Expectation

This past Sunday we continued our SERIES "The Heart of Christmas." This entire series we are looking at Christmas through the eyes of a child again.." You can listen to the podcast or download it by clicking here WYANDOTTE FAMILY PODCAST

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. GET THE ANDROID APP 

We often pull back from expecting too much because we think if we don't expect much we won't hurt as much. However, pulling back on our expectations has a greater negative effect than you think. We we lower our expectations we stop pursuing and pouring as much energy into something. We we lower our expectations we lose passion. When we lower our expectation we miss out on the beauty right in front of us. 

I encourage you to increase your expectations as we approach the new year. Expect great things in your marriage. Expect great things at work. Expect great things in your family. Expect great things in your friendships. Then begin to pray the very expectations that you have.

Let the new year be the best one ever!

Develop Your Joy

This past Sunday we kicked off our NEW SERIES "The Heart of Christmas." This entire series we are looking at Christmas through the eyes of a child again.." You can listen to the podcast or download it by clicking here WYANDOTTE FAMILY PODCAST

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. GET THE ANDROID APP 

For Part 1 we talked about the definition of joy. Joy is an outward sign of an inward faith in the promises of God (quote from Tommy NewBerry). Joy is more internal than external. Regardless of the circumstances that surround us we can be joyful. We looked at the shepherds and how the message of Jesus Christ brought abundant joy. Even though their personal situation didn't change, they were able to now live with JOY because of Jesus Christ! 

We all want to be joyful. No one wants to walk around discouraged, fearful, depressed and angry or aggravated. So why do some people seem to walk around full of joy while others don't? Why do some people seem to encounter tragedy and yet still maintain joy as their strength? 

Galatians 5:22 ways that JOY is a fruit of the Spirit. The more we spend time with Him the more joyful we become. The greater His Spirit directs our lives the more joyful we become. It is a natural byproduct. 

I challenge you to spend at least the first 10 minutes of every day with God. Spend time worshipping. Spend time praying. Spend time reading your Bible. Don't know where to begin? Try this Christmas Bible reading plan. 

Undetected Lie no one is talking about

All of the media outlets are covering and pushing Bruce Jenner's reveal. Matter of fact, every time I look on my news app on my phone I see articles about homosexuality, lesbianism, bi-sexual, thrupples etc. It seems that sexuality has become the #1 news source and what media wants to talk about. 

What many people don't realize, there is a lie that is going undetected. There is a major identity shift that our media is trying to reprogram without people even realizing it. Here is the undetected lie...your sexuality is your identity. 

Just 15 years ago people would introduce themselves by their name. People were known for their service or accomplishments. Now people introduce themselves or build a reputation solely based on their sexuality. "Hi, my name is Sally and I'm bi." "Hi, my name is Bob and I am transgender." 

Here is the problem. We are so much more than sexual beings. Yes, sexuality is a big part of our lives. God created it and created it to be good. However, we also are spiritual, emotional, and intellectual beings. When we try to find our identity in anything other than God, it simply doesn't work. It will always leave us empty and searching. Why? We were created for so much more. 

Matthew 6 teaches us that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then the other areas of our lives will fall into place. The very longing of our hearts and the very desires of our souls are fulfilled first in our relationship with God. If that isn't in place, then no amount of sex, sex changes or partners will fill that void. 

I hope we realize the undetected lie is actually degrading and making us as humans less important and special. We were created in the image of God and matter. Our identity is in Him. No matter where you find yourself on the debates, Seek God first. Make Him your identity because sex can't produce that. Your identity is not your sexuality. You are so much more. 

Following Jesus is Messy!

This past Sunday we continued our SERIES "SPIRITUAL AGLEBRA" This entire series we are looking at several powerful equations we see in the Bible." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/  or on iTunes athttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandottefamilys-podcast/id990745253

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 
For Part 4 the equation was, "See + Serve + Say = Significant Impact." We talked about how to truly make a difference and reach others with the love of Jesus in 2015. 

The second part of the equation is SERVE! When you study and examine the life of Jesus the one truth that is abundantly clear is He was a servant. He had all authority and power in heaven yet He chose to not only humble himself and become human, He also chose to serve us and put us first. 

Romans 5:8—But God showed his is great love for us by sending Christ to die for us, while we were still sinners.

Being a servant is messing. It means you will sometimes be taken advantage of. It means sometimes you wont' be appreciated. It means sometimes the love will not be reciprocated. Sometimes the people you are serving won't even realize what you are doing. Being a servant is messy. 

Being a servant is is powerful because it has nothing to do with the other person and everything to do with the condition of your heart and my heart. Look at Romans 5:8, Jesus died for us while we were sinners. He put us first even when we didn't give a rip about who He was or what He was doing for us. He did what needed to be done regardless of what we were doing. That is true love and service. 

