Enough

2 Corinthians 9:10-15

"For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.  Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.  And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!"

As I was praying about a few things... God led me to the topic of generosity. What does that look like in the heart of a believer?  What does it say about our faith in God.  As I thought through this, I came across a great devotional from our friends at NewSpring Church in South Carolina.  I have included that devotional below.  I hope it inspires you as it has me... 

"I worry about not having enough, not doing enough, not saying enough. I behave as if what God can do through me is limited to what I can provide. But God makes a clear promise in 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 that we will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.

God's grace will never run dry. He will supply us with overflowing generosity. That generosity isn't meant to be hoarded; it's meant to be given. God’s generosity to us should spill out to those around us. We will never have to worry about giving enough or being good enough because God's grace poured out to us will never run out. 2 Corinthians 9:13 says, “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

What God can do through us is not limited to what we can provide. It is exponential and unfathomable when we live in obedience, expecting His provision and sharing generously the gospel of Christ and what He has and continues to give us."

The entire devotional can be found here:  https://newspring.cc/blog/devotionals/overflowing-generosity

People Matter

2 Cor. 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"


There's nothing more powerful than lives changed by Christ:

-  A marriage on the brink of divorce reversed at the last minute by the power of forgiveness.

-  A teenager reuniting with parents after a long time running away.

-  An addict waking up the the sunrise of the rest of her life... clean, sober, and in love with her Creator.

A troubled student now confident.... a former inmate now freed.

People matter to God.  They are His masterpiece and are created in His likeness... with a purpose and a destiny... with a dream in their hearts... ready to take on the world.


People matter.  You matter.  And it's because of this that Potential Church exists.  There is no other reason... simply because people matter to God and He wants to be in a growing relationship with each one of them.  And God's plan A to accomplish this?  The local church.

Each campus... in cities around the world... welcoming those that are hurting to find healing.

For the hopeless to rediscover hope.

For the lost to be found by the outstretched arms of a Savior who gave everything to spend eternity with them.

We believe that God is just getting started through Potential Church... all of it's campuses... and the best is yet to come.

God is ready to do more things in more cities through Potential Church.

Are you ready to join Him?

Why Are We Here?

Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

People often ask me… “What’s my purpose in life? What has God put me here to do?”

No matter what we do vocationally, if we are Christ-followers our purpose is all the same. It’s the verse we just read above. Jesus tells us that our mission includes three main directives:

1) Go tell people about Christ
2) Help believers take their next step of baptism
3) Explain what God is looking for in obedience… and live it out ourselves.

That’s it. That’s our mission. Before Jesus left for Heaven, He told His disciples to do those three things with the rest of their lives. Share. Baptize. Obey. Those were the instructions given to early believers and nothing has changed since that day.

It’s also the very heart of what we have been called to do at Potential Church.

Which makes sense… because as I’ve said many times on the weekends… you and I… the people… make up the church. It’s not a building or an address. It’s a gathering of diverse people with a common goal: to fulfill the Great Commission as Jesus instructed in Matthew 28.

Once in awhile someone will ask why we have multiple locations… after all, wouldn’t one big building be just as affective doing these three commands? Wouldn’t it make sense to just stay in one place and let people come to us to hear the life-changing message of the Gospel? Why not just pick one city?

Why? Because Jesus tells us to “go”. Go and make disciples. Go and baptize them. Go and teach them about obedience to God. Jesus tells us to do whatever we can to share His love with the planet He died for. Why not just pick one city? Because God has given us the vision to start campuses in fifty. Why so many? Because we want to share the Gospel with as many people in as many cities and countries as we can! We want to see campuses launch in parts of the world that many have given up on. We want to be able to impact families, communities, cities, and counties… changing the world for the cause of Christ. And all of it… for His glory and not our own.

Why keep growing?

Because not everybody knows about Jesus yet. We may not be able to reach them all… but we aren’t going to sit idly by and wait for them to come to us. We are going to get out there, establish a campus, and hit the streets of whatever city we are led to… telling the hopeless that there is hope… and inviting those far from God to experience a love like no other in Him.

We are committed to fulfilling God’s Great Commission through multiple locations.

We are committed to sharing the greatest news ever shared.

And we are committed to you… partnering with you to help you reach your God potential

Are you ready to change the world?
Let’s pursue God’s purpose together.

