This weekend I was given the privilege of teaching God's word and since as a church we're going through the Mark Series I was given the text Mark 2:13-17. I will post on Wed a link so that you can have a blog posting LIVE this week. ;) Be encouraged!!
We took a step as church to activate God's word.... it was pretty awesome!! We'll have over 1000 people joining together in first steps to bring this passage alive in our city. I feel as if God has breathed His Spirit of life into our church body...
I'm all about "doing"! You guys know that. It's the Activator in me. BUT the power and motivation and conviction comes from igniting His word that fires would begin to burn in our hearts. His word will not return void! It's so powerful, splitting joints and marrow! It'll be exciting to see what God might do as we begin to reach our arms seeing people through the eyes of Jesus.
Stay tuned.. I'll post as soon as it's up on our website.
So in love with our Jesus... (sigh)... oh to be with Him for eternity. (Time without time)
c
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Your Brea for MY Brea
Recently I had to attend a wedding but wasn't able to stay as long as Roger and Brea as I needed to be back for work and therfore I had to fly back 2 days earlier. Unfortunately it was the evening of Brea's birthday that I had to return but we had had a good time together that morning. Nonetheless as I was sitting on the plane back reading my bible and talking to the Lord as I always do on the plane especially, the young girl sitting next to me made me think of Brea. She was of similar age to Brea with long blond hair. My heart longed to be with Roger and Brea but I also know commitments too are important.
There was no way I could talk to her or text her being on the plane so I just talked to God about it. The young girl with all her snacks, iphone, DS, etc... was keeping herself entertained and then fell asleep for a bit on her tray her hair spilling over unto my lap, made me miss my princess all the more.
Then the young woman awoke and though she was fidgety and somewhat restless, I knew the Lord wanted me to talk to her, but I felt I didn't have the energy. Then she saw me reading my bible and pulled out her Joyce Meyer book "Battlefield of the Mind" pulled up Romans 8 on her iphone and leaned over to ask me a question. I was pleasantly surprised!
Well... you can just imagine me then. Lol! Those that know me know no matter how tired I am if you ask me about scripture with sincere interest, I come alive!! So we did just that... started to share etc... SOOOOO... get this!! As if God doesn't have the ultimate sense of humor?!
The girl's name is Breanna.. she just moved a year ago and was coming home for a visit as a birthday gift that her dad gave her for her 16th birthday that was last Friday!! We gave Brea the gift to come to the wedding with us as well as it was her 16th birthday! She was flying alone for the first time and was nervous. Much like Brea has done in the past and I could relate. I comforted her and made her laugh and then told her what I did at the church. She was shocked. She recently became a Christian and only her and her mom are saved, not Dad or 2 brothers. She's been struggling a bit just feeling discouraged in her faith walk feeling alone. But she did recently join a bible study Friday. She'd been praying for encouragement from God and so for the next hour YOU know I did just that. She couldn't believe I was sitting right next to her and I couldn't believe this comfort as the next closest thing to Brea, was given to me.
I realized in that moment that I need to continue to love those around me as my family not distinguishing. That "relentless, non judgemental, no respecter of persons" love that Jesus showed those around Him. In this moment she needed the encouragement of a godly mom and I need the comfort of a spirit filled daughter. In this moment I was her mom and she was my Brea. Powerful.
"Matt 6:8 Our Father knows what we need even before we ask Him"
I am so baffled at the deep intimate love our Father has for us... .every single day He's got something new to make my mouth drop in wonder.
Father, you are a Dad like non other. Thanks for loving me so deeply that every care and concern of my heart is precious to you. I desire to love you more and more. May our conversations and my prayers become more and more intimate to you as I learn to trust you above and beyond what only my eyes see.
c
There was no way I could talk to her or text her being on the plane so I just talked to God about it. The young girl with all her snacks, iphone, DS, etc... was keeping herself entertained and then fell asleep for a bit on her tray her hair spilling over unto my lap, made me miss my princess all the more.
