Exciting Weeks Ahead…Can You See It?

Sometimes we get shortsighted. Sometimes, as the saying goes, “we can’t see the forest for the trees.” I pray you join me in “seeing” the blessing of the Lord that is here and that is coming! Exciting weeks are ahead of us…do you see?

“…a man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7).

I have the honor of working with our baptism candidates and I’m presently working with 7 of them. What a joy! Celebrate each week of baptism with us! Sing praise! Clap!

Aug. 9^th – Stephen Atkinson rejoins us for a day of outstanding preaching from an Irishman who is passionate about reaching the Jews for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Aug. 16^th – Southern Gospel Day; a new favorite Sunday of ours where we celebrate our Lord through the performing of our favorite gospel tunes; our members are talented!

Aug. 19^th – 40 Days of Devotion starts. Pray for Ingathering!

Aug. 23^rd – Youth Led Revival Sunday. Our outstanding youth leaders will inspire us. Pray!

Aug. 30^th – Back to Church Sunday. I’m excited to invite people back to church. Together, and through the blessing of invitation, we will see faces we haven’t seen in a while and rejoice together as we all get back in the swing of serving the Lord together in preparation for a strong end to our 2015 year!

YOUTH CAMP MEMORIES

I will be at the Power Plus Youth Camp this whole week with about 30 of our wonderful youth and courageous youth sponsors! I’m excited! I’m praying the LORD moves powerful upon us and sets all of our hearts on fire for His purposes, for His mission. I’m praying we all walk away fully realizing life isn’t about glory or pleasure for me, but instead glory and honor to Jesus! Pray with me! Pray for them! May the glory of the LORD fall on them all this week!

My experiences at Youth Camp as a teenager were tremendous and God changed my life each and every time. At camp I dedicated an entire week to seeking after Him earnestly. Youth Camp gives kids this opportunity, and if they take it seriously, they will never be the same. Why was it so powerful for me and life changing? Here is what I believe:

1. Teenagers are tired of playing religious games. They want it to be real or they want to walk away from it to find something that is real. They have an incredible need to be led, to be challenged, and to see for themselves the love and power of God. That was me years ago too, and it is the same for today’s teens as well.

2.  The principle of “seeking God earnestly” (Jeremiah 29:13) is never more intense for them than at Youth Camp. We live such busy lives that on an average day most Christians simply give God their leftover time…not quality time. There is no power there. But the power of God falls on us when we seek Him earnestly, and that takes time. Youth Camp provides that time. I still remember those moments when I heard from God and felt His presence at Youth Camp! It was just “wow!”

Dignity & Respect for All

Everyone says they respect all people, but when it comes down to it is common for us to hold prejudices against others. We hate to admit it…but it is true.

Why are Sunday morning church services still some of the most segregated meetings in America? We divide ourselves along racial lines and socioeconomic lines in every city in America.

Heaven will not be divided this way.

I've always dreamed of church being a little taste of heaven every time we get together. I've always dreamed that a church should look like the community that it serves, thus, if our community is diverse, so should our church houses be. Is that a pipe-dream? I don’t think so. In fact, the churches that fail to dream that dream are the churches that lose influence in a changing community year by year…until they are irrelevant.

The Bible teaches us that all human life is sacred and that the dignity of a person is paramount. That principle is grounded in the biblical truth that each person is made in the image and likeness of God. Furthermore, Jesus spent His earthly ministry teaching His disciples to love the outcasts and to give dignity to the “least of these.” In fact, hanging out with the outcast was one of His primary evangelistic strategies.

Each person on the earth is precious in God’s sight…He loves them…and sent Jesus to die for them so that they may live eternally with Him. We must see this God’s way. We must believe God’s will on this. We must!

What if we disappeared?

The Great Commandment to love God and love people is a powerful and foundational statement from Jesus. 

If the people of God faithfully obey this Great Commandment the unchurched in our communities will take notice. Loving God with ALL our heart, and loving others as profoundly as we love ourselves…yes…that makes a powerful statement in a community.

Church congregations see themselves as placed by God into particular communities. Our Pearland churches worship together, learn and serve together, and try to teach others to be more like Jesus. But, what if we disappeared? What if Shadycrest disappeared?

If we disappeared, would our community miss us? If we disappeared, would our community grieve? Would they feel a deep loss? These are good and profound questions to ask. The Great Commandment from our Lord Jesus Christ, upon which “all of the Law and the Prophets hangs,” compels us to ask such questions.

I wish to challenge you this week to pray about loving your neighbors. I want to challenge us all to dig deep and evaluate where we are with this profound command to love our neighbors. I want to continually challenge us to identify those in our personal sphere of influence whom God is inviting us to reach. Truly, we might be the only Jesus some will ever meet. God is moving!

Will you let Him move in you?