Can you describe God as out of control?

When you think about God, rarely would you think of the word out of control…it doesn’t describe a God who is all powerful, knowing, and powerful!  It doesn’t match to say that God is out of control!  God, the master creator, orders the world and all that is in it!  He is in control!

When God loves, He loves out of control…

You cannot control God’s love, and you don’t want to…God loves who He wants to love, when He wants to love, what He wants to love, and where He wants to love!

God loves who He wants to love–He loves people who are not lovable, who don’t deserve His love!  He loves even when His love is not reciprocated!  He loves unconditionally!

God loves when He wants to love–He loves people in the most unlovely conditions, when we look and act unlovable!  He loves when we don’t want to be love!  God loves when–at any time!

God loves what He wants to love–He loves all things, especially His most important creation!  He loves you!  You cannot say, “God doesn’t love me!”  God loves what He wants to love!

God loves where He wants to love–He loves in the most unexpected places, places that are often void of love!  He will love in the bottom of the pit, a closed jail cell, a lonely and silent moment, a crowded room, a drunken stupor or in a high, even when you try your very best to get away from His love!

Aren’t you glad that God’s love is out of control?  God loves you!

If you did, you didn’t heed the warning signs…but bravely went when no one was going!  I believe we were one of the few churches in Lee’s Summit, MO (maybe KC) that had Christmas Eve services…so for those of you who came, I offer this commendation–Thank You!  And for those who were willing to come and the snow storm of ‘09 prevented you from coming, we missed you and hopefully you’ll come real soon! (maybe on Jan 3, ‘10 for our first Sunday morning service…8:30-10 AM…hint- hint)

Where is the baby?  As I drive down Chipman Rd, I see a nativity scene on one of our neighbor’s yard, but the baby is missing?

That vivid picture captures the essence of the lie that the enemy of our souls perpetrates in my life, as well as yours.  In times when all is well, I hardly recognize or even care if the baby is present or absent.  But in times of fear, doubt, panic, want, and desperate need, there is that powerful lie, where is the baby?

You know, is God present right now?  Where is the baby?

Isaiah 7 declares that He is Emmanuel, God is with us!  Matthew 1:23 declares the same thing…the child will be called Emmanuel! The truth is the baby is here with us!  God on that Chrismas morn decided to become flesh, like us so that He can forever settle the question of His presence…will God be there?  The answer is a definitive YES!

Tear down the powerful lie–replace it with truth…Emmanuel is right there near you and in you!  Speak His powerful name! So if you missed last night, this is the message for you!  Emmanuel is there for you…He is not missing!

So enjoy His presence.  Be filled with Emmanuel!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Come and join GracePointe Community Church in Lee’s Summit, MO for their first Christmas Eve Service, “Carols, Candles, and Communion.”

As I make my way to this time of the year, I am often reminded of this simple fact…that Christ comes to earth in human form–flesh like you and I.  Matthew says that he is to be called, Emmanuel–God with us!  Matthew 1:23  This simple statement is utterly profound and incredible.  The Creator of the universe, the God of all creation, The Everlasting One, has come to us in flesh!  Can you believe it?

GracePointe Community Church welcomes Him in our midst!  We declare that Christ is Lord of all!  Christ our Savior is born today!

We invite you to join us at 6 PM to 7 PM for our “Carols, Candles, and Communion” Service  2305 NE Douglass St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064.

Here’s the directions:  http://tinyurl.com/ycgmyxs

There was a time in our lives where dependence was a necessary part of growing…we were dependent on our mother’s womb as time took its necessary means for growth…dependent on our parents to feed and nurture us…and so on…

Independence and/or dependence…it is quite an issue in our lives!

My thesis for today’s thought is:  Growing up is not about being independent, but rather dependent on God!

Let me prove my point:

1.  Our growth process leads us from moving from a dependent position to one of independence.  As we grow older, we assume that we can make it on our own.

2. We move from being reliant on others to being self-reliant.

3.  As we grow older, our capacity increases and we no longer need help from others…it would really be unusual to see a 40 year old man needing his mother to spoon feed him, don’t you think?

