Initiated by God!

Published on 10:57, 01/25,2010
I have to admit to you that I am totally blown away and humbled by God's working within this ministry. I am writing this devotional at 1:10 am and have just looked at the online registrations for 50 Days of Fitness. At this present time we have 1,225 people who have signed up online! (That doesn't count the many of you who signed up with the paper forms!) What has started out as a dream is turning into a reality...a really big reality. A reality that can produce fear and anxiety unless...God is in it. You see, where God guides, He provides! These words from God have really encouraged my heart,
 
"Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it."  Isaiah 46:11
 
God is the one speaking in this verse. What God initiates, He completes! When God speaks, He guarantees it will come to pass. This is not a "name it and claim it" philosophy. If we name it, it may or may not come to pass. However, whatever He names and claims, will come to pass. This why it is so important to know God's direction and purpose for our lives and for our ministry. When you know you are in the center of God's will, you can walk in confidence. The waters may get high and a bit choppy, but He is right there with you. When you come out on the other side, your faith is strengthened and your heart encouraged. Find out what God wants to do in and through your life, and then put Him to the test...He'll pass with flying colors!
 
Point to Ponder: What God initiates, God completes!
 
Question to Consider: Can you think of a direction God wants you to walk in where failure is guaranteed, unless He shows up?
 
Love,
 
Pastor Todd

 

Suffering!

Published on 10:54, 01/25,2010
Have you ever read a verse and just shook your head, not grasping the full impact of the verse? That is what I am doing with the verse found in Philippians 1:29,
 
"For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."
 
Trusting in Christ certainly is a privilege, but suffering for Him? The last time I checked suffering was never put into the privilege column in my life. Suffering has always been something I endure, but never something I should embrace. And here is the cherry on top, we are to count it a privilege to suffer for Him! Put yourself out there for Christ. Be willing to take some risks so that Christ's name may be glorified in you. Don't be afraid of potential ridicule because you are a Christ follower.
 
When it comes to suffering, make sure your suffering isn't a result of stupidity. All suffering brings a bucket load of pain, just make sure you're not filling up the bucket! Check your life; are you suffering for your commitment to Christ in any way? Is the suffering you are experiencing a result of Who you represent or by the way you are living. Something to think about...
 
Point to Ponder: Suffering for Christ is something to embrace, not just endure.
 
Question to Consider: If I am suffering today, is it because of my Savior or my stupidity?
 
Love,
 
Pastor Todd
 

 

Reconciliation

Published on 10:21, 01/13,2010
Do you believe your life is a series of random acts, or do you believe the events in your life have been placed there deliberately? The answer to this question will determine how you respond to situations that come into your life. More specifically, it will determine how you respond to people who come across your path. I firmly believe that God has a plan for your life. He has created you on purpose and for a purpose. God has created you with a purpose, and part of that purpose is to assist people in finding their God given purpose. God puts it this way in 2Corinthians 5: 17-20,
 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
Did you catch your purpose in these verses. God has given you a ministry and it is the ministry of reconciliation. To reconcile is to bring two parties together. There is an estrangement between two individuals. Man is born separated from the God who created him and we are called to help bring the two back together. Now, back to the original question, do you believe people have been placed in your life randomly or deliberately? It is my conviction that God places people in our lives so we can connect them to Him. In fact, verse 20 says, "we are Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us."
God's desire for mankind is that they know Him and He chooses us to get that message across. That is why I will use whatever means to get that message across. Sometimes the message will be very overt, like a Slooze Show on a missions trip, and other times it may be a bit more covert, like 50 Days of Fitness. Use the tools provided for you to fulfill your ministry of reconciliation.
Point to Ponder: My purpose to help people find their purpose in life.
Question to Consider: Will I use every means available to fulfill my ministry of reconciliation?
Love,
Pastor Todd

 

Moldable!

Published on 10:18, 01/13,2010
How flexible is your life? Honestly, if God were to say to you, "I want to take you in this direction," or "I  want to rearrange this part of your life," or "I want to send you to this person," how would you respond? Listen to the word's of God to Jeremiah,
"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."         Jeremiah 18:1-6
In order for the clay to be useful, it must remain moldable. Clay that is not moldable is not useful. The Christian who stiffens up and refuses to be molded by God will never be used of God. So what does God do with the person who won't be shaped by the hands of the Master? God breaks him and He starts over. He doesn't give up on the clay...He simply breaks him and continues shaping him. The breaking process is painful, but necessary if we are to become all that He wants us to be. God is always more concerned about our character than our comfort. He wants us to become like Him. Let Him do His work on you today.
Point to Ponder: The useful life is a moldable life.
Question to Consider: Will I allow God to mold me today or must He break me instead?
Love,
Pastor Todd

 

Let Jesus Lead Your Way!