If you would like more information about any of our campuses... or how you can get involved in starting new ones... check out our website - www.potentialchurch.com 

Our Turn

Amazing isn't it?  It's great to look back and celebrate all that God has done in and through Potential Church over the past 30+ years.  Maybe you attend one of our campuses... maybe you've watched a service online or on TV.   In any case, celebrating the past is something that we should do every once in awhile to remind ourselves of what God has done.

But where do we go from here?  What will that video look like ten years from now?  Twenty?  Where will those future campuses be?  Will your children or grandchildren be smiling as they experience Christ in that future video?  Will a campus be constructed in your neighborhood...only minutes from your home?  Will thousands more be shown getting baptized on the beach?  Only God can see that far... but we believe that He has appointed us...now...to start the next chapter in our history.

The time has come for Temple Centurions to step forward.

As we talked about last weekend, our Temple Centurions are those that give above and beyond their tithe toward one of five areas or pillars listed on our website here: http://potentialchurch.com/new2014/?page_id=13317

And why?  Because God is moving us forward to spread the greatest message the world has ever known.  That pursuit requires resources... and those resources will change the world... one campus at a time.

One church.  One family.  One goal.  50 Campuses - 100,000 people in attendance each weekend - 150 million dollar budget to resource it all.

Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."   The greatest thing about being a Temple Centurion... not only will our generosity help change the lives of those that walk through the doors of our campuses... but the blessings we receive as a result of our giving will change our own lives.  Time and time again in scripture, God promises that what we reap is what we sow... and the time has come for us to step up boldly and sow into the future of Potential Church.

Are you ready?  It's going to be an amazing journey.

Apples and Seeds

An anonymous writer once penned, “Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed.”  

Often we see life just like this simple statement.  We perceive what’s right in front of us: the pile of bills, the deadlines, the obligations, and the challenges.  It’s pretty easy to count what we have stacked up against us.   But God has a different field of vision.  Where we see trouble, He sees opportunity for growth.  When we feel pain, He provides  healing and breakthrough.  God’s view of our lives is much different than our own.  He watches our time on earth unfold from the finish line instead of the starting gate.  And it’s because of this that we can trust Him.   

God loves you.  He believes in you.  He has placed air in your lungs and started your heart beating for a reason!  If you ever feel the urge to count troubles... resist.  It’s an easy thing to do and causes more heartache than you were meant to bear.  Instead, stop and remember that God saw those same obstacles and created you anyway... because He knows that you have potential for greatness.  He put it there.  It’s simply a matter of remembering to view your life through God’s lens and not the world’s.

Quiet and Composed

A story is told of a woman whose little girl was throwing a temper tantrum as the two went up and down the aisles of a busy grocery store. The toddler sat in the cart screaming and flailing about. As she continued shopping, she could be heard calmly muttering, "Don't yell, Susie. Calm down, Susie. Don't get excited, Susie."   A woman passing by commended her saying, "You certainly are doing a great job trying to calm down your little girl."  The woman replied, “My little girl?  Lady, I'm Susie!”

When a situation gets loud and out of control, most people make the choice to try to calm who they consider to be the source of the chaos.  They place blame... present an argument as to why the other person should stop their behavior... and are quick to deny any wrongdoing.  The Bible wants us to think differently.  In 2 Thessalonians 3, we read that God wants US to have peace at all times.  Not our noisy neighbor.  Not our out-of-control child.  And not that angry boss.  Us.  When things get out of control... God wants us to calm ourselves.  Why?  Because when we get quiet...we can begin to think, pray, and focus on the actual causes of the problems.  In our newly composed state of mind, logic prevails and love and grace can be displayed.  So today, if you find yourself getting angry and feel like placing blame... just stop.  Ask God to calm your spirit.  And choose to be the peaceful one... you’ll avoid making it worse and will honor God’s intentions in the process.  

Messy

I once heard it said that there is nothing friendlier than a wet dog.  Why?  Because a cold and wet pooch is just looking for a friendly face to comfort them and help get them warm and dry.   

I would guess that no matter where you are today, you’ll run into people.  And while many will not openly admit it... some of them will be looking for hope.  A smiling face.  A friendly disposition... or maybe something more.  Some of them will be looking for the hope that only Christ can bring.   They’ll be seeking the warmth of His embrace.... the affirmation of His presence... and the clarity of His wisdom.  And the great part?  We get to represent Him to those around us.  

