Rules for Prayer

Rules for the Practice of Prayer. Age-old wisdom for approaching the throne of grace.

by Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor was a highly regarded preacher, teacher, and counselor in 17th century England. He believed that life could be holy in every respect. His Rule and Exercises of Holy Living (1650) accentuates this fact; it is a plea to seek righteousness in every area of living. Following are excerpts from his practice of prayer. There are valuable for both personal and group reflection.

1. We must be careful, that we never ask anything of God that is sinful: for that is to ask of God to dishonor himself. Let us principally ask of God power and assistances to do our duty, to glorify God, to do good works, to live a good life, to die in the fear and favor of God, and eternal life.
2. We may lawfully pray to God for the gifts of the Spirit, such as preaching, good expression, a ready and unloosed tongue, good understanding, and learning, with these restraints:
• That we cannot be so confident of the event of those prayers as of the former.
• That we must be curious to secure our intention in these desires, that we may not ask them to serve our own ends, but only for God's glory.
• We must submit to God's will, desiring him to choose our employment, and to furnish our persons as he shall see expedient.
3. Whatsoever we may lawfully desire of temporal things, we may lawfully ask of God in prayer, and we may expect them, as they are promised in Holy Scripture.
4. He that would pray with effect, must live with care and piety. For although God gives to sinners and evil persons the common blessings of life and chance; yet they by contradicting some necessary ingredient in prayer, (such as mercy, humility, purity, and sincerity) do defile the prayer, and make it a direct sin.
5. All prayer must be made with faith and hope.
6. Our prayers must be fervent, intense, earnest, and importunate, when we pray for things of high concernment and necessity. In other things, we are to use a bridle: and, as we must limit our desires with submission to God's will, so also we must limit the importunity of our prayers, by the moderation and term of our desires. Pray for it as earnestly as you should desire it.
7. Our good desires must be lasting, and our prayers frequent, assiduous, and continual; not asking for a blessing once, and then leaving it; but daily renewing our suits.
8. Let the words of our prayers be pertinent, grave, material, not studiously many. God hears us not the sooner for our many words, but much the sooner for an earnest desire.
9. In all forms of prayer, mingle petition with thanksgiving.
10. Whatever we beg of God, let us also work for it. For God loves to bless labor and to reward it, but not to support idleness. Read Scriptures; and then pray to God for understanding. Pray against temptation: but you must also resist the devil. Ask of God competency of living: but you must also work with your hands the things that are honest.
11. To this purpose let every man study his prayers, and read his duty in his petitions. For the body of our prayer is the sum of our duty.
12. In all prayers, we must be careful to attend our present work, not wandering upon impertinent things. Strive to obtain a diligent, sober, untroubled, and composed spirit.
13. Let your posture and gesture of body in prayers be reverent, grave, and humble. Stand or kneel, or lie flat upon the ground on your face, in your ordinary and more solemn prayers; but in extraordinary prayers, the reverence and devotion of the soul, and the lifting up of the eyes and hands to God with any other posture not indecent, is usual and commendable. For we may pray in bed, on horseback, everywhere, and at all times, and in all circumstances.
14. We, who must love our neighbors as ourselves, must also pray for them as for ourselves. This is called intercession; we are to remember our relatives, our family, our charge, our benefactors, our creditors; not forgetting to beg pardon and charity for our enemies, and protection against them.
15. Rely not on your single prayer in matters of great concern. Make it as public as you can, obtaining others to pray with you, this being the great blessing of the communion of saints: that a prayer united is strong, like a well-ordered army. God loves to be tied fast with such cords of love, and constrained by holy violence.
16. Every time, that is not seized upon by some other duty, is seasonable enough for prayer: but let it be performed as a solemn duty morning and evening, that God may begin and end all our business, and "the outgoing of the morning and evening may praise him."

This is taken from an email I receive form Building Church Leaders.

Football and Church

Yesterday and this afternoon I spent some time reflecting on the Summer for my family and for the church I lead. As I reflected on the summer with Sunrise I could not help but begin to look forward to the Fall. This led me to look over my children's School Calendar, class schedule and of course the Friday Night Football Schedule which led me to think about Western Branch High School, Midwestern State University, University of TX, Virginia Tech, and of course the Dallas Cowboys. The football craze has begun. The NFL is in pre-season. Fantasy Football is the talk at many offices and guys night out. Sports Bars are gearing up for the crowds. Fans are sporting shirts, backpacks, hats, flags, etc. College students return to school ready to paint themselves the school colors in order to support their team. Fans are talking smack, I am one of those fans, and conversations at all types of gatherings will include some football discussions. I am looking forward to stopping by a local Mexican restaurant, picking up some chip and dip, and watching the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday or Monday nights with my friends Mark and Cindy Reed on their big screen TV. Fall Football. Good times. Supporting your team. Yelling at the TV. Knowing more than the coach. Having fun.

These thoughts about Football led me to then think about Church. Not because we will have to be sure to get out on time for Sunday afternoon football, but because I want people, followers of Christ, to go crazy over Christ and His Church like they do over football. Christ fans talking smack because of what cool changes have taken place in their lives. Christ fans arriving early for a weekend service because they can't wait to see their friends and worship God. People at the office talking about the experience they had in worship. High fives taking place when someone accepts Christ. Slaps on the rear end when someone does an awesome job in the ministry in which they serve. People staying true to Christ and His local church when things go bad and celebrations happening when God reveals himself in His many ways in His many victories. Go Jesus! Fall Football is exciting stuff, so is Fall Church.

