Tag Archives: faith

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Let The Walls Come Down!

Tear Down That Wall!

We are great at building walls around our lives. We build the walls for our protection, so that we won’t get hurt or taken advantage of.  But there is a problem with the walls that we build, they not only protect us from influences outside, they also keep us from influences outside that can bless and benefit us!  God has great and amazing things in store for each one of us, but we have to grow to a place of trust!

My Small Group! I was talking to one of my small group members today and she expressed how everyone in our group had been through the fire and could not help but to be real, because there was really nothing worth hiding, left to hide!  Because of this “REAL REALITY!” we are able to really be there for each other.

Be Careful! If you wall others out – you will wall yourself in!  Open up your life and allow others to come and go.  God will protect you, if you will let Him and He will also bless you with some amazing relationships that make life better!

Healing! God does not promise that you will never get hurt, but He does promise that He will heal your hurt and it is through His healing of our hurts that we grow, become stronger and are able to have an influence on and make a difference in this life.

Faith Defeats Fear! Walls that are built out of fear can only be torn down out of faith!  If you want to grow and get the most out of life, then you must be willing to trust.  Start by trusting God – He loves you and has an amazing plan for your life.  Continue by trusting others that He has placed around you.  Some will be a great blessing and some will be a great blunder, but you will learn and grow every step of the way!

Tear It Up! Let’s get busy tearing down the walls, so that we can enjoy this great life that God has given us!  Go ahead and take a whack at the wall – you’ll be glad you did!

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15 Questions!

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Questions And Answers!

In the message yesterday, I challenged everyone with the scripture from 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” To help you do this I shared 15 Questions! Several of you have asked for a copy of the questions.  These questions grew out of my reading “Crazy Love!”  by Francis Chan.  Specifically out of chapters 4 and 5.  I hope the questions help you to do some self-examination and that the examination helps you to focus on and grow your love for God, His Church and others!

The Questions:

1.  Have you convinced yourself that attending church is enough?

2.  Are you willing to give money as long as it does not mess with your standard of living?

3.  Do you choose what is popular over what is right when in conflict?

4.  Do you want to be saved from your sin or from the penalty of your sin?

5.  Are you watching others do things for God, but never joining in?

6.  Do you share your faith?

7.  Are you comparing yourself to the world to find spiritual satisfaction?

8.  Do you allow Jesus to have all of your life or do you just give Him a part?

9.  Is there a limit to your service?  (Time, money, energy!)

10.  What do you spend most of your time thinking about:  Life here on earth or life there in Heaven?

11.  Do you allow guilt to move you closer to God or farther away?

12.  Are you more interested in how far you can go and it not be sin?

13.  Do you play it safe and fail to take risks for the Kingdom?

14.  Can you see that there is room for growth and improvement in your life?

15.  Are you willing to take the steps?

Take some time to really think through these questions.  I know that I have a lot of work to do.  I am looking forward to what God can do with me and through me as I work on some of this stuff.  I am praying for you and I ask you to please pray for me.  Remember:  We can do this for God’s glory and everyone’s blessing!

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Pray For What???

Photo 3Everybody knows that they should pray, but very few actually take the time to do it! Most people pray when they are in trouble or when life fails to work out the way that they had planned.  I think that one of the things that gets in the way of our praying on a regular basis is not knowing what to pray for.  So, I thought that I would share a few suggestions to hopefully encourage us all to take some time today to pray!

Remember that prayer is conversation! Prayer is simply you talking and listening to God.  In the same way that you would have a conversation with a friend, you can have a conversation with God.  You have to learn to listen in a different way, but with a little practice – you will be hearing God in the Spirit in no time!

Pray For People! God loves people!  God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross, so that people might be able to have relationship with their Creator.  Pray that your family, friends, neighbors and even enemies might get into this amazing relationship!  If you have not gotten into this relationship, then pray and ask God to help you!  If you need help getting into relationship with God, then drop me a line!

Pray Against The Enemy! Ask God to tear down the works of Satan.  Pray that Satan’s thoughts will be taken “captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ!”  Satan is at work all around us and one of the greatest weapons that we have against his evil schemes is prayer.  Make sure that you are using this weapon and using it wisely!

Pray For The Holy Spirit! Ask for the Holy Spirits conviction of sin and leading into freedom.  Ask the Spirit to help you hear, receive and become obedient to God’s Word, so that God’s will and purposes might be accomplished in and through you!

This is just a few of the things that you and I can and should be praying for! Take a few moments right now to have a little conversation with God – just share your heart.  You will be surprised at what a difference it will make!