We must never forget that if we claim to have a heart for God...we must also have a heart for His people... even the “wet dogs.”  Those that inconvenience us...challenge our patience...and make our lives a little messy.  Remember, if God sends someone our way for help, it’s because He trusts us and our ability to represent Him in their lives.  Rather than spending our lives trying to stay clean, let’s embrace the messy.  Jesus did.   And that’s why we get to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.  

The Key to Joy

It’s been said that laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper... it doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while. So true! When we are upbeat, positive, and keep our sense of humor... good things happen. Doctors tell us that happy people decrease their chances of heart attack, high blood pressure, and hypertension. And those are just the medical benefits!

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 17:22 that “A joyful heart is good medicine” But how can we remain happy throughout our trying days? Psalm 16:11 answers that by saying that we can find joy in God’s presence. So that’s the key! Stay close to God... and He will give us the joy that allows us to laugh when others are anxious and have peace when the world seems dark. When we deliberately stay in God’s Word, talk with Him consistently through prayer, and worship Him through our actions... we draw closer and become filled with more joy in the process. Want to be happy and healthy but find yourself stressed and worried? Get closer to the One who gave you both the reason and ability to smile!

Over?

“And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.” Romans 1:4-5

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” Romans 6:8-11

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...” 1 Peter 1:3

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Matthew 28:1-10

A lot of people think Easter is over.

Plastic eggs... chocolate bunnies... colorful baskets all become half-off discounted items at local stores.

The good feeling we had at church this weekend fades and we are faced with....

Post-Easter monday morning.

You woke up to it today.
All of the songs you sang and felt yesterday have become distant memories...replaced with the droning sound of your office or classroom.

Clothes that once dripped with the waters of baptism are now dried, folded, and put back in their drawer.

I want to encourage you today. Easter isn’t over.

Today’s verses all have one thing in common. They all point directly to our risen Lord and what He did for us over 2000 years ago. He came back. He returned from the dead. His resurrection is the single act in history that changed our eternity forever. He is all that we need and all we could ever want. He loves us more than we could understand and could never earn. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

And he didn’t stay dead. He came back for us.

Last weekend, we celebrated death’s single defeat in the return of Christ. He didn’t come back for us to live weak and defeated lives... He came back so we could stand strong for Him and live boldly.

I want to challenge you this morning to not think of Easter as something that’s “over”... but, instead, as the first day of the new reality. Today starts that new hope... today affirms the truth that, in Christ, you can do all things! Today matters and you matter in it.

Have faith, and keep moving forward. I’ll be praying for you as you take these first steps in your new direction.

Good Friday

The day had finally come.  Friday.  Just five days after Jesus entered the streets of a cheering Jerusalem, He faced the covert plan of His betrayer:

“While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
“The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.”
And he came up to Jesus at once and said,
“Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him,
“Friend, do what you came to do.” -  Matthew 26:47-50

Jesus knew Judas would come.  You can imagine that Christ had played this scene in His mind a few times... that kiss from the lips of the traitor against His cheek... the sounds of the swords clanging together from those that came to capture Him... All of the unnecessary drama from a group of people who had no clue what they were doing.  Jesus would go willingly.  He had been planning on it since the day He was sent to Earth.

Jesus was led away by those He had created.  The beginning of the end...  The end of the beginning...

Scripture tells us that Christ would go through a “trial.”  He was brought before the high priest Annas, Caiaphas, Herod Antipas, and a man by the name of Pontius Pilate.  None of them could pin anything on Him...none of them bold enough to condemn Him to die...that is until Pilate lets the people choose.  Pontius would release one man... a murderer named Barabbas or Jesus.

The people chose the murderer over the Creator.

The King of Kings and Lord or Lords would face the most severe form of torture ever devised by the hands of man...before or since... the cross.  And He would do so without ever thinking a sinful thought.

He would go through it for us.

By this time, Judas Escariot realized he has made a terrible mistake...tried to give the silver back... but eventually gave in to his overwhelming sense of grief.  He knew he had caused the death of an innocent man... and it would cost him his own life by his own hand.

9AM - Noon on Good Friday.  Three hours when the world held its breath, Satan snickered, and eleven scared students of Jesus went into hiding.

And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion.