Community Groups

Sunday evening, August 26, 2007 Sunrise had a Community Group Open House. The Open House was a very positive experience. People meeting one another, telling stories, and laughing with one another. Sunrise will begin new Community Groups this September. These groups meet twice a month at various times and on various days. Each meeting last approximately an hour and a half and include visiting with one another, Bible study, sharing and encouragement, and prayer. People open up their homes for a Community Group and those in attendance have a good time visiting, learnng, growing and encouraging one another. This Fall Sunrise is starting new groups and and the existing groups are growing in numerical growth. That is exciting. Thanks to Scott Salsman, SCC's OutReach and InReach Pastor, and Jenny Michonski who does a great deal of administrative work for SCC and for Community Groups. Thanks also to those who open their homes and for the Community Group leaders. Visit www.sunrisecc.org for more information about Community Groups and other small groups in SCC.

Some Words Made Up At Sunrise

Godcidence: Much like and much more than a coincidence. Something unusual that happens in your life as you seek to live for and with God.

Creavolution: Creation and evolution. God created and causes evolution. We are God's creation. We do evolve. Creation and evolution are not rivals, but related.

Faithilistic: You have heard someone say, "We need to be realistic." Sunrise believes followers of Christ need to be faithlistic. See what God can do in our lives and the lives of others as we live by faith in a very real world.

Some Sunrise Sayings

"People are a priority."

"Once you become a follower of Christ you will have to think more than you ever thought before."

"You matter. Your life counts. You are a diffence maker."

"God desires to be involved in your life, let Him."

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. NASB

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Amplified Bible

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. The Message

For SCC - Dying To Live 8-26-07

Sunday morning we ended our series "From One To Outrageous". Scott shared with us Romans 5:8 "God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinning Christ died for us." Christ death brings us life. While preparing Salsa Scott explained that the death of Christ can be seen in all of life and that death does lead to life. In taking the Lord's supper we remembered how the death of Christ brings life. We remembered that eternal life and hope is derived from the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christianity is about life. Becoming a follower of Christ is about death and life. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me." Taking up the cross means dying to self and recognizing new life in Christ. In Galatians 2:20 the Apostle Paul, a follower of Christ, wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Paul, a very educated and well travelled man understood and spent his life seeking to help others understand that death brings life. May you and I give some thought to the life that we gain because of the love of God and seek to help others enter into life.

Psalm 94:18-19 Verses of the Day at Bible Gateway

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
Psalm 94:18-19 found in the Bible

Solar Zone

Earlier this week, Tuesday, August 21, I posted some comments about a new leader and helper in Solar Zone (SCC's Children's Ministry). I want to say again that I appreciate the ministry of Solar Zone. As I think about the new school year beginning and the work and effort that the Solar Zone leaders and helpers place into ministering to the children I am overwhelmed with thanks. Sunrise has a good number of children attending on Sunday mornings and the children and their parents are treated with kindness and honor. The most heard comment form children who attend Solar Zone is something like this, "That was fun". I am aware that people's schedules and life circumstances can be overwhelming and so is probably the case with most of the Solar Zone servants, yet they continue to touch lives. They continue to pray, plan, and prepare in order to help children enjoy being in a church setting, learn the Bible, eventually accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and begin to grow in their relationship with God. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100 found in the Bible

Galatians 5:22-23

22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Galatians 5:22-23 The Message

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 The New Living Translation

I Choose...

I choose self-control...

I am a spiritual being... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment

The Lord's Supper And A Party

This coming Sunday, 8-26-07, Sunrise will take Communion/Lord's Supper. As we remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we will also talk about celebrating new life and the hope Jesus Christ brings into a persons life and into His church.

A New Leader And A New Helper

Sunday morning the Children's Ministry had a new leader and a new helper in Solar Zone (SCC's Children's Ministry). These ladies are helping children understand God's love in a fun, creative and safe enviornment in Solar Zone. these ladiew are part of a ministry team/group that is making an eternal difference in children's lives. As they serve and minister in Solar Zone they will get to know one another better, parents of the children better and other adults in the Solar Zone Ministry better and help SCC build a sense a community. Sweet! Thanks to all who lead and help in Solar Zone.

Beach Baptism Bash

The beach baptism was a great time. It was exciting for everyone who was there. The water was blueish, greenish, brownish, the sun yellowish, the sand beigeish and the people at the end of the day were redish, brownish. The atmosphere was joyish. Those being baptized were pumedish. Thanks to all who helped with "Student Ministry Hits The Beach" and the baptism.
Sunrise Community Church was started seven years ago in order to help people accept Christ, grow in their relatiosnhip with Christ and begin to serve Christ. Thank God it is happening. The people who were baptized on Sunday were helped by people who were baptized just last year. Many of the adult chaperones who helped with the Student Ministry have grown by leaps and bounds in their faith walk in just the past couple of years. Thank God. Thanks to the family members who supported those being baptized.

Baptism is about hope. Baptism is the outward expression of an inward decision to accept Jesus Christ and begin a new life in Christ. New life is about hope. God is about hope.

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near
Hebrews 10:24-25

Centri-Kid

Raving reports from C-Kid. Five children accepted Christ and others rededicated their lives to Christ. The adults were encouraged in their faith walk and had a good time with the children. Thanks to Jenny Michonski for planning this week and putting it all togehter back in January. Thanks to Mark Reed, Judy Coleman, Ray Coleman, and Scott Salsman for helping with the week. These people gave and had an amazing week.

I Choose...

I choose gentleness...

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

Grace For the Moment, Max Lucado

Andrew, Simon Peter's Brother

Andrew bringing others to Jesus.

