LOST!!!

Whitney and I are spending the week out in Georgia with her parents. Yesterday I experienced a hearty breakfast including eggs, biscuits and gravy, two kinds of sausages, and potatoes. I immediately felt the need to go and try and run off the 6500 calories or so that I had inhaled. I was feeling rather adventurous and decided to explore nearby neighborhoods and turned down a road that was vaguely familiar. I continued running on this road up and down hills, past neighborhoods, and eventually I felt that tingle in my spine indicating that I was perhaps very lost. I had to make a decision. I could continue on the current road and hope that I might find something familiar or I could swallow my pride and return back the way I came and follow the familiar street signs back home. Thankfully, I chose the latter and eventually made my way back home before Whitney sent a search party out after me.

I was reminded of the scene from the prodigal son story in Luke 15 where it says, '17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father." I love that line where it says, 'when he came to his senses.' Often in life we can get 'lost' in sin, temptations, idolatry, distractions, etc. We need to come to our senses, swallow our pride, and make a 180 and head back and follow the familiar street signs back home. Those familiar street signs that guide us back to our Father might be verses we've memorized from His Word, or godly counsel from a friend, or maybe advice we have held onto from a parent or mentor. So let's continue to turn back towards home because there's no place like being at home with our Heavenly Father!

in Christ,

Brian

Crockpots & Grout.

Having entered the adult world of paying countless bills, student loans, and rent somewhat recently, my Christmas list has changed a bit. Gone are the days of asking for toy horses and knick-knacks. This Christmas I got really excited about getting a crockpot and a nice immersion blender that works (unlike my old blender). Stepping back, I tried to figure out what it was about these seemingly boring, but very practical gifts that got me so excited: they’re like tile grout. They were like the grout that cements a tile, sure you can have tile in a room but if there’s no grout the tile isn’t going to do much good. Sure I had furniture and some basic kitchen needs but it was these new utensils that make it feel like I can really prepare things at my home.

Jesus is like that grout too. Without Christ we’re like a room of loose tiles that can be moved by anything at all that disturbs them. But with Him, the grout that holds us together, we can hold our place even when something big comes against us and tries to move us. And suddenly you can step back and see how much better the tile, and the room, look.

Jesus isn’t boring, like the grout might be, but He sure is practical.

Hailey

1000 Piece Puzzle For The Holiday.

So we have had a houseful of family in for the holidays. It's been great. One of the gifts for my Mom was a 1000 piece puzzle. This puzzle has now become the holiday project. It's been an interesting dynamic to participate in. At first it was just mom, working mostly by herself. She's a pretty good puzzle solver, but it was going slow. One by one, each of us began to help. Soon the whole family was involved. When one got tired, another would jump in to help. Soon we had momentum and enthusiasm and the picture began to appear right before our eyes. What was daunting alone, became doable and fun together.

God has designed us to work together to achieve His highest and best. Sometimes we are overwhelmed with the difficulty and complexity of life. God has given us His body, the church to work as one to accomplish what seems impossible, in His Kingdom, in the world and in our own lives.

1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

So let all work together and give God all the credit,

happy to be a part of it,

Joe

Jesus...Even Cooler Than A Nerf Gun.

So we have made it through Christmas day. We planned out the gifts, bought the gifts, wrapped the gifts, exchanged the gifts and opened the gifts. We are now in the stage where we get to enjoy and use the gifts we were given. My son is now getting to the age where he is getting some pretty fun toys that I tend to get as excited about as he does. One of his toys was a gift that you never outgrow, a nerf gun. This nerf gun was way cooler than any nerf gun I had growing up. It has reloadable dart clips, a swiveling flashlight for night-time missions, and it even converts into stealth mode where you can't tell that it's a gun....wow....I'm getting excited just thinking about it. So we had a great time figuring it out and transforming our living room into a nerf gun firing range!

What about the greatest gift of all, Immanuel, God with us, Jesus Christ? Have you opened that gift? Have you asked Him to be your personal Lord and Savior? Are you enjoying a relationship with Him or did you open the present and just leave it by the tree? I want to challenge you as we are wrapping up 2011 to make this next year in 2012 a year that you really experience and walk with Jesus Christ. He tells us in John 15:4 'Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.' Jesus is inviting us to abide, remain, live, and walk in Him. This means reading our Bibles, listening, and obeying. This means praying and expressing our worship back to Him. What is the result of abiding? A fruitful life. A fruitful life is a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is a life that reproduces and makes more disciples. So enjoy and learn about the greatest gift all, Jesus.

in Christ,


Brian

Merry Christmas, StoneBridge.

Read this today from a lady in Nigeria,


May God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith,
The warmth of Christmas, which is love,
The radiance of Christmas, which is purity,
The righteousness of Christmas, which is truth,
The gladness of Christmas, which is hope,
The spirit of Christmas, which is peace,
The heart of Christmas, which is great happiness,
And the ALL of Christmas, which is CHRIST.

It only becomes powerful, when it becomes personal.

Merry Christmas,

Joe

It's How It Finishes That Matters.

On Tuesday night we had our neighborhood Christmas party at our house. It was just one of those nights. I rushed into the driveway at about 45 minutes from the start of the party with a half dozen bags of groceries around my arm. I threw a ridiculous amount of chili into the crockpot and then rushed outside to attempt to set up an outdoor movie for the kids. I unsuccessfully tried to set up an inflatable screen as all it would do was just get a little air in it and then flop over. Next I tried to get the projector and audio working but realized I didn't have the right cords. Then the kids started to arrive. They were running around all over the front yard and then apparently one of the kids decided to deliver an uppercut to our inflatable Santa and literally punched his lights out. I walked over to where Jolly Old Saint Nick had been standing only to find a crumpled up pile of fabric....great start to our party!

After our chaotic start, the party did get under way and I remember just being in awe of how things turned around. I looked over our driveway and I saw kids playing together and moms and dads visiting with one another. What started off so insane and doomed to fail had turned into a wonderful moment. I wonder if that's how Mary and Joseph felt on that first Christmas. Surely a week long hike to Bethlehem while very pregnant, staying in a stable with animals, being ostracized by their family and friends, and having to lay their first born son in a feeding trough wasn't exactly what they had expected. God most certainly turned things around though didn't He? The baby is born and angels appear to shepherds, the angel army also comes announcing that this is indeed 'good news of great joy for all people.' Wisemen come later on who had seen the star appointed by God to shine directly over Bethlehem. One of the lessons of Christmas is that God's way of doing things is often very different than our way. The question for you and me is are we willing to lay down our version of how we want the story to go and embrace God's version?

in Christ,


Brian

A Season Of Change.

A week from today, David and I will be settling into our new home in Denver, so this may be my last time to write for awhile. For that reason, I wanted to take this opportunity to share a few things with you. First of all, David and I greatly appreciate all the prayers and support we have received from Stonebridge during this transition. You have become family to us and we are so thankful for the relationships we have built.

As a worship leader, I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the heart of worship grow within the church. Worship is one of the greatest privileges we are given as believers and it is wonderful to see Stonebridge comprehending that on a deeper level. But let me encourage you to not stop there. Don’t ever settle. Faith isn’t something we achieve, it’s a race that we must continue to run until we spend eternity with our Father. Continue to seek Him in everything you do. Read His word and live it out. Serve others and in so doing, you will serve Your King. Don’t settle for things of this earth, but rather fix your eyes upon Jesus and store your treasures in heaven. Train up the generations that follow and show them the love of Christ.

Stonebridge, you have meant so much to me and David and it is hard to think about being somewhere else on Sunday mornings. But our God is a good God and His ways are perfect, so I am confident that He has big plans in store for you and for us. Please continue to pray for our new life in Colorado. Denver is a city that is hungry for, and in need of, God. Pray that we will be obedient to God’s call in our life.

And lastly, if you are going to be at one of our Christmas Eve services, please be sure to come tell me and David bye!

In Him,

Lindsey

“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.” -Numbers 6:24-26

Normal & Extraordinary.