And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him.  And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.  And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.  And it was the third hour when they crucified him.
And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”

And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying,

“Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!”  So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.  Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.  And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders hearing it said,  “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”  And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,  “Truly this man was the Son of God!”  -  Mark 15:16-39

And they would take Him down.
And they would put Him in a tomb.
And they would wait.

Was Jesus telling the truth when He said He was coming back?

Oh, yes.... He was coming back.   THAT’S what we’re celebrating this Sunday.

Jesus keeps His promises.  The tomb was empty and our eternity was forever changed.

I pray that you and your family/friends will join us this Easter weekend as we celebrate that empty tomb...

Keep inviting people to join us at Potential Church...  It will be a weekend that could change someone's forever.

Blessings to you and yours during this beautiful and holy time of year.

Holy Week - Thursday

The plan was now in place and Jesus knew it.  Thursday was here.... you may hear it called Maundy Thursday... and the last time all of the disciples would be together in one place had come.  Jesus begins preparation for the Passover feast...

“Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying,

“Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

He said,

“Go into the city to a certain man and say to him,

‘The Teacher says,

My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”

And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.”  Matthew 26: 17-19

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another,

“Is it I, Lord?”

He answered,

“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Judas, who would betray him, answered,

“Is it I, Rabbi?”

He said to him,

“You have said so.”

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said,

“Take, eat; this is my body.”

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,

“Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  Matthew 26:20-29

This new covenant between God and Man... shed blood for the forgiveness of sin..  in the next few days, these men that Jesus ate with would see it firsthand.  A new plan was coming...a high price would be paid...and the world would change forever.  

Jesus then washes the feet of his disciples in John 13:1-17:26... demonstrating to them what a true servant does.  He commands them to do likewise...they sing a hymn together (Matthew 26:30)... and Jesus heads to the Mount of Olives to await His destiny.  Judas’ plan was in motion and their two very different destinies would collide in the hours that followed.

Before Jesus faced His captors, He wanted to confront Peter with his future...

“And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written,

‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Peter said to him,

“Even though they all fall away, I will not.”

And Jesus said to him,

“Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

But he said emphatically,

“If I must die with you, I will not deny you.”

And they all said the same.”  -  Mark 14:27-31

It’s interesting that the disciples all thought Jesus was wrong.  They would NEVER deny their Creator!  They would stand boldly in the face of authority and proclaim association with the One who hung the stars and walked on the water.

If only that were true.

In fact, some of His disciples would fail Jesus on their very first assignment.  He asked them to stay up and pray with Him...

“And when he came to the place, he said to them,

“Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying,

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them,

“Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”  - Luke 22:40-46

From a last meal together.. to a warning.. to a letdown.  Jesus had been through so much already in His final pre-resurrection week on Earth.  The time was coming for the beginning of the end... capture and crucifixion awaited Him.  I love what He says in that last passage... faced with impending torture, Jesus tells His Father... “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Jesus was fulfilling His destiny... He was willingly turning over His life...He was purposefully going to the cross.

For us.  

Take some time to prepare your heart today as Easter approaches… fast, pray, and commit to serving and sacrificing for others.  And when you finish… pray the same prayer to God that Jesus did… that His will…and not your own… would be done.  When said with a genuine heart, that prayer can change your life.  

Time to Reset

 When I was younger, I used to love to play the original Atari.  Remember it?  One block shooting or hitting something at another block and once in awhile you’d score a point?  I know... it’s old school.  The games were fun but I quickly found out that I didn’t like to lose to my brothers.  In fact, when the game looked like that might happen, I was always tempted to “accidentally” nudge the reset button and start the game again.  

Sometimes starting over is exactly what we need to do.  Look what God says in 1 John:

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9 

God allows new beginnings... do overs... resets...  He is full of grace, abounding in love, and generous in heart.  He lets us start again with new knowledge of how not to do it.  

But what does He ask of us?  Look at the very first part of the verse today... 

Confession.  

Telling God what He already knows.  So many don’t because they figure if they don’t tell their sin to God... the act remains hidden.  It’s like the child who covers his eyes and tells the world “you can’t see me!”  But of course we can.  When a toddler does it... we smile at their naiveté.   When we do it with our sins to God... we justify it as necessary.  

And the sin sits in the heart and festers... it becomes guilt, which leads to resentment, which causes pain.   Years of unnecessary pain.   Today’s scripture reminds us of a way to mend... tell God.  Not a friend.  Not a Pastor.  Not a journal.  Tell God.  It won’t be pleasant at first... we’re going to want to hide some stuff... and it may be tempting to change the story... but we must come clean.  