35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
39"Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).
John 1:35-42

1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."
John 6:1-14

20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
John 12:20-35

The link below is a brief bit about Andrew.
http://www.chrysostom.org/firstcalled/life.html

For SCC - Give It Up 8-5-07

From One to Outrageous is the Weekend Service theme for Sunrise during the month of August. This past Sunday John 6:9 was the one verse and that we learned to live so that we can begin to experience outrageous results. John 6:9 is tucked away in the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. John 6:9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"

This one verse is packed full of biblical truths that you and I can apply to our lives, but we walked away with two thoughts to live. The boy decided to give. The lad made the choice to give up his fish and barley loaves. He gave. Out of his giving the boy and others were amazed. The boy gave and outrageous results were experienced. The people who were hungry ate from the fish and loaves the boy gave until everyone was full and there were leftovers to the amazement of all. Five barley loaves and two fish fed over 5000 people with lunch for tomorrow left over. From one verse we can begin to experience outrageous results in our own lives. We, like the boy, can chose to give. We can give of our finances, abilities, and resources. We can decide to give of our time, talents, and treasure. When you and I give it blesses other people and we like to bless other people. We like to see people smile, rejoice, and have fun. We enjoy giving gifts to loved ones. We enjoy giving at Christmas time. We like to go out to dinner with family and friends and even purchase the meal. We like to open up our homes and have people over for drinks, chips and a football game. We like to give. May we give it up. Choose to give.

When we choose to give we will be amazed as the people were in the story. The question posed by Andrew, "but what are these for so many people?", is answered when we give and God multiplies. When we choose to give God will do a mighty work. Be amazed. Give. If you are not giving begin giving. Be like the boy. Choose to give. If you are giving, continue to give and ask God to multiply your giving for His glory. Giving of your time, talents, and treasure leads to people experiencing eternal life, new and hopeful relationships, the hungry being feed, homes being built, and other outrageous results. Give it up. The boy gave. He was amazed.

Here About This Tree Sunday, 8-5-07

The story behind this tree this Sunday, 8-5-07 or in next weeks blogs. Nice looking tree, hey.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS

When God speaks, listen.
When God commands, obey.
When God leads, follow.

Taken from God Is In The Small Stuff, Bruce and Stan

One Verse Comment

Please see the post "The Bible Passage For This Coming Sunday" and look at the comment. Funny. LOL. Good comment.

John 6:9 will be the verse for this Sunday.

The Bible Passage For This Coming Sunday

1-4After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.
5-6When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
7Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
8-9One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
10-11Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
12-13When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.
John 6:1-13 The Message

For SCC - Catch The Wave Of Priorities 7-29-07

This past Sunday, 7-29-07 Sunrise ended the series Catch the Wave. The service was about making the most of priorities and living in and with priorities. The word priorities often leads people to think about time management, to lists, or accomplishing certain task by a deadline. We live by priorities whether we realize it or not. At Sunrise we want people to be aware they are living by priorities and to think through priorities. Forming and living by priorities is Biblical (Genesis 1 and 2, Micah 6:8, Luke 19:10, John 3:16, Philippians 3:13) and and will lead us to really think through life issues and what is really important. Priorities will determine decisions that lead to destiny.

Sow a thought, reap and action.

Sow and action, reap a habit.

Sow a habit, reap a character.

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Our priorities are what we think about, dwell on and eventually live out, so it is important that we think about our priorities. Some benefits of thinking through, setting and living by priorities are: Priorities help us prioritize. Priorities help us accomplish purpose. Priorities simplify life. Priorities help us establish boundaries. Thank God that he has helped us with a priority list that will honor him and bear good fruit. Three priorities that God set forth are: 1) Worshipping God. Realize that there is a God and you are not him or her. 2) Relationships. Healthy, vibrant, growing relationships in your family, with friends, and co-workers is a priority for God. 3) Work. Yes, work. God created us to be productive and and create. Work, not just your job, but various types of work on the job, at home, or ministering to others. By the way they are given to us by God in 1, 2, 3 so that is how we should prioritize them and then set our priorities. Priorities will determine decisions that lead to destiny.

I Choose...

I choose faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment.

I Choose...

I choose kindness...

I will to the poor, for they are alone. to the rich, for they are of afraid. And to the unkind, for such is how god has treated me.

I choose goodness...

I will go wita dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overbooked before I boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.

Renewal in Ezekiel

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26

In this verse and in this passage God is speaking to people and encouraging them to look to him for renewal and for restoration. May you and I look to God and allow him to turn our hearts toward Him.

Renewal from Lamentations

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Lamentations 3:19-25

13 Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15 Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
19 You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old
Lamentation 5:13-21

For SCC - Catch The Wave Of Renewal 7-22-07

Sunrise continues the them of Catch The Wave. On 7-22-07 the service was planned around the theme of renewal. GLARE did an awesome job of leading us to worship and encounter God via music and there addition of U2's the Streets Have No Name to I Am Free was sweet. Look forward to singing it again this coming Sunday. Renewal is something we understand and desire. In order to be renewed this week and in weeks to come keep in mind and heart the following.

Be Made New. The first and foremost step to renewal is being made new in Jesus Christ. When you and I accepted Christ we were made new. this is the theme throughout the Bible. God makes people new for His glory, for His Kingdom, for Him. God is into to new and renewal. Be made new. When you become a follower of Christ God and all of heaven rejoices over you. You are made new and you become a saint of God. Yes, you are a saint of God. Today, heaven is rejoicing over you and you have the opportunity to walk in sainthood. Hopefully that is encouraging.

Allow God to Renew You. Throughout days, weeks, months and sometimes years we will become tired, weary, worn down and even downcast. In these times seek god and allow Him to renew you. Stop. Look. Listen. Stop. Be still and hear from God. Even if you do not hear from Him be still and be in His presence. Look. Look to God. Look to His power. Look for His renewal. Look beyond your circumstances and look to the God who really does care for you. I am aware of difficult and hard circumstances. So are you. But may we not dwell in them and even look to them. When you feel as if you are about to breakdown look to God for a break through. Listen. Listen to god through His written Word. The Bible is more than a book. The Bible is God's Word. The Bible is power. The Bible is renewing and refreshing. Listen to God. Draw hope and renewal from God as you listen to Him through His word to you and me.

