New Year’s Resolutions: Embracing the New Life in Christ
As the new year begins, many of us are reflecting on the past year and making resolutions for the one ahead. Whether it’s a goal to get healthier, be more organized, or learn something new. New Year’s resolutions are an opportunity to start fresh and make positive changes. But as believers in Christ, we have an even deeper, more transformative resolution available to us. One that isn’t based on self-effort or temporary changes, but on the radical, life-changing power of God’s love. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 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.” This scripture reminds us that, as followers of Jesus, we are not just setting goals to improve our outward behaviors or achieve personal success. We are, in fact, called to experience a complete transformation—a new identity in Christ. A New Year, A New You When Paul speaks of becoming a “new person,” he’s not referring to a mere makeover or surface-level change. He’s talking about a radical transformation that goes to the very core of who we are. In Christ, we are no longer defined by our past mistakes, our old patterns of sin, or our former selves. That “old life” that once governed our actions, thoughts, and desires has been replaced by a new life rooted in Christ’s grace and power. This truth offers us a profound sense of freedom and hope as we enter a new year. It means no matter what mistakes or failures we may have experienced in the past, we have the opportunity to leave behind the old and walk forward in the new life that Christ offers. Embracing the Power of the New Life Now as you think about your resolutions for the year ahead, consider this: What would it look like to make your relationship with Christ the foundation of all your goals? Instead of simply resolving to change your habits or circumstances, why not resolve to embrace the new life God has already given you through Jesus? Here are a few ways you can live out this “new life” in 2025: 1. Live with a New Identity One of the most powerful truths of the Christian faith is that, in Christ, you are a new creation. Your worth is not based on what you do or don’t do, but on who you are in Christ. As you step into the new year, remind yourself that you are loved, accepted, and deeply valued by God. Let this identity shape the way you view yourself, others, and the world around you. 2. Leave Behind the Old and Step Into the New The past year might have been filled with regrets, failures, or moments of weakness. But in Christ, your past does not define you. Take time to reflect on areas where you need healing, forgiveness, or transformation, and then surrender those things to God. Trust that He is making all things new—including you—and step boldly into the new life He’s calling you to. 3. Live with a Purpose God has a unique purpose for your life. This year, seek to align your goals and resolutions with God’s will. Ask Him to guide your decisions, reveal your gifts, and open doors that lead you closer to fulfilling His plan for you. Instead of pursuing goals for personal achievement alone, let your resolutions reflect your desire to glorify God and serve others. 4. Pursue Holiness, Not Perfection Living a “new life” in Christ doesn’t mean we’ll be perfect—it means we are being transformed by His grace, day by day. This year, commit to growing in holiness by spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and engaging with your church community. Celebrate the progress you make, knowing that God is working in you and through you. 5. Extend Grace to Yourself and Others As you strive for growth and change, remember that God’s grace covers every shortcoming. When you stumble or fall short of your resolutions, don’t be discouraged. Instead, remember that you are a work in progress, and that God is faithful to complete the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6). Extend that same grace to those around you, and be patient as you continue to grow in Christ. A New Year, a New Beginning in Christ As we enter 2025, let’s remember that the most powerful resolution we can make is not one focused on external changes, but one centered on the new life we have in Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has made us new creations—able to live with purpose, joy, and hope. Let this be the year that you embrace the full reality of who you are in Christ. Don’t just resolve to change your habits; resolve to allow God to transform your heart. The old life is gone; the new has come! Let’s walk forward in this truth together, supporting one another as we grow into the people God has called us to be. Happy New Year—and may it be filled with new life in Christ! Join a Lifegroup and find friends that will encourage you as you grow in your new life! Get more information
Navigating Life’s Storms: Your Personal Guide to Hope
What would you give to have a guide to navigate life’s storms? Let’s be real. Life can feel like you’re constantly riding a roller coaster of emotions, expectations, and uncertainty. One moment you’re crushing your goals, and the next, you’re wondering if you’re even on the right track. Between career pressures, social dynamics, personal challenges, and future worries, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. “You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.” – Psalm 119:114 (NLT) This ancient piece of wisdom offers something powerful: a perspective that goes beyond temporary struggles. When it talks about finding a “refuge,” it’s not suggesting you hide from life’s challenges. Instead, it’s about finding a source of strength in God that keeps you grounded when everything else feels chaotic. Imagine having a personal GPS for life’s most complicated moments—a navigation system that doesn’t just show you the route, but provides emotional and mental support along the way. A personal guide through life’s storms. That’s what this concept of refuge represents. It’s about discovering a resilience through God that doesn’t depend on everything going according to your plan. Understanding Your Personal Refuge Think of a refuge as more than just a physical safe space. It’s a mental and emotional sanctuary—a place of clarity, peace, and renewed