Every morning the sun rises, normal and extraordinary
Every night the stars shine, normal and extraordinary.
Every day the waves of the ocean rise and fall, normal and extraordinary.
Every day a hawk soars, normal and extraordinary.

Every snowflake one of a kind, normal and extraordinary.
Every day plants grow, flowers bloom, normal and extraordinary.

Every day a baby learns to walk, normal and extraordinary.
Every moment another breath, normal and extraordinary.
Every moment our heart beats, then rests,
then beats again, normal and extraordinary.

We see, we hear, we taste, we feel, all normal and extraordinary.
We walk, we run, we jump, all normal and extraordinary.
We sing, we play an instrument, we dance, we draw, again normal and extraordinary.

We speak, we write, we pray, normal and extraordinary.

Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Normal and extraordinary.

2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

The normal Christian life, extraordinary!


Feeling just normal,

Joe

What Does A Child Of God Look Like?

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." - Luke 6:32-36

The mark of God's supernatural presence in our life is a radical love, grace and generosity pouring out of our life that is unlike the world. What do people in the world normally do? They love their friends in their affinity group, they borrow money with the expectation that someone will pay them back, and they are kind to the people who are kind to them. What do people who are like God do? They love people who hate them, curse them and treat them like dirt. They give to people and expect nothing back in return. They treat people better than they deserve. When we live this way, it's like God is looking down on us and shouting, 'Awww, that's my boy!' or 'Awww, that's my girl!'. A truly head-scratching, question-provoking, skeptic-silencing grace should shine brightly out of our lives. God became a baby that was born in a feeding trough. He endured living on the wrong-side of the tracks. He lived as a homeless person during His ministry years. He endured insults, was mocked, beaten, tortured and killed and out of Him poured love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. Does my life look like Jesus? Or does it look too much like the world?

in Christ,

Brian

Wag More, Bark Less.

Today when I got home from church I was met at the door by our 9 yr old Maltese dog named Bravo. He was so excited I was home, he did a quick lap around the inside of the house and then came flying back tail wagging. I felt highly appreciated. I love my dog. No wonder.

What if we Christians loved non believers like that? First I think churches would soon be busting at the seems. Who can argue against that kind of unconditional love?

It's very compelling.

So many times Christian are known for what they are against. I believe we should certainly stand against evil and work to protect the vulnerable and the innocent.

But I believe many more hearts will receive Christ by experiencing unconditional love from a follower of Jesus. So learn to be winsome. Learn to how to celebrate others. Be known as one who really cares. Be known for what you are for. For God so loved the world........

1 Thessalonians 3:12
12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

I challenge you this Christmas season,

wag more......bark less.

Joe

And The Gift Goes On.

Last night, the lady who helped start the Salvation Army in the Woodlands, Betty Chandler, shared a bit about her testimony at the Woodlands Christian Academy Christmas Musical. She shared that her father died in a workplace accident when she was eight years old. Her mom was forced into full time work to be able to support her family. Shortly after this her mom became very ill and was unable to go into work. The pantry quickly dwindled and they became hungry and were not sure where they were going to turn. A lady who lived near them became aware of their situation and stepped in to help. She got them connected to the Salvation Army that immediately began helping them with food and basic needs until the mom was able to get back on her feet again. This act of love and compassion from the ministry of the Salvation Army changed Betty's life. In 1975 Betty moved to the Woodlands area and helped start the Salvation Army here. In 1994, she asked the Woodlands Mall if they would let her set up the Angel Tree that allowed families to give and help out impoverished people in Montgomery County. Last night at the start of the musical people brought in presents to bless 188 families in our area this Christmas.

One of the songs that the kids sang last night was entitled, 'And the Gift Goes On.' One of the verses says, "When your life is full of Christmas then your life is full of love. You can give away the present that began with God above. Just like ripples in the water the circles of our love extend. What was started with the Father is a Gift that has no end." Steve has been teaching a series called 'the Bethlehem Effect.' The idea is that what God did that first Christmas night by sending His Son to be born in a manger in Bethlehem has sent shockwaves of love throughout the whole world for generation after generation. We, like Betty Chandler, have tasted of God's amazing love for us through Jesus. We now have an opportunity to be a conduit of that love to the people around us this Christmas. In John 13, Jesus tells His disciples, 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Maybe today God will use our smile, our donation, our kind word, our handshake to point someone toward the God who loves them and the miracle of Christmas will continue to have ripple effects 2000 years later.

in Christ,

Brian

I Can't Handle It.

In my continued reading of Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis, I came across this passage:

“ ‘Remember, God will never give you more than you can handle.’ People repeat this frequently; I heard it when I was growing up and I hear it now. It is meant to be a source of encouragement, and it would be if I believed it were true. But I don’t.” –Kisses From Katie

How many times can we say we have either heard this, or have said this? It is a very common word of encouragement that we often use when we can’t find the right words to say. But wait, it’s not true?! That’s a game changing revelation—God may, and most likely will, give you more than you can handle. Why? Because He loves us. At the point of realizing we can’t do it on our own, we move over and let God show His faithfulness by doing the impossible.

Last week David and I were feeling the pressures of moving. It’s coming down to the wire and we still could not decide on a place to live. It seemed like everything that had the space we needed was just over our budget. I could see the weight of this decision coming down on my husband and he honestly did not know what to do. We realized we really needed God to take over. He did. That evening we came across the perfect location and everything has fallen into place since then. We couldn’t…He could. We doubted…He prevailed. As nice as it would be to never have more than you can handle, I thank God for those opportunities in my life. It is in those moments where I am allowed glimpses into God’s power and glory. Granted, we may not always get an answered prayer as quickly as we did with our condo, but we will always see God show His faithfulness when we lay our burdens at His feet.

Is there anything in your life that is overwhelming you? If so, give thanks and let go. God will take it from here. The result may not always look the way you had hoped or even imagined, but you can rest assured that God will prove faithful.

In Him,

Lindsey

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation.

Recently I bought a new car, well new to me. It's actually a 2003 Infinity FX35. It's a midsized SUV. The car has an unusual design, but we like it. I never really noticed this particular model until we got the car. Now it seems like I see them all the time. Every time we go to the mall or to a restaurant, there is another FX35. They are every where.

So did everyone copy me and go out and buy this car. No. I imagine that their are no more FX35's on the road than there were before. The difference is I'm looking for this car now. I've been sensitized to notice this car.

In the story of Jesus birth in the 2nd chapter of Luke, there is the story of Simeon. He is described as a righteous and devout man, who was waiting to see the Messiah. He had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Savior. As He holds Jesus and blesses Him, one of the things he says is this,

"For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,"

There is Jesus the Savior, hidden in plain sight. Simeon saw the Savior because he was looking for Him.

Simeon was rewarded because of his faith. Because of his faith, he was looking.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

God still reveals the Savior to those who are looking for Him. He is hidden in plain sight.

Faith in the unseen, opens our eyes.

Another paradox of the Kingdom.

Faith brings us hope. and hope will always point the way to Love.

For God loved us so much, He sent Jesus.

Keeping watch,

Joe

Just Show Up.

All throughout history God has used very ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. All He has ever asked us to do is to just show up and He takes over from there. Yesterday, Josh, Jeremy and I showed up to help a lady in our church move from a house in the Woodlands to a new location in Conroe. Helping someone move is always quite the under-taking. I know for me I am always hoping to not drop a really expensive piece of furniture or rip a 3 foot hole in the side of their wall, or trip and fall down the steps and end up in the hospital. Thankfully, no major structural damage to our bodies, the furniture or the houses occured.

As I was reflecting on our time, I began to realize that God accomplished some other things as a result of us showing up to move some furniture. When we rented the UHaul truck, we had an opportunity to talk with and pray for the lady at the desk, and even got to invite her to our church. As we left she gave us $25 to give to StoneBridge (It's rare when you are at a business and they are actually giving you money...wow). At the new house in Conroe, after we moved all of the woman's stuff in, we had an opportunity to pray together and for her new house. I later learned that some of the things we prayed for were exactly what she needed the Lord to do in her life. Lastly, Jeremy, Josh and I had a great time serving together, laughing, making fun of each other (that's how guys show love for each other), and strengthening our friendship.

