Change is hard. Positive change is just as hard as negative change. Sometimes it’s easier to stay stuck than to move forward. Often it’s more comfortable to stick with something that’s tolerable and familiar than to embrace something that’s preferable and unknown.
I don’t want to stay stuck. I don’t want the storyline of my faith to be eclipsed by a shift I was unwilling to make.
If you’re feeling stuck, as I so often do, here’s a prayer to pray today…
God, help me move forward at the speed of your direction and intention, no matter how painful the transition may be.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Israel's Only Savior
Fear establishes the limits of your life.
This morning I was reading Isaiah 43. I’ve got a personal situation right now that scares me to death and it was so applicable. I know the right thing to do, but I simply fear the ramifications of stepping out in faith and doing it. I’m somewhat paralyzed by my fear but this verse brought me so much comfort.
I’m hoping you’ll do more than just go through this passage. Let this passage go through you. Read it a few times and let this beautiful promise sink deep into your heart.
Israel’s Only Savior
This morning I was reading Isaiah 43. I’ve got a personal situation right now that scares me to death and it was so applicable. I know the right thing to do, but I simply fear the ramifications of stepping out in faith and doing it. I’m somewhat paralyzed by my fear but this verse brought me so much comfort.
I’m hoping you’ll do more than just go through this passage. Let this passage go through you. Read it a few times and let this beautiful promise sink deep into your heart.
Israel’s Only Savior
But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, Jacob,he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:1-2
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
I Don't Want To Forget...
As I sit in my office on the last day of 2011 preparing for our last worship experience of the year I find my self thinking about things from this year and years past that I don't want to forget...
I think one of the greatest mistakes that a leader can make is to forget what God has done for you. To forget where you were when God rescued you and how far He has brought you. Pride and arrogance often come as a result of a leader believing they have done some really great things all by themselves…which is why it is good for us to reflect on God’s faithfulness.
For example…I have never forgotten…
- Where I was when He saved me. Even though I had grown up around church, I was so far from Him…and yet He chose to save me anyway.
- Where I was when I preached my first “sermon” to a group of teenagers in a back room in my home church.
- The first church where He allowed me to serve as a staff member (youth pastor and business administrator). I am thankful for that church and their believing in me and what we were diong there.
- The opportunities that I had to sit under Godly leadership and learn that ministry was so much more than just preaching to people but loving them as well.
- Where I was when God called me to lead and start NewLife…I had never been a pastor before and was scared out of my mind.
- Standing up in front of our church and telling them that we were being sued by a Christian denomination who was trying to take our church from us.
- God's provision throughout that entire law suit and God's favor in it coming to a close at the end of 2007.
- Making the risk to ask our church to step up and give so that we could update our current facility and watching how God showed up big time in what was given over the course of the next two years.
I could go on and on…but you get the point. Whenever I am tempted to doubt God’s faithfulness in my current circumstances I simply have to remind myself to stop and look at all He has done in the past and know that I am not where I am (and our church is not where it is) because I am a really smart person who has it all figured out…but rather because God is so good and kind and He still uses “unschooled, ordinary men” for His glory (see Acts 4:13!)
Looking forward to the next steps God is calling us to take as a church and all that 2012 has to bring.
I think one of the greatest mistakes that a leader can make is to forget what God has done for you. To forget where you were when God rescued you and how far He has brought you. Pride and arrogance often come as a result of a leader believing they have done some really great things all by themselves…which is why it is good for us to reflect on God’s faithfulness.
For example…I have never forgotten…
- Where I was when He saved me. Even though I had grown up around church, I was so far from Him…and yet He chose to save me anyway.
- Where I was when I preached my first “sermon” to a group of teenagers in a back room in my home church.
- The first church where He allowed me to serve as a staff member (youth pastor and business administrator). I am thankful for that church and their believing in me and what we were diong there.
- The opportunities that I had to sit under Godly leadership and learn that ministry was so much more than just preaching to people but loving them as well.
- Where I was when God called me to lead and start NewLife…I had never been a pastor before and was scared out of my mind.
- Standing up in front of our church and telling them that we were being sued by a Christian denomination who was trying to take our church from us.
- God's provision throughout that entire law suit and God's favor in it coming to a close at the end of 2007.
- Making the risk to ask our church to step up and give so that we could update our current facility and watching how God showed up big time in what was given over the course of the next two years.
I could go on and on…but you get the point. Whenever I am tempted to doubt God’s faithfulness in my current circumstances I simply have to remind myself to stop and look at all He has done in the past and know that I am not where I am (and our church is not where it is) because I am a really smart person who has it all figured out…but rather because God is so good and kind and He still uses “unschooled, ordinary men” for His glory (see Acts 4:13!)