Just like Jesus we are called to serve people even while they sin. We are called to love people regardless of their current lifestyle. Matter of fact, to truly follow Jesus we are called to serve people that don't deserve it. (ouch that hurts...at least it hurts me :) 

Once we see with compassion, we are called to action. How can you serve your boss you can't stand? How can you serve your neighbor who annoys you? How can you serve that family member who is an antagonizing atheist? How can you serve that co-worker is always trying to put themselves first while they push others down? 

Following Jesus is messy!  

A simple way to build compassion in your life

This past Sunday we continued our SERIES "SPIRITUAL AGLEBRA" This entire series we are looking at several powerful equations we see in the Bible." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/  or on iTunes athttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandottefamilys-podcast/id990745253

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 
For Part 4 the equation was, "See + Serve + Say = Significant Impact." We talked about how to truly make a difference and reach others with the love of Jesus in 2015. 

The first part of the equation is SEE. We were challenged to see people the way Jesus sees people. Well, how is that? With compassion. BUT HOW DO We DO THAT? What can we do, to take simple growth steps in developing compassion in our lives? 

The best way to develop compassion is to simple focus on the condition of your own heart. When you are fully aware of your failures, sins and short comings and are bringing them to Jesus. When you are expereincing His grace, patience, love and faithfullness, it makes it a lot easier to do the same with others. That is why Jesus said...

Matthew 7:2-5--2 For you will be treated as you treat others.[a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.[b]

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye[c] when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend,[d] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Jesus didn't say you can't help others. Jesus didn't say don't talk to others about things they are doing wrong. Jesus did say, FIRST, deal with yourself. When you do that, then you'll be able to SEE well enough to deal with the speck in your friends eye. Focusing on ourselves and surrendering our hearts to Jesus is a simple action step to developing a life of compasion. It is a simple step to help us SEE the way Jesus see's. 

Paul also teaches us this in Romans 2:21—Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal but do you steal? 

Lets be a people of compassion. Let's focus on our hearts, our attitudes, our thoughts and our actions. As we do this simple truth, we'll truly be able to SEE with compassion. 

The Power of a NAME

This past Sunday we continued our SERIES "SPIRITUAL AGLEBRA" This entire series we are looking at several powerful equations we see in the Bible." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/  or on iTunes athttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandottefamilys-podcast/id990745253 

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 
For Part 4 the equation was, "See + Serve + Say = Significant Impact." We talked about how to truly make a difference and reach others with the love of Jesus in 2015. 

The first part of the equation is SEE. We were challenged to see people the way Jesus sees people. Well, how is that? With compassion. So often as followers of Christ it is so easy to become critical and hard hearted without even realizing it. It is easy to start grouping people together and stop caring for individuals. It's easy to call people atheists, agnostics, or closed minded. It's easy to say people are wicked and sinful. But when we see people that way, we are not seeing people the way Jesus does. When he saw the crowds He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 

When you begin to have compassion, you'll drop the stereotypes and start calling and caring for people by name (individuals). There is truly power in a name. Try praying for someone specifically by name on a daily basis. You'll watch your heart soften and the compassion of Jesus grow inside of you.

This very thing happened to King Saul. He stopped calling David by name because of the jealousy and anger in his heart. 

http://bible.com/116/1sa.20.27.nlt But when David’s place was empty again the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse been here for the meal either yesterday or today?”

David and Saul were close at one point. David was faithful and loyal to the King. However, the further and further away from the heart of God Saul became, the less compassion he had. It got so bad that he didn't refer to David by name but simply, "The son of Jesse." 

May we also be full of compassion and love. No matter how dark our country and culture gets. Maybe we focus on people. May we value and love people. May we see people the way Jesus does, with compassion!

NO WAY HOSEA

This past Sunday we continued our SERIES "SPIRITUAL AGLEBRA" This entire series we are looking at several powerful equations we see in the Bible." You can listen to the podcast or download it at http://wyandottefamily.libsyn.com/  or on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandottefamilys-podcast/id990745253  

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 

For Part 3 we talked about the equation Connection + Mission = Community. The two points were experience God together and be on mission together. We see this realty again in another part of the Bible.

Colossians 3:16-17-Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. 

True community forms when we spend time together and truly open our hearts. When we hear something like that our natural response is, "NO WAY HOSEA!" Opening your heart can be a scary thing, not knowing how others will react or treat you. However, true community can't be formed unless you open your heart.

In order to worship God together, truly, you have to open your heart. In order to counsel and encourage each other, you have to open your heart. To do everything in life as a representative of the Lord, you have to open your heart.

Take the risk. Open your heart. Have meaningful and spiritual conversations with each other. Encourage each other. Challenge each other. Fight the status quo.