Shallow thoughts for deep people

Something I want to share with the StockbridgeAssembly family.

Each Sunday we have the opportunity for two very important things to happen.

1. We have the opportunity to be empowered and empower others. We get to experience the idea of community worship and hearing the word together. We also get the opportunity to be obedient in our giving and pray for each other. Each one of these experiences are empowering.

2. We have the opportunity to engage the unbeliever or not-really-a-believer. We have the honor of pointing others to the life change Jesus brings. We get to love others with a love that is engaging. It is very important that our church engage the unbeliever. Remembering that we were once on the outside.

I believe in empowering the believer and engaging the nonbelievers!  We need to believe this and hold it close to our hearts. Here are a few things you can do to help create and empowering and engaging atmosphere when you attend.

• Bring the presences of the Living God in with you! This is a gathering or an assembly not a service.
• Pray that you will receive what God has for you and pray that others would come to know Him through Jesus.
• Remove all external distractions. Turn all communication devise to silent. If you use your phone to read the bible great just turn the sound off.
• Amening the preacher or highfiveing your neighbor may be a part of the gathering. You talking to your neighbor about lunch or the latest gossip probably not a good idea.
• If you have a young beautiful child - we have a nursery that your child will love!
• Limit you movement during the gathering. Use the bathroom before the gathering starts. You don’t want to be a distraction to others around you by moving around during worship or the preaching. If you have to leave and return, sit in the back until the gathering is over.
• Embrace the importance of what is happening on any given Sunday. Someone's life may change for all eternity or someone may get the answer to what they have been praying for or someone may be challenged to shift their selfish life.

You play an important part in each and every gathering. Thank you for journeying with us as we follow Christ.

Pastor SH

I Promise

For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory. 2 Cor 1:20

God desires for us to live in His promises

Some thoughts about how/what living in a Land of Promise looks like 

Grow our mindsets (how)

• • Grow past thinking we are defeated
• • Grow past the past
• • Grow to a place of knowing you have victory in Christ

Gain New strength (how)

• • Stop relaying on our own strength
• • Relay on the Spirit of God that is the strength that works in you
• • Burn out comes from a power source that is tapped out
• • God gives us NEW strength. This is strength you didn’t even see coming.

Step Up (how)

• • We need to be addicted to answering the call
• • The call is to step up from where we are to a higher place
• • To use the gifts God has given
• • To love, connect and serve with a new strength

Gain new territory (what)

• • God doesn’t desire His people to live an average life.  Or in a land of just enough.
• •  Average relationship, average resources, and average lives. Just getting by. 
• • The land of promise brings much fruit into our lives
• • Fruitful relationships, fruitful resources, and fruitful lives

Possess the Land of Promise

 

serve 101

Notes about being a servant

What makes the difference between good and poor restaurants, hotels, and places of business? The service!

Serving separates the professing from the practicing

My opinion of what qualifies a five star rating

• A place that pays attention to the details
• the blessing is in the details
• A place that acknowledges me as a individual
• I am not just a number or a reservation
• A place that produces what is promised  
• If you say you have the worlds best cup of coffee, it better be good!

A Christ follower is called to serve others

What does it mean to "Serve the Lord?"
I believe serving the Lord is broken down in two ways:

1. Worshiping Him

•  John 4:24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
• Spirit - The highest form of worship is a heart given to G-d. A life given to Him. A life dedicated to Him.(1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart.) 
• Truth - Following His word as a rule for our life. Extremely obedient
• We serve the Lord through living a life dedicated to Him and following His word

2. Work

• Romans 12:11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
• Our attitude should be Christ attitude when it comes to serving
• Philippians 2:1-5
• His DNA was whatever, whenever, to whomever
• We are not saved by our works, we work because we are saved! 

 Our worship fuels our work.

Be a servant of the Lord and worship Him and work for Him

 

 

Bogota 2012

Just got back from Bogota, Colombia. We spent 7 days working with great Missionaries, Michael and Nomi Lawrence. Our team poured a concert floor to expand a school. And MAN! it was tough. Here are a few pics.

School shot from distant



Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

SA Team Bogota 2012

Sunday Connection

We kicked off a new thought this past Sunday - Connection. Well i guess its not a new thought considering connect is part of our mission.

If you missed it here are the main points

Relationships are not ment to be disposiable. Pampers are! We need to deepen our relations by

1. letting our tenderness out weigh our toughness - Col. 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
2. Love More- I Cor. 13
3. Care more and compete less - Phillipians 2:3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Joshua 4:1 says that all the nation crossed over the Jordan river. This impressed me. Over 2 million people working together to see the promises of G-d. Wow. They must have had a deep connection with each other.

 

Renew My Health

Some quick tips to jot down that will get you through your day!!

• Tame the hunger in your head. A lot of us eat out of stress, boredom, or when we are feeling down! Next time you reach for a snack, take a moment to decide if you’re actually hungry. And rather than “feeding your feelings” try going for a walk, praying, chatting with friends, or writing in your journal.
• 10 second fix – Strong arm your appetite! Next time the scent of fresh baked cookies entices you when you’re not hungry, make a fist and tighten your arm muscles. This clenching action boosts your willpower, giving you the strength to resist temptation.
• Eat what you love, but watch serving sizes. The typical bagel is equivalent to 4 slices of bread. An appropriate size of meat (3oz) is the size of a deck of cards.

The key here, as with anything, is moderation. God made our bodies very smart. It tells you when you’re hungry (my stomach growls at me J) and you know when you are full. Obey those signals and you will be amazed at how much less food you will eat!

 If you don’t do different, nothing will change!

Happy Days Ahead

Yesterday at SA we discussed the spiritual issue of our health. Our Health is a spiritual issue. This was part of a new series called ReNEW. Romans 12:1&2. The Big question I have asked myself from this scripture is what am I presenting to G-d? Is it holy? What about my physical body?

So here are some resources that I have ran across you may find helpful.

My friend Dr. Smiley Elmore – www.bodiesbysmiley.com

www.drasaoncall.com

Dr. Cooper “Faith-Based Fitness” book and website www.faithandfitness.net

Nikki’s tip to healthy living

Moderation – don’t deprive yourself from things you like just cut back on the portion size and how often you eat them. Discipline is the key to success. Discipline not deprivation

Change your mind change your behavior (i read that somewhere)