Love is Paitent

This Past Sunday we looked at a 3rd aspect of love...patience. We shared two practical things we can all do in our daily lives to grow in this aspect of love. You can listen to the message at www.wyandottefamily.com Click on the media tab on the bottom right and select listen to messages.

To me this is a HUGE topic because patience is running thin in our culture. People are too stressed, busy, and worried to be patient. As followers of Christ we have another opportunity to shine the light of Christ as we live lives full of patience!

One of the interesting things I found in my studies was the correlation between patience and the Holy Spirit. Many times patience is mentioned in the same verse the Holy Spirit. It is also described as one of the fruits (evidence) of the Spirit.

Usually when I find myself losing patience and being short with those around me, I find myself running on empty. The reality is that we often leak. We experience God and His Holy Spirit in a prayer time or on a Sunday morning which is great. 

However, just like a car we need to constantly be filled. The more we are filled with His Spirit the more we will see patience in our lives.

Over the next 4 days why not pause and spend some time in prayer asking God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Think about what your days ahead hold and allow God's fruit to be manifested in your life.

Love sees past the present into potential

Love sees past the present into potential. Love has this amazing ability to see someone for what they could be instead of only what they currently are. I am so thankful God loves me this way.


This past Sunday we asked the question, "How did we love this way in our daily lives." I believe the secret sauce is found in Luke 19:10--For the Son of Man came to seek & save those who are lost. Because He had a singular mission and focus. He was able to see opportunities for miracles everywhere. He was able to see what people could become because that was His mission. 


Because Jesus lived missionally he always SAW things that most people missed. Look at how many times it said, "Jesus Saw." When you read this phrase it's normally followed by a miracle. 


Matthew 4:18--As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers...


Matthew 4:21--Going on form there he saw two brothers...


Matthew 5:1--Now when he saw the crowds...


Matthew 8:18--When Jesus saw the crowd around him...


Matthew 9:2--When Jesus saw their faith...


Matthew 9:9--As Jesus went form there he saw a man...


Matthew 9:22--Jesus turned and saw her...


Matthew 9:36--When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them...


Because Jesus knew his mission and was focused, he was able to see what others didn't. 


What would happen if we embraced Jesus' mission for our lives? What would happen if we lived our entire lives for His glory and His cause? 


I wonder what things we would be able to see?

Love sees past the present into potential!

LOVE part 1 "Undeserved"

This past Sunday we kicked off our new series "Love." 
The main verse for this month is John 13:35-- Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.


Somewhere along the line we began to equate spiritual maturity and sharing our faith with simply head knowledge. I think we came to make knowledge of Scripture, busy Christian activity and Christian apparel a sign of being a follower of Christ because it is simply easier. 


Loving others and working at become better at loving like Jesus is hard work. It definitely isn't for the faint of heart. However, Jesus said that love is the proof or evidence that we are his followers. So according to Jesus' definition, can others tell we are His followers?


#1--How much love is currently flowing in your life?
#2--Does your knowledge of scripture match the amount of love?
#3--Grow in love this week. Read & pray 1 John 7-11 this week. 

ACT 4: Be A Trader

We ended our series on the book of Acts this past Sunday with the message "Be a Trader." 


We all make trades every single day. Some trades are great and some are not so good. We can trade in our own agenda to connect with our children or spouse. There are also times we trade in those times for hobbies, facebook or overtime. 


The question that we have to answer is "how is our current trading and investment going?" Are we accomplishing what we want or what God has called us to do? Is what we are trading for really valuable for eternity? What would happen if we traded the American Dream for a life devoted to serving others. What if we traded in moving up the ladder at work for supporting our kids and being there at their events & games. What if we traded in our fear of failure & rejection and took steps of faith in trying new ministries, or building new relationships in our neighborhood. 


Let's become traders! Let's continue the book of Acts and right our own chapter as we follow Jesus on this wild journey!

Act 3: Persecution of the Church

Cornell Jordan came and talked about Acts 5-8 and how the church began to scatter all over because of persecution.

I have the privilege to have 3 daughters and a beautiful loving wife. I am the only guy in a house of 4 girls. Needless to say I've become very aware of how dramatic it can be to comb hair.

Sometimes the girls hair is so tangled they cry when Julie is combing their hair. They want their hair to look good and have all the tangles out but don't like the process.

As we follow Jesus on our faith journey, its very similar. We want the end result of knowing God better, experiencing his presence, love & power yet we often don't like the process.

I'm not sure what you are going through right now and I won't pretend I understand how hard or difficult the pain is. However the one thing I do know is that God is in the amazing business of taking hard times and even pain and making something beautiful out of it if we let him.

Take away: what is one difficult thing in your life right now? How can you surrender it to God and let him make something beautiful out of it? Who can you takl to about what you are going through? How does this change your perspective on the situation?

Acts "A faith that doesn't play around"

It's been a while since my last blog. Been adapting to having 3 girls and a whole new phase of life :) 


The past 2 weeks we have been going through our series ACTS "A faith that doesn't play around." We gave this series this title for two reasons: #1 the early church didn't play games. They were bold and changing the spiritual climate of their day. Also, we meet in a drama theater that has plays (I know...I'm cheesy) 


Week #1 Pastor Evan spoke from Acts chapter 1-3. He looked at the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit brings Power, Fire, & Rest to our lives. I pray for all us to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit. 


Week #2 I got to speak from Acts 3-4. We talked about how the church was created to prevail not fail. We took an honest look at the church in America and honestly evaluated if it was prevailing or failing. 


We also talked about the 2nd part of our vision Family and unveiled 4 new small groups launching in a few weeks. 
   #1--The Alpha Course (for new believers or for those who
         have a lot of questions about God & faith)
   #2--The Marriage Course (for couples married 1 month
         or 50 years. Will deal with a lot of great topics & 
         issues)
   #3--Tangible Kingdom (how to develop & organize your
         life so you will be more missional & less consumer)
   #4--Understanding Community (the importance & 
          significance of being connected deeper)


There are many ways to achieve the vision of FAMILY. Our plan is not the only way to accomplish the vision. However, we are asking you to come on board and be a part of small groups. Take the next step from faith to family and be a part of the exciting church that God said the gates of hell would not prevail against.

Simple Part 1: Follow

This Past Sunday we kicked off our NEW series titled "Simple." I've been waiting for this series because it is so close to my heart and the vision of Wyandotte Family.

We talked about in week one how Jesus asked people to follow him even before they fully believed in him or obeyed him. The church many times expect people to conform before they belong. We long at Wyandotte Family to be a place where people can belong and follow even before they believe. WHY? I am confident in the love and power of God and the Holy Spirit's ability to reveal truth. If people come they will encounter Jesus.

Why is it so hard for us to allow the Holy Spirit to do his job? Why is it so hard for us to get out of the way? Why is it hard for us to not judge?

May we be a church that has many people who feel comfortable to follow even if they don't' believe or even obey yet.