It reminded me that when God asks me to show up, He usually is going to accomplish and do way more than I could ever imagine or think. Ephesians 3:20 says, 'Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us...' So let's show up today...Let's step out there...Let's say 'yes' to Him...and then watch in wonder as He shows up and does what only He can do. It's a lot more exciting when we allow Him to work. You never know what He just might do!

in Christ,

Brian

Learning.

You can learn a lot around here. We live in an area where information abounds. But thought provoking questions are a little harder to find. The group of high school girls I help lead posed an interesting question about complacency that I wrote about about earlier. A question I hadn’t realized I had an answer to.
Sometimes we have answers to questions we haven’t realized that we had to answer.

At first I was hesitant to volunteer to disciple young girls but I thought, “God keeps impressing this on my heart and I’ve learned that ignoring Him is not such a great idea.” It took some time to come to fruition, but I’ve started helping co-lead a group of high school girls and I just love them.

To teach something, to lead a group, you have to really know your material. That was part of my rationalizing leading a group. But beyond that, beyond a personal challenge to learn more, I’ve learned that I have answers to some questions I hadn’t realized I had answered.

To me, this is the importance of guiding those younger than you, and sometimes those older.

Not only can you learn more by just having to be prepared to answer questions and, more difficult, to produce questions;
you learn about things you didn’t realize you knew about.
Make connections you hadn’t made before.

Reaching out to serve helps others; but it helps you learn more, about God, about yourself, about all those stories in the Bible you’ve heard about but could never remember well enough to share.

I’m not saying you have to go to a foreign country to minister and lead people to Christ, or that you have to be able to make every non-believer you meet into a Christian.
But to begin here, in your community, and just help those around you as they seek to follow Christ, can make a powerful impact.

No one loses.

Always learning,
Hailey

And when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God.

 

God became a baby.  Astounding!!!

Two of my favorite scripture passages are about Jesus being fully God and fully man. Whenever I read them my heart is stirred to a greater passion and awe as I think about who Jesus is.

These passages of scripture are epic.  Full of mystery.

The first passage is from the first chapter of John.  It speaks of Jesus being eternal, God, the Creator and the Author of Life.

Then later in the chapter Jesus moves in to our neighborhood.

John 1:1-5

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:14

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God a baby!!!!  It's still a mind blowing thought to me.

This second passage speaks for itself.

Jesus is incomparable.

He is without peer.

Colossians 1:15-19

The Supremacy of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

All of this wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The miracle of the Incarnation.

Mary did you know,  that this sleeping child your holding is the great I am.

In awe,

Joe

It's A Personal Thing.

 

You can't have a relationship with a person through someone else.  Would you want your spouse, or significant other, to tell you they love you through your best friend?  That sounds silly, right?  Unless you are in middle school, this just doesn’t make sense.  You can't have a mature, loving relationship unless you talk to the person, one-on-one, and get to know who they are.

Why, then, are we okay with our relationship with Christ being conducted this way?  Too many times we allow a pastor, speaker, devotional book, or Christian artist, tell us what Christ says about us.  While these sources are great supplemental material, they should by no means, be the extent of our relationship.  The Bible is filled with verse after verse that is written for you.  Each word is a reminder of God's overwhelming love for you.  For me, that is the beauty of our faith- it's a personal thing.  He knows each of us on a personal intimate level and desires for us to know Him in the same way.  We will never get there if we let someone else handle the relationship.  James 4:8 says, "Come close to God, and God will come close to you."  Psalm 139 is a testament to how valuable we are in God's eyes.  Verse 1 clearly states, "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me." - It's a personal thing.  If God, who knit you together in your mother's womb, wants to know you personally, shouldn't we desire the same with Him?

In the hustle of the Christmas season, don't miss the intimacy of what it's all about.  Christ came -for you.

In Him,

Lindsey

Complacency.

 

Complacency is a dangerous thing. Do you know why? Complacency leads to the realization that really submerging yourself in the Word, in God’s mission, in spending time with Him and making Him the central point in your life; is hard. It takes effort. Not just a small one, mind you, a big effort. The time and self discipline to look at every situation and think of it with the classic What Would Jesus Do? mindset, even.

But we’re all human, and why choose this difficult path when there’s an easy way out?

But the easy way, it isn’t really all that easy. The easy way leads away from God. It leads to sin, to sin that can easily be hidden from the public and your peers, to sin that you can hide from everyone but God. Sin that can be so difficult to come back from. Drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality and so much more.

Personally, I had to go down that trail, the ‘easy way’, and discover that it’s not all that simple. The simplest way back from there is to be surrounded by people who have an unfailing love and devotion to Christ. Surrounding yourself with that kind of love isn’t readily available to everyone, though.

The simplest way?

The road that looked like it was more difficult, at the time.

 The road that required a lot more commitment of your time, so precious in this day and age.

The road that was the one your heart desired to be on the whole time.

In this time when our time is valuable and it’s easier to skimp in our relationship with Christ.

I encourage you to make a little extra time for the one who created all of time.

Not so complacent

Hailey

Under The Influence.

When you hear the phrase 'under the influence' it usually is not a good thing...especially if it comes from the mouth of a guy that drives one of those cars that has the pretty blue and red lights that swirl around. And yet yesterday as I was reading in Luke 4 Jesus was described as a guy that was 'under the influence.' It says in Luke 4:1 'And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was under the influence of the Spirit in the wilderness.'

As I kind of zoomed out to look at the general context that was going on I began to see lots of mentions of the Spirit in relation to Jesus. At His baptism it says that 'the Holy Spirit desended upon Him in bodily form like a dove..' (Luke 3:22). After enduring being led by The Spirit into a time of testing by the devil, it says that He 'returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit...' (Luke 4:14). The first words out of His mouth to inaugurate His public 3 year ministry were 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me...' (Luke 4:18). Hmmmm...Seems to be a pattern here. Jesus was filled with the Spirit, under the influence of the Spirit, led by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit and called by the Spirit.

What does this mean for us? What or who are we 'under the influence' of? I know for me when my flesh is weak (tired, hungry, bored, my wife is suggesting we spend money, etc) I get very susceptible to temptation. The devil knows this. That's why he launched a 3 part attack on Jesus after He had not eaten for 40 days! I get cranky and irritable after missing a meal....I can't imagine what I'd be like after 40 days?

So as we work our way through the parties, shopping, psychotic drivers competing for parking spaces, financial stress, everyone's expectations on you that are all wrapped up in the Christmas Season, let's remember this very important truth about Jesus. Jesus, God wrapped in flesh, illustrates for us that we desperately need to be 'under the influence' of the Spirit. How? carve out time to pray, meditate on His Word, slow down, pray throughout your day, say 'no', check your motives often, and get someone around you who knows and loves you enough to speak truth into you.

Striving to walk in step with His Spirit,

Brian

As I Am.

I was just thinking about worship and how different people express themselves. There are many forms of worship, as I was talking about with my group of high school girls, painting and drawing, singing, playing instruments, writing in a journal, just to name a few. It got me thinking about worship on Sundays here at StoneBridge. I love to sing, there are very few things that can stop me from singing, food and fatigue being the main things. I was speculating on how I worship on Sunday morning when I’m up on the stage singing our favorite songs because, believe it or not, I can be a painfully shy person But when it comes to worship, I can’t help but change, become someone completely different. One part of me wants to make it clear to everyone who sees me that it’s ok to stand up and raise your hands and let it all go, regardless of who sees you, and another part just gets into the songs so deeply sometimes that I don’t even care anymore, sometimes I can’t sing because those words mean so much that singing them doesn’t do them justice.