Then the young woman awoke and though she was fidgety and somewhat restless, I knew the Lord wanted me to talk to her, but I felt I didn't have the energy. Then she saw me reading my bible and pulled out her Joyce Meyer book "Battlefield of the Mind" pulled up Romans 8 on her iphone and leaned over to ask me a question. I was pleasantly surprised!
Well... you can just imagine me then. Lol! Those that know me know no matter how tired I am if you ask me about scripture with sincere interest, I come alive!! So we did just that... started to share etc... SOOOOO... get this!! As if God doesn't have the ultimate sense of humor?!
The girl's name is Breanna.. she just moved a year ago and was coming home for a visit as a birthday gift that her dad gave her for her 16th birthday that was last Friday!! We gave Brea the gift to come to the wedding with us as well as it was her 16th birthday! She was flying alone for the first time and was nervous. Much like Brea has done in the past and I could relate. I comforted her and made her laugh and then told her what I did at the church. She was shocked. She recently became a Christian and only her and her mom are saved, not Dad or 2 brothers. She's been struggling a bit just feeling discouraged in her faith walk feeling alone. But she did recently join a bible study Friday. She'd been praying for encouragement from God and so for the next hour YOU know I did just that. She couldn't believe I was sitting right next to her and I couldn't believe this comfort as the next closest thing to Brea, was given to me.
I realized in that moment that I need to continue to love those around me as my family not distinguishing. That "relentless, non judgemental, no respecter of persons" love that Jesus showed those around Him. In this moment she needed the encouragement of a godly mom and I need the comfort of a spirit filled daughter. In this moment I was her mom and she was my Brea. Powerful.
"Matt 6:8 Our Father knows what we need even before we ask Him"
I am so baffled at the deep intimate love our Father has for us... .every single day He's got something new to make my mouth drop in wonder.
Father, you are a Dad like non other. Thanks for loving me so deeply that every care and concern of my heart is precious to you. I desire to love you more and more. May our conversations and my prayers become more and more intimate to you as I learn to trust you above and beyond what only my eyes see.
c
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Debit - Love
I see the buzz around Amanda Knox... the injustice and you can't help but feel for her. And yet my thoughts are turned to the reality of Jesus accused wrongfully of no crime and yet not released but rather brutally, brutally killed. The Spirit of Injustice arises for me and yet deep sadness that MY LORD... would undergo such wrongful injustice for you and me. That we would enjoy freedom. Humbled... motivated to give my life more to selflessness as HE did.
There's a shift going on right now in our culture. All the DVD stores around us have closed for instance. These little shifts that seem insignificant are actually bigger than we think. As I ponder this and prepare to be obedient to the call that God has given both Roger and I at this time to REACH our city how does this shift impact even what the lost and outsiders think of church? In an hour Roger and I will talk to this to key leaders God has brought together.
The word is God's WORD and that will never change, and the church is His Beloved Bride and that too will never change. But when I look at our society that we live in I see a few key components that have shifted. "The love of many will grow cold... " Jesus says. Where is love I wonder? The selfless true love that Jesus talks about? The one that is given to serving others? Where is the unity that involves community in a society based on "Independent Living"? Virtual relationships from facebook, to "e" and "i" everything... are the norm for this generation growing up. We can't make them wrong for it, but we need to rise up even stronger as a UNIFIED family of God to demonstrate what Jesus prayed for us before His death. " My prayer is that they may be brought to complete unity that the world may know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me". Jesus prayed that in John 17 to His Father. You see unity and love only comes from the power of God's Spirit. When people especially those around us, can witness a love amongst us and given towards them, that says we would lay down our lives for one another and we want to give to you over ourselves it makes people today stand dumbfounded. "Why??" They wonder.
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you MUST love one another. By this ALL people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." Jesus gives us this command.
