Jesus is ENOUGH

I am amazed at the pain people feel.
Pain because life is just too hard.
Pain because life is too short.
Pain because life is too painful.

Even followers of Jesus.

We suffer even though we have a Savior.
We struggle even though we are Saved.

and it brings me to this thought, What are we (as a Church) doing wrong that Jesus isn't enough?
Enough to Go On.
Enough to Get Up.
Enough to Heal.

and I can only come up with a few things.


#1 We don't Celebrate Victory Enough.
Its as if we are so focused on the bad we don't rejoice in the good.
Think about your prayer requests and how many of them are filled with pain and not praise.
Even the churches in Acts rejoiced to suffer shame in His Name.
This is why every time someone gets saved I want to rejoice.
and every time someone shares their faith through Baptism I want to rejoice .
and every time someone repents of sin I want to rejoice.
and every time someone learns of God's love I want to rejoice.

Because every time something amazing happens it offsets all of the Bad.
2 Corinthians 4:14-18

(by the way this Sunday an amazing Lady is going to get Baptized in the River!!!)

#2 We worry more about Money than Men.
I realize that money is important to people but it seems as if today its the only thing.
Being Financially focused is to not be Faith Focused.

I love the passage where Peter says to the Lord, We need to pay our Taxes and Jesus tells Him to go Fishing and the first fish Peter catches will have money in its mouth. He did and it did and they did.

God has promised to provide the finances if we provide the faith but its often our financial situation that dictates our faith rather than the other way around.

It might be that when your low on funds that God is calling you to slim down, separate from things, seek Him, or see Him.

But people need to see our Praise by faith not our Panic in fear when it comes to our finances.

Matthew Chapter 6

#3 We don't focus enough on Relationship instead of Religion.
Jesus said that when we are struggling to rest in Him.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.


He wants us to be closer to Him.
He wants us to know Him.
He wants us to feel Him.
and I hate to say it but Pain is often the driver of that.
and being religious won't do it.
we must want to speak to Him. (In Real Honest Prayer)
we must want to hear from Him. (By Reading your Bible)
we must want to experience Him. (By obeying His word by living His way)

Its not enough to act as if we have a relationship, rest only comes from having one.

As a Church if we are going to share with the world that Jesus is enough it must start with Praising Him, Seeking Him, and Knowing Him because He is Enough to give them and us Healing.

Questions.............

This Sunday we are dealing with the subject of Suicide and I need some help.
If you could ask any question about Suicide, what would you ask?

I'm Back

Sorry about the silence last week as I got a little consumed with the building but I am back to work this week and there are a few things I want to start us out with.

1. This Sunday after services I met with two people. One, a woman who found freedom by dropping the F-Bomb on someone who hurt her deeply. (That's forgiveness if you haven't been paying attention) I have waited over a year to see this amazing woman become free and this next Sunday she wants to get Baptized! Can you say "Pray for Sun?"!
The other a young man struggling to find forgiveness. In his eyes, he is a failure and has much baggage to deal with but what he doesn't know yet is that Jesus is bigger than his faults, Jesus is Greater than his failures and Jesus is Full of Forgiveness. Please pray that he is open to Jesus dropping the F-Bomb on him!

2. We have an Amazing group of teenagers at this church. Debra and I had a great time with them yesterday secretly getting to know them. But, they need someone to build them up. A couple who would invest their lives into the teens souls. Please begin to pray for them as we want to encourage the next generation.

3. This Sunday is going to be Awesome. The subject we will touch on will be deep and difficult and yet I have never been so excited about a sermon ever. Please be praying for wisdom and clarity as I prepare for Sunday.

I love my Church and Can't Wait for Sunday

A Letter to newLife from PRob

For some strange reason we decideded to begin construction on the Auditorium this Sunday. But what I learned from it was worth it. Today I want to share five things I learned from Sunday afternoon.

1. Men and young boys Love to Tear Things Down.

2. Men all think that they have a better way. To tear something down, to organize tearing something down, to tear down someones idea of how to organize how to tear something down. This holds true for those who want their ideas heard to rebuild as well. Can you say "too many chiefs?"

3. Men make a Mess. I guess they all figure there will be a wife someone to pick up after them.

4. Men are Dangerous. The close calls were many but praise God that's all they were.

5. I am so thankful for Men. They heard the call, answered the call, and finished the job!

It was a great thing seeing the men get together, work hard, and accomplish the task at hand. From the cutting to the cleaning they did an awesome job and I am so proud of them all.

Tomorrow I'll talk about the ladies from Sunday.
Thank you all for being behind this ministry.

You are More

To the young lady who this Sunday didn't think that she was enough. and you know who you are.

God Loved Her

She had a rough life.
Something early on triggered it. I'll never know.
It affected every relationship she had.
She lived with it.
One day she got cancer and it scared her.
She came to see us.
It was not easy for her.
Last week she left.
Did we do enough?

Be not Weary

I know for many who serve at newLife, it seems as if there is so much work to do and it takes so much of your time and energy. At times its exhausting and you can even get resentful as it seems as if your the only one serving. So today I want you to know why it matters that you do what you do.

You are not just getting up early – You are going before those who will show up for the first time to meet their Savior.

You are not just setting up the building – You are providing a place for the wounded to come and sit in the lap of their Healer.

You are not “doing church” – You are creating an experience with God for those who have never experienced Him.

 

For every chair you set out…For every crayon you put in a basket…For every coffee creamer you place in a bowl…For every cable you run under the building to an amp…For every sign you hang…For each and everything your hands commit to you are creating an experience for those to come. You are creating an atmosphere for others to come into and rest. A place for God’s people to enter into to find hope, encouragement, friendship, counsel, healing…life. A safe place for others to meet God.

I know this is hard work and I am exhausted from serving every Sunday. I am told that I need to exercise but what some don't realize is that every Sunday is like doing a week of P90X. And every single drop of sweat is worth it because its about God and those He sent His son to love on.

So whether you hold babies, set up the coffee, turn knobs on the sound board, pray your heart out, greet people or count the money in the upper room, please know that what you do REALLY MATTERS.

I can't wait for Sunday.