Sunday Reflections....on Monday

Running a day behind in my weekly reflections, so without further adieu...

• Tailgate party on Friday night was a huge success! Had about 60 people turn out for great food, fire & fun!
• Another visit from good Florida friends-Jennifer Chamberlain & Mariah Dennis-always does me good to see friends who remain friends across the miles
• The weather took a turn here in Georgia-cold and rainy and I enjoyed the change
• We were able to have a fire in our fireplace here-looking forward to more of that!
• It is an immense pleasure to worship here at Northridge each week-God is certainly moving!
• Mike's message was dead on-don't live in fear, but have joy in God!
• Who knew Mike was afraid of horses?  Go figure.
• The video clip from Matt Chandler (pastor at The Village Church) was beautiful each service-I've actually seen it at least 1/2 a dozen times & it is powerful each time.
• Being part of this team here is such a sign of God's great plan for all of our lives if we will just be obedient enough to follow
• The generosity of people here continues to blow me away-someone anonymously gave our children's director & her family a brand new oven that they have needed for over a year
• A lazy evening laying around with my wife is the perfect ending to a busy weekend-never gets old!

If It Makes You Happy

Isn't it an interesting little paradox that many of the people walking around in this world that have this great hope in Christ actually act the most miserable? I've often thought it ironic when we profess this confidence in Christ and in God's plan for our lives and yet don't act as if we believe it to be true. Every time I hear Sheryl Crow's old song it rings true-"if it makes you happy, why the heck are you so sad" (edited here for children's sake).

If we truly believe that our souls are saved and that we need to share that truth with others in the world, we should probably share the joy that comes with it.  Having that peace that Jesus describes means maintaining our attitude through good & bad times-that we are consistent in our joy. Kind of hard to convince others of the right way of life if we don't act like we believe it either. 

"Rejoice. And again I say-rejoice." Philippians 4:4

God With Us

Who are we--- that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see--- that's worth looking our way?

We are free--- in ways that we never should be.

Sweet release--- from the grip of these chains.

Like hinges straining from the weight,

My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries

For You alone be glorified:

Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.

The debt is paid, these chains are gone.

Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, You know--- our hearts don't deserve Your glory;

Still You show--- a love we cannot afford.

Like hinges straining from the weight,

My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries

For You alone be glorified:

Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.

The debt is paid, these chains are gone.

Emmanuel, God with us.

Such a tiny offering

Compared to Calvary;

Nevertheless,

We lay it at Your feet.

All that is within me cries

For You alone be glorified:

Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.

My debt is paid, these chains are gone.

Emmanuel, God with us.

Big Prayers

I am praying big prayers this morning & want to continue to do the same each day.  It is easy to fall into the pedestrian trap of simple prayers with easy answers, but that is not the faith that God is calling us to have.  I see the need for the mighty hand of God to be upon us and for us to lift up petitions to Him that when answered, will surely show how incredible He truly is.  Some of my prayers are for my personal life & many are for ministry here at Northridge.  I know that I am incapable of answering them on my own & I trust that my God is faithful to hear me and to provide the answer.  Here is a brief list of the things that I am praying for:

• My children to grow up into godly women who are passionately in love with Christ
• For me to be the Christian husband that my wife needs for her own spiritual development
• For my relatives to discover Christ through whatever means necessary so that they too can know what it means to live with Him and for Him
• For us to be rid of a house in Florida so that it no longer hangs over our heads
• A youth ministry at Northridge that is bigger than we could ever dream about
• A youth ministry that has a reputation of being genuinely & passionately in love with Christ
• A youth ministry that brings their friends to Jesus through their open & transparent relationship with Him
• A church that understands it is not about us-it is about the King of Kings and His calling & mission for our lives
• A church that continues to grow quickly-not just in attendance & numbers of decisions, but in depth of spiritual relationship with God
• A church staff to increase with the right mix of talents & gifts to see God's great work done here in Baldwin County
• A revival to take place that puts Baldwin County on the map as a place that belongs to God.

For any of these to happen I know that I (we) need to commit ourselves to prayer.  The efforts of men will only carry so far, but with the power of God nothing is impossible.  Show us, Father, things that will rock our world and blow our imaginations!

Sunday Reflections

Alright-I truly have to get better at blogging my thoughts throughout the week and not just relying on the Sunday tradition.  Having said that-here goes:

• Weather has turned deliciously cool here-woke to 26 degrees this morning!
• Got another visit from Florida friends-Cody Davidson & buddies stopped by on their way to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game-I'm very proud of the godly man that he has become!
• Thoroughly enjoyed the staff Christmas party at the Waers house-what a great family to be part of!
• Celebrating Advent as a church is a great reflection on some of the traditions of Christmas
• Mike flat out brought it in teaching about love this morning-way to challenge a church let go of prejudices!
• I love it when we can start or end a service with a baptism-lots of young people committing their lives to Christ
• Had our first team meeting for the Arizona mission trip-23 excited people preparing to head out in to the mission field-many of them for the very first time-I know God is going to do great things through this group
• My oldest daughter is growing up far too quickly (they all are) and finding her place here in the youth at Northridge
• I am so blessed to have an incredible wife & daughters-much better than I deserve

Sunday Reflections-Thankgiving Style

Been a busy week with Thanksgiving so I'll cheat a little bit and throw some of that in there too:

• Traveled to Nashville, TN to spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws-first time we were close enough to do that
• The trip to Nashville is only about 5 hours from our house, but with traffic took 6 1/2.  'Nuff said.
• My mom & stepfather made it up for their first visit on Saturday-long drive from Fort Pierce for the
• With my family in town we had our 2nd Thanksgiving dinner-this time at our place-I seriously have to lose some weight
• Set up our Christmas tree today-made my wife & children very happy!
• It is always an honor to speak God's Word whether it is for the adult worship services or for youth-today was no exception
• We are celebrating Advent as a church & also as a family-it is a tradition we have observed as a family for several years now
• The message of hope from Isaiah 9 is one that I need to be reminded of daily & I pray that people at Northridge heard that from God today
• What a great worship set this morning-we have truly gifted worship leaders able to adjust on the fly!
• It is always an incredible blessing to start a service with a baptism-especially one of our youth stepping forward to commit her life to Christ!
• God is doing an incredible work here in Milledgeville-praying that we don't do anything to disrupt what He is doing!

Thankful

Not my normal nature to be cliche, but here is the list of things I am thankful for:

• A God that loves me in spite of my many faults & wants me to be with Him
• My best friend & wife-my life wouldn't be the same without her beside me
• Three incredibly beautiful & gifted daughters-my heart fills with love every time I think of them
• A family (mom, step-father, sisters, brothers, in-laws) who simply love me for me
• Northridge Christian Church accepting us so quickly and pushing forward together as a team to reach the lost in Milledgeville
• Friends from Florida that still love us across the miles & regardless of recent circumstances
• A beautiful home to help ease the transition to a new life
• Fond memories of family that are no longer with us-grandparents & parents that have helped to shape me into who I am today
• A God that promises not to waste any hurts that we have experienced, but to instead turn it into something powerful for Him
• Good food to celebrate a day of thanks