You Would Be An Idiot IF:
- you throw mud on the “Bride of Christ”
- you didn’t risk it all like Esther
- you know to do right and don’t do it
- you eat any kind of squash
- you say one thing and do another
- you spot the speck in someone else’s eye while missing the telephone pole in yours
- you don’t think that underdog is the coolest superhero ever
- you always judge a book by it’s cover
- you choose to live outside of God’s will
- you let your flesh trump your spirit
In Acts 4:13 the bible says of Peter and John, “When they (Sanhedrin) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled and ordinary men (IDIOTS), they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus”.
There is a right kind of idiot and a wrong kind. The one’s that God will use are those who are risk taking, insecure, pain enduring IDIOTS! The right kind of idiot can be “dangerous” in the hands of God. If you will simply spend time with Jesus, you can be an Idiot.
God Size Dreams
While on a recent missions trip to Mexico, I was walking around the town square one evening. I notice this crowd gathered around this one guy. When I got to him I could see that he was painting. What was unusual was that he was using just spray paint. The above picture was painted in about 5 minutes. When I showed it to one of the artist in my church he said, “In order to do that you have to see it first”. Wow, what a profound statement. That is so true in life. Anything that has ever been accomplished started with a dream. Some one who had the ability to see in advance. So keep dreaming. Dreams are what birth great accomplishments.
Generosity Rules 2
This morning in our worship experience I asked every one to share their story of how God has blessed them as a direct result of being faithful in the area of tithes and offerings. So take a few moments to comment on what God is doing in your life. Click on comment and share.
Finish What You Start
I’d like to hear from you. What are some of the things that you do that helps you to finish what you start? All too often we serve the religion of good intentions. We get a great idea, it even gets off the ground, but we never follow through to it’s completion. I’ve heard it called willingness without performance. Phil 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ”. So here’s your chance. What helps you to follow through?
Generosity Rules
The bible says that if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. There are some basic rules that apply to giving. Generosity begins when we go beyond what is expected of us (the tithe) and move into a Hole Notha Level. To often we allow our standard of living to determine our standard of giving. We will adjust our lifestyle in order to live the way we want but not to give the way we should. What if we were to allow our standard of giving to determine our standard of living.
First Of Ten
I have been challenged this week with the thought, “does God get my best?” I know I work hard and that I am driven to be a Kingdom Builder, but, does he get my best? One of the most important principles in the bible is that of the first fruits. We are to give back to God What is His. Actually it’s all His, He just requires 10%. How often do you see this in the word? It is a principle that goes beyond money and directly to your heart. God is not after our money, but He does want your whole heart. Matthew 6:24 tells us that you cannot serve God and money. Adam and Eve had everything in the garden but weren’t satisfied with that, they had to go ahead and take what was God’s. They ate the first fruit. They consumed God’s best for themselves in hopes of something better and instead found themselves cursed. What are we doing with God’s best? Are we giving Him the “First Of Ten?” Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
Make It Happen
My motto has always been, Go Big Or Go Home! I’m not one for just sitting around talking about big dreams and what we can do. I want to get on the field of play and make it happen. Last night as I was watching TV, I saw a commercial from the Royal Bank of Scotland with some workers sitting around a table while one of their co-workers is chocking to death. What caught my attention is that while their friend is chocking, all they do is talk about what needs to be done to help him. As they are talking someone from another table walks over and performs the Heimlich maneuver and saves his life. The message is simple, talk is no substitute for action, make it happen!!
What is God waiting for us to do while we are simply still talking about it? We are to be doers of the word and not just hearers. We dream big dreams that sometimes turn into nightmares because we lack the drive to see it through. We don’t take the risk because we fear the possibility of failure. But the truth is, the path to success is littered with failure. There is no reward without risk. So go big, make it happen.
Phil. 4:13 says that we can do all things through Christ who provides us with the resources (strength). What are you waiting on? What’s holding you back?
As I dream about what God has in store for my life and for Shore Fellowship Church I get fired up. I see SFC with multiple campuses reaching the masses of people for Christ. The last thing I want to see happen is that it only becomes a pipe dream and never comes true because we never move past the stage of talking about it. So look out Vineland/Millville and look out Atlantic City, because here we come.
Pass Go And Collect $200
If you remember the game of Monopoly, it was all about buying everything you could get your hands on so you could stick it to people who landed on your property. If you could accumulate enough property you had a great chance to win. In John Ortberg’s new book, When The Game Is Over, he reminds us that when the game is over it all goes back in the box. Every piece of property we have, every car we own, all of our worldly possessions, go right back in the box (casket), and we can’t take any of it with us. So be careful what you’re storing up for. Great read so check it out.
A Time To Be A Donkey
When I was in High School I was introduced to the donkey for the first time in my life, while playing a game of Donkey Basketball. They must be the most worthless animal ever created. They are stubborn, stupid, and to say the least smell pretty bad.
That’s What You Call A Grand Slam!!
Our 1st Shore fx (family experience) was flat out what you call a win. We were able to minister to many families in our community in a new and refreshing way. The energy blew the roof off and families left the place encouraged.
