Totally off subject!

I was driving around (because that's what I do) and I saw a church. You could tell it was a church that was in use and has a congregation, but there were weeds everywhere and it looked in need of work. And then I felt God impress upon me, "Some people go to church while others ARE the church."

He reminded me how important it is to thank all those that we might take for granted (without malice of course). Those that faithfully serve in the smallest capacity. We get a lot of praise because of where we are positioned, but with out Kurt what would the first impression of our church be? With out Mike and Deb, what would our before service atmosphere be? With out Wanda, what would our bathrooms look like?

Give encouragement this week to the less seen because they are doing the heavy lifting that makes what we do possible!

Horses of Fire

2 Kings 6:15-17 (New International Version)

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.

"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

     God's army is ready and all around us. Spiritual warfare is here and we must pray to receive discernment. We must stand with our Pastor and God's vision he's received. We are so good at "DOING" our thing. When is the last time you asked the Pastor, "Oh, my Pastor, what shall we do?" To stand in your God prepared place is to know your Pastors God prepared vision. Then we will see!

Not Alone... I will always love you

Last night Kayla, Stephanie and I had a time of worship at the apartment in Grand Ledge. During one of the songs that Steph was playing, God gave me the following words to sing out. It is a simple melody and even more simple words. But sometimes people just need to hear this simple message. God is bringing breakthrough to some people, but before they will let go - they need to know that they are not alone.


Not Alone (I Will Always Love You)

Do not fear
He is here
Wrapping his loving arms around you

Do not fear
He is here
Wrapping his loving arms around you

He loves you
More than words can say
He loves you
More than words can say

Do not fear
He is here
Wrapping his loving arms around you

and he whispers
gently whispers

Do not fear
I am here
Wrapping my loving arms around you

Do not fear
I am here
Wrapping my loving arms around you

I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you

Do not fear
I am here
Wrapping my loving arms around you

Strenth to the powerless....

I can definitely relate to Dallas' post below... this week has been a week of attacks on time, energy, emotions... etc. etc. etc... Areas where i didn't even think possible to attack - they've been attacked! But this morning, my verse of the day from Air1.com hit me right where i needed it to. I have felt so tired and worn down this week. Feeling like i have no strength left in me to keep moving. I haven't wanted to be at work... and everyday it has been worse!!! Then God gently (and by gently... i mean he hit me over the head with a 2x4!) reminded me that my attitude toward what I am doing is decided by me alone. My coworkers cannot control my attitude. My boss cannot control my attitude. Only I can control it. So - today I have made it my goal to really really press in and get past my "self pity" of being tired and worn down... and see what God's plans are today. I may feel like I am weak, but Isaiah says it perfectly...

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. "

Isaiah 40:29, NLT

I just came upon a discovery. Every morning since my previous post my feet have hit the ground running. Satan is so good at what he does. My times of solace in the morning have been littered with people, problems, and nuisances this week. My days have been planned from beginning to end and the busy-ness of life has resumed. A stark contrast to last week where work and church was quiet. Last week was a different world... I felt different. It seemed that something poetic could have fallen out of my mouth at any time. My eyes were set upon the goal. This week the only thing that wants to drip from my lips are swear words and the only place my eyes want to focus are the insides of my eyelids! This time of rest thing frustrates me because there are often times I feel as if I can not choose to be still. Much of the time it feels the times I could be "resting" I am doing "church" things. God showed me today that I have to find time to rest in Him... simply for survival. When we become busy we leave Him out. When we leave Him out our minds get busy on the things it shouldn't. Temptations that are typically easy to overcome are mountainous and temptations that are often are biggest struggles become defeating. The war rages on. Today, I am setting aside time to listen to God, and to rely on His strength even in the busy-ness of this day. I will not be defeated.

How big is our God?

I'm reading the book "The Next Generation Leader" and he has a saying that really hit me this morning as I sat drinking my coffee.

"Dream no small dreams, for they stir not the hearts of men."

How simple but how amazing! It started me to thinking how big are dreams for 2nd service, the music ministry, our church......even our city?

Mellencamp said it best:

"Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Probly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities"

I am all those things and so are many of you, but the one thing we all are guaranteed to have in common is our God isn't a small God!! And what he has planned for this "small town" isn't small. We saw vision some time ago that fires would spring forth from small community churches such as ours. I take that as a "So saith the Lord"!!!
Be ready for God to move when you dream big dreams! He is speaking out:

"Well you may have been born in a small town
You may live in a small town
You may die in a small town
BUT OH THOSE SMALL COMMUNITIES!!"

Yes Lord!!

Isaiah 26:8 (Amplified Bible)

"Yes Lord, in the path of Your judgments, we wait [expectantly] for You; our heartfelt desire is for Your name and for the remembrance of You."

I was hit by the "Yes Lord" bus this past Sunday. I'm starting to look at this fast as a Yes Lord decision. Lip service is so easy to give God because he loves us so much and is so patient. I look at things I've said Yes Lord to and how many other things I have let take their place because of the lack of faith.

This is the scripture that I was given Sunday:

Matthew 9:27-30 (New International Version)

"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied.

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored."

They called out to Him, but it wasn't the calling out that produced the results. It was a start, but it was their faith that was able to receive their healing! It was the "Yes Lord". As we look at the second service congregation, we must come into agreement that what we are asking for CAN and WILL be done in Jesus name!

I remember once saying, "They'll never get there!! It's just because we have a congregation of new believers....." What if the truth is they won't because of me. Faith goes beyond what we see and I know we all know that, but it also goes beyond what we feel too.

So lets stand in agreement and begin to verbally claim God's healings, miracles, signs, and revival for Portland!!!