Along the lines of making sure everyone in the congregation really believes that they can worship freely, sometimes it’s hard to be totally transparent. Some days are harder than others, some days take longer to reach that point of true worship. Those mornings, especially, I rely on the people in the congregation who are letting it all go and freely crying out to God. Inspiration. Fuel to the fire that is my worship.
Just recently Jack and Kathleen, a couple I had gotten to know and love, moved and I couldn’t help but think, “Who am I going to look to when I need someone to lift me up on Sunday morning when I need that extra help?”. But you know God, He closes one door and opens another. I met a beautiful woman, Tischa, one weekend when I noticed that she was at her seat just dancing and singing. I found her after that service and told her what that meant to me, to see her dancing. She said she may not be able to sing, but she could dance! Beautiful. Another form of worship.
One of my favorite sounds is the sound of a congregation singing, bad singers and all (especially the bad because that shows me a reckless abandon to cry to God).
Here at StoneBridge we say we are a come as you are church, and we are.
So on Sunday morning please come stand, sit, dance, raise your arms, kneel, whatever it is you need to do. We, the praise team, sing for you. But more importantly, we, the praise team and you too, sing for God.
So come as you are, and I’ll come as I am, sometimes shy but always free.

As I am
Hailey

Who Are The Herdmans In Your Neighborhood?

Yesterday I had the opportunity of being one of the drivers of my daughter's school field trip for first and second graders. We went and saw 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.' Our church presented the musical last year and both times I've seen this production I have been very challenged by it. The story involves a small town church that every year does a children's Christmas Pageant. The same kids seem to always have the same parts and it had definitely become very routine. One of the kids 'messes' everything up when he invites the Herdmans to church. The Herdmans are a rag-tag group of kids who come from a divorced home, live off of well-fare and basically fend for themselves. They are known all over town as wild trouble-makers. They wind up coming to church and being in the Christmas play. It becomes apparent that the Herdmans know nothing about the Bible and have never heard the Christmas story.

So the play becomes a very refreshing look at the Christmas story through the fresh eyes of the Herdman kids. When production time finally rolls around they put a few of their own non-traditional twists on some of the parts like burping the baby doll representing Jesus and adding a little more pizazz to the angel of the Lord who appears to the Shepherds. One of my favorite scenes is when the three wiseman appear (all played by Herdmans). They march in and kneel before Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Instead of presenting the traditional gold, frankincense, and myrrh they set down a ham that came from their well-fare food ration. It was a gift from their heart and it was all they really had as they figured a family who had been traveling for days, had to sleep out in a stable and lay a baby in an animal feed trough would probably be hungry. Of course a pork product may not have been the greatest food item to present to a Jewish family, but it was the thought that counts.

In Matthew Chapter 9 it says, '11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ [a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” I think this is a great challenge for us, especially at Christmas time. Who are the Herdmans in our neighborhood or town? Who is that person or family that we could invite to a Christmas party, or to a Christmas Eve service, or take a risk and get to know and share the real meaning of Christmas with? After all the Christmas story is truly 'good news of great joy for all people' and there are still alot of people all around you and I that have yet to hear, understand and be invited. Let's dare to take this wonderful message of hope and love beyond our normal places of comfort.


in Christ,,

Brian

Season Of Love.

Everywhere you look, the Christmas season is in full swing. Lights are up, Christmas music is being played, Starbucks has their holiday drinks, and shoppers have their game face on. I always love this time of year. Family traditions bring back memories of growing up, while new memories continue to be made. Yup, I am a sucker for all things Christmas. But this year more than ever, I have an unsettling feeling in my heart.

You see, I have seen the faces of those who are “unloved”. Many aspects of Christmas involve family so it makes sense that the holiday season can highlight feelings of loneliness for many. As believers, we know that Christmas is about us receiving the most precious gift ever given, God’s son. While we try to keep that fact at the heart of our celebration, our society can make it about something else. Please don’t feel I’m trying to guilt you out of buying gifts--I’m not at all. What I am saying is that we should not stop at the gifts under the tree. The Bible is filled with verse after verse instructing us to give to those less fortunate than us. That may look different for each of you. You may sponsor a child through Angel Tree, or sing carols at a nursing home, or put a couple dollars in the Salvation Army bucket outside the mall. Whatever way you choose to give, do so out of gratitude for what you have been given.

I recently ran across Deuteronomy 24:19-21:

"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow."

How many times have I been guilty of spending all I have on things for myself or family? Too many of those times it has been on things so unnecessary I forget about them a week later. What good could we do if we left our remains for the alien, fatherless, and widow instead? I am currently reading Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis and in it she sums it up perfectly: “I begin each day saying, ‘Okay, Lord, what would you have me do today? Whom would you have me help today?’” Join me as I challenge myself with beginning the next 30 days with this prayer. I have a feeling our perspective may be changed drastically.

In Him,

Lindsey

www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com
(This is a website with great gift ideas that give back to those in need)

Extravagant.

So today Jane and I both worked a half day and then drove 250 miles one way to Denton, TX to see our son Peter's college choir concert. We took him to Texas Roadhouse for dinner before the concert and grabbed some ice cream at Beth Marie's afterward. Tonight we will sleep on a blow up mattress at our son and daughter in laws home. Tomorrow, we will meet our son for a late breakfast then drive back to The Woodlands, to work another half day till around 9:00 pm.

Why?

That really isn't a very practical trip.

It wasn't meant to be.

This trip wasn't planned around our comfort or convenience. It was planned because we love our son. And we want him to know that he is a priority in our lives. The trip was physically tiring and a little costly, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was seeing our son.


Love can be costly.

Matthew 26:6-13
Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

If it doesn't cost us something, it isn't really love.

Christmas is coming soon. (I know because I saw the egg nog in the dairy section)

Christmas is about extravagant love.

John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Now that is extravagant!!!

Joe

What Should We Do Then?

Today I was reading in Luke 3 where John the Baptist comes on the scene and begins his public ministry. He was the one who went before Jesus, preparing the way. The way that John was preparing the people was through preaching a baptism of repentance. He challenged the people to 'produce fruit in keeping with repentance.' Repentance literally means to 'change one's mind or way of thinking.' Repentance goes hand in hand with receiving the work of Jesus in your life. There is a decision that comes from your mind and a willingness that comes from your heart to submit to a new way of living that's different than the way you used to live and the way the world around you lives.

In verse 10-11 it says, 10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." The people that followed John out near the Jordan river were recognizing that God was visiting Israel and that His hand was upon John. They wanted to be a part of this fresh work that the Lord was doing in their midst as it had been 400 years since any true prophet had come on the scene. So they ask the question, 'what should we do then?' John challenges them to submit to a new way of living that Jesus would fully usher in through His life and teaching. He challenged them to give. If you have an extra coat then give it away. If you have extra food than give that away too. Perhaps any extra of anything we have is a test from God to see if we will live out a generous and compassionate life that produces a blessing in lives around us who are impoverished and lacking. This was how the people were being prepared for the first Christmas and it is still the best way for us to prepare for Christmas 2000 years later.

in Christ,

Brian

Unplugged.

So today our worship was all acoustic instruments. Instruments that work with out electricity or a computer. A lot of hollow wood and metal strings, air blown through a reed or through a pipe. A grand piano, acoustic guitars, acoustic bass, mandolin, flute, harmonica. It created an incredible environment for worship. There was an authenticity, a transparency in the worship. It was stripped down and unpretentious.

We do an unplugged Sunday after Thanksgiving to remind ourselves that we come to God, just as we are. It also remind us that God already knows the "real" me."..........after all He made us.

We need more time to unplug from the fast pace and take time to connect with God.

I'm enjoying this cool weather today. It reminds me of snow days as a kid. We would stop the routine of school and work and just "be" a family. We would talk, eat together, play in the snow, make snow cream and come inside to get warm. There was a peace and serenity to it all.

I doubt we will get a snow day in Houston year, but I hope we can still find time to unplug from the race and connect with the One who made it all.

One of my favorite verses is when Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Our Lord knows what's best for us. I'm sure His plan for my life will work far better than my own. And instead of moving in forty directions at once, I will move in one.

Keep it real,

Joe

Arm Yourself With Gratitude.

Like Joe and Lindsey, I love Thanksgiving. It was great once again to just spend yesterday with family and friends, many of whom I only get to see once or twice a year. It was a day of just relaxing, enjoying some great food, watching football, and taking time to share things we are grateful for and pray together. So the question I was thinking about for today is, how do we keep this grateful spirit on the other 364 days of the year. Afterall, I'm pretty sure that God's word challenges us to 'give thanks in all circumstances' and to 'overflow with thanksgiving'.