4.  Our mindset is self-directed.

5.  Physically, mentally, and emotionally, we can almost predict that growth moves us towards independence.

Not so, when it comes to God…we must always be dependent on Him!

“¹⁵ One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.¹⁶ Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. ¹⁷ I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17

Are you moving towards dependence on God or are you moving towards independence? Are you self-reliant or relying on God?  Are you self-dependent or God-dependent?

I suggest that growing up to the full stature of Christ is becoming more and more like a little child who needs Abba!  As my faith increases, I understand that I need more of God in my life!  As I become more spiritually formed, I sense my reliance comes as Peter declares…”Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.   We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6:69)

Have you taken communion lately? Have you read this passage before?  I was really intrigued as I was in a service this past week as we participated in a communion service in another tradition.  We celebrate this wonderful ordinance of the Church in various and unique ways.  But my spirit connected to the words that were spoken in the text of I Corinthians…

Take eat; this is My body which is broken for you…here is the divine mystery in the Communion Service!  Christ’s broken body is spiritually and divinely present in a divine mystery as we partake together in Communion.

This cup is the new covenant in My blood…Christ’s blood is poured out for us in a divine mystery spiritually present in our participation of Communion.  What an incredible mystery!  Oh how marvelous, oh how wonderful is the Saviour’s love for me!

Communion shows us that God is ever present in our lives. When we come together as the Body of Christ, we show that God is ever-present in the lives of His people.  Communion reminds us that the ever-present God loves you and I,  and is actively involved in our lives.  If God be for us, who can be against us?  If God is among us, who or what can defeat or overtake us?

I invite you to come and join us this Sunday as we participate in Communion.  See you at 6 PM!  GracePointe Community Church 2305 NE Douglass Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO.

⁴ But not the wicked!
      They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
⁵ They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
      Sinners will have no place among the godly.
⁶ For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
      but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

The entire passage of Psalm 1 describes two kinds of people:  Wicked or Blessed!   As you read the text, it seems as though one is juxtaposed against the other.  There is no in between, riding the fence, one foot in and the other out—you are either wicked or blessed!  It is clear that there is only two sides to this psalm.  You are either wicked or blessed!  So this is what it means when you are blessed. 

So here’s the description of the blessed:

1.  You are not wicked!

2.  You do not follow the advise of the wicked.

3.  You don’t stand around with sinners.

4.  You don’t join in with mockers.

5.  You delight in the law of the Lord.

6.  You meditate on God’s word.

7.  You are rooted in a place of sustenance.

8.  You are fruitful in each season.

9.  Your leaves don’t wither.

10.  You prosper in all you do.

11.  You are not like a worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

12.  You are not already condemned at the time of judgment.

13.  You have place among the godly.

14.  You have God watching your path.

15.  Your path does not lead to destruction.

I am living my blessed life! Understanding the biblical truth gives me the foundation to stand on.  Psalm 1 declares that I can live the life that is blessed. 

I am choosing to live a life that is blessed!  Each day, you are given the opportunity to change.  To walk through an open door which could ultimately change the circumstances that surround you.  Choose today to live a life that is blessed.  The glory of God is revealed in you!

 

Psalm 1 declares a powerful description of two kinds of people—wicked and blessed!  As you read the text, it seems as though one is juxtaposed against the other.  There is no in between, riding the fence, one foot in and the other out—you are either wicked or blessed! Here is Psalm 1:

¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not
      follow the advice of the wicked,
      or stand around with sinners,
      or join in with mockers.
² But they delight in the law of the Lord,
      meditating on it day and night.
³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
      bearing fruit each season.
   Their leaves never wither,
      and they prosper in all they do.