energy. In practical terms, this means developing strategies that help you maintain perspective, process challenges, and continually grow by cultivating a relationship with God through prayer. Life isn’t about avoiding difficulties; it’s about building the strength and endurance to navigate them effectively. Each challenge is an opportunity to develop resilience, gain wisdom, and understand yourself better as God leads you to your purpose. Three Strategic Approaches to Finding Your Hope First: Develop a Growth Mindset Your current situation is not your final destination. Every setback, every challenging moment is potential fuel for development. Start viewing obstacles as opportunities for learning and growth. “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6 This means: Embracing challenges instead of avoiding them Seeing failures as valuable feedback, not personal judgments Continuously learning and adapting Believing in God’s capacity to help you improve and evolve When you adopt this perspective, you transform from being a passive recipient of life’s circumstances to allowing God to be an active architect of your personal journey. Next: Create Your Personal Wisdom Collection Start collecting insights that resonate with you. This isn’t about blindly following advice, but curating a personal toolkit of perspectives that help you navigate life’s complexities. Consider: Keeping a journal to track your thoughts and the personal growth you have observed from allowing God to work in your life Saving quotes, Bible passages, or podcast insights that inspire you Following Biblical leaders and mentors who challenge and expand your thinking Regularly reflecting on your experiences and extracting meaningful lessons Your personal wisdom collection becomes a roadmap, helping you make sense of complex emotions and situations. Last: Build a Supportive Network You are not meant to face life’s challenges alone. Surrounding yourself with the right people can dramatically transform your ability to handle stress and maintain hope. “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13: 20 This means: Cultivating relationships with people who encourage your growth and faith Setting healthy boundaries with relationships that drain your energy Seeking mentors who can provide guidance and perspective Being willing to be vulnerable and ask for help when needed A strong support network acts like a safety net, catching you during difficult moments and helping you bounce back stronger. Find a Lifegroup – your people that will encourage you and help lift you up in challenging times. Your Invitation to Hope Hope isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about maintaining a trust in God of possibility and potential, even when external circumstances feel challenging. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11 Your journey is unique. Your challenges are real. But so is God’s promise to help you to rise, learn, and become stronger with each experience. Stay curious. Stay hopeful. Keep growing. Life’s storms are not going to leave you stranded when you have a place of refuge in God.
Are You Rooted?
What Do We Need Roots For? “To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least-recognized need of the human soul” -Simone Weil, French Philosopher Roots are one of the most important parts of the plant. Stretching into the soil, roots provide stability for the plant, allowing it to sustain high winds or trampling. They gather nutrients and water from the soil, feeding the plant and sustaining its life. They even store some of these nutrients to provide the plant with food in seasons of hardship. Healthy root systems can even ward off disease and keep a plant focused only on absorbing nutrients that are good for it. A few summers ago, my family took a trip to California and stood in awe in a forest of Redwoods. Redwoods are among the largest and tallest trees in the world. While their roots stay shallow in the soil, they spread 50–100 feet out from the tree. The roots intertwine themselves with the roots of all the other Redwood trees. This community of roots provide additional stability for the tree in storms and flooding. What Do Roots Need To Survive? If you’ve ever gardened, taken a walk after a storm, watched the landscape change in times of drought, or seen crops decimated by bugs, you’ll realize that simply having roots is not all a plant needs to thrive. The roots have to stretch deep into the ground, and they have to be planted in the right kind of soil. They have to be watered and fertilized, and may even need to be surrounded by other plants that provide benefits to their well-being. Growing up, my parents always kept a large garden in our backyard. As a child, I helped till the soil, plant the seeds, water, and harvest the vegetables. I used to love the fresh green beans and cucumbers, while my mom would eat tomatoes by the pound. The garden thrived, and it was something I believed I could replicate at my own home. Recently, my husband and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary, which also marks the 13th year we’ve been in our home. The first year we moved in, I planted a large garden in the back corner of our property. I watered it daily, my plants grew and flowered, and I became so excited about the fresh produce we would enjoy. As the vegetables began to grow, though, my plants began to shrivel. Some were eaten by beetles, deer, and rabbits. Some just dried up and sank back into the earth. I was so disappointed that all my hard work had amounted to nothing. I decided to stop planting things and, in fact, ripped out a bunch of plants around the house. Don’t Give Up – Dig In We put rocks in our landscaping, and I swore I wouldn’t plant again, as it was obviously something I wasn’t very good at. Sometimes, this is how our faith life can go. We try it for a season without laying any significant roots or really investigating how we can strengthen our faith. We come up fruitless. In our frustration, we don’t return to our faith or our relationship with God in a serious way. Because of fear that it won’t yield results, we may even become cynical or angry at God. Scripture often provides metaphors between plants and our relationship with God. Within