This past Sunday we continued our SERIES "Body Building?" This entire series we are looking at how we can "pump up" and grow as a church body (family)." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/
You can also download an Amazon App for only $1.99 and have easy access to all of the podcasts right on your Android Smartphone or tablet. http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Wyandotte-Family-Church/dp/B00OZZXW56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418834318&sr=8-1&keywords=Wyandotte+Family+Church
We talked about generosity and how generosity is the pathway to joy!
Have you ever met a grumpy generous person? Have you ever met a joyful stingy person? No way. The more people cling to their possessions the more their possessions own them. The first thing it will suffocate is your joy. Why is that? Simply put, it is the way the Creator designed it to operate.
Mark 8:35--If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
When we cling to things, we ultimately lose out. Not only do we lose it in the end when we do not invest in eternal things, we lose out on true joy.
What are you clinging to? Why not take a faith step and trust God? What can you give today? Who can you bless? Who can you serve? Be generous with your time, talents and treasures and watch your joy increase!!!
This past Sunday we continued our SERIES "Body Building?" This entire series we are looking at how we can "pump up" and grow as a church body (family)." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/ You can also download an Amazon App for only $1.99 and have easy access to all of the podcasts right on your Android Smartphone or tablet. http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Wyandotte-Family-Church/dp/B00OZZXW56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418834318&sr=8-1&keywords=Wyandotte+Family+Church
We defined faith by using a quote from Pastor Andy Stanley, "Faith is simply believing God is who He says He is and that He will always do what He says He will do." To me this principle and reality is best illustrated from the Old Testament.
When Israel was in the wilderness and preparing for the promise land, God gave them many instructions and commandments. All of them required faith that as they did their part, God was going to come through on His.
God told Israel that when they planted fruit trees in the promise land, to leave the fruit unharvested for the first three years. He also commanded them not to eat it. WHAT? What do you mean God, don't eat it? What do you mean don't harvest? Then God continues to stretch their faith...
Leviticus 19:24-25—In the fourth year the entire crop must be
consecrated to the Lord as a celebration of praise. Finally, in the fifth year
you may eat the fruit. If you follow this pattern, your harvest will increase. I am the Lord your God.
So if not eating or harvesting the crops the first 3 years was tough, then He asks Israel to consecrate the 4th years harvest completely to Him. They were not to use it for themselves at all. Then in the 5th year, they were allowed to eat it for themselves. He wanted them to by faith, trust Him with the first 4 years of harvest from every fruit tree planted.
I love what God says at the end of that passage; "If you follow this pattern, your harvest will increase." God is saying if you trust me and obey me then I will bless you and your harvest will increase. But in order to get to the "increased harvest" they had to by faith not touch the crops for the first 3 years and then consecrate year 4 totally to the Lord.
We all want to be blessed and we all want our lives to be increased. We want increased finances, favor, healthy relationships, and physical health. However, God has given us specific commands and principles in the Bible that He calls us to follow and obey. Guess what? They all require faith! Simply believing that God is who He says He is and that He will always do what He says He will do. We are called to be people of faith. Not blindly living our lives but simply trusting that God is who He says HE is and that HE will do what He says He will do.
What faith step do you need to take right now? This week? This month? You can trust Him?
This past Sunday we continued our NEW SERIES "Body Building?" This entire series we are looking at how we can "pump up" and grow as a church body (family)." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/
You can also download an Amazon App for only $1.99 and have easy access to all of the podcasts right on your Android Smartphone or tablet. http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Wyandotte-Family-Church/dp/B00OZZXW56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418834318&sr=8-1&keywords=Wyandotte+Family+Church
This past Sunday we looked at Pumping up obedience. We learned that we often like to live how we want (disobey) and expect God to bless our disobedience. We learned that "Obedience is the pathway to blessing."
I came across this verse in my devotions that I thought was powerful...
Leviticus 18:5--If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the lord .
God gives us guidance for our finances, relationships, sexuality, thought life, attitudes, physical health, and more. He gives us these for one reason and one reason only...SO WE WILL FIND LIFE! He has created a way to live and operate. He knows how life is to be maximized. So He gave us a clear guide in the Bible.
We can trust that God has our best interest in mind. Even when we don't understand we can still obey.
This past Sunday we kicked off our NEW SERIES "Body Building?" We are looking at how we can "pump up" and grow as a church body (family)." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/
You can also download an Amazon App for only $1.99 and have easy access to all of the podcasts right on your Android Smartphone or tablet. http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Wyandotte-Family-Church/dp/B00OZZXW56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418834318&sr=8-1&keywords=Wyandotte+Family+Church
Have you ever said or thought this before? "I'll start doing _________ when I ___________. That is an easy statement or thought for us to grab a hold of. That statement and the reasoning that follows becomes the foundation for us to stay right where we are at. YET, that isn't how the Kingdom of God operates. As a follower of Jesus Christ we don't follow any other way but the way God designed it to work. It says in Luke...
Luke 16:10-If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
With God it doesn't matter how much time, energy, finances, or resources we have. He isn't impressed if we have a lot of money or if we have a great title. Instead, he is looking to see if we are FAITHFUL. If we are faithful with what He has already blessed us with. How do we know if we are being faithful? Are we using our time, talents and treasures for our goals and purposes or for His?
God has given us everything we have. It says in...
1 Corinthians 10:26--26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
Everything has come from Him and everything was given for His glory, His goals and His purposes. He is looking to see if we are using our money for His purposes and glory. He is looking to see if we are using our time for His purposes and glory. He is looking to see if we are using are family for His purposes and His glory. He is looking to see if we are using our talents and skills for His purposes and His glory.
Wherever you are and whatever you have, just start with the word faithful. Be faithful right now with what God has given you. How to you learn what God wants or what God asks? Spend time reading the Bible every day. The Bible is His heart and Word. It reveals His purpose and plan for our lives.
Remember, God owns it all. we are just the managers. Manage well!
