Tag Archives: goals

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Tempted!

Are you ever tempted?  That is really a crazy question, because the answer is obvious!  We are all tempted in many ways, on just about everyday of our lives!  

It starts in the morning when you need to get up and get going – you are tempted to just stay in the warm and cozy bed.  You get up and you are tempted to take shortcuts in getting ready, but your looks and smells are to important to mess that one up.  You are tempted to skip breakfast or to just grab a Snickers, instead of taking the time to eat something that is good for you.  When you get in your car, you are tempted to not wear you seat belt and you are tempted to speed to work, because you are running late!  (In fact – some of us have already given into a few at this point!)

When you get to work you are tempted to clean some body’s clock, because they looked at you funny or said the wrong thing!  You are tempted to get on Facebook and day dream a little, but there is just way to much to do.  You are tempted to really blow it at lunch, but you know – you won’t be fit for the afternoon if you really eat all of that food at the Chinese Buffet!  You are tempted to leave early – who would know and would that really be stealing?

When you get home you are tempted to crash on the couch with a glass of milk and eat all of the Oreo cookies!  You are tempted to watch a lot of different shows, but instead you give into the temptation to just flip from channel to channel to channel for over an hour.  You think:  Why did I just waste so much time watching a bunch of nothing?

Finally, tired of it all – you fall into bed and remember that you forgot to brush your teeth – you are tempted to say skip it, until you lean over to kiss your spouse and they say:  ”No way Oreo breath!”  You fall a sleep and dream about temptation and actually wake up feeling guilty because you gave into the temptation in your dreams!

I hope you will join me this coming Sunday morning at Northwood as we learn from Jesus about how to face and overcome some of the more serious and threatening  temptations of life!  Hope to see ya Sunday at one of our two campuses!

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Thank You God For My Staff!

I have a lot of people that are very kind to me!  They encourage me with notes, emails and comments about how my ministry is making a difference in their lives.  I very much appreciate these kind and generous individuals who do more to bless me than they probably realize.  God has been very good to me and blessed me way beyond anything that I could dream that I deserve.  Anything good that comes out of my life is not because of me, but because of my God and His gifts, blessings and willingness to use the willing!

Another reason that I am able to do some of the things that have an impact and make a difference in people’s lives is because God has placed a group of men, women, boys and girls around me, who help, encourage and motivate me to be and give my very best.  God works in and through their lives and ministry to allow my gifts and ministry to have a greater appeal and impact!  I am nothing without God, and the ministry that He has called me to would be much less than it is, without the help of all of those paid and volunteer that come around me to help me do this amazing thing called ministry!

I just wanted to take time today to say:  ”THANK YOU!” to each one of you that take and make time to help and assist me in being a disciple and in making disciples!  I love you so very much and I am so glad that we get to do this journey called life together.  I am so excited about what God is doing and I can’t wait to see what He is going to do next!

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Shine Bright!

There is a lot of talk about churches becoming relevant to our culture!  I am all for our doing whatever it takes to reach people for Jesus, but we need to make sure that we are reaching people for Jesus and not just attracting a crowd.  Jesus said in John 8:12  “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Light is not a tool that we earn, it is a gift that we posses!  Jesus is the light and when we accept Him, we become the light.

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus put it this way:  “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”  As we share Jesus by shining our light in the midst of the darkness, people will be attracted to God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness!

We do not have to dumb down holiness to make it attractive to a lost and dying world.  In fact, when we dumb it down, it ceases to be real holiness.  We need to raise up the bar of discipleship and let the world know that if you are going to be a Christian, it means more than attending church and going through the motions.  To be a Christian means denying self, taking up our cross and following Him.  And this is the best and brightest way to shine our lights into this dark world – by denying self, taking up our cross and following Him!  (Matthew 16:24)  I’ve got some work to do!  SHINE BRIGHT!

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Fired Up Friday!

Together Is Better!

Together Is Better!

Friday tends to be one of those days when we are tempted to make it all about us.  We have been busy all week long – giving ourselves to someone or something else and it would appear that now it is almost time to make it about ourselves.  Before we make the leap, I want to share some thoughts that the Holy Spirit has been laying on my heart.  And let me be the first to say:  ”I’ve got some work to do!”

Jesus said:  “If any man would come after (follow) me, then he must deny (surrender) himself, take up his cross (sacrifice) and follow me!”  This is what it means to be a Christian!  Being a Christian is about so much more than getting out of Hell and into Heaven!  It is so much more than going to church and going through the motions.  Being a Christian is about living in a relationship of following, surrender and sacrifice!