Fully. Honestly. Completely.

And if we keep reading the verse... we find that God forgives us.  Time and time again.  God allows us a reset.  Does this give us free reign to sin at will?  Of course not.  There are consequences to our choices.  We shouldn’t intentionally break the heart of someone we are in relationship with... and God is no exception.  If we know Him as Lord, we should do our best to honor and worship Him by avoiding sin as much as possible.  

But when we confess what we’ve done...

To our Creator who knew we were going to be imperfect and made us anyway....

We are forgiven.

We are cleansed.

We are allowed a reset. 

We haven’t earned it... but God willingly gives it.  Is there something on your heart that is holding you back?  An unconfessed sin?  Something that has stained your conscience for years?  A blemish that needs to be set right?   Take some time today to confess it to God.  He promises forgiveness to those who know Him as Lord.

Your reset awaits.  

I'm Sorry... Really I Am

I was speaking with a parent the other day who told me how she settles the arguments in her house.  When her children do something bad to each other, she makes them hug and apologize. She told me that her kids do it with clenched teeth...and the hug only lasts less about two seconds... but they do it.  She wonders how much they mean it... but feels good that at least they go through the motions.

This isn’t what God intended apology and forgiveness to look like.  In James 5 verse 16a it says this:  “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” 

How often do we do something to someone, mutter that we’re sorry, but really don’t mean it?  We give them a quick hug or a pat on the back and pretend everything is better.  This isn’t what God had in mind.  If we hurt someone in some way, we need to make it right.  Today’s verse says to confess what we’ve done wrong and pray for the person we’ve hurt.  When we’re praying for them... God works in us... and we both heal.   Do they have to forgive us?  No... but when we ask for it, we’ve done our part in obedience to scripture.     

If there’s someone in your life today that needs your heart-felt apology... be bold enough to make it right.  Confess your wrongdoing to God, admit it to the person that’s been hurt... and once you’ve asked for forgiveness... pray for them.   

Don’t let the enemy steal future happiness because of past hurt.  It may not be the easiest conversation you’ve ever had... but you’ll never regret the effort in making things right.

The Key

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealers showroom, and knowing that his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a BIble?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. But before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.

His father has carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealers name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words....PAID IN FULL.

Sometimes we miss God’s blessings because they are not packaged like we expect them to be.

You may have been praying for awhile...We want a promotion... and get fired. We pray for a clean bill of health... the doctor “finds something.” We become convinced he’s the “one”.... and he walks out. We ask God for peace... our week gets more stressful. So many times we feel short-changed by God because what we face sure doesn’t look like a blessing. We didn’t ask for it. We don’t want it. We think we deserve better.

But you know… sometimes God IS blessing us and we don’t even realize it.

We want a promotion... and get fired... to get a much more fulfilling job!

We pray for a clean bill of health... the doctor “finds something”... but it is still early enough to treat for a full recovery!

We become convinced he’s the “one”.... and he walks out... to make room for the Godly man that values us for who we are in Christ.

We ask God for peace... our week gets more stressful... so that Christ can strengthen our faith by allowing us to depend on Him to get through.

We want success... we fail... but in that failure, we learn and grow in ways that immediate success would prevent from happening.

Today, I dare you to think differently. I don’t know what you are asking God to do in your life... but I wonder if He hasn’t already answered the request. Look closer. Have you rejected what you see in front of you... dismissing it as God not understanding ... God understands. We’re the ones that don’t get it.

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8

Maybe the key is there... tucked behind what appears to be a “no” to what we’re asking for. Count on God to bless us in the best way possible... His way... even if at first we don’t realize He’s doing it.

Pausing

Leonardo da Vinci spent hours in deep meditation and prayer as he worked on his famous painting of the Last Supper.  It has been said that he spent hours just reading God’s Word or days on his knees with hands lifted skyward in between his moments of genius with paint and canvas.  He spent so much time away from the project, at one point, the monks that lived in his community became concerned.  They asked him, “Why do you spend so much time with us in prayer when you have come here to work?”  His answer was simple:

“When I pause the longest, I make the most telling strokes with my brush.”

