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

 

bumper-car state of mind

This morning I'm thinking about confusion.  That bumper-car state of mind.  The one where you can't go outside the oval, you never get anywhere valuable, there is no discernible goal, and your pushed most by what you couldn't see coming.  It's road rage in your brain.

 

Do you ever know that kind of thought life?  There are so many thoughts that are pushing each other around that it's almost impossible to find a safe place.

 

Bumper car thought life; waiting for the music to stop and the cars to lose their power so the exit can be found.

 

I'm there sometimes... today.

 

Here's my bumper car-less plan.

 

1. I'm going to be honest with God about what's going on.  I've got a hunch he knows, but somehow it's healthy to admit what he knows so we can work together on it.

       Luke 5.22  Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

 

2. I'm going to declare my trust in God for this day.  I trust in his love that it is stronger than my thoughts.  I trust in his grace that it will help me with the stupid ones.  I trust in his guidance for the ones that demand a choice.  I trust God with the dark ones that have "I don't care" written on them.  "God, I trust you with me!"

       Isaiah 26.3  You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

 

3. I'm going to ask for help.  "Lord, the eyes of my mind are darting around and somehow I need to focus on what matters to both of us.  Will you help me know what to ignore?  Will you help me know what is wasted time to think on?  Will you reveal the dangerous?"

       Psalm 119.37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

 

4. I'm going to use the filter he gave me.  I get to pour the contents of my mind through a filter.  It's like the guy at the bumper car ride that lets the people in - only so many, right age, right height.  God has given me the guide for my thought life.

       Philippians 4.8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is    right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

 

5. I'm going to start now.

 

Applying,

 

Pastor Dave