It’s easy to say that you are a Christian! If everybody was a Christian that says they were a Christian, then this world would be a very different place!  I believe that this world can be and should be different!  And this is why we have to stop playing games and get real!

Jesus challenges is in Matthew 5:1-12 to be different from the rest of the world. He challenges us to be:  “Poor In Spirit” – this is humility that flows out of the realization that we are nothing without Jesus.  “Mournful” – this is sorrow for my sin because I realize that my sin gets in the way of everything good that God has for me and this world that I live in.  “Meek” – This is the gentle practice of allowing the Holy Spirit to control the power of God that flows to and through me.  Power without control is very damaging!

We can do this! You and I can move out of the natural and into the supernatural.  We need to take a vital step and it flows right out of the next Beatitude.  Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled! We will take some time this week on this blog to try and grow our hunger and thirst for the things of God.  I hope to see you back on this page tomorrow.  Until then, enjoy the journey and keep it real!

I love Fridays! Friday is the day that I use for catch up.  Friday is typically the day that I use to do anything that I needed to do during the week that I did not get done.  It is also the day that I take a final major look-over at what God has for us on Sunday.  This Sunday we are going to continue to work our way through Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes!)  We will be looking at “Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled!”

I am about to be as up front with you as I possibly can be. As I look at what God has for us this coming Sunday, I just want to say:  If you are not serious about being a Christ Follower, then you may not want to be at Northwood on Sunday.  If you have anything in your life that is getting in the way of your being a Christ Follower and you are not willing to face it and deal with it, then you may want to stay at home or go somewhere else.  It will not be a pleasant day for people who are playing a game that they call Christianity.

If you are serious about your relationship with Christ and if you are ready to follow Him in a greater way than you ever have before, then you will want to be at one of our two campuses on Sunday morning. If you come hungry and thirsty, then you will have the opportunity to leave satisfied and filled.

Remember to read through Matthew 5:1-12.  Take some time to think about what it means in your life to “hunger and thirst for righteousness.”  And join me on Sunday morning for an awesome and incredible time with the God who loves you more than you could ever begin to dream or imagine.

You Gotta Problem? All God’s children got problems!  What’s your problem?  Take a look at your life!  Right now – in this moment – what is your problem?  Be honest!  It does not do you any good to lie to yourself about it.  Reality says that you are in a problem, coming out of a problem or headed into a problem.

If you are honest with yourself, you will find that your problem is going to fall into one of two categories: You have something that you need to get out of your life or you have something that you need to get into your life! And it is very possible that you have something that you need to get out to make room for what you need to get in.

This is why you need a plan! A plan can be a very good thing.  You just have to make sure that your plan includes God.  In fact – our plan should always honor and glorify God.  Whatever your plan, make sure that it honors God and that it brings glory to His name.  Another important thing about a plan is to make God’s plan our plan.  If you can figure out God’s plan and make His plan your plan, then you have a plan that you can do something with and that can do something with you!

God’s Gotta Plan! One of our biggest problems is we fail to stick with the plan.  Most of us know the plan and we know that if we will stick with the plan, there will be blessing and victory, but we have a hard time.  Our biggest problem is “Follow Through!”  We know what we need to do and we just fail to do it on a consistent basis.  You can’t walk without taking steps and you can’t accomplish God’s plan for victory and blessing if you are not willing for follow through.

God Rewards Faithfulness! When I am faithful – God will take me to where I could never take myself.  God has a good place that He wants to take you.  God wants to take your bad and use it for good.  Let God in.  Follow His lead and go to a place that you never could go without Him!

To help you do something with this, I encourage you to take a few moments to be very honest with yourself and God about the following three questions: 1.  What is the challenge in front of you?  2.  What are your options?  3.  What does God want you to do about it?  Now DO IT!