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Found in the Bible

Renewal

I just finished up my message for this coming Sunday, July 22, 2007. Allow me to rephrase, I just finished up the message for this Sunday, but it is never complete because the complete work is God's work. I have prayed, planned, prepared and asked God to work in and through the message and the service. The service has been planned and is going to be an excellent experience. Many people are involved in putting the service together and it is a good feeling to see the service come together with the whole intent of all involved for people to encounter God and experience life change and eternal hope. May we experience renewal this weekend as we look to the Almighty God.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:10-12

II Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
II Timothy 1:7 Found in the Bible

I Choose...

I choose patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who took my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment.

These are choices I definitely need to make and want to make. I choose patience.

God's Grace

Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. Ephesians 2:8-9 (The Message)

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

8For it is by free grace [God's unmerited favor] that you are saved [delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation] through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] Ephesians 2:8-9 (Amplified Bible)

For SCC - Catch The Wave Of Grace 7-15-07

On Sunday, July 15th Scott Salsman spoke to us about catching the wave of grace. He presented to us in a very clear and thought provoking manner to need for God's grace versus us relying on good works to get us into heaven. He presented the idea of the American work ethic and that America was built by people with a good work ethic. This idea of the work ethic tends to filter over into religion and Christianity. Meaning: Good People = going to heaven. This seems to make sense. It seems to be a fair system, it motivates people to be good, it is consistent with the idea of a good God, and it lends most people to thin that they will make it to heaven , which by the way is whee most people want to go after they die. Makes sense?? There are some pretty clear and understandable problems with the good people make it to heaven concept. 1. There is no clear standard for what is good and bad. Different people, people groups, religions, nations, leaders, even you and I may differ on what is good or bad. Even in different phases of life we may change our mind on what is good or bad as we grow and mature or immature. But the Bible, God's Word makes it very clear no matter what you or I think about being good or bad that everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God (Roman3:23) and that there is none righteous, not one (Romans 3:10). So therefore by God's standard good in my opinion or your opinion just ain't good enough. 2. Even if we could be good enough we would not be real clear on just how good is good enough to find God's favor by doing good and therefore make it into heaven. On a grading scale do wee need a 70 or 80 or 65 for that matter. Do we have to make up for the bad. Is the good enough stuff that we do only for a certain amount of time in our lives. Just how good do we have to be? 3. It makes a liar out of Jesus. If good works is the way to heaven and they way to have a relationship with God then Jesus Christ is a liar. Jesus made it pretty clear that even some good people who thought they knew they way of good deeds to heaven may not make it into heaven. He also accepted people as were and did not tell them to be good all the time and that would assure them a place in heaven. In His teaching, living, dying, and being raised from the dead He made it clear to his followers and all that God in His grace has provided the way to heaven. That way is Jesus Christ. Not by good works, but by God's grace and provision for all (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Catch the Wave of Grace. Move past the good works or good deeds syndrome and and enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and be sure of your place in heaven and god's Kingdom because of God' provision and God's plan.

Thanks Scott for the very clear, thought provoking and GOOD message.

I Choose...

I choose joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of my circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see peole as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive that I may live.

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment.

Paradoxical Commandments

Steve Gabriele closed his message this past Sunday with this reading he found in the book Becoming A Person Of Influence.

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

Innovative Leaders

Four Qualities of Innovative Church Leaders
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Buzz Conference in Washington, D. C. Craig Groeschel, the pastor of LifeChurch.tv was one of the main speakers. One of his sessions he shared what he thinks are four great qualities of innovative leaders. I thought I’d pass them on to you here today.
First, innovative leaders heal the sick. Jesus sought out those in need and met their needs. Unfortunately today, too many churches are inwardly focused and are not meeting the needs of unbelievers. Craig said that in order to reach those who no one is reaching, we will have to do things that no one else is doing. Our goal is to reach people for Jesus however we can (short of sin), and in order to do that, we need to teach our people to love people who don’t know Christ. His question to us was, “Who is God calling you to reach that no one around you is reaching?”
Second, innovative leaders break the rules. Jesus broke the Sabbath rules. Craig used the analogy of Nascar. “Go straight, turn left. Go straight, turn left.” Innovative leaders don’t take the common path. They turn right! Every great movement of God was started by a leader making a right turn. Quest: What is God calling you to do that’s never been done before?
Third, innovative leaders offend the Pharisees. When you do something new to reach people for Jesus, the Pharisees WILL attack with a vengeance. But Craig said we shouldn’t worry when the Pharisees are shooting at us. We should worry when the aren’t. He asked, “What new thing will God call you to create that will be hated today and embraced tomorrow?”
Fourth, innovative leaders redefine success. Instead of saying how many people they are reaching and bragging about numbers, innovative leaders are constantly reminded how many people there are still to reach. We cannot be impressed with ourselves. We need to stop building attendance and start building the Kingdom.
It was a great lesson on leadership.
So… you have my (and Craig’s permission): Heal the sick. Break the rules. Offend the Pharisees. And redefine success!

This is taken from an e-letter I receive called mondaymorninginsight.com. Graig is the lead pastor of http://www.lifechurch.tv/ in OK and other states. Steve Nethery

Freedom Actions

“You have the freedom to choose your actions, you don't have the freedom to choose the consequences of your actions”

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.Watch your words, for they become actions.Watch your actions, for they become habits.Watch your habits, for they become character.Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Humor :) 5 Most Constipated Men in the Bible

Who are the five most constipate men in the Old Testament?