How are we doing with it? I'm failing miserably... but I want to own it. Right now. And hence I want to devote myself with a core of other believers to immerse ourselves in the study of Acts, in community one with another that His Holy Spirit would begin to unite us in a powerful way. That's my heart. Will I make mistakes.. you bet... but I want to lose life oh that I would found before the throne of God in the days to come as being a faithful follower to Jesus.
Yes the one that stands accused unjustly of no crime; not enduring four years of prison to be released but rather being condemned to die brutally. wow... When I imagine His eyes looking at me hanging on the cross...bleeding and whipped, marred beyond human recognition, I can picture Him saying with His eyes"I Love you Carrie." uggghhh... tears well up even now. I owe you my life JESUS... I believe, now please I beg of you, help me by the power of your spirit to indeed impact this city by simply revealing you to them. You... the very essence of love.
Indebted Forever,
Your Carrie
There's a shift going on right now in our culture. All the DVD stores around us have closed for instance. These little shifts that seem insignificant are actually bigger than we think. As I ponder this and prepare to be obedient to the call that God has given both Roger and I at this time to REACH our city how does this shift impact even what the lost and outsiders think of church? In an hour Roger and I will talk to this to key leaders God has brought together.
The word is God's WORD and that will never change, and the church is His Beloved Bride and that too will never change. But when I look at our society that we live in I see a few key components that have shifted. "The love of many will grow cold... " Jesus says. Where is love I wonder? The selfless true love that Jesus talks about? The one that is given to serving others? Where is the unity that involves community in a society based on "Independent Living"? Virtual relationships from facebook, to "e" and "i" everything... are the norm for this generation growing up. We can't make them wrong for it, but we need to rise up even stronger as a UNIFIED family of God to demonstrate what Jesus prayed for us before His death. " My prayer is that they may be brought to complete unity that the world may know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me". Jesus prayed that in John 17 to His Father. You see unity and love only comes from the power of God's Spirit. When people especially those around us, can witness a love amongst us and given towards them, that says we would lay down our lives for one another and we want to give to you over ourselves it makes people today stand dumbfounded. "Why??" They wonder.
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you MUST love one another. By this ALL people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." Jesus gives us this command.
How are we doing with it? I'm failing miserably... but I want to own it. Right now. And hence I want to devote myself with a core of other believers to immerse ourselves in the study of Acts, in community one with another that His Holy Spirit would begin to unite us in a powerful way. That's my heart. Will I make mistakes.. you bet... but I want to lose life oh that I would found before the throne of God in the days to come as being a faithful follower to Jesus.
Yes the one that stands accused unjustly of no crime; not enduring four years of prison to be released but rather being condemned to die brutally. wow... When I imagine His eyes looking at me hanging on the cross...bleeding and whipped, marred beyond human recognition, I can picture Him saying with His eyes"I Love you Carrie." uggghhh... tears well up even now. I owe you my life JESUS... I believe, now please I beg of you, help me by the power of your spirit to indeed impact this city by simply revealing you to them. You... the very essence of love.
Indebted Forever,
Your Carrie
Sunday, October 2, 2011
For Just a Moment in Time....
We spend so much of our time in life, dreaming, saving, planning for tomorrow and often before we know it we hear ourselves say, “Where did the time go?” or “They’ll be grown up before you know it!”
When we’re young we think we have all the time in the world, so carefree. Pick whatever you wanna do, don’t worry about the cost. Oh the freedom of choices from: whomever you wanna marry, or to pursue whatever you’d like to do as a career, eat whatever you want, go wherever, try whatever having in the back of your mind there’s lots of time, freedom, parents to fall back on…etc..etc…
And yet isn’t it often with age and experience comes the wisdom of life that evaluates things at a deeper level?
I’ve been recently studying Daniel and also history periods in general, evaluating all these great palaces and kingdoms once dominated by the “KING, QUEEN, or some Powerful One” of that time only to be passed on to someone else when their short life is over. HUGE places and power of influences are suddenly worth nothing to them when their lives pass from here to eternity.
