FROM THE MOUTH OF BABES

I thought this was very funny. I'm not sure if I laughed out loud because I'm a pastor or a parent.



Have a great day!

Working out can be tiresome, and for me it's NOT what I live for everyday. I know, some of you love working out. It makes you feel good, gives you an adrenaline rush and you get incredible results. However, some people like me question..."Is it worth it?" We look at ourselves and we don't see any major changes in how we look. Our body aches in way too many places and can you believe no one hasn't even noticed that we lost 5 lbs. Well, of course not. It takes several of those 5 lbs to began to make changes in our bodies.

Isn't that the same question we ask spiritually, "Is it worth it?" I don't see any major changes in my spiritual life. No one has even noticed that I'm trying so hard to live right. My pain seems to be increasing instead of decreasing. Why am I having so many problems. But the truth is, things are changing and you are growing spiritual. You just haven't been able to see it yet. You may be only growing 1-5 lbs spritually at a time, but your are GROWING and the results will eventually be seen.

Bottom line...don't stop working out physcially and spiritually. The results are coming. Just continue to do your part and TRY to be patient. Here's the scripture for today.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

We began Oneprayer at church yesterday. It's absolutely amazing to think that 1747 churches and 966, 477 believers have partnered together through Oneprayer. It's going to be exciting to see the results of the CHURCH standing together to advance His kingdom.

Jesus prayed in John 17 to make his disciples ONE. What could truly happen if we, the church, prayed that same prayer? There is such power that comes through unity. If there is any thing the church needs today, one of them certainly should be a demonstration of His divine power working in our lives.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (2 Peter 1:3-4).

May His divine power be evident in your life this week as you join your hearts with believers all across this great nation. Also, may those "precious and very great promises" become a part of your daily experience as you walk close to Him.

Steps

A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?” Proverbs 20:24 NIV

Lately, I have been busy with our leadership making plans for the future of our church. Some of our goals are very audacious, yet achievable. The way to achieve larger, more complex goals comes down to taking the right steps. One of the reasons many people do not achieve what they want in life is because they never get started. The way to achieve larger goals is to break them down into doable steps on a daily or week-by-week basis. That's exactly what we have been doing in our leadership meetings. Here's the goal, here's the necessary steps, let's begin with step one. We are now starting to walk toward our goals.

I think these principles apply in our own personal lives as well. I've been trying to lose some weight. I've decided to do this because my son, who is 6'2" can now over power me in basketball (I'm only 5'8") My only advantage is my speed. The extra weight has slowed my speed down, thus the reason for losing it. I've started taking small steps...no more diet cokes (that's hard!), no sweets for a while (even harder), and no chocolate candy (the hardest). The results...so far about 15lbs.

Have you ordered your steps lately or are you simply avoiding getting started? Large goals should not intimidate you…they should challenge you to become disciplined to put the right priorities and actions in place to make your goals not only achievable, but virtually inevitable. Got big goals? Think “steps.”

Starting is Easy

I don't know about you, but I have enthusiasm for starting new projects and making needed changes, but I don't always finish strong. Have you noticed it's always easy to start something new, but often harder to complete it. For example, it's easy to start the remodeling, it's easy to start the diet, it's easy to make promises, it's easy to eat right the first day, it's easy to say, "I'm gonna change." How many time have we started with good, even great intentions?

Proverbs 12:27 "The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions."

You’ve got to give the lazy guy in this Proverb a little credit. At least he took the initiative and went hunting. He even killed something in the process. But apparently, he stopped short. What good is it to kill an animal if you’re not going to cook it and eat it?

Many of us succeed in obtaining information and knowledge, but we fail in applying and utilizing it. In other words, it's easy to make the kill but we don’t roast our game.

What good is it to attend another class if you’re not going to make any changes based on the wisdom you collect? It's easy to collect information, but difficult to apply it.

What good is it to read the Bible or hear a sermon if you’re just going to let it sit in the same notebook as the last sermon you heard and did nothing about? It's easy to nod your head and perhaps give an appropriate amen, but it's hard to make the application.

What good is it to ask for advice from a trusted friend if you’re not willing to put it into practice unless, of course, she gives you the advice that lines up with the decision you already determined to make anyway? It's easy to agree with those who agree with you, but it's harder to choose your on path.

The real test of character is in becoming a finisher. Is there something you have started over and over and have never completed? What good is making the kill if you’re not willing to roast your game?