Cain - because he wasn’t Abel.
Moses – he went up onto the mountain and took two tablets.
King David – he sat on the throne for forty years.
Solomon – neither heaven nor earth could move him.
Noah – because he was at sea for forty days and forty nights and all he passed was water.

Media Quotes for Thought

"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference." - Tom Brokaw

"Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have raging inside us, we always have a choice. ... It's the choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what's right." - Peter Parker in Spiderman 3

"I want to see"

46-48They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!" Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, "Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"
49-50Jesus stopped in his tracks. "Call him over."
They called him. "It's your lucky day! Get up! He's calling you to come!" Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus.
51Jesus said, "What can I do for you?"
The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
52"On your way," said Jesus. "Your faith has saved and healed you."
In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.
Mark 10:46-52 found in the Bible

For SCC - Miracle Whip Needid 6-24-07

This past Sunday Sunrise ended our "Meet the Imperficts" series. Hopefully we all have gleaned some insight into the family unit and have grown in our relationship to God and family members during this series. The last topic for this series was chosen because in our imperfect families we need God's grace to abound and miracles to happen. We sometimes need medical miracles, money miracles, forgiveness and restoration miracles, strength miracles during times of hardship and various other miracles or pouring out of God's grace are needed in our families. God is into family. He wants us to experience healthy, vibrant, and encouraging family relationships. But because I am imperfect, and are imperfect this can often times be difficult if not seemingly impossible. We live in the Young and the Imperfects, or the Bold and the Imperfects or, As the Imperfects Turn. Soap Operas are much more than TV shows they are sometimes are lives. Broken relationships between parents and children and siblings. The sudden loss of a loved one when all seems to be so well. Divorce, addictions, hurtful words and actions, and the list could go on. STOP. STOP. God's grace and truth can bring positive change and hope to individuals and families. God will meet us at our need and can do a wonderful work if we are willing to allow Him to do so and believe in Him and His word. No, all will be perfect, but you and your family can move into a new realm of thinking, relating, caring, forgiving, helping, encouraging, sharing, and growing together in Christ and with one another if we will choose to allow God to meet our needs and choose to belief Him and His word . Please back up and read that sentence again. One more time. May God work a miracle in our lives and may we become the change we wish to see in the world. May God work a miracle in our families and....

For SCC - Dads' Get Dangirous 6-17-07

The Father's Day service was very upbeat and we gave away some really neat gifts to men. Thanks to Kathy Holland and Jenny Michonski for helping with the gifts that were given away.

Flag Day

This is a day that we honor Old Glory, the flag of our great nation. There is great symbolism in the folding of the Stars and Stripes. The folding of the flag 13 times is for the original colonies. 1st fold is a symbol of life. 2nd fold, belief in eternal life. 3rd fold, in honor of veterans. 4th fold, the weakness of humans and our dependence on God. 5th fold, a tribute to our nation. 6th fold, honoring the Pledge of Allegiance, "one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all." 7th fold, tribute to the Armed Forces. 8th fold, tribute to one who entered the shadow of death that we might see the light of day. 9th fold, tribute to mothers. 10th fold, tribute to fathers. 11th fold, glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 12th fold, emblem of eternity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 13th fold, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our nation's motto, "One nation under God."

This is an excerpt from a devotional from Daily Guidepost website.

You can count on...

GOD'S MERCY for our past mistakes.

GOD'S LOVE for our present needs.

GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY for our future.

Saint Augustine. for more about Saint Augustine google or yahoo his name.

I will...

Today, I will...
choose to love.
choose to respect.
say, " I love you", to family members.
thank God for lunch.
try to be positive.
stop, think and pray (STP).
smile.
enjoy work.
notice creation.
say, "I am sorry".
help someone.
sing in the car or shower.

I will. We get choose. I will...

Love and Respect website

www.loveandrespect.com

This is the official website of Love and Respect. Good Stuff.

Ephesians 5:21 -33 The Message

The following passage of Scripture is from Ephesians 5:21-33 and is taken from a transaltion of the Bible called The Message by Eugene Peterson

21Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
22-24Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
25-28Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.
29-33No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

For SCC - Love and Respect 6-10-07

Sunday was about Mr. and Mrs. Imperfect showing love and respect to one another. We took a brief look at a few verses found in Ephesians 5:21-33 that offer some instruction on a relationship between a husband and wife. We focused on a husband showing love for his wife and a wife showing respect towards her husband.

I prefaced what was presented with the following comments. Family is very important to God. It was His idea. Marriage, the union between a man and woman is very important to God. It was His idea. In Scripture you will find various roles that a husband and wife will fulfill in a marriage. Friends,partner, counselor, lover, confidant, encourager, corrector, buddy. You will not find in Scripture that the wife is too stay at home and be a homemaker and the husband is to go to work and earn the income and the wife is to take care of "homemaker stuff" and the husband is to take care of "manly stuff". You will find that a husband and wife are to honor one another, lift one another up and honor God in their relationship. In Ephesians 5:21-33 you will find that out of honor to Christ we are all to submit to one another and respect one another. You will find that a wife is to submit to her husband as she does to Jesus Christ and that a husband is to love his wife as much as Jesus loved the church and gave His life for the church.

A husband is to love his wife. The Greek word used for love in this passage means an unconditional love, a welcoming love, a love that bestows life into a person. It is the type of love that God has for us. It is not a "I love you if... or a I love you because..." It is a "I love you (period). This love is much more than a feeling. It is an action word. It is self sacrificing, giving, other oriented, and very considerate of the other. This love that the husband is to show for his wife is relational. It moves past rules, regulations, guidelines and preconceived roles. In this type of love the husband is committed to is wife's fulfillment, joy, purpose and beauty.

