How do you live out the CAUSE for which you were born?

Peel back your pain.

God goes to Gideon’s Pain.

God calls Gideon a Mighty Warrior.

You would think this would be an encouragement, right?

Not really.  In reality, it exposed Gideon’s entire life of hiding in fear.

It exposed Gideon’s insecurities.

What was Gideon’s pain?

Gideon believed that God had abandoned him. Gideon believed that God was someone who could do miracles back in the day, but not today. Gideon was angry at God for experiencing the pain of being the most overlooked person in his family and community. Gideon was angry at God because everyone else had more talent. Gideon was carrying years of layered pain.

I don’t think Gideon ever communicated any of his pain until God called him out of his cave to live out his Cause as a MIGHTY WARRIOR.

What’s your pain?

Do you feel like God has abandoned you? Are you angry at God, but never express it? God gives you permission to go there. In fact, that’s exactly where God wants you to go.

Why?

Where your PAIN is… is where your FEAR is.

God is calling you out of your cave of pain.

Peel back your pain.

The Cave or The Cause…. It’s Your Call.

You were born for A CAUSE, not a cave!

Quit living in your Cave!

You were born for FAITH, not fear.

Will you allow fear to steal the Cause for which you were born?

Or…

Will you decide to eyeball your soul and face your fears and LIVE out…

THE CAUSE FOR WHICH YOU WERE BORN?

Gideon and God’s people lived in fear in a cave. (Judges 6)

They once experienced the Promise Land, but now?

They settled for a cave.

From the Promise Land to a cave.

My friends, that is a long way to fall.

Download that. Just because we have once moved into the Promise Land and experienced God’s blessings and God’s best, does not mean we will have permanent residency in…

The Promise Land.

Why did the mighty fall? Why did they forfeit The Promise Land? Why did they turn their back on the Cause?  Why did they turn from people of faith to people of fear?

Again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD so God gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Judges 6:1

The Cave or The CAUSE, it’s your call.

They were Defeated, Devastated and Distraught.

ALL their efforts, ALL their work, and ALL their resources were plundered and pillaged year after year.

Have you ever been there? ALL your efforts and energy seem to evaporate? ALL your attempts at success don’t last. Deep inside you know there is MORE to you and the life that you’re experiencing. Does it ever seem that no matter what you try, you can’t seem to escape the Cave that you are in, and live out the Cause for which you were born?

Let me nudge you. No, let me PUSH you. I’m praying that God starts making the pain of living in your cave so agonizing that it pushes you to embrace the pain necessary to change and come out of your cave!

A friend of mine put it this way. Until the pain of the same eclipses the pain of change, you will never change.

Embrace your pain.

How?

Embrace and Face your Fears.

The Cave or the Cause? It’s Your Call!

Mac and his wonderful bride Julie have become dear friends of ours. Their passion and love for Jesus and His Church are absolutely contagious!

You are going to enjoy this episode of Cremeans Couch as Pastor Mac talks about some things that have helped shape the way he leads Lake Hills Church in Austin, TX.

Cremeans Couch: Mac Richard from Northway Church on Vimeo.

Have you ever felt like Christianity OVER promised and under delivered? - I have.

Have you ever lost your faith? – I have.

Have you ever thought about quitting on God? – I have.

If you can honestly answer “YES” to any of these questions, if you know anyone else that has answered yes, or has quit on God, then this weekend will be…

The most important weekend in your life.

It was amazing to see husbands and wives from all ages and stages recommit to each other.

What else is amazing is when the local press hears about what we are doing at Northway and wants to come find out more.

Capital News 9 came out to our services and ran a story about the vow renewals… Check it out…

Capital News 9’s coverage of NC wedding Vows from Northway Church on Vimeo.

The reality is that if we don’t know the meaning of life, then we will never experience a life of meaning.

Join us for our new series, THE CAUSE, and discover that there is MORE to your life.

THE CAUSE is about empowering you to reach your potential.

THE CAUSE is about discovering the meaning for which you were born, and living out your meaning.

“The Cause” Trailer from Northway Church on Vimeo.

I have enjoyed so much to be able to share with you the wisdom that flows from Troy. I look forward to having him on here again in the future.

In this episode, Pastor Troy talks about how he has changed the way that he communicates. This is something that every pastor or leader needs to see.

Cremeans Couch: Troy Gramling Part 5 from Northway Church on Vimeo.

We wrapped up our series, Relational Rehab, by talking about how we need to be a church that believes in people! Whether in business, friendships, or family, we all need to believe in each other and become dream releasers!

Why? Because God believes in us!

An added bonus to this weekend was that hundreds of husbands and wives renewed their marriage vows. This was the largest ceremony of it’s kind on the East Coast!

Capital News 9 picked up the story, and you can watch the on-going coverage tonight starting at 5pm. Special thanks to Dayana Perez for covering the story!

Also, don’t forget that you can watch Northway on the Capital Region’s CW at 10pm every Sunday night! We are receiving story after story of how our program has helped change lives!

I hope you have a great week!

It has been such an honor to have him as a guest!

Today, Troy is talking about how dangerous it is to compromise as a pastor or leader.

Also, I need to know… Who do you think would win if Troy and I played a game of hoops? All I can say is that one of us is undefeated so far, and it’s not the guy on the right! Just saying…

Missed any of the interview series so far?

Go back and watch it… (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)

CREMEANS COUCH: Troy Gramling Part 4 from Northway Church on Vimeo.