Scripture, we are compared to seeds that need planting in the right kind of soil, branches that need to stay connected to the Vine, and trees planted by streams of water if we remain focused on His ways. Colossians 2:7 states, “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness (NLT).” Spiritual “Roots” Need Nourishment Too If you were to examine your life right now, where have you laid roots? Are you planted in soil that provides you nourishment and hope, or are your roots thirsting after something that leaves you dry and wanting more? When the wind blows and storms set in, are your roots planted firmly in the ground, or do you feel tossed about and unsettled? Have you surrounded yourself with other plants that enrich the soil, intertwining their roots with yours to help you stand strong and shield you, or are you attempting to stand alone and wish for the best? Beginning September 11 at all campuses of The Village Christian Church, you will have the opportunity to spread your roots into good soil. To grow in a way that will be fruitful and long-lasting. To be planted in something stable and full of truth. The Village will be offering a program called Rooted for ten weeks beginning in September. And we will celebrate your growth on November 14. Find What You Are Missing During Rooted Our mission statement here at The Village is Life Change, Life Growth, and Life Purpose. Is your life is in a place where drastic change is needed, where you need to meet God face to face and invite Him into your heart? Rooted is the place for you. Do you know God, but need to grow in your relationship with Him and His believers? Rooted is the place for you. If you’ve been walking with God awhile, but you lack purpose and vision and don’t realize all the plans that God has for you, then Rooted is also the place for you. For ten weeks, Rooted will walk all participants through the seven habits or disciplines of a relationship with God. Here at the Village, we have four core values: everybody grows, everybody serves, the Bible is our guide, and no boring here. The seven disciplines of Rooted will allow you to see these core values at play. Everybody will grow while learning how to pray and overcome strongholds in their lives, eventually learning to share their faith journey
Celebrating All That God Did
We are celebrating all that God did in and through The Village Christian Church in 2023. It was an incredible year of growth in so many ways, and we are praising God for all of it. The Lord HAS DONE THIS, and it is marvelous in our eyes. – Psalm 118:23 The Village Christian Church currently has four campuses in northern Illinois, as well as an Online Campus that is accessible across the world. Minooka, Seneca, and Coal City are the locations of the current in-person campuses, with a new one coming soon in Shorewood. The mission at The Village Christian Church is the same across all campuses – we are one church with multiple locations. MISSION: To help people experience life change, life growth, and life purpose. We are committed to this mission, and staying focused on our core values is key. CORE VALUES: The Bible is our guide Everybody grows Everybody serves No boring here Decisions For Christ We are celebrating baptisms – a public commitment to say yes to Jesus! 79 people made the life-changing decision in 2023 to take this important next step. That brings the total number of baptisms up to 541 since The Village opened in October 2004! Baptisms are happening across ALL campuses as people are introduced to Jesus and grow in their faith. Here is one of the powerful testimonies of life change that you will find in the 2023 Annual Report: My journey has not always been righteous. I struggle with anger, anxiety, and self-control. I know the devil is real and tries to steal away our trust from God, providing easy-way outs, thus isolating us farther from His goodness. The great news I’ve come to realize is the power of God’s grace, mercy, and never-ending love. I know that God has a plan for my life and with Him all things are possible. Today is the day I say thank you God and accept your Son Jesus as my Lord and Savior. – Justin / Coal City Campus In the full report you can read more of the incredible testimonies and join us in celebrating all that God did. Life Growth Through Community God did incredible things through groups and community. Lifegroups are a place of connection outside of Sunday service – a place to love Jesus, each other, and help others find and follow Jesus. In 2023, there were 395 people across ALL campuses connecting in 41 groups! Remember that core value – everybody grows – groups are the place for that to happen. We want every person, we want YOU to be connected in a group. There are different type of groups – couples, singles, young adults, ladies, men, family, and more. Each campus has a variety of groups to choose from so you can get connected and experience life growth. Life Purpose Through Service Helping people discover their life purpose is a key point to the mission of The Village Christian Church. Everybody serves is one of the core values at the church, and you can see how this is a priority as you review the 2023 Annual Report. There are local, regional and global opportunities to serve. In 2023, 1549 people served outside the church walls. Locally, the church hosted 11 mobile food pantries, providing 110,000 lbs. of free food to families in the communities of Minooka, Seneca, and Braidwood. One of the big global outreach events we hosted in partnership with Lifeline Christian Mission was a meal pack. The goal of the meal pack was for volunteers to pack 100,000 meals that would be sent overseas. The day resulted in 450 volunteers packing 104,544 meals! And it was fun! What an amazing experience bringing all of the campuses together to serve and pack meals for the hungry! $606,131 was given to missions in 2023. The giving dollars flow through Reclaimed, which exists to reclaim bad circumstances into something beautiful locally, regionally and globally. Learn more about that at reclaimedcharity.org. 2023 was an incredible year and as we look back and see all that God did we are just so THANKFUL. We are celebrating all that God did because it was an incredible year of growth