Today we’re are going to have a lot going on.  Deadlines, appointments, sandwiches to pack in lunch boxes, and tests to take.   If we’re not careful, busyness, fatigue, and worry will try to rob us of the joy that Jesus wants us to have.  How can we counter the frantic pace?  By following Jesus’ example (just as da Vinci did)... and take time out to pray.  Purposefully get by ourselves for a few minutes and talk with our heavenly Father.   These aren’t just moments of rest... but a time to reset.  To remember our priorities... think through our decisions... bring our troubles to the feet of the One who gave us our own.  And when we do, at the end of the day, we will look back and see the last twenty four hours of our life as the work of art that it was designed by the Lord to be.  

Do You Know You're Beautiful?

It has been said that one of the greatest evidences of God is His breathtaking creation.  A sunset over the deep blue waters of the ocean... the smell of a colorful spring flower.... the way the earth glistens after an afternoon rain... All beautiful and all on purpose.  We serve a God who values magnificence.  “The beauty of the cosmos,” one writer penned, “is God’s signature.  He could have made an ugly world and a loathsome universe.  But He is a God of beauty, and we must worship Him in the beauty of His holiness.”

Maybe while you are reading this, you are in front of a mirror.  If not, take a second and find one to stare into.  Stare into the image you see.   You know what?  That face is beautiful.  Exquisite.  Those eyes... hand made and color tinted by God.  The hair... each strand placed (and counted) by the Lord Himself.  Ephesians 2 tells us that the image you are looking at right now is the best work God can do.  He says it Himself...You are His masterpiece...you are loved... and you are more stunning than the brightest star in His sky.  God made you beautifully (and he knows and values beauty!).  Today, if the world tries to make you feel less than exquisite, remember what you see now... and keep in mind that God’s words to describe you are far more accurate than those of your peers.  

Worth

Lee Dye, a columnist for ABC News, told a story about a rather interesting former colleague.   He said, “A reporter I once knew sashayed across the newsroom one day with his colossal ego draped across his chest, just as an old veteran mumbled, ‘I’d like to buy him for what he’s worth and sell him for what he thinks he’s worth.”

There’s a fine line between confidence and ego... in believing in yourself and believing yourself better than others.  And if left unchecked, we can begin to believe our own hype.  The Bible warns us against this in Romans 12:3 “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.”   Scripture tells us to check our arrogance.... and if we feel the need to boast, we should choose to do so about God’s greatness and not our own.  Why?  It’s not because He has a desire for affirmation...He is far from insecure.  Instead, we should praise God because He is worthy of our praise.  He gives us everything... every talent, opportunity, and resource... why not take those same hands we use to pat ourselves on the back... and lift them toward Heaven praising the One who makes all things possible.

Weak Tornado

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7

I once heard about a man who was listening to a weather report on the radio in Kansas.  As he sat watching the gathering storm clouds outside, the man heard the radio report say that “weak tornadoes” were on their way through the area.  Weak tornadoes?  The man had never heard of such a thing...  The weather report went on to advise that these weak tornadoes would pass over and that they were nothing to worry about.

It almost sounds contradictory.  Weak tornadoes.  When most of us hear the word tornado, we run to the strongest area of our house to protect ourselves.  It’s kind of like when we hear about the devil.  The mere mention of his name makes many shake with fear and dread.  But the devil is just like a “weak tornado”.  His name might make people afraid... but his power is limited.  In fact, James 4:7 tells us that if we resist him... he will run away.   Don’t give the enemy that much emotional control in your life.   Stand up to his advances, fight his challenges with the truth of scripture, and remember... this weak devil is defeatable.

What's Behind You?

Have you ever stopped to pick up a shell at the beach?  There are so many beautiful shapes and colors...it’s hard to resist not bringing one home.  Have you ever thought about how they got there?  Shells begin their journey in the ocean... far from the shoreline.  They are carried for many miles in the surf and washed up unceremoniously on the beach for us to discover.  We don’t always see the wave that brought them... just the beauty that stays ... It got me thinking about things that get left behind... about legacy... about what remains...  

Let’s look at an example from scripture:

“The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.”  Acts 5:12-16

The disciples left behind whole, healed bodies and souls.  Where they went they brought miracles and hope.  

What about us?  When we encounter people... what are we leaving behind?