Published on 10:16, 01/13,2010
I don't know if you have ever gone through the study, Experiencing God, but it is a study that will transform your life! It is one that will push you to next level living and stretch your view of God and how He works in your life. Over the next week or two I will be sharing Biblical principles on how to experience God through Henry Blackaby and Claude King's book, Experiencing God.
Jesus said in John 14:6,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but through me."   
Interesting that Jesus did not say, "I will show you the way", or "I will give you a road map", or "I'll tell you which direction to head". Jesus said, "I am the way." Here is the point, if I follow Jesus' leading in my life I will always be in the center of God's will. I will never go off course. Never. So many of us are looking for God's direction in our lives. I am looking for God's leading in my life personally and for this ministry. What are we do do? Follow Jesus. He not only knows the way, He is the way! He is your way. He is your way out of your situation in life. He will not lead you astray. As our good shepherd, He will navigate us through life's sometimes murky waters, and the best part is He is right there with us.
Trust Jesus as your way today. Get into His Word and seek His leading for your life. Let me get personal with you, I need for you to pray that I will always follow Jesus' leading for my life and the ministry. I believe God has led us to a third service. I believe God has led us to do 50 Days of Fitness. Join me in following God's lead for this ministry. The journey is much sweeter when you travel it with others. I want you with me, and I am not ashamed to tell you that I need you with me. This direction from God for our ministry can only be accomplished collectively. Let's buckle up and enjoy the ride together!
Point to Ponder: Not only is Jesus the way, He is your way! 
Question to Consider: What avenue is Jesus leading me in where I don't completely know where He is taking me? Can I trust Him?
Love,
Pastor Todd

 

Laughter & Learning

Published on 10:15, 01/13,2010
It has been said that the family that prays together, stays together. This is so very true and an activity that we need to be consistently doing. But I would like to add another factor for family cohesiveness; the family that plays together, stays together. There is something special that happens when we are enjoying life with those we love. I truly believe that the greatest degree of learning takes place in an atmosphere of fun. Some of our greatest teaching times can come in those unplanned, spontaneous moments produced through fun. Proverbs 17:22 says,
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
Take the time to laugh with your family. Through laughter, learning can take place. Children, enjoy the company of your parents. Parents, enjoy the company of your children. Husbands and wives, enjoy the company of your spouses. Grandparents, enjoy the company of your grandchildren and grandchildren enjoy the company of your grandparents. Create moments of happiness. Make it a priority to pray and play together. It is good medicine. Medicine for the heart and soul. Through laughter we learn to lighten up.
Serotonin is God's natural happy pill and research shows that serotonin levels are boosted through exercise. The upcoming 50 Days of Fitness program can be a GREAT way to make your family healthier and happier! Enroll your children (ages 5 through fifth grade) in our KIDFIT program run by Florida Hospital. (Space is limited, so register immediately!) Enjoy family exercise and activity together, because remember...the family that plays together, stays together!
Point to Ponder: The family that prays and plays together, stays together.
Question to Consider: Am I creating moments of learning through laughter? 
Love,
Pastor Todd

 

Ordinary Folk!

Published on 10:13, 01/13,2010
This week I am focusing on God doing extraordinary things in your life. I want to expand your vision of what God wants to do in your life. Have you ever wondered why God uses people like you and me? Think about it. Wouldn't God be better served to use superstar believers? You know, those cats that have more talent in their pinky finger than we have in our whole body. There are those who things just come so naturally to them and they glide through life without breaking a sweat. Why does God use ordinary folk to do extraordinary things? The answer I believe is in 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29,
"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."
These verses blow me away. In a society that values talent, looks and status, God looks past all of that and CHOOSES ordinary, run of the mill folk. I am so encouraged by this concept of God. There may not be anything special in me, but their is a lot special about who is in me. For the record, the reason why God uses the normal man is found in verse twenty nine, "that no flesh should glory in His presence." God wants all the credit and all the glory. Let's purpose to put ourselves in such a position, that the work done in us and through us is so significant that only He can get the glory! I want this in my life personally and for this ministry collectively. Bring it on God!
Point to Ponder: God chooses ordinary, run of the mill folk.
Question to Consider: Have I given God the opportunity to do something extraordinary in my life?
Love, 
Pastor Todd

 

Under Construction!

Published on 06:54, 01/06,2010
This time of year conjures up a lot of memories of my father. It is well documented the impact he had on my life. It has been 11 years, New Year's Eve, that my father died and went home to be with the Lord. He had a favorite verse that highlights God's continued work in our lives. It is found in Philippians 1:6 NLT,
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue  His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
I love this verse. God says He isn't finished with us yet. We are a continuous work in progress. You might as well put a sign around your neck that says "Under Construction"! Does that mean that I accept my flaws and shortcomings? Do I no longer have to worry about the sins I struggle with? Of course not. God wants me to work with Him in making me more like Jesus. What it does mean is God loves and accepts me, flaws and all! Knowing this makes me what to change even more. His acceptance of me isn't performance based or how clean my life is. When this concept is fully grasped, it should make us want to change!
The new year brings with it a desire for change. We need to correct things in our lives that got off course throughout the year. Right what needs to be righted...not because you have to gain His love, but because you already have it! You think about that.
Point to ponder: I right things in my life, not to gain His love, but because I already have it!
Question to Consider: What changes do need to take place in my life this year?
Please take the time to register for the upcoming 50 Days of Fitness. I beg you to use this opportunity to introduce those you care about to the Lord and this ministry. Don't let this opportunity pass you by. You and your friends can register online at www.50daysoffitness.com. This Sunday we start a new series called Health Care Reform. Invite a friend and I'll see you Sunday. And remember to pray for our new Sunday night worship service starting on January 17th at 5:00 pm.
Love,
Pastor Todd

 
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