⁴ But not the wicked!
      They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
⁵ They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
      Sinners will have no place among the godly.
⁶ For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
      but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. (NLT)

So here’s the description of the wicked:

1.  You are not blessed!

2.  You are like a worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

3.  You are already condemned at the time of judgment.

4.  You have no place among the godly.

5.  You don’t have God watching your path.

6.  Your path leads to destruction.

7.  You follow your own advise.

8.  You stand around with sinners.

9.  You join in with mockers.

10.  You do not delight in the law of the Lord.

11.  You do not meditate on God’s word.

12.  You are not rooted in a place of sustenance.

13.  You are not fruitful in each season.

14.  Your leaves wither.

15.  You do not prosper in all you do.

Don’t be deceived, it’s not a game…if you are wicked…you are not blessed!

Here is what he said: Prayer and fasting is the key to revitalization and church planting!

We are doing just that! We are praying! And now I want to call you to fasting! Can you give up one meal or one day and pray and fast for GracePointe Community Church? Will you join me on Thursdays as I fast and pray for our church plant?

I believe that we are positioning ourselves for the move of the Holy Spirit. God needs us to pray and fast. Psalm 2 declares that we should ask and God will give us the nations as our inheritance.

We will now be praying for the fourth time together. We are bathing GracePointe Community Church in prayer and fasting! I believe that God hears and will answer our prayer. Expect and believe!

Come and join us again as we come together and pray…I will see you on Sunday, November 8 at 6 PM for our meeting with God! I want to have a spirit of expectation and believe for what God has for you and for GracePointe!

See you this Sunday evening!

Pastor Fel and Dianna

Here’s what we know about the Macedonians from this text… 

1.)  they were suffering “great” ordeal of affliction–the NLT says that “they were tested by many troubles”

2.) they were in “deep” poverty–what they had was “they were poor…”

3.)  they had abundant joy–they weren’t singing the old He Haw song (remember that song…poor, despair, and agony on me…)

4.) they overflowed in the “wealth” of liberality–in other words, they were not stingy!

Of all people, it would be easy for us to understand the Macedonians would quit and give up!  Here they are poor and suffering great ordeal of affliction!  Yet, their response is that of abundant joy and an overflowing wealth in liberality!  Wow!  Their circumstances produced a different attitude, an overcoming spirit! 

So many of us understand the pressures and trials of life.  In today’s economy, job loss is inevitable for many of us!  Trials come in different forms and faces!  We are pressed on every side!  It is easy to give up and throw in the towel!  We can all commensurate and cry moans of despair and negativism!  But what does that mean?

Rev 20 says this, “⁶Then He said to me, It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. ⁷“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 

John clearly writes that those who occupy the New Jerusalem, whose names are written in the book of life are OVERCOMERS! 

I translate that to mean that they are not quitters…they didn’t give up, but overcame!  Can you identify yourself with the church in Macedonia?  Are you tested by many troubles?  If so, then I have good news for you!  The Macedonians didn’t quit!  They overcame!  And so can you!

Don’t be a quitter!

Isn’t this a wonderful passage of Scripture…God had us in mind!   He decided to “settle on us as the focus of his love…”  Wow…what an amazing God!  As humans, we only focus on people that we feel close to us (our spouses, children, close friends), those who might help us or need their help (like a boss, a pastor, the cop who pulled us over); rarely do we focus on people who are strangers, bystanders, an acquaintance…

God on the other hand thinks and acts differently!  He decided long ago to keep us in mind, to settle the focus of his love on us!  The reason for Jesus coming to earth is this truth…God had us in mind!  He continues to show us that His love is focused on us!  For God so loves the world that He gave us His only beloved son…John 3:16 Throughout eternity, since the garden of Eden, God has continued to prove this point over and over again.  He has not stopped to show us His love!  His constant thought is toward us…

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
      you formed me in my mother’s womb.
   I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
      Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
      I worship in adoration—what a creation!
   You know me inside and out,
      you know every bone in my body;
   You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
      how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
   Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
      all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
   The days of my life all prepared
      before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139: 13-16 

I want to invite you to come and pray for others…keeping others in mind, this Sunday at 6PM at GracePointe Community Church 2305 Douglass Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO. 

To pray with others in mind is to extend the life of God and God’s destiny for us…God blesses us so that He can bless others through us! 

As God has us in mind…let’s have others in mind as well!