As I was thinking about this I went back to the very beginning of the Bible where there is an encounter between Adam and Eve and the serpent, satan. It says this in Genesis 3:1 'Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" What was Satan getting at there? He was basically suggesting to Adam and Eve that God was holding out on them. He got them to take their eyes off of ALL the amazing blessings that God had given them and he got them obsessing and lusting and longing for the one thing that God withheld from them, the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

I'm pretty sure he is still very much employing this same tactic today. Every day we are bombarded with commercials, billboards, and magazine ads that try and convince us that we are imcomplete unless we buy the product they are selling us. Their product will make us truly happy and change our life. He constantly tries to get us focusing on our neighbor's house or car, or lifestyle and the next thing we know our hearts are ravaged by envy and discontentment. I challenge you to arm yourself with gratefulness before you face your day every morning. Make a discipline of enjoying and meditating on all that you HAVE so that you don't get swallowed up in discouragement in fretting over what you DON'T HAVE.

in Christ,

Brian

A Day Of Thanks.

Spending time with family, delicious food, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, naps, football. Thanksgiving is absolutely one of my favorite holidays. Today, David and I will be all over the place getting family time in for our last Thanksgiving in Texas. Every year I love to reflect on how I have seen God’s faithfulness over the last year and this year is no different. I have learned so much and grown more than I could have expected. And I am so thankful for you, Stonebridge. I have seen God’s faithfulness in you as well. Thank you for your faith and your desire to do God’s will. As you spend time with your family today, don’t just stop at the food and the football. Take time to reflect and give thanks. You will be amazed at how faithful God has been. We have so much to be thankful for.

“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way- with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

“They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” Psalm 145:7

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lindsey

Thankful...Really?

Thankfulness doesn't come from circumstances. It comes from the condition of the heart.

I was reading verses on thankfulness in the Bible, and I thought what does Jesus have to say on thankfulness or gratitude.

The following passage came to mind.

Luke 17:12-19
12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him–and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

A couple of things jump out at me from this passage. First, 90% of the men healed didn't come to say back to say thanks. Jesus found this notable. I am amazed at my own ability to take many huge blessings in my life for granted, forgetting to give God thanks.

Secondly, Jesus gave the one who came back, a second healing. I'm not sure what was healed the second time, but I imagine that it must have been greater than being healed of leprosy. Something deep, spiritual, lasting, and life changing. Perhaps eternal. To be healed of a sin sick soul. To be healed of a wounded heart. To be healed for all eternity, To receive from the Son of God, His full blessing. Healed from the effects of sin and death.

So gratitude to God, can lead to Jesus saying. "Rise" and "Go."

If the kingdom is one of the heart, then gratitude to God would evidence a heart that has thrown itself at the feet of Jesus to thank Him.

Hebrews 12:28
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God.

May all our hearts be full of Thanksgiving and so receive the full blessing of Christ.

Joe

Irrational Obedience.

There's a new book out right now called 'Kisses from Katie.' Katie is a 21 year old girl from America who is currently the mother of 14 kids and living in Uganda. How in the world did that happen? She stepped out for a 10 month teaching assignment in Uganda and came face to face with poverty and starvation like she had never seen before. Katie began wrestling with the fact that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind and we are to love our neighbor as ourself. In a very simple yet profound way she says 'Myself doesn't want to be starving and so I don't want other people to be starving.' She has now left every semblance of familiarity and comfort behind and is now living in Uganda.

A little closer to home there are 2 ladies from StoneBridge church that one day decided that they didn't want people going hungry right in our backyards here in Montgomery County. So these 2 ladies did something preposterous. They stepped out to start a food pantry with no experience or prior knowledge at all. They simply shared God's heart for the poor and hurting and said 'Yes' Lord. There are now over 80 families a month who are experiencing the love and care of Jesus because of this one act of compassion.

These kind of stories challenge me. I am really good at rationalizing my way out of obedience. I can read a command in Scripture and come up with all kinds of reasons why I can't obey it. Here's a few: 'it's too big of a problem...', 'I have no experience...', 'I don't have enough resources...', 'I don't have enough time...', etc. Oh, how I long to live more like this: 'Ok God you said it...I just need to do it and let You, God, figure out all the details.' You know I think God wants us to be more like that. This verse out of 2 Chronicles has always challenged me, "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.." - 2 Chronicles 16:9a Our God is to have God's heart and step out in faith and then God will do what He does best...strongly support us in doing His work in ways we could never fathom. Let's get going!

in Christ,

Brian

You too, I thought I was the only one....

Friendship is born at that moment one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." CS LEWIS.

Discouragement comes when we feel isolated and alone. When we believe no one understands us.
I am reminded of the old spiritual, sung by the suffering slaves, "Nobody knows the trouble I've Seen."

But loneliness is not the way of the Kingdom.

We are to live in relationship with love, encouragement and understanding.

John 15:12 - "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

• Romans 15:7 - Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

We are meant to live in community, giving strength to others and receiving strength from others.

But there are times, when we might not be in community. And while that is not how God intends for us to live, and we should make every effort to live in community, and God desires for us to meet each others needs through His church, the body of Christ, we still are not forsaken.

Because we have a empathizing Savior.

Hebrews 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are –yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

So in the worst of circumstances, we can always sing....

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory Hallelujah

Sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down
Yes lord, you know sometimes I'm almost to the ground
O yes, Lord,

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus.

Friend, you're not the only one,
Joe

We Cry Out.

Our team will be introducing a new song this weekend called 'We Cry Out'. The song seeks to help us cry out to the one true God, our creator, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We live in a day when if you simply say the word 'God', people conjure up all kinds of ideas and images in their minds and often attempt to make God into their own image. This song seeks to use the names that God, Himself, reveals to us throughout the story of Scripture that were most commonly used by His people, Israel, and the early church.

The first name is El Shaddai, which is usually translated 'God Almighty'. God first reveals this name to Abram and it appears repeatedly in the book of Job. As we cry out God's name, El Shaddai, we can know that He is mighty and all powerful. He is the God who is strong when we are weak and makes the impossible possible.

The second name the song uses is Adonai. This word comes from 'Adon' which means 'Lord' or 'Master'. 'Adonai' is the plural form of 'Adon' which add extra emphasis to the meaning. 'Adonai' was only used to describe the God of the Hebrews and was the spoken version of 'Yahweh'. 'Yahweh' which is also translated as 'Lord' was considered to be too holy of a name to speak. God's people would, therefore, call upon their 'Lord' by audibly saying the name 'Adonai'.

Lastly, the song uses the name Jesus Christ. Our God has most clearly revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the 'image of the invisible God' and the 'exact representation of His being'. So this song is so powerful because we are crying out over and over to El Shaddai, Adonai, Jesus Christ. We are not just singing words up into the sky, hoping that they might find an audience with some higher power if it is out there. No, we cry out to a real, living, and personal God. We cry out to the God who is most High. We cry out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We cry out to the God who came and moved into our neighborhood, walked our streets, experienced our pains and died on a Roman cross 2000 years ago. He is real...He is listening. Let's cry out to Him together!

'We Cry Out'
Father of life, seated on the throne of grace It’s only by your mercy we are saved
Lord you have said if we call upon your name We and our families will be saved
So we cry, out your name El Shaddai, God of grace, Lord most high, Jesus Christ
We rely on your grace Adonai, Crowned in praise Lord most high, Jesus Christ
Father of love, never failing to forgive Each moment is a gift from you to man
We’re only here to tell the world about your grace Till the day you take us all away.


in Christ,

Brian

A Fool For You.

Last Sunday my niece Maddy was dedicated. She is almost 4 months old and it has been so much fun watching her develop a personality. She is at the stage where she is beginning to smile in response to you. Sometimes my mother-in-law and I have to work extra hard to get that beaming grin. Maddy’s mom, Stephanie, laughs at us because there is nothing we wouldn’t do to see her smile. I read something the other day that said “No matter how cool you think you are, when a toddler hands you a plastic phone you answer it.” Isn’t that so true? There is something about kids that make us check our vanity at the door.

