Keep Running

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
(Hebrews 12:1).

Long distance running is an interesting analogy for our life of faith. Runners are characterized by passion, preparation and perseverance. All of these characteristics are things that we as believers should express through our lives. We should be passionate to honor God with all that we are. We should be prepared for every good work by God's word and the Holy Spirit. We should be people who persevere through every situation and circumstance. We are called to remain faithful and steadfast in who God has called us to be and what He's called us to do with passion, preparation and perseverance. 

So today, be like a runner and continue in the race that the Lord has called us to by His grace and mercy, pressing forward and not looking back (Philippians 3:12-14).

10 Things I've Learned About Leading Worship (Taya Smith)

10 Things I've Learned About Leading Worship

Name Dropper - Pastor John Gray

When Mercy Found Me

* Testimony from Rhett Walker

“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy…” - Titus 3:5

Life is a weird thing. It has its ups, it has its downs. It’s full of great times and full of times where it feels like you can’t breathe. In this day and time, and in this culture, we are pushed to focus on me, me, me. Look around at any commercial or newspaper or magazine ad. Everything is focused on how to live your life, and how to do this and that, and gain this and that. So when something does not go our way, it’s easy to sit back and think, “What is the point?”. I know I used to.

Earlier in my life, I would run around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to fix everything, trying to run everything by working only for what I wanted. But that does not work. Never has, never will. The reason is because this life is not ours to have. It is not ours to run with, nor lead. I found out long ago that if I was going to amount to anything, I had to die to myself and let God have back the life that is His to begin with.

I didn’t have much to offer, because I was just an uneducated, 17 year old dad. I knew that everything I had placed my hands on was breaking underneath me. So I gave it up, and understood for the very first time what life and love was. Despite who I was, how I had acted, the mistakes I had made, Christ continued to pour out His grace, His love and His mercy. I had spent most of my time trying to figure this life out, when really I had no life worth living, till I found Jesus. That’s when I found a purpose in this world, and that’s when mercy found me.

Grow Your Gift

Come to the House

Last night I had the incredible experience of worshipping with a group of around 11,000 Jesus-followers at the O'Connell Center at the University of Florida.  Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio were in town and it was a great concert, a phenomenal message of encouragement, and a call to salvation through the sufficiency of the grace of God in Jesus Christ.  Although this was the case, one of the things that impacted me the most was the power in the gathering of God's people.  Here was a collection of Christians from all around our area and our state where the true focus was simply about lifting up the name of Jesus and hearing what He has to say for our lives.  The encouragement that followed in the life of each person in attendance was off the charts!  This morning after I had some time to meditate on what I experienced and the words that were shared, I realized that Hebrews 10:24-25 is a passage that we need desperately in our times:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

With so much darkness, deception and division in our society right now, the people of God need to meet, meet often and value that meeting.  As that scripture tells us, we shouldn't neglect 'to meet together.'  With that in mind, I have to tell you all that watching your favorite sermon online or TV isn't good enough.  Watching your church's live stream when you CAN attend in person isn't good enough.  Saying 'it's just me and Jesus', isn't good enough.  You need to be in the house of God when His people come together.  In that place you will be encouraged, equipped for the purpose of God, enlarged in your perspective to see like the Father, and more convinced of our need for the word of God and Jesus' finished work on the cross, as you're spurred on to tell others of this great news.

So, in short, do what you need to do in order to always keep your attendance in the house of God a high priority.  Whether it's tonight, Saturday, this Sunday or whenever, be sure that with passion, vision and expectation, you always come to the house.

Honorology

Here's a link to a powerful two-part sermon by Pastor Steven Furtick about honor.  Enjoy it:  http://elevationchurch.org/sermons/honorology.