Dec

 

Wishing you all the happiest and healthiest new year.  Stay safe and I’ll see you Sunday!

Dec

 

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

 

The good news of great joy that we read about in Luke 2 is the same for us today as it was for those shepherds some 2,000 years ago.  Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, has come to earth for us.  Emmanuel…God with us.  Everyone that night, and everyone since, that met Jesus has been forever changed by Him.

 

I spent some time today reminding myself just what it is that we (Cedar Creek Church) are doing in this multi-site endeavor.  As clearly and concisely as I could, I boiled it down.

 

We are multiplying the CHURCH just as we have always multiplied H.O.M.E. groups.

We are helping more people find their way back to God.

We park cars … we greet with a smile … we offer a cup of coffee … we help someone find a seat … get their child signed into an age appropriate worship experience … we lead in worship … we pray with those who need us to …

 

Everything and everybody plays a role and has a part.  We are creating an environment where people can come, unchurched people, and feel comfortable as they hear a life-applicable message that will, we pray, help them meet Jesus.  When they do, their lives will be changed … transformed really … and they will never be the same.  It is our hope that they will encounter the God who made them and loves them like they never have before.

 

I heard this story just the other day … a traveler saw two men cutting stone from a mountainside and placing the blocks on carts.  He asked them, “What are you doing there?”  One said, “We are cutting stone and placing it on these carts.”  The other gave the traveler an understanding look and said, “We’re building a church.”

 

Whether parking cars, saying hello, teaching kids, leading worship, pouring coffee or seating people…we are helping people find their way back to God.

Dec

 

 

 

Well, what can I say.  Today was amazing.  We started out at 8:00am loading every piece of equipment that we’ve purchased into a rental truck and hauled it over to the USCA Convocation Center.

 

We set it up.  We worshipped.  We broke it down and put it away.

 

I am most proud of the way that our launch team showed up, took control of every thing that needed to be done and made it happen.  No fights…no harsh words…just pure UNITY and servanthood.  As tonight’s service, our third “Launch Team” meeting played out, I was completely overwhelmed at the thought of God’s faithfulness in every aspect of my life.  Today was the first day in a long time that I did not feel like I was in a fog.  I woke this morning focused and with purpose.  My mind was clear and I did not worry about a thing today.  Sure, my stomach was torn up…but that’s just me.

 

Thanks to all who gave of their day today, or part of their day, to make tonight’s meeting a success.  As we were leaving Phillip caught me and said, “You guys could start tomorrow.”  His point was that, while there were a few minor blips to work out, we had church tonight in a basketball gym!  What God has called us to do on the west side of town, we did tonight.  This is the first step in the journey of reaching the unchurched in that area and helping people find their way back to God.

 

It is an amazing opportunity that lies before us.  I thank God for the call and the opportunity to be serving along side of such an amazing group of servants.  Today and tonight, you represented Jesus well.  I pray that in your heart you can hear Him say, “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Dec

 

 

Here is the scenario:  it’s 4 a.m. and the alarm clock barely starts to ring when I jump out of bed, shut off the alarm and start collecting my camo clothes, my gun and all that I will need for a day of hunting.  Doesn’t matter what season it is…deer, quail, turkey or whatever.  I can do this no matter how much or how little sleep I’ve had the night before.  Recently, I laid down at 1:00 a.m. and still jumped out of bed “bright eyed and bushy tailed” at 4:15 a.m.

 

Now…here’s the weekday scenario:  it’s 5:30 a.m. and the alarm is going off. I have laid down the night before asking God to help me get out of bed so that I might spend some time with Him, in His word and in his presence.  I want to begin my day being faithful to the little things that really matter like honoring the Lord with the first waking moments of my day.  Instead of responding to the alarm like I do when it’s hunting season (or fishing for that matter) I hit the snooze button and roll back over.  Sometimes more than once.  This happens way more often than I am comfortable admitting.   What is up with that?

 

Could it be that hunting or fishing or “Black Friday” shopping (insert whatever drives you to get out of bed early) means more to me than time alone with God?  Do I desire time spent pursuing these pasttimes more than I desire reading the word of God and talking to Him?  Oh, you may say (like I have) that time alone in God’s creation, enjoying the great outdoors, is a way of spending time with Him.  A way to worship Him and marvel at all He has created.  And it is.  But far too often, at least for me, getting away to hunt or fish is more about doing what I want to do.

 

I have asked the Lord to give me a heart that desires Him more than anything.  I want to jump out of bed to spend daily quiet time with Him with the same excitement that I do when it’s time to go hunting.  I want to pursue the Lord and my relationship with Him with that same passion.

 

Now, don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying that hunting or fishing or spending time in your hobby is a bad thing.  The question is this, “How much time do you spend doing what you want to do, as opposed to time spent asking God what he wants you to do?”

 

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus said “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

 

What are you being filled by?

 

I’m goin’ huntin’…for Jesus!