As I was thinking about it, I realized that my relationship with Christ should mirror this. Christ calls us to do things that, to the world, look foolish. When society tells us we should act a certain way, often times we know it’s not what makes God smile. When we follow Christ, we are choosing the narrow path, which means we aren’t going to look like everyone else. As with babies and toddlers, we need to be okay with looking like a fool for Christ. We may receive some interesting stares (or get laughed at), but when our main purpose is living for Christ, our Father will smile down on us. In chapter four of 1 Corinthians, Paul writes that our dedication to Christ should make us look like fools. How foolish are you willing to look for Christ today?

In Him,

Lindsey

Sunday Morning, I Think I'll Sleep In.

So I was at a rehearsal tonight with one of our praise team members. She was supposed to sing this past weekend but sent me a text that she had a bronchial infection. I told her to get well soon and I would see her next time. I was quite surprised to see her in church on Sunday.

I asked her why she didn't stay home in bed to get well. She told me she was, until her 4 year old son pounced on her Sunday morning and said, "Mommy, we need to go see Jesus," to which her husband responded, "we're so busted."

I know maturity teaches us to do the right thing even when we don't feel like it. But I'd sure rather have my motivation for going to church to come from one of excitement than duty.

Jesus said, For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20

And there was a wee little man who wanted to see Jesus.

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore- fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly Luke 19:4-6.

I want to be more like that wee little man.

This Sunday morning.....We need to go see Jesus.

Joe

Yahweh-Shammah or Ichabod?

There's a city one day that all of God's children will have the amazing privilege of living in for eternity. The name of the city is Yahweh-Shammah. We are told this in the last verse of Ezekiel where it says, "The four sides of the city measure to a total of nearly six miles. "From now on the name of the city will be Yahweh-Shammah: "God-Is-There." Now contrast that thought with this verse in 1 Samuel 4, '21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"--because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." Can you imagine if your Mom named you Ichabod, which means 'The glory or presence of God has departed'. You know it's a rough time when moms are giving out such names. Indeed this was a dark time. Israel had been brutally defeated, many men had lost their lives, and the ark of God, which was God's dwelling place, was stolen.

Are you in an 'Ichabod' place right now or in a 'Yahweh-Shammah' place right now? As I think back on the diffferent times in my life I have experienced the reality of both. There have been those times when I've faced temptations and I have given in and turned my back on God and chosen the path of sin rather than the path of His presence and righteousness. Sin is so deceptive in that it promises so much fulfilment and then when you get there it has this cold, lonely, guilt-ridden, Ichabod, empty feeling that equates to pure misery. On the other hand when we choose God's path, it may not always supply that instant gratification that sin does, but as we walk with Him faithfully, we find that this path fills us up with a peace, a deep satisfaction, a joy, and a contentment that the world can never give us. What's crazy is that I have spent time with people who live in shacks in a city dump site in Mexico and yet they smile because they daily experience 'Yahweh-Shammah'. I also have seen people who have every luxury the world can give and yet live in the cold, icy reality of 'Ichabod'. Today let's crave, set our hearts on, and run after 'Yahweh-Shammah' and know that to be in God's presence and to walk with Him throughout our day is the greatest treasure we will ever know.

pursuing His presence,

Brian

Close To God.

Proximity to God. We are meant to be close to God. We are designed to enjoy an intimate fellowship with God.

God's word says a lot about getting to enjoy a close relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Hear's just few scripture says about what it takes to draw near to God.

1. FAITH

Hebrews 10:22
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

We must believe that He is.

2 HUMILITY

Psalms 34:18
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Pride takes us away from God. Humility bring us to God.

THROUGH JESUS

Hebrews 7:19
19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 7:22
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Jesus is our hope. We approach our Father, because of and through our relationship with his Son.

I heard from one of our friends at church today that their daughter came home from college to visit and brought eight friends with her. No one was turned away. Why? Because their daughter invited them. That was enough. All were welcomed, fed and housed.

That's just like Jesus. We approach the Father through the Son. We are welcomed, fed and provided for. Jesus has gone ahead to get everything ready to welcome us to his Fathers house.

John 14:2-4
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

So let's draw close to God and experience what it means to be fully known and fully loved.

James 4:8a
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Joe

Here Am I, All Of Me.

Last night, several people from our church family huddled together in the cold and in the dark to devote about an hour and 15 minutes to praising God and setting our minds and hearts on Him. We gathered out by the crosses and together reflected on God's process of breaking us, molding us, filling us, and using us. The song we ended with was called 'Take my life'. It is a song that really unpacks in very vivid details what it means to devote, consecrate or surrender your life fully over to God. The song challenges me to ask the following questions: am I willing to give God my moments, my days, my intellect, my speech, my hands, my feet, my silver and gold (dollars and cents), my will, my choices, my love and affections, my life? The chorus of the song then erupts over and over at the end just exclaiming to God, 'Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee!'

In Isaiah 6, Isaiah records an incredible encounter he has with God Almighty. In a powerful vision, he beholds the very throne of God and it is truly a breath-taking and awesome experience full of power and smoke and splendor. It literally says that Isaiah is 'ruined' for he realizes he is a man of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips. He is then cleansed and forgiven as an angel flies to him and touches his lips with a hot coal. In verse 8 it says, 'Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" God basically throws down the million dollar question to Isaiah right there on the spot. Will you give me all of yourself, Isaiah, and allow me to send you into the world and to be my man? Without hesitation Isaiah offers himself fully to God and His mission. What about you and me? Does the way I spend my time, spend my money, speak to people on the phone and at work, make choices, and spend my free time reflect a life that says, 'Here am I Lord, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee'? Let's dare to go deeper in surrendering our all to God today!

in Christ,

Brian

Break, Mold, Fill, and Use Me.

Tonight we are braving the cold weather and having an outdoor concert! The last time we had worship by the crosses, I was so moved by the simplicity and closeness I felt to God. There is something so intimate about being outdoors, totally immersed in His creation, as we sing praises to our Father. This connection with nature seems to make our worship so much more meaningful. I may be wrapped in a blanket tonight, but I am thoroughly looking forward to praising Him with all of you.

Since we are in the Ask God campaign, our theme for tonight is taken from the hymn “Spirit of the Living God”. We will ask God to break us so that He can mold us. Then we are going to ask that He fill us, in order to use us. These are some big things to ask. It’s a pretty serious thing to ask God to “break us”. Quite honestly, you can’t have a break without it being fairly uncomfortable. At the very least, there will be a loud noise that gets your attention. Thankfully, it doesn’t stop here. We get to be remade into something that is pleasing to God so that our new hearts can be filled with more of Him. As we are filled with more of Him, He will begin to use us in ways that bring glory to His name. As we get ready to worship tonight, ask God if you need to be broken and remolded. James 1:2-4 says:

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

Looking forward to seeing all of you tonight!

Lindsey

Awake My Soul And Sing.

Dead men walking. I've known people like that. I've known times like that. Any time we are disconnected from walking with Jesus, we dry up. Like some of the branches on some of the trees in Texas, victims of being cut off from the source of life.

This week we will introduce a new song called "Awakening". It is my hearts cry for my life, for StoneBridge and for our nation and the nations of the world.

Awakening lyrics
Songwriters: Morgan, Reuben Timothy; Tomlin, Christopher D;

In our hearts, Lord, in this nation
Awakening
Holy Spirit, we desire
Awakening

For You and You alone
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

In Your presence, in Your power
Awakening
For this moment, for this hour
Awakening

Like the rising sun that shines
From the darkness comes a light
I hear Your voice and this is my
Awakening

Like the rising sun that shines
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
From the darkness comes a light
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

Like the rising sun that shines
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
Only You can raise a life
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

Psalms 57:8-11
8 Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.


Let us be fully alive people.

Joe

Are You Ready?