A wife is to respect her husband. The Greek word used in this passage means for the wife to submit to her husband. It means to arrange under, to submit to one's control, to obey. In the military sense it means to troop divisions under the command of a leader. In the non-military sense it means to have a voluntary attitude of giving in.., cooperating, carrying a burden, to place yourself below the other. a wife is to honor and respect her husband. When a wife submits to er husband as she does to Jesus Christ she is honoring her husband and God. This does not mean that a wife is n to be heard. This does not mean a wife is to be a doormat. this does not mean that a wife is to stay at home and take care of all the "wife stuff". It does mean that a wife is to willingly submit to her husband. It does meant that a wife is to honor her husband. It does mean that a wife is to lift up her husband and respect him.

Love and Respect is not all there is to a marriage relationship. There is much more, but the Ephesians passage is about love and respect. the two words if fleshed out taught in this passage will produce satisfying fruit in a marriage relationship.

As a Hope Deal I have to opportunity to be involved in wedding ceremonies of various types, but every couple has one intent in their marriage, "BLISS". These truth of love and respect can lead to marriage bliss.

A GOD GIVEN DREAM

A GOD GIVEN DREAM will stir your passion.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will be humanly impossible to accomplish.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will make a life time impression on you.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will lead you to practice strong faith.
A GOD GIVEN DREAM will be attacked by the dark side and enemy of our souls.

Adapted from 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer, Injoy Stewardship Services

JFT (Just For Thought)

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Thomas Edison

Variety and Unity

The following are just a few verses of Scripture about the topic of variety and unity. These verses were written to a specific group of people and were addressing a church family. They can be applied to todays church family, work groups, friendships and the family unit.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:3-7

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. I Corinthians 12:4-7, 12, 14

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:2-3

For SCC - Thank God for One Anothir 6-3-07

This month Sunrise is continuing with the theme of The Imperficts. During this series we are delving into family life and issues and discovering ways to live in joy in the midst of The Imperficts or the family unit in which we live. This past Sunday the topic was Thank God for One Anothir: Family Fun. In our families we can thank God for many things, but we focused on giving thanks for variety and for unity. Thank God for variety. Thank God for the different personalities, abilities, and ways of approaching life that each family member adds to the family unit. Variety adds spice and pizazz to the family. Variety broadens your horizons, leads to learning and makes family life and life in general more enjoyable. Instead of picking one another apart we can choose to be thankful for one another and place a high value on variety and each family members uniqueness. We have the opportunity to choose being thankful and enjoying variety which will lead to more family conversation, openness, forgiveness, encouragement, and joy in our lives. We also discussed being thankful for unity. Family unity leads to less "busyness" and more purpose, direction, meaning and joy. The poll questions about busyness revealed no one in the crowd desired more busyness in the lives, and yet almost everyone desired more purpose, direction, meaning and joy. Seeking to create unity and thanking God for one another will lead to more purpose, direction, meaning and joy in our family lives and in life in general.

Variety comes somewhat naturally in the family unit because none of us are alike. We may have some of the same tendencies but each person in the family is a unique individual. Unity does not seem to happen naturally. A few ways we can develop unity in our families are spending time together, listening to one another, sharing with one another and having family fun together.

This week speak these words to your family members on a regular basis. If you cant do it during the week do it just one evening. "I love you." "I thank God for you." "You are important to this family." These three statements are a good start to Thanking God for One Anothir.

Communicating With Your Child

Eight Helpful Hints for Healthy Communication with Your Child:

1.Think before you speak.
2. Stress the positive.
3. Deal with the negative in a very clear, concise and character building manner.
4. Spend time with your child.
5. Love your child even when you do not like what your child is doing or has done.
6. Apologize when you make a mistake or "blow it".
7. Keep in mind that parenting is not a dash it is a marathon.
8. Pray for yourself and your child daily.

These are adapted from Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Dr. Kevin Leman.

Hopeful Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Praying with a thankful, hopeful, and bold heart. The above prayer was written by the apostle Paul while he was on an extended vacation and enjoying the beaches of the Med. WRONG. The prayer was written from jail. Not a jail with A/C, ping pong and three nice meals a day. A jail that was not very sanitary, meals were not a given and neither was his next day. Yet, he writes with hope. How? v.6 above. Paul had confidence not in himself or in his circumstances, but in God. He knew God would complete the work He had begun. God is in Control. Really. God is in Control. God is working in you and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is moving in your family and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is moving in your job situation and He will complete the work. HOPE. God in working in your spiritual growth and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is working in your finances and He will complete the work. HOPE. God is moving. HOPE. Look again at v.6 above. Claim this verse for you, your family, your career, your finances, your faith walk. HOPE.

Hit the pause button in life today and HOPE for just a few seconds.

For SCC - 5-27-07 Raising Heavin Raisirs

On Sunday, May 27 we dreamed about "Raising Heaven Raisirs". Actually we did more than dream. Steve Gabriele put together three drama sketches that helped us see a heaven raisir who was 7, 15, and 40 years old. It was a pretty picture. It helped us see what a heaven raisir may look like in everyday life. "Raising Heaven Raisirs." If you are a parent, uncle, aunt, grandparent, step parent, foster parent, etc. you have the opportunity to raise heaven raisirs. What a thrill. What an opportunity. What if? What if we who are parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, step parents, foster parents developed a plan to raise heaven raisirs? What if we sought to raise up a whole generation that loved God, loved people, and served Jesus Christ. What if we prayed, planned, and prepared to raise children who are givers, respectful, honest, bold, fun, thankful, obedient, healthy emotionally and walk with God? Just imagine. What if? Well, if you are around children you have that opportunity and, "What if?", can become more of a reality if we will choose to practice the following.