Reflecting on these eras in time both from the bible and historical references, simply reminds me more of God’s overall view. No wonder He says our life is but a mist; here today and gone tomorrow. And if that’s not a good enough picture he adds a few other pictures. One is the dew that is here in the morning for a brief moment, or a flower that lasts until it’s petals have served their time displaying such glory.
On top of this, I recently saw a huge stadium (yes it is football season J) LOL! I’m embracing football as my husband so enjoys it . You’d all be proud of me. And yes he’s stood by Detroit always and wouldn’t you know it they’re having a good start! That’s my shout out for you Baby. ;)
As I looked at this massive stadium I imagined it filled with all sorts of people and just myself as one little person. How small we really are in the great scheme of things!! So what then is our purpose in this short life??
There is no greater joy that to KNOW God and His Jesus Christ. Do we really get that?? When we give our lives to Him and He fills us with a part of Him (His Holy Spirit) it is His Spirit that helps us to KNOW Him. The more we desire to KNOW Him the more He will reveal Himself to us. What a privilege this is! The more we draw closer to Him the more we desire to be made like Him. To mirror His image which is nothing of the kingdom of this world. So what does this look like you ask?
Consider Daniel…. a handsome young man. Yes GQ, popular, one of the wisest men in North America let’s say. And you know what… he’s YOUNG. He was brought in as a captive, a prisoner and left a ruler. He had all the wealth and possessions you can imagine given to him and yet none of it had a hold on him. He wouldn’t accept bribes, or steer away from anything God desired as the best for him, EVEN though NO ONE else in all the country was pursuing this God Relationship as He was. He continued in this relationship talking/praying to God 3 times a day as always, even when it was against the law and he knew he would die if he kept it up.
No visions, strange dreams, death threats, slavery, imprisonment, no bribe, fiery furnaces, or den of lions, no fear of hands without bodies writing literally on walls would keep Him from a relentless pursuit and devotion to His best friend, His King, His Father, His Lord……. Yes God himself.
You see Daniel reached a point in their quiet times together, their continuous relationship, their walking and talking, with guidance through the scriptures and God’s deliverance every time Daniel faced death on His behalf, in a way that was incomparable at that time.
You know even the way his enemies LONGED to get him in trouble, they couldn’t. This description blew me away. Daniel 6:4 “They could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”
Wow… there he is; displaying our God. See, even as a young man; not corrupt or negligent but rather trustworthy.
As young people growing up in today’s society it is not easy to live a pure life, to keep oneself from the corruption of the world that seems to lie all around us. It seems the bar is so lowered, watered down. We can all see it. Even in the little ways from what an “R” rated movie was even 15 years ago to what it is now. Or the definition of “dating” to the access of weapons, drugs, alcohol, lack of family foundations, or respect for any authority from parents to teachers to government. BUT…. Will God provide help? YES… and you know what the more you spend time getting to know Him and in His word, He will begin to reveal himself to you. Just you. And you will know Him and have less of a desire for these things because you will see the truth behind how they are distractions and deceptions to pull you off a life that God desires to have with you.
Daniel was a young prisoner turned governor. He had nothing and yet God gave Him everything. He didn’t have 400 facebook friends but he had 3 of the most amazing friendships one could ever imagine. Friends that stand in a furnace because you all serve and love the same God. Daniel trusted God, not because He was told to by his parents, but He got to know Him and the more He knew the more He loved. His devotion came from love.
Won’t you join me in a pursuit that begins to step beyond the way of the world to swim against the current. Not by leading a rally tomorrow afternoon in city square, but by committing ourselves to spending time with God. Allowing Him to teach us, reveal Himself to us, befriend us and love us? When that begins to happen and truly happen, we realize our life is eternal therefore if we stand in the face of death with no fear but rather a relentless pursuit of being set apart, known by the Father, His Son and those even in the world know “She/He is one of HIS”. Wow.
Humbled yet, so thankful for His presence that He would share it with us,
c
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