Attitude Adjustment

Over the past few months, I have found myself in situations both personally and professionally that challenged my attitude…let’s just say, it wasn’t good. Things were changing for me outside of my control, and in my humanness, I thought only of myself and the way these changes affected me. Being on staff at the church, I was aware of the new series we were about to start, so a couple of months ago, I decided to prepare by reading through the book of Matthew.

In my quiet time one morning, I was reading Matthew 16, where Peter corrects Jesus and tells Him that he doesn’t think He has to die. Peter says to Jesus in verse 22 “This will never happen to You!” Then Jesus turns to Peter and says these words; they jumped right off the page at me:

“…You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.”

Matthew 16:23-25

Those words challenged everything that I was thinking and feeling. I was fighting for my rights, things I felt I deserved and was entitled to. But Jesus says if I truly want to follow Him, I need to lay all of that aside. I let go of those attitudes that morning and laid all of it at Jesus’ feet, and I have to say I have experienced tremendous freedom in doing so.

I anticipate that this next year in the book of Matthew will challenge all of us, individually and as a church. It’s going to rock the world that we know… and I’m looking forward to it! 

Blessings,
Marcie Delaney

Perception vs. Reality

Perception is not necessarily reality. There is the way something appears, and there is the way it truly is.  In Joshua 9, the people of Israel were faced with a dilemma about illusion and truth. They were making their way into the Promised Land, and all the enemy nations were terrified to meet them in battle. A group of people called the Gibeonites came up with a plan to deceive the Israelites into making a treaty with them. The Gibeonites pretended to be poor and from a faraway land by wearing old shoes, torn clothes and by putting moldy bread in their travel bags.

They came to the leaders of Israel and presented their case; they needed help. They needed the people of Israel to care for them. They needed protection. The leaders looked at the Gibeonites and saw that they looked poor and broken. Everything appeared to be true. Perception defined reality, and the Israelites signed an agreement with the Gibeonites. All seemed to go according to plan. Except for one thing. 

Joshua 9:14 reads, “The Israelites sampled their (the Gibeonites) provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.” All the evidence pointed positively to going forward with an agreement. But no one stopped to ask God and listen for His voice on the matter. What appeared to be a good thing ended up creating trouble for Israel for generations afterward because they did not pause to listen to the One who sees perfectly through every deception and reveals truth to those who pause to listen.

Jesus promises us in John 10 that we can hear His voice and live responsively to His leading. His call to us is to take moments everyday where we will pause, inquire of Him, and obey His promptings that lead us into a full and abundant life. 

What are you facing today that is an opportunity for you to inquire of the Lord? Pause; tell Jesus what is on your heart and listen to Him. Read John 10, and take time to reflect on His voice in your life.

Peace,
Wade

The End

It was Spring 2011.  I was browsing through reading plans on my phone's Bible app when I noticed something called 'Essential 100.'  This is right from the plan's description:  "The Essential 100 Challenge (E100) helps you get an overview of the Bible...without getting bogged down.  The Plan guides you through 50 Old Testament passages and 50 New Testament passages - The Essential 100 - so you can see the big picture of God's Word, and form a daily Bible reading habit in the process."

So even though E100 was created as a personal reading plan, I wondered what might happen if we used it to form our weekend teaching schedule.  What if we taught all 100 passages over 25 months?  I floated the idea to staff leaders and Elders and after much prayer and consideration, the idea seemed good to the Spirit and to us, so we took the plunge. 

What a ride it's been!  Studying the full width and breadth of Bible has had a profound impact on me and many others, and it's shaped the culture of our church.  I can't believe it's over.  The journey we began on September 10/11, 2011 ends this weekend with a message from the last chapter of the Bible - Revelation 22.

I hope you'll be with us on Saturday or Sunday as we wrap it up.  It doesn't matter how much of the series you've participated in.  Unlike a popular television show that broadcast its series finale last Sunday, what you'll experience this weekend doesn't depend on being current.  It's quite okay to jump in for the finale, because as we come to the end of God's story I'm confident it will all make sense and you'll be able find your place in it.

I don't think I've ever looked forward to a weekend of teaching this much.  If you're willing, would you pray for me as I prepare?  And pray that God would be glorified as we bring this series to a close and get ready for Thanksgiving and 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Greg