One. Humble yourself before God. Place yourself and your life in God's hand. recognize that their is a God and you are not He or She. In humbling yourself before God you begin to recognize His blessings, you begin to understand that life is a gift, you gain insight into life, meaning, purpose and raising heaven raisirs.


Two. Be bold in your faith. Faith is the assurance of things asked for and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Live in hope. Place your faith in God and watch him begin to be and do wonderful things in your life and in the life of your children. Choose to live in faith in the good times and in the bad times. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Seek to please God by living in faith in your family life, financial life and work life. Please God by living in faith. Pray for your children. speak words of truth to your children. By faith raise heaven raisirs.


Three. Be what you want them Your children) to be. None of this, "Do what I say, not what I do." Instead. Be what I am showing and living for you. You want your children to obey. Then obey. You want your children to be honest. Be honest. You want your children to apologize when wrong. then apologize when wrong. You get the picture. Be what you want them to be. Be a heaven raisir. You ask, "What is a heaven raisir?" I answer, "What is a hell raiser?" You know. Now go opposite. Yeah, that's it. Let me help you out. A heaven raisir is caring, respectful, honest, fun, joyful, shares, is thankful, helps around the house, listens, is positive about life, .....

What if?

The various verses and passages used from the Bible: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 127:3-5;
Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossains 3:20-21.

Birthday

The Nethery clan celebrated Dawson's 14th Birthday yesterday. We celebrated by saying Happy Birthday to him many times, giving cards and gifts, and eating at his place of choice, Chili's. He likes their rib's. His friends helped him celebrate by giving him their lunch money change to the total of $8.00. Pretty Cool. He stayed up late playing Call of Duty 3 on his playstaion and had a great time. Birthdays. Hope. Birthdays are fun unless you are a forty year old woman or man. Just Joking. Birthdays are a time of celebration. One friend celebrated his wife's B-day on May 22 by spending the day with her and hanging out while browsing and shopping in area malls and stores. She did not have to do a thing all day, but enjoy. Another guy I know recently had a 40th surprise party for his wife. It was awesome. Huge crowd. Great food and fun. Perfect gifts. Celebration. And she was SURPRISED. Birthdays are fun. Hope is fun. Hope is positive, sees opportunities, speaks encouraging words, gives live, and is a gift from God. HOPE. Birthdays are also a gift from God. Today, live in hope.

Alive

"That we are alive today is proof positive that God has someting for us to do today."

From the flip calendar in kitchen window.

Be alive.

Be in Christ.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Be joyful.

Be positive.

Be aware.

Be...

Do Live.

Do bless other.

Do honor God.

Do laugh.

Do encourage.

Do notice.

Do...

For SCC - 5-13-07 Moms, You Mattir!

This past Sunday we started a new series titled Meet The Imperfects. I'm imperfect, you're imperfect, we're all imperfect. This morning when you woke up and lookedinto your beautiful eyes in the mirror, you met imperfect face to face. I am aware that may be a hard pill to swallow, but it sure does lead to good health. We will have fun in may and June as we "Meet The Imperfects."

The Mother's Day service was great. Ladies, enjoy your flip quote book and give the extra one you may have received away to a friend or family member. Thanks to jenny Michonski for ordering the quote books and for putting together to gifts bafs we gave away to four mothers during the service. Sunrise has a great time giving to others. Moms, thanks for all that you give to your children and to society. Moms, you mattir. Your prayers mattir. Your help mattirs. Moms, be bold, it mattirs. You mattir. Your prayers are vital to the spiritual health and growth of your children and family. Offer those prayers. Your help and nuture mattirs. Your encouragement mattirs, your correction mattirs, your guidance mattirs. Moms be bold in truth and righteousness. If married, be bold in your love and honor towards your husband. Be bold in doiing the right thing and teaching your children to do the firght thing. Be bold in your passion for life. Be bold in living your dreams. Be bold and help your children live from there heart for God. Moms, you mattir. This week spend a few extra minutes petitioning god on bealf of your children. Evaluate how you are helping your childen grow in Christ and as a person and be bold in your wlak with God. So bold that it is evident who you follow in truth and grace.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Happy Day After Mother's Day

"There are not a lot of things moms do, they are just kinda there."
Dawson Nethery

Early. Happy Mother's Day

Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors.
In parts of the United States it is customary to plant tomatoes outdoors after mother's day (and not before.)
When Jarvis died, her daughter, named Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, in the Andrews Methodist Episcopal (now United Methodist) Church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday School. Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. The 1912 General Conference of The Methodist Episcopal Church, at the suggestion of delegates from Andrews M.E. Church, recognized Jarvis as the founder and advocated the celebration of the holiday. From there, the custom caught on — spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honour of those mothers whose sons had died in war. Nine years after the first official Mother's Day holiday, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. Mother's Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. holidays.

Moms, We really do appreciate you. Happy Mother's Day.

Do you ever need one of these?

When negative words are about to come forth?

Even the negative can be seen and spoken as a positive with a little heart adjustment, head thinking and tongue taming. I know that I need the clothes pin at times, not for clothes but for my lips. Positive people, positive words, positive cash flow and positive. We like positive. Let's speak positive.

Hope. Heavy Stuff Man.

Look, I am making all things new.
Jesus Christ

This is taken from the Bible. Jesus speaking to people like you and me.

Growth. Heavy Stuff Man.

For most people it's not what they are that holds them back. It''s what they think they're not.
John Maxwell

This is taken from Becominig A Person of Influence by John Maxwell.

Purpose. Heavy Stuff Man.

