Sent

I sit in a coffee shop this morning thinking about the fact that school is about to start.

 

When I shake the trees of my mind to see what memories fall to the ground I find that it is quite a mixed bag.

 

I remember my first crush.  Not what she looked like or her name or anything about her.  I just remember having a crush on someone in grade school.

 

I remember my favorite teachers and the ones who parachuted down from Mars in time for the first day of school and remained on our planet for the whole school year.  I know they were from another planet because entry into our atmosphere burned the expression of their face in a constant frown, and God told me that they were required to leave their personality on Mars when they left.

 

I remember the different levels of humanity that Jr. and Sr. High divided people into.

 

I mourn over the things I said that should not have been said.

 

I thank God for the times He protected me and guided me.

 

I grin over the pranks that….

 

I'm thinking about the schools in our area that are about to start.  I'm praying that this year would be different.

 

I'm thinking about the number of teachers who have faith in Christ that live life in front of students and praying that the Author of truth would show up in the topic they teach.

 

I'm thinking about the number of students that find their way into Bible believing churches every weekend and then enter the sea of potential compromise each weekday.

 

I'm thinking this year we need to get involved as a church.  We need to send them to school in the name and power of Christ.  Not so they would be a Bible thumping- annoying-arguing-religious walking billboard, but that they would be Jesus.

 

I am excited about the role we are going to fill this year as a church - senders.  Watch for information on the September 7th event.  Students and teachers need to be there with the people who believe in prayer and witness the miracle of God's call.

 

Excited to Send,

 

Pastor Dave

 

Fear and Discouragement

First:

Last Sunday the Word spoke to us on the topic of fear and discouragement.  To be honest, I'm still learning how to apply the words the Lord gave me.

 

Fear freezes me so that I don't step out in obedience.

Fear freezes me so that I don't reach out for intimacy.

Fear freezes me so that I don't speak out against injustice.

Fear freezes me so that I don't look for divine appointments.

 

Discouragement holds me so that I don't care about what I am missing.

Discouragement holds me so that I don't believe life could be different.

Discouragement holds me so that I don't let go of pervious failures.

Discouragement holds me so that I don't taste freedom of spirit.

(there's a new outline for a new sermon)

 

I can be frozen by fear and held by discouragement.

 

Second:

This morning I started reading Jeremiah (I have a hunch I'm going to be there a long time).  I found myself camping on 1:12 "I am watching over My word to perform it."

 

Our God didn't speak to fill the universe with words.  He didn't give us the Word as a historical diary.  I am stuck this morning that the Bible gives me a heads up on the modus operandi of God.  He behaves in line with His word.   God speaks and stays involved to complete His word (sorry agnostics).

 

Third:

This is the connection between the first and the second.  My fear and discouragement don't fit in a faith walk with a holy God that is performing His word.  In fact - fear and discouragement bring a disconnect in my life between myself and the God who is actively performing His will.

 

The truth of the second point liberates me to let go of the lie of the first point.  In other words, we don't conquer fear and discouragement alone or with positive thinking.  Victory is found in being close to the God who is doing His word!  God's "doing" what He said directly releases me from the grip of fear and discouragement!

 

The second point renders the first ineffective.

 

Living the Second,

 

Pastor Dave