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)