america's answer.

the answer to america's problems.
truth: america's only hope God.

psalm 80:1-18

I. compare isreal's start with america's
80:8-11

you cleared the ground for it

and it took root and filled the land.

there is a distinct difference between

separation of church and state but not

government and God.

II. compare isreal's security with america's

walls of protection are falling and america is

being 'destroyed' by many of its own citizens.

III. compare isreal's suffering with america's

'you have made us a source of contention to our neighbors and our enemies mock us.'

proverbs 29:2--when the righteous thrive,

the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.

modern macedonians.

2 corinthians 8:1-9:15
how i can become a generous giver?

truth:nothing brings greater joy or reward than giving generously to the work of God.

I. foundation of generous giving
'and they went beyond our expectations, having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us.' (8:5)

give ourselves first before our money.

II. the motivation of generous giving
(8:1) instead of justice/punishment---God extends grace.

III. the qualities of generous giving
'give consistently' (9:1-7) NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, ITS ABOUT THE HEART.
'give responsibly'-your responsibility to the giving of your church is for everyone.
'give cheerfully'

acts 10:1-8

there are two types of meaningful memorials

truth: it is great to be remembered for serving our country, but it is far more important to be remembered for serving God and His kingdom.

I. known to be faithful by their teaching

II. by spending time in prayer and fasting
(maybe part of the reason some people don't hear from God is because they don't want to hear him bad enough.)

the most important thing in life is to glorify and please God.

DO NOT LOSE THAT HOLY FEAR! EVER

remember:that one day we will have to give our accounts of our life after we were saved.

III. by generous giving

he knows my name.

i wish every night was like tonight. lord, i know that you know my name and every thought and love me more than i'll ever know. that feeling that literally gives me chills up and down my arms and legs, lord, i know that its you. its your touch. its your love. i thank you for every moment like that. i thank you for every moment that i can be within your presence and i know that can be any and everywhere. i pray for constant moments like this. i pray that i always have this feeling of overflowing love and joy wherever i go.

every believer a witness.

the church is one of the only armies known to shoot its wounded.














-condemnation
john 8:4-5
'but Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. when they kept on questioning him, he straigtened up and said, let anyone of you who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her.'

do not judge. love covers over a multitude of sins.

-compassion

care enough to bring someone back who has wandered away. in order to restore those lost back to God.we not only have a responsibility to save the non-believers, but also to restore and rescue the saved.

god forgives and god restores. (he gives second chances) if someone is truely repentant and asks for forgiveness.

satan wants you to think you are better than someone else or that a certain sin would never happen to you. dont let that happen.

turn back and turn away from sin!
do you know your job?

you are revived from spiritual death. james 5:20 "..will save him from death and covers over a multitude of sins."

revelation song.

even though i need to find new places to experience it. i just want to thank you lord, for the total worship that takes place in my car and your music.

sing a new song.

i've got new goals, i've got good plans. lord, i need your guidance to help me see these through. if it is your will lord, i pray that you give me strength and support. if there are things that are going to be nothing but hinderances lord, i pray that you take those things away. in the past, when i have asked that, there was hesitation in the back of my mind, but i pray this today with full confidence.

"thank God no matter what happens. this is the way God wants you, who belong to Christ Jesus, to live."
1 thessalonians 5:18

time tells all.

it finally hit me today. i've been asking for the true happiness and love and "on fire" feeling to become a part of me. today as i was driving to school. i was listening to "hallelujah" by phillips, craig and dean an it just finally was made clear that i have it now. i have no desire for the "other stuff" in my life anymore. i've realized how much better i feel when i give it all to you lord. how much more confidence i have that you are my strength and never leave me. i know that there are going to be times when i fall but for some reason this time i don't think i'm gonna fall on purpose or out of habit anymore. i'm going to fix the things that are a hinderance and no longer make excuses. i'm just happy that i didn't end up thinking it was hopeless. i've got it now and i'm not gonna let it go.

no matter what happens.

lord, i need your strength and confidence these next few days. please just continue to be with me and don't leave my side. i need your reassurance.

fixing it.

i am truely trying to break my habit. i've messed up once or twice today, but i'll get back to where i don't even have to think about it. i will. i promise not only you, but myself that i will. i gotta take these things one at a time. and truely fix them before i move onto something else. they'll always be more to come.

in the face.

lord, i will not retreat. after, crying all day and finally realizing how to come to live the life that makes me happy all the time. i will not turn away from this, i will not turn away from you. i want to thank you for giving me today, i really want to thank you for giving me everything. when i look back, i can not even begin to count or explain all of the things in my life that i once took for granted. i thought that those things just happened. lord, i now know that all of that was you. you and your grace. you control everything and i know that i knew that in the past but today i acknowledge and thank you for it. i thank you for everything that has happened today and for all those that you put in my path this morning. i thank you for keeping my family and i safe. and lord, i ask that from here on, i learn so much more and i pray that i will realize so much more and continue to grow in you. this is it. there is no turning back. love you.

..

sometimes tears taste good.

restoring fallen believers.

the members of God's family have a responsibility to help restore fallen believers.
james 5: 19-20

the reality of backsliding: it is possible for someone to backslide (noone is immune) it might not happen today, but it can happen. the church is a family of genuine believers. you can never lose your relationship with god, but when you're backsliding, there is something wrong with the fellowship. matthew 18:12 when you backslide its not necessarily intentional but its almost like they've been distracted and its subtle and takes time. when you realize you've wandered away, those actions have happened in the past. you can move on from it, if you truely try to. if your belief in the word begins to slide so will you wander. all sins should have a negative affect against you. you have to take necessary steps to get back on track and back to the fellowship. you done have to commit a "major" sin in order to be wandering. you can wander even when you are becoming apathetic.

-disregard
-deceit
-dullness
-drift
-defiance

jeremiah 18 (potter and the clay)

sunday. may 2, 2010

failure is not final.

the message of the empty tomb is about starting over.
easter means grace.means forgiveness.

mark 16:1-7

-a new start is possible
"but go tell his disciples and peter 'he has gone ahead of you into galilee, there you will see him, just as he told you.'"

before, peter heard these words, he had wept and was truely sorry for his sins.

-a new start is personal
its one thing to believe in God, but its another thing to know God believes in us.

-a new start is private
eventhough you sin publicly, you can be forgiven privately.

-a new start is positive
there are good things that will come from it.

1 corinthians 15:5

easter sunday.april 4, 2010

christ's soverign rule.

as King of King's,Jesus Christ sovereignly rules over every believer.

matthew 21:1-11
zechariah 9:9

his majesty
-characterized by holiness
(righteousness)
being fair and just

the mastery of the king
'the lord has need of them, and he will send them right away.'

God created you...
He bought you when
he died on the cross

He wants you to be a
part of his kingdom

He controlled this colt (rode calmly into the city)
Christ has claimed your life and He controls you!

the ministry of the king

(brings salvation to all men)

Romans 10:13
all sins are forgiven!!
Romans 6:23

He brings salvation from the penalty of sin
He brings salvation from the power of sin
He brings salvation from the presence of sin
1 corinthians 15:42-49

sunday.march 28, 2010

Listen to true.identity.