Looking forward to the next steps God is calling us to take as a church and all that 2012 has to bring.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Christmas Eve's Eve - 7pm
Dear Friends,
Christmas is here! And as we all look forward to connecting with family and friends, we are reminded once more of the power of this season. Because at Christmas, God captured our hearts, minds and imagination through the gift of Jesus Christ. And now you and I have an opportunity to help others discover the power of that gift as well.
As you go through your day, look for opportunities to invite others to experience the presence, power and potential of a connection with Christ. And bring them with you to NewLife as we experience Christmas once again.
I cannot wait to see all that God is going to do!
Merry Christmas,
Brandon
Christmas is here! And as we all look forward to connecting with family and friends, we are reminded once more of the power of this season. Because at Christmas, God captured our hearts, minds and imagination through the gift of Jesus Christ. And now you and I have an opportunity to help others discover the power of that gift as well.
As you go through your day, look for opportunities to invite others to experience the presence, power and potential of a connection with Christ. And bring them with you to NewLife as we experience Christmas once again.
I cannot wait to see all that God is going to do!
Merry Christmas,
Brandon
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Blessed Life
We wrapped up a 4 week series on The Blessed Life this past Sunday at NewLife.
Here's my final take before we start a new series this week.
· God wants His children to be blessed financially (II Corinthians 9:6-15) so that we can be a blessing to others!
· Until God is first, our finances are cursed. (Malachi 3:6-11) (Not my words...read it for yourself.)
· Years ago Terica and I made the decision to put God first in our finances because we didn’t want to be the people who believed the verses in the Bible about salvation but not the ones about giving.
· Money is the #1 thing that holds most people back from walking with Jesus, He said it is the #1 competitor for our hearts (Matthew 6:24) and that until our treasure goes to Him then He doesn’t have our hearts (Matthew 6:19-21).
· We cannot follow Jesus and handle money irresponsibly!
· I CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD (Proverbs 3:9-10!)
· It is God who saved us, has blessed us and is always faithful to us…with this in mind how in the world can we stand in the shadow of a blood stained cross and bellyache about giving 10% of what HE ALLOWED US to earn in the first place (Deuteronomy 8:18)
My challenges to our church through this series are…
· Begin To Tithe (and…as I said before, if you think this is about NewLife getting your money then I invite you to pick a random church in the yellow pages and tithe to them. I don’t want something FROM you, I want something FOR YOU. God said to test Him…so go for it!
· We are offering a money back guarantee! Check it out HERE.
· Choose Generosity Over Greed – Keep this in mind, GREED WILL KILL the work that God wants to do in and through you (see Joshua 7 and Acts 5!) Generous people change the world!!! AND…Jesus modeled generosity, not greed (see II Corinthians 9:15)
Let me also say this...I want to give a HUGE “thank you” to all of our faithful givers at NewLife. Over and over again we’ve seen people step up and “put God to the test” (Malachi 3:10) in this area…and because of the amazing generosity from the people here we've been able to see lives impacted and hearts changed.
Here's my final take before we start a new series this week.
· God wants His children to be blessed financially (II Corinthians 9:6-15) so that we can be a blessing to others!
· Until God is first, our finances are cursed. (Malachi 3:6-11) (Not my words...read it for yourself.)
· Years ago Terica and I made the decision to put God first in our finances because we didn’t want to be the people who believed the verses in the Bible about salvation but not the ones about giving.
· Money is the #1 thing that holds most people back from walking with Jesus, He said it is the #1 competitor for our hearts (Matthew 6:24) and that until our treasure goes to Him then He doesn’t have our hearts (Matthew 6:19-21).
· We cannot follow Jesus and handle money irresponsibly!
· I CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD (Proverbs 3:9-10!)
· It is God who saved us, has blessed us and is always faithful to us…with this in mind how in the world can we stand in the shadow of a blood stained cross and bellyache about giving 10% of what HE ALLOWED US to earn in the first place (Deuteronomy 8:18)
My challenges to our church through this series are…
· Begin To Tithe (and…as I said before, if you think this is about NewLife getting your money then I invite you to pick a random church in the yellow pages and tithe to them. I don’t want something FROM you, I want something FOR YOU. God said to test Him…so go for it!
· We are offering a money back guarantee! Check it out HERE.
· Choose Generosity Over Greed – Keep this in mind, GREED WILL KILL the work that God wants to do in and through you (see Joshua 7 and Acts 5!) Generous people change the world!!! AND…Jesus modeled generosity, not greed (see II Corinthians 9:15)
Let me also say this...I want to give a HUGE “thank you” to all of our faithful givers at NewLife. Over and over again we’ve seen people step up and “put God to the test” (Malachi 3:10) in this area…and because of the amazing generosity from the people here we've been able to see lives impacted and hearts changed.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Another Year
Happy Birthday Terica...
With every year you become more and more beautiful both inside and out.
I love you!
With every year you become more and more beautiful both inside and out.
I love you!
