equipped me to live.  I need to know God as Holy Spirit.  I need to understand God as Holy Spirit and I need to yield to God as Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit helped me to understand that I was a sinner and needed Jesus for forgiveness and restoration.  The Holy Spirit helped me to die to my old self and come alive with a new life and power.  The Holy Spirit lights up the Word so that it makes sense for the daily living of my life!  The Holy Spirit opens my mind and heart, so that I can obey and apply the Word that is now making sense!  The Holy Spirit is living in me, so that I can live in the power and blessing of a right relationship with God!

I can’t live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit and I would not want to try!