Are we healing more than we hurt?  I’m not just talking about physically.... emotionally, relationally, and spiritually as well.  Are we more concerned about being right than being restorative?  Do we dedicate our time to healing and helping... or breaking up and bowing out?  While we may not be able to cure like the disciples... we can spend much more of our time as peacemakers, heart-healers, and hope-bringers.   What you and I leave behind in this area will be remembered long after what we thought was important.  Trophies tarnish... raises get spent... but a legacy of kindness, servanthood, and benevolence will affect generations of our families far more.  

I want to leave you today with a challenge.  For the next 24 hours...  keep that in the forefront of your mind.  Ask yourself the question “when I leave a situation... what will remain?”  

Have I... 

Changed the climate from hostile to God-honoring?

Brought joy where there was despair?

Reflected Christ’s character?

Healed a heart or made it worse?

Improved the morale of the team?

When the door closes behind me... are they happy I left or wish I’d stayed longer?  Did I make the most of that last conversation?  When people see me do they think world-changer or whiner?

What we leave behind us matters.  We have a limited time on this Earth to make an impact for God.  Seize each day... make the most of every opportunity to help and serve...  And you will leave a legacy that honors the One who created you.  

It's Time

“Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”  Acts 2:38

“So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him [the eunuch] the Good News about Jesus.

As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”  He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.”  Acts 8:35-38

If you are a Christ follower and have never been baptized...

It’s time.  

Scripture tells us that baptism is the very first thing we are supposed to do after asking Jesus to come into our lives as Lord and Savior.  When we don’t do it for some reason (and there are many reasons we try to come up with...), we are being disobedient to God’s plan for our lives.   This disobedience puts a cap on our growth as Christ-followers...as leaders...as spouses...as boyfriends/girlfriends...

The very first thing God asks us to do after salvation... and we say no.   

Baptism may not solve your marriage problems... it may not reveal the man/woman that you have been searching for... 

But it does put you in position for God to bless you.  

I want to encourage you to join us at the beach this Easter Sunday for baptism.  You may not think it will make much difference... that what you’re going through won’t change.  I assure you... baptism is so much more than getting wet.  It’s telling the world that you belong to Christ... you are following in His example... you are dedicated to what He has asked you to do... and you are walking boldly with Him as the leader of your life.

God wants to bless your life, your relationships, and your family more than you could ever know.  What’s holding that back?   Perhaps it’s not taking that one simple step into the waters of baptism.  I am praying that you would respond to the nudge and join us.  

Details can be found here:  http://potentialchurch.com/baptism/

Never Alone

Chuck Swindoll tells a story about a Kansas newspaper where someone took out a one-line ad targeted at lonely people.  The ad read, “I will listen to you talk for 30 minutes, without comment, for $5.00”  Before long, the person was receiving 10 to 20 calls per day.  

Loneliness is a pain that many endure...and most will do nearly anything to make it stop.  Maybe you’ve experienced it.  Maybe you’re going through it right now.  Deafening silence... alone with thoughts that seem to have you feeling hopeless and helpless.  God wants you to know something... He’s there.  Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us that “the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  God understands when you don’t have words to express your feelings.  He stands by your side when others run out.  He is there to double your joy and take away your grief... and He promises that it will always be that way.   Feeling lonely?  Write down today’s verse and keep it with you.  And when the enemy tries to convince you that you’re by yourself... remind him that he’s a liar.   You are never alone.  God is with you.  And you are loved more than you will ever know.  

A Long Life

A pencil (remember those...) with a hard lead will write about 30,000 words or draw a line 30 miles long before wearing out.  A 100 watt light bulb will burn about 750 hours before it is done for good.  That one dollar bill in your pocket?  It will circulate for about 18 months before it has to be destroyed.   It seems that nothing lasts forever... even us.  The average lifespan for a human being?  78.3 years.

Everything wears out.  But did you know that the Bible gives us several ways to lengthen our lives?  The first way is to fear God.  Psalm 34:11 and Proverbs 9:11 tell us that fearing the Lord leads to wisdom... and that wisdom helps us to live longer.  The second way?  Live obediently.  Deuteronomy 4:40 says that if we obey all of God’s commands... we will live a long life.  The last way to lengthen our life?  Honor our parents.  Exodus 20:12 gives us that insight.  Let’s not waste our time searching for the fountain of youth... everything we need is in God’s word... and when we follow it, He promises to give us more heartbeats to be with those we love.