'Daddy, can you read the Bible to me?' That's how a very involved conversation began on Saturday morning as my 5 year old son, Joshua, and I, read from the book of Joshua and began covering all kinds of topics. Eventually the conversation led to eternity and how everyone has two destinations, with God forever or apart from God forever in judgment. We talked about the Lamb's book of life that contains the names of all of those who have become God's children through faith. Joshua mentioned that he had doubts about whether he was God's child or not. So right there in my living room, Saturday morning, Nov 5 (also happened to be my Dad's 60th bday), I led him in a prayer that he repeated after me to ask Jesus into his heart.

In 1 Peter 3:15 it says, 'But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,' You know it wasn't on my radar to have that conversation with Joshua on Saturday, but praise God I was prepared to give an answer to his questions about the hope that I have. I like this verse because it challenges us to be worshipers throughout our day in that we are to keep this awe of Christ in our hearts in each moment and as God brings along opportunities they don't pass us by. The opportunity that God brings your way may be in the form of a little blond-haired rug rat tuggin on your pant leg. So be ready today for what and who God brings your way!

in Christ,

Brian

Follow You.

"Follow You" by Leeland is a song we will share this Thursday at our outdoor concert of worship. We chose it because of the line, "use my hands Lord, use my feet.". It is a great song of consecration. A song that says, Here am I Lord, send me.

When speaking about the song, Leeland shared the following.

"God’s there, right beside every person in the world. Now is the time for us to get up and follow in God’s footsteps. It’s really that simple. Find out where God is and run to meet him there! We know that God’s heart aches for the poor and the needy. They are His children too. As we reach out to people that are hurting, our problems begin to shrink, and we draw closer to God’s heart in the process! This is what the song “Follow You” is all about."

Here are the lyrics.

You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.
All my needs You have supplied.
When I was dead You gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?

And I’ll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the world.

Use my hands use my feet
To make Your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until Your work is done
`cause faith without works is dead
And on the cross Your blood was shed
So how could I not give it away so freely?

And I’ll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the world.

Follow You

God’s there, right beside every person in the world. Now is the time for us to get up and follow in God’s footsteps. It’s really that simple. Find out where God is and run to meet him there! We know that God’s heart aches for the poor and the needy. They are His children too. As we reach out to people that are hurting, our problems begin to shrink, and we draw closer to God’s heart in the process! This is what the song “Follow You” is all about.

You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.
All my needs You have supplied.
When I was dead You gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?

And I’ll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the world.

Use my hands use my feet
To make Your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until Your work is done
`cause faith without works is dead
And on the cross Your blood was shed
So how could I not give it away so freely?

And I’ll follow You into the homes that are broken.
Follow You into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow You into the world.

I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself. To You.


Matthew 25:31-40
The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. ’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? ’
40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. ’

John 12:26
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.


Let's follow Jesus together, no matter where it takes us, that will be the best place to be.

Joe

Who Are We Asking?

Yesterday I had coffee with a young pastor who was describing a vision God had given him for an event that would target college and young singles and attempt to draw them back into the church in large numbers. As he was describing the steps for implementing this huge vision, he described the process in 4 phases. Phases 2-4 involved planning and promotion and other things that you would expect when pulling off a huge event for a large city. Phase 1 though was very simple, pray. One of the men who has been coaching him is Greg Matte, pastor of First Baptist Houston, and the founder of Breakaway ministries at Texas A&M. Breakaway is a ministry that just recently had over 9000 Aggie students fill a building for a weekly meeting. People have often asked Greg, 'what is your secret to launching a successful ministry like Breakaway?' Greg's simple reply is prayer. He said from the get go their gatherings, when they had 4-5 people, were bathed in prayer and 'asking God' what He wanted them to do. Greg explained that they saw themselves like a sailboat. Unlike a motor boat, a sailboat has to hoist the sail and allow the wind to move it through the water. They knew that if they wanted to really experience a God-thing it would have to be directed by the wind of the Holy Spirit.

That is what we are desiring for StoneBridge, a God-thing. If we simply ask man, then we will get what man can do. If we ask God, then we will get what God can do. What if instead of prayer being an after-thought we made it the main thought? What if our church in this season was filled with hundreds of people who truly were 'asking God' what He wants. What if we had hundreds of people crying out to God asking Him to break us, mold us, fill us and use us to help bring His kingdom here to our city in a way that was beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Check out some of these challenges to us directly from the mouth of Jesus in the gospels..." Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." Ask Him to heal marriages, save your neighbors, reconcile broken relationships, reach the next generation, bring justice to the oppressed, bring joy to the lonely, etc. So what are you gonna ask Him to do today?

in Christ,

Brian

The Song In My Heart.

Self-examination can be tough. Let’s face it, it’s much easier to ignore the nagging feeling that something is holding you back, rather than confronting it. But what if that feeling is God trying to get our attention? Psalm 139:23-24 states:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Although often uncomfortable, examination of our hearts leads to a pruning away of emotions and ambitions that can hinder our relationship with God.

This past week I asked myself a difficult, yet necessary question. If my heart had one song to sing, what would it be? Would it be a song of worship to the King? Or a song sung primarily to attract the attention of others? What about a song of admiration? In examining my own heart, I found that too often my heart’s song is one of worry. While it is perfectly okay for me to bring my worries to the foot of the cross, how much better would it be if I could boldly declare my song as one of thanksgiving and amazement! I want my life to proclaim God’s goodness through the way I express gratitude and praise. As you read this, ask God to examine your heart. What song is your heart singing?

“…be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20

In Him,

Lindsey

Love Your Enemies.

Really? Love your enemies. How? What does that even look like. Who are my enemies? I think the point is that the love Christ calls us to is different. Our love is not based on the object of our love. It is based on who we are and whose we are. God is good to us because, He is good. God is loving to us because He is love.

So do we love our enemies because we “feel” love toward them. No, we love our enemies, because the love of God has changed our heart. We have a capacity to love that is supernatural. We love them because of who we are. And we are sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father who is loving and gracious.

Matthew 5:43-48
Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


We were once enemies of God ourselves. How did God treat us?

Romans 5:10
10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

So let’s bring it home. If God calls us to love our enemies, how might we treat those who are closest to us. When we are having an argument with a spouse, child or sibling, what should that look like? Could we, like Christ humble ourselves and put the interest of others ahead of ourselves.

I’ve often said that we treat the people we are closest to the worse than anyone. I believe that the love that Christ wants us to share with the world is developed in our relationships at home. So we are first to be ministers at home. We learn to serve our family, our friends, our coworkers, our acquaintances, the lost and needy and then even our enemies.

Love our enemies, yes… because that is who we are becoming in Christ.

Once an enemy, now redeemed,

Joe

Ripples.

Psalms 120-134 are called the 'Songs of Ascents'. They were traditionally sung by the Jewish families during their 'ascent' to Jerusalem for the 3 different appointed annual feasts. Maybe in the modern day setting these are like songs we might sing together going on a road trip to a retreat. Psalm 128 goes like this, "1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. 5 May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, 6 and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel."

Whenever I've read this before I tend to picture a ripple effect. Whenever you pick up a rock and toss it into a lake, its impact sends out circular waves that are felt a considerable distance away. This song begins by talking about a man who fears the Lord and walks in his ways. As a result of this one decision he is blessed, his wife is blessed, his kids are blessed, and it even projects a blessing to a city (Jerusaelm) and a nation (Israel) and finally to the next generation (children's children). Blessing doesn't always look like what we think it will. It doesn't necessarily mean a big house, a life of ease, and everything always going our way. I think of it as a powerful sense of God's presence with us, peace, joy and love that gets deeply rooted in us and its ripples impact our wife, kids, community, city and nation. So never underestimate the impact of your decision today to fear God and walk in His ways.

in Christ,

Brian

Worship Devo Debut.

Hey everyone, this is Todd Agnew. It was so good to worship with you this weekend. I enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones. Thanks for being so kind. I thought I would share a quick thought on worship. The psalmists used the word "ascribe" a number of times and it is also found in Deuteronomy and 1 Chronicles. Psalm 29:1-2 says,

"Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord, glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

(The rest of the psalm talks about the voice of the Lord being like thunder and lightning, shaking the foundations, and so on. Might make a good song.)

