Belief is a powerful thing! What you believe matters!  I did not say: “What you say you believe matters!”  What you “say you believe” and “what you actually believe” are often two very different things!  Let’s take some time today to think about what we believe and how our belief impacts our lives!

You will never rise above the beliefs you posses! You were created by God!  You are special and you have a very special purpose in this life!  You need to not just say that you believe this, you need to really believe it and if you believe it, then it will change your life and the way you live it!

You have a choice to make! If you continue to focus on the negative – (what you don’t have, what you can’t do and what won’t help), then you will continue to live a destructive, discouraged and defeated life!  You can make the choice instead to focus on the positive – (what you do have, what you can do and what will help).  When you focus in this positive direction, you will not be distracted by limitations, but driven forward by possibilities!

You need to have faith for you! You need to trust God for you!  You need to believe God’s Word for you!  You have to make the decision that you are going to be a believer in the protective hand and positive work of your Creator in, on and through your life!

Romans 8:28 teaches us:  That God is working for our good, even in the bad!  This Scripture says:  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Do you love God? Have you been called according to His purpose?  Are you living a life of obedience trying to fulfill that calling?  If you answer yes to the previous questions, then know and believe this:  GOD IS WORKING FOR YOUR GOOD!

Work On It! Take some time today to work on what you believe!  Don’t just say you believe it, really believe it and watch and enjoy the difference that it will make in your life and the lives of those around you!

I thought I would share just a few thoughts on another great Sunday at Northwood!

• God obviously wanted us to get a message from HIM about GRACE!
• Thankful for a Worship Team that plans worship under the leadership and in submission to the HOLY SPIRIT!
• Was awesome and amazing seeing people receive and give forgiveness!
• God gave us a lot to think about FORGIVENESS – here are a few highlights!
• God can’t and won’t forgive you if you can’t and won’t forgive others!  Check out Matthew 6:14 & 15 if you don’t believe me!
• The way you judge matters more than you think!  Matthew 7:12 teaches that “Your Standard Is Your Standard!”
• You can’t even have a conversation with God if you have something against someone!  Again – Check our His Word:  Mark 11:25
• Forgiveness initiates the process of restoration!  No forgiveness = no restoration!
• Forgiveness cannot be earned or deserved!  You cannot earn or deserve it from God and others cannot and should not have to earn or deserve it from you!
• Joseph forgave his brothers and told them in Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
• Forgiveness says:  “I trust God above and beyond anything and everything else!
• Forgiveness is my letting go and leaning it in God’s hands!
• Two very important questions:  Is there something you need forgiven?  Is there someone you need to forgive?  (BE HONEST!)
• It’s amazing what I have had to forgive today!  Things you do that you think may not matter are be noticed so matter and are noticed, but I love the congregation that God has given me!
• I am thankful for the forgiveness that people have given me – it allows me to keep chasing after God’s right direction!
• Sweet Treat Alley is going to be great this year – I am begging all of Northwood to step up to the plate and help this ninth year to be the best ever!
• Tailgate Worship Service has the potential to be used by God to bring people out of the Kingdom of Darkness and into the Kingdom of Light, if we will do our part and embrace change for just one service!
• Grace Place is going to be an amazing ministry that allows everyone an opportunity to reach beyond themselves so that the church can reach outside of its walls and into the community!
• I love each of you, I am praying for you and looking forward to how God is going to use us for RIGHT DIRECTION in the days ahead!
• God Bless, Press On and G3!

I really do love you and am glad that God let’s me be your pastor and friend!  Have a good night and a blessed week!

A lot of people will go to church tomorrow and a lot of people will not go to church tomorrow!  If you are a person that is planning on going, great for you, hopefully you have already discovered some really good reasons for going and are experiencing life growth!  If you are a person that has not planned on going, let me suggest three reasons why you should put church on your agenda!

1.)  Church Is People, Not A Building! Church even when it is done wrong is still a gathering of people and people need people!  Just getting out and about with other human beings has the amazing potential to open your heart or challenge your soul.  If you go into it looking for benefit, then you are going to find benefit and possibly even blessing!

2.)  Church Is Challenge And Change! The church that you go to is not going to be perfect.  In fact, I am sure that there are some really messed up churches out there, but when you go with open heart, mind and soul – you are sure to get something.  If it is a messed up church, then you will see what you do not want to be and become and become that much more on guard against it.  If it is a blessed up church, then you will be challenged to grow in areas that you maybe have not thought about.  Either way, it’s a win for you when you find challenge from either direction, as long as you allow that challenge to change you for good and not bad!

3.)  Church Is Tomorrow! You have to do something tomorrow!  You could sleep in, but what would be the real benefit of that?  You could go and do something else, but nothing else will offer you the personal challenge and opportunity for change that will grow you in the same way that church will.  Plan now to go tomorrow and plan now to get something out of it!

If you’ve been going to church – good for you!  I hope you go tomorrow and discover things that help you to grow in the ways that you were created to grow.  If you have not been going to church, then do yourself and others a favor and go tomorrow.  Keep your eyes, heart, mind and soul open and you might just be very surprised at what a difference a day at church can make!