I want everyone who reads my blog to watch this sermon... it was truely amazing!!
Series Info:
"We love to see lives changed by Jesus, whether it’s happening here at Elevation or anywhere else. This series we’re partnering with other churches across the city to show what a move of God looks like under a unified vision – what it looks like when the Church comes together. Because when the Church stands together, it's unstoppable."
We had another great guest Pastor this Sunday. From Renovatus Church here in Charlotte, Pastor Jonathan Martin.
These are my notes and some of them may not make sense but they are things I thought was important of something I wanted to look into further.
He talked about The Christ Haunted South and how "we" southerners are in your face about Christ.
Mistakes were Made and we are so bad at owning up to them.
Butt Prints in the Sand : Author Unknown
One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there were seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
"But Lord they are too big for feet."
"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you along.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."
"You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt."
"Because in life, there comes a time,
when one must fight, and one must climb.
When one must rise and take a stand,
or leave their butt prints in the sand."
Psalm 106 vs. 24 (NSRV)
Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.
1. God's idea of "pleasant land" might be different than yours
2. the land does not have to be challenge-free or conflict-free in order for it to be "pleasant"
* if it is good land it will be worth fighting for.
* do you wish sometimes there was a "reset" button
* every time God brings you through one conflict there will be another one on the other side
of the mountain. but if you have the hand of God you can get through it.
3. just because you work (or grumble) against God's purposes out of fear and not out of malice doesn't mean it's not disobedience.
* if you have yet to learn how to be grateful there is no way we can move forward.
* there is no chance of scenery that can change that
* to allow the Holy Spirit to change us
* eyes can be open to see that Jesus is working in that mundane thing
* to be able to see that God is working already working
* what we need is the perspective to see how God is already working.... learning how to live
out of a place of gratitude... the hard tangible grace of God already working in your life.
* look at those who God has sent you to bless your life
4. Wherever God leads you and has His hand on you - the land can be pleasant!!
Proverbs 3; 5 & 6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Question from God : Do you TRUST me?
drop all the FEAR!!
I trust you!
I trust that you know what is good for ME!
if the hand of God is on you - then HE will lead you to the good and pleasant land!!
He challenged us to make a list of 30 things that we are grateful for and then pray through that list every day. I will post later on my 30 things :)
To Sum it all UP!!
for me this was a great message because I think (we all) I struggle with faith... truly trusting that he has my best interests at heart. Sometimes i go about my day routine with out stopping to listing to what God is saying to me.
It was very difficult for me when I lost my job, not only because of the financial issues that it created, but because i felt that my job defined me! crazy huh!! but it was the one thing in my life that i felt truly good at, truly passionate about and I really really loved doing. I took me 16 months for me to realize that God had bigger plans for me. And i still don't understand fully what he wants of me but it's just like Proverbs 3 vs 5 says Trust in the LORD with all your heart and learn not on your own understanding. and i'm human... that's HARD, i want to be in control!! i need to be in control, i don't like not knowing what's going to happen next... it's darn SCARY!! and that was part of what i was depressed about, the unknown! it was holding me back. so my first step as you may have read about it in my Back At It post on April 19, was letting go....
-of my past
-of my mom
-of the fact that i'm not super mom, i can't do it all... the laundry, dishes and house may not be done and perfect all the time
-of the things i can't control : our financial situation, lack of a job, my husband, my children...
and letting go has been the most rewarding thing i've ever done... the stress is gone (on most days) i feel a weight has been lifted off my my chest and i can BREATH again!
It's a new ME, and new perspective and a NEW ADVENTURE!! and for the first time in my entire life i'm excited about the future and God's plans for me!
so YEAH me!!