But back to the word "ascribe". I always assumed it meant something like "give". Give God glory and strength. Give Him the glory due His name. That made sense to me. But it turns out that's not actually what it means. Merriam-Webster defines "ascribe" as "to refer to a supposed cause, source, or author." In other words, "to attribute to". That really changes the idea of ascribing glory to God in our worship. We are not giving God glory or strength; we are searching and finding glory and strength and recognizing that it belongs to God. We discover an example of strength and realize that its source is God's. We are not asked to give God the glory due His name. What glory do we have that we can offer Him? We are supposed to study and come to new and deeper understandings of His name, and then recognize the glory in that and attribute it to God.

Which is all a complicated way of saying, worship doesn't start on Sunday morning. Every moment of every day we are seeking the strength, the person, the glory of God in the scripture, in the world, and in our lives. On Sundays, we merely get the joy and blessing of joining together to ascribe the glory we've seen during the week to our Savior, Redeemer, Creator, and Friend. Tomorrow, let us look throughout our day for strength. Let us look for glory. Let us find His names, Healer, Provider, the One Who Sees, Almighty, Comforter, Love, and recognize when He is being those things for us. Every time is an opportunity to worship, to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.

Todd

Don't Forget to Floss Your Teeth.

Yesterday morning my son Joshua, 5, hit me with a a newly found nugget of wisdom he learned from his dentist appointment on Wednesday. He looked at me and said, 'Daddy, you know that flossing makes you live longer.' At first I was a little puzzled that you could make such a bold claim about flossing but as I began to think about it I realized that flossing does help prevent gum disease which can cause death. The fact is I don't think anyone would argue that flossing is good for you and that we should do it every day. Mentally, I know that truth. However, I must confess I rarely remember to floss (I do brush my teeth so don't get to freaked out). His statement definitely convicted me. I realized that I know that his statement is true and I'm simply sweeping it under the rug and not acting on it. I will say that I most definitely flossed yesterday and plan on making it a new habit thanks to my son.

What are the simple truths and promises that God has given us that we know in our 'heads' but are not really living and practicing in our lives? What about prayer. I love the verse that was in our Ask God Project Devotional yesterday out of Psalm 138:3 that says, 'As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.' How many times do I fret, worry, grumble and complain about my circumstances or situation and forget to truly and honestly take it to God in prayer. What a great promise that as soon as we pray, He answers us. We may not get what we ask for but what He does give us is in that moment is strength to face everything that comes our way. As Lindsey wrote yesterday, He is directing our ulitmate path and life and He will give us the strength we need today. All we have to do is ask

Brian

Keeping Me Guessing.

While I was listening to my music today, I stumbled across a Francesca Battistelli song that I had forgotten about. Besides the catchy summertime feel, I am drawn to the song’s lyrics. Seeming to fit well with Proverbs 3:5-6, “Keeping me Guessing” reminds us of Who is guiding our steps. The chorus confidently states:

I don’t know how the story ends,
But I’ll be alright ‘cause You wrote it
I don’t know where the highway bends but I’m doing just fine
‘Cause You’re in control even when I don’t know where my life’s gonna go
You’re keeping me guessing.

Here’s the thing-- I know a lot of people struggle with giving up control. Trust me, I get it. I am not a fan of situations in which I have no control (i.e. plane rides), but there is something incredibly comforting in knowing I am placing my trust in God, who has ruled over creation since the beginning of time. I am relieved when I realize that although I have no clue where my life will be in 5 or 10 years, my Father wrote the story of my life and I know I will be fine. Check out this video of the song and as you listen to it, think of Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

In Him,
Lindsey

Beautiful Things.

This coming Sunday, we will be introducing a new song called "Beautiful Things". It fits perfectly with this weeks theme of "mold me" from the Ask God project.

The song is based on Isaiah 65:17.

17 “Behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.

This verse is a great reminder that Our God is a God of redemption and renewal. Sometimes we wonder if we are beyond being able to change. Whenever I might have thoughts like that, I remember that great verse in Phil 1:6.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

God is at work in you and me. Remember God isn't finished with us yet and "God don't make no junk".

"Beautiful Things" by Gungor
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new


Joe

Training Wheels.

Sunday evening was a cool moment in my parenting life. I had the joy of teaching my daughter, Emily, how to ride a bike. We began the process by putting air in her tires and then taking off the training wheels. We then walked out to the street together to give it a go. As we began, I assured her that I was right there supporting her and that she could relax and begin to get a feel for how to balance herself. So we walked up and down the street a couple of times and I began to hold onto her less and less. After only a few minutes she told me she was ready to try it herself. So I got her going and then let her go. In her wobbly little way she began peddaling and riding her bike all by herself. She was still a little timid at first, but then I could see that there was this mental shift in her where she went from doubt and fear to confidence and trust. Before too long she was riding up and down the street and around the block.

As I was thinking about this moment, I thought about our walk with God. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 it says, 'for we walk by faith, not by sight - ' Training wheels are not meant to remain on the bike forever. They are a temporary aid to help us to have the courage to sit on a bike and build our confidence. It's only when we take them off that we really begin experiencing the fun and joy of riding a bike. Are there areas of our lives where we are still operating with training wheels on? For Emily to go from training wheels to riding a bike, she had to completely trust her Dad. She had to trust that I wasn't just leading her out in the street to let her fall. Is there an area in your personal life, finances, job, habits, family, marriage, career path, etc where your heavenly Father is saying, 'Trust Me...It's time to take the training wheels off...'

in Christ,

Brian

The Secret Place.

Matthew 6:6
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I spend a lot of time with people. People that I greatly enjoy sharing time with. Sometimes we work together, sometimes we play. Sometimes I counsel, sometimes I teach, sometimes I listen, sometimes I correct, sometimes I pray.

I have noticed my effectiveness with others goes up and down in direct correlation to how much time I spend in the secret place. My peace, strength, joy, wisdom, faith, love, all flow from my time spent with my Heavenly Father alone in the secret place.

When I was a teenager our youth choir sang a song called "There is a quiet place". It's words come to mind when I go to be alone with Jesus

There is a quiet place
Far from the rapid pace
Where God can soothe my troubled mind

Sheltered by tree and flow´r
There in my quiet hour
With Him my cares are left behind

Whether a garden small
Or on a mountain tall

New strength and courage there I find
Then from this quiet place
I go prepared to face
A new day with love for all mankind


Let's go to the Secret place these next 4 weeks, as we Ask God to speak to us, individually and as a family.

Joe

Forever Reign.

Last week we introduced a new song called 'Forever Reign.' I love how this song exposes the contrast of us, the worshiper, and our amazing God. Often when I draw near to God in prayer or worship, I am overwhelmed by a sense of unworthiness to come into the presence of such a holy and perfect God. This song captures musically what I often feel when I draw near to God.

The song starts quietly and reflectively as the verses spell out all that we lack and how God fills in those empty spaces. In the chorus it's like we are gaining confidence as we start to get up and run into the arms of our Father. As it moves to the second verse the song picks up energy and excitment. I think that is a picture of how we are too. Throughout the Old Testament courage is always a product of being filled with God's presence and having an assurance that God is with us. Cowardice would always come over God's people when they had turned from God and went their own way. As this song finishes with the bridge we as the worshipers sing in boldness from the depths of our hearts that 'My heart will sing no other name, Jesus, Jesus.....'

Take time to let the words of this song soak in and let the God whom this song is about fill you with His presence today so that you may be filled with courage and boldness to face your day!

You are good, You are good when there's nothing good in me

You are love, You are love on display for all to see

You are light, You are light when the darkness closes in

You are hope, You are hope You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace when my fear is crippling

You are true, You are true even in my wandering

You are joy, You are joy, You're the reason that I sing

You are life, You are life, in You death has lost it's sting



Oh I'm running to Your arms, I'm running to Your arms

The riches of Your love will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more than my words will ever say

You are Lord, You are Lord all creation will proclaim

You are here, You are here in Your presence I'm made whole

You are God, You are God of all else I'm letting go



My heart will sing no other name Jesus, Jesus