destinychurch

Easter in August?

Oops. For the thousands who got our e-newsletter only to find out it was the same one we sent out last Easter, sorry 'bout that. Although there has to be a sermon in the whole Easter in August thing, this weekend's message is "Defining Moments" - it's going to be awesome!

Day 18 "Do I Keep Promises - Even When it Hurts?"

It was easy to promise my daughter that "if" she got her room clean, then I'd make sure it got painted while she's away at youth camp. Ironically, I remembering thinking, "no way she gets her room clean, no way! Surprise! The night before leaving for camp she pulled a bedroom-cleaning marathon and made sure that her room WAS ready... (insert appropriate explicative here) And to boot, I had no idea what kind of wonderfully crazy/busy week awaited me.

Before you knew it, "POOF" it was Thursday... and I hadn't touched her room.... Grrr! Lets see, do I value sleep or my "word" more? Honestly, at this point in the week, I'd probably have chosen sleep. Then I remembered part of Psalms 15, specifically the last part of verse 4, "they keep their promises even when it hurts!" Oh, geese... it was going to be a long night. I'll go to work exhausted today (Friday) - but it was worth it. Jayme's room is now painted. And God had mercy on me and sent a ministering angel to help (his name is Chris and he goes to Destiny).

Then there's my little wife, the hardest working person I've ever met. Even now she is doing the final clean-up so I can write this blog. It feels good to sleep and be rested, but it feels better to not have to make excuses, especially to my little girl... who by the way had better keep her room clean when she gets home today! :-) But I'll worry about that later... yawn... good night!

A Change of Scenery Doesn't Always Make the View Better

Notes from Wednesday's Sermon

Five Lies That Kill Relationships - Lie #5 “A Change of Scenery Makes Things Better”

• When Under Pressure we all tend to play the "if only..." game
  

The Lie  - “My” happiness is God’s #1 agenda therefore, a change in scenery would make everything better.  This comes from…

• The idea that the grass is greener on the other side.
  
• The idea that because a relationship or circumstance in my life is so challenging, it must not be part of God’s will for me to be a part of it.
  
• If belief that if only “this” would have happened, things would have turned out
  

The Truth - Running from conflict solves nothing, and usually compounds them… what we need most is patience and perseverance.

Patience – the ability to get through circumstances we don’t deserve and didn’t ask for.

Perseverance – the habit of knowing of my worth to God even under pressure

If we see things God’s way then we will…

Be patient even in circumstances beyond our control

James 5:7-9  Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Be patient even when circumstances are unfair and unjust

James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Persevere even when we don't understand why we are facing difficulty

James 5:11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Be patience and persevere by keeping our vows and commitments

James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.

What Would I Want to Leave Behind?

Sermon Notes: 30 Days to Live – What would I want to leave behind?

Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom (Psalm 90:12)

Prov. 13:22  A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

There are actions of the wise & actions of the fool – it’s wise to obey

Matt. 7:24-27  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Obedience to God’s ways will produce fruitfulness

John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Obedience and fruitfulness will leave a legacy

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Obedience > Fruitfulness > LEGACY

If I want to leave a legacy it starts by…

 

believing that I am capable of leaving a legacy

·        What type of legacy will I leave?

·        Are the things I’m spending my time on legacy-worthy?

·        When will I get serious about my own legacy

turning “someday” into today

·        Cast your legacy VISION

·        Create a FINANCIAL legacy

·        Commit to a legacy of FAITH

acknowledging God everyday

Deut. 4:39-40 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.

Even a fool is thought to be wise if he can keep his mouth shut...

Everyone has an opinion. And some are married to those opinions more than others. There's a huge difference between "interrupting" someone and being "interested"... that difference can be measured by our ability to listen. Day 12's question is this, "Do I listen really listen to what others have to say, or am I more interested in voicing my own opinion?"

A couple of scriptures to think about before opening our mouth...

Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. 

Proverbs 12:16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. NIV

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

Proverbs 16:32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. NIV

Proverbs 25:11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. N

Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. 

Day 11 - Time to Get a Hobby?

TGIF! Now that the week's almost over and the weekend is just about here, it's time to take a break. Some read and others fish. Then there are those that golf, oh, and who can forget those who like to shop? Ew, yuck! 

Now in Day 11 of our "30 Days to Live Series" the question is simple, how do you spend your free time... is it time to get a hobby? In a world filled with stress and an ever-shortening day, having a hobby is one way to put things into perspective. After all, even Jesus took some time to get away from it all (see Matthew 14:13 and Luke 22:41) 

One of my "dad" hobbies is spending time with my son Mikey tuning and taking an occasional test run on a "limited access" stretch of pavement? There may be better hobbies in the world, but not many are as much fun... at least not for this dad and his teenage son.

Day 10 - Do I Judge Others Like I Want To Be Judged?

While sharing a story last night about wearing shoes that didn't match, Renae pointed out that my shoes didn't match. Ahhh! At first she thought it was an intentional illustration for a Wednesday night service, but then she realized it was a "bonnafied" accident. I have to admit to being a bit embarrassed in front of the crowd of a few hundred people, but the laughter set me at ease, and we had church. I'm so proud to pastor such a incredibly loving and "non-judgmental" group... They inspired me to ask, as part of our 30 Days to Live series, do I judge others like I want to be judged?

Matt. 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

The Art of Keeping up With Yesterday

A famous saying by Don Marquis is,  "Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday". 

Are there things in our lives that we intentionally put off to the last minute? It's called procrastination.  For me it's email. When I see  the window pop up on my email showing the number emails I have, my first inclination is to find something else that needs to be done. Household chores can be another one. And there is always something that needs to be fixed around the house... these just to name a few. But we want to live lives free from regret, then we have to ask ourselves honestly, "do I procrastinate... am I  putting off things that should have been taken care of yesterday to today"? And is this the way I want to live no matter how many days I left on this earth?

Psa. 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Honestly Speaking

If lying comes naturally, then what’s it take for a person to tell the truth? The Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) reported that 70% of recent college graduates would “lie” to get a job. UMass researchers found that 60% of people tell at least one “lie” during a 10 minute conversation. Telling a lie is easy. But the truth, now that’s a different story. Today’s question is simple... “Do you tell the truth?” 

Scriptures to think about...

2 Samuel 7:28 - And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 

Psalm 25:4-5 - Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 

Psalm 119:43 - And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. 

Psalm 119:160 - The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. 

Proverbs 8:7 - for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 

Proverbs 12:17 - Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. 

Romans 2:8 - but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 

Romans 9:1 - am speaking the truth in Christ - I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit 

Galatians 4:16 - Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 

Day 8 - God Gives Mercy, But do I?

God's mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23), but are mine? Am I giving others a break or am I giving to others what I feel they deserve? Now on Day 8 of our "30 Days to Live" series it's important to remember that God makes it clear that we will reap what we sow. And when it comes down to it, there are few things that we need more than mercy... maybe we need to discipline ourselves to sow more of it! 

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matt 5:7