...life is about lettiing God use you for his purposes, not you using him for your own purposes.
Rick Warren

This is taken from What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

Desire. Heavy Stuff Man.

The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.
Ben Stein

This is taken from Chapter 5 of Outrageous, Contagious Joy by Ed Young

Proseuchomai: To ask; pray

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:6-8 found in the Bible

Acts 2:42-47

41-42That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
43-45Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.
46-47They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
Acts 2:42-47 found in the Bible

For SCC - 5-6-07 The Church: A Wild Party - Reachig In: Community

Sunday was cool. Community is awesome. Real community is sweet. Being with people who care for you and desire the best for you is charging. Hangin' with the people of Sunrise is awesome, sweet and charging. As we worshipped through song during the service I had priveledge of being in the Dark Room with Jack Michonski and Barbie Hofler. They sing great. The three of us turned the Dark Room into a little space of huge worship as we lifted our hearts and voices to God as GLARE led us into God's presence. A wild party. Community. Charging.

Andrea Doane helped us understand community through her dramatic presentation of the phone calls from a friend. Steve Gabriele and the Set-up Team are definitely experiencing a wild party as they set up on Sunday mornings and develop a sense of community with one another and the new people who are joining the team. Community is a charge. A charge in life and for living.

As we reach up and worship God He will lead us to reach out and share with others and reach in to those we meet and begin to expereince community. Reaching in is about welcoming people, meeting new people, and partying together.

Community is a wild party. Community: to Love and Be Loved. To Know and to Be Known. To Serve and Be Served. To Celebrate and Be Celebrated. Community is about God, you and others. Community takes courage and commitment. By God's goodness may we keep the wild party going. Let's party.

NDP in Portsmouth, VA

I had the honor to attend a NDP gatheing a noon today in the City Hall Building of Portsmouth. The gathering was well done and the prayers stirring. The whole atmosphere created by the committee was excellent and welcoming. It was obvius that the people who planned the event and put time into the event wanted people to encounter an awesome God and enjoy meeting new people of common faith in Jesus Christ. Hats off to Deputy Chief Troy Tilley (who is a part of SCC and is loved by SCC even though he is a Redskin fan), the committee members who helped plan the event and Mary (Go Cowboys!!!) for moving us into the presense of God this early afternoon. May God answer as we call out. May we hear and obey as God answers.

PROSEUCHOMAI!!!

National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 3, 2007 is National Day of Prayer in the U.S. May we spend time throughout the whole day in prayer for our nation. May we bless God. Take time to STP. Stop, Think, Pray. In your transitions STP. Go to www.ndptf.org for more information. It is a website worth your time.

Be Aware of God

Taken from Joel

The below is from Joel Osteen on 5-1-07. So true and good I wanted to post it. This is about hope. Forward is a word of hope.

Be Courageous

Today's Scripture
"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."(Joshua 1:9)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God says not to tremble or be dismayed by anything, because He is with you wherever you may go. That is such an encouragement, and it's absolutely true! You should be walking around in life without even the slightest amount of fear, because that is not the nature God gave you. You should refuse to be defeated by the things around you, even if they seem insurmountable. Perhaps one definition of courage might be staying strong and moving forward, even when most would give up and even surrender their ground to fear. Be strong and courageous today for God and do not allow yourself to be defeated by fear or the unknown!

A Prayer for Today
God, I want to live and serve You boldly without being crippled by fear. Make me strong and courageous in Your power to do what You want me to do. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Healthy Heart

There is no better exercise for strengthening the heart than reaching down and lifting up another.

Phillip Goes Wild - Phillip Reaches Out

26-28Later God's angel spoke to Philip: "At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza." He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29-30The Spirit told Philip, "Climb into the chariot." Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?"
31-33He answered, "How can I without some help?" and invited Philip into the chariot with him. The passage he was reading was this: As a sheep led to slaughter, and quiet as a lamb being sheared, He was silent, saying nothing. He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial. But who now can count his kin since he's been taken from the earth?
34-35The eunuch said, "Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?" Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.
36-39As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, "Here's water. Why can't I be baptized?" He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn't mind. He had what he'd come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be.
40Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the Message in all the villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea.
Acts 8:26-40 found in the Bible

For SCC - 4-29-07 The Church: A Wild People - Reaching Out: Sharing

Where is your dollar coin? Place it in an area where you will see it several times every day of the week. May it remind you that sharing is fun. May it remind you of how much God has given each of us in Jesus Christ. In Christ we have eternal life, eternal hope, real purpose, real meaning, new perspective, power, love, self-discipline, LIFE. Let's reach out and share with others we know and meet the good news of hope in Christ.

Thank God that someone took the time to share with Marcus Dulin at the Bowling Alley over 10 years ago. Because someone shared Marcus has and is experiencing life change and new purpose. Because someone was wild in their faith Marcus is blessing many today. Go Wild!!! God will bring people into your life this week so that you can have the opportunity to tell them about the dollar coin. Have some fun.

Be Aware of God.

He is always active and calling out for us to join Him as He seeks to give dollar coins to others. He desires to work in and through you to help others experience what you are experiencing in Jesus.

Start A Conversation.

Say hello to someone. Take some cake to your office. Buy your close co-workers lunch and tell them it is because of the dollar coin. They will ask. Listen to someone very intently this week when they open up to you. Didn't we go to Kindergarten together?

Focus on Jesus Christ.

When you begin to share your story with others in your family, friendships, and working life include what Jesus Christ is doing in your life. You do not have to become all religious and use big words. Just tell them how God is working in your life through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Where is that dollar coin? Thanks to Marcus Dulin, GLARE, and the bank for helping us discover how to be A Wild People and Reach Out through Sharing.