I often hear “church attenders” make so many excuses about what they can and can’t do, about what they are and are not going to do.  And what it really boils down to, is this one question:  Are you going to be a Christian or not?  If you are going to be a Christian, then you are going to follow Jesus because you have a “want to” to follow Jesus.  If you are going to be a Christian, then you will surrender your will to His will, because you truly believe that His will is better!  If you are going to be a Christian, then you will sacrifice everyday, multiple times throughout the day, because you know and appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for you!

Let’s stop making excuses!  Let’s start making a difference!  Let’s really be what we say we are!  I am a Christian!  I choose to follow Christ!  I am excited about surrendering my will to His will!  I count it all joy to be able to sacrifice for His glory and other’s blessing!  I am following Jesus and I know that I am on a journey of “right direction!”  Let’s do it together!  The journey is so much more enjoyable when we do it together and I do it better when I have someone that I can help and someone that will help me back!  I just can’t wait to see where God is going to take us together!

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Awards!

This morning I am sitting in the cafeteria of the school where Gracie my eight year old attends.  I am waiting for awards day to begin.  They have an awards day every nine weeks to celebrate perfect attendance, grade improvements and exceptional reading.  Gracie and a lot of other kids from our church will be getting some of these awards and they are all very excited!

It is good for all us to remember that as we live life here on this earth that we are getting a grade.  The Bible says that God’s eyes are going back and forth across the lands looking for someone/anyone who is being faithful and living in obedience.  Let’s remember that all of us are still in school and there is much to learn!  What can you learn today?  How can you use what you have learned to show God obedience and show others His glory?  Let’s get busy and grow our lives today!

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Repentance Equals Change!

The message of Jesus was very simple:  REPENT!  To repent means to change – we cannot stay the same!  Jesus was not telling us to change for change sake.  Jesus challenges us to change because He knows things and can see things that you and I cannot!  Jesus knows that our lives can and should be better.  Jesus knows the great things that God has in store for those that love Him.  Jesus knows the change that you need to make and the great difference the change will make in your life!

Change is a good thing, especially when it is the right change!  We are resistant to change because we tend to think in a negative way about change.  Not all change is negative.  And a lot of the change that we look at as negative is not really negative – it’s just hard!  Just because it is hard does not make it a bad thing, especially if it is going to lead to good things!  The key is to make sure that we are not changing just for change sake!

Everyone of us have some changes that need to be made in our lives.  You know what I am talking about – you have been thinking about and fighting against some changes that you have been needing to make for a while now.  Take a few moment right now to stop and pray.  Just talk to God and ask Him to reveal to you the areas of your life that need to be worked on and worked out!  Now take just a little more time to do what needs to be done!  See – that was not so bad after all – was it?

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My “MASTER” Plan!

It is obvious if you look around and practice just a little bit of observation, that there is a God and that He cares for you!  If we are going to get the most out of this life on earth, then we must make and take time to be with the One that created it all!  We need to spend time with the Master!  Today I want to challenge you to take three steps as a part of your “Master” Plan!

First, I challenge you to actually spend time with God this week!  Don’t just think about it!  Don’t say you will, but never get around to it!  Right now make a plan to spend some time with your Creator.  Pick a time, place and make a plan about what you will do when you get there!  Give God some good time in your day – some time when you are alert, awake and ready for whatever!  Find a place where you will not be disturbed, a place where there is not a lot of distractions or competition for attention.  As a part of you plan take your Bible and read it with the purpose of hearing something from God.  Take a pen and journal and write down some of what you are thinking and feeling and what you plan to do about it!  You goal is to start spending time with God and in this time to share your heart with Him and in the process get to know His heart and will for your life!  God loves you and believe it or not, He does have an amazing plan for you and the life that you are living! 

The second step of our “Master” plan is we want to identify and start to work on some real issues.  All of us have issues and if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit it and begin with the strength of God to do something about them!  Take some time this month to start identifying issues that you need to take on in your life!  Start a list of things that you want to work on and need to work on and then during your times with God ask for His help and look for His insights!

The third step of your “Master” plan is to really grow and develop!  If you will commit to spending time with God on a regular basis and if you will in that time start to identify and work on real issues, you will grow and develop in every area of your life!  You will be happier, people around you will be blessed and God will get the glory!  Take some time to think about and walk through the three steps above and you will be well on your way to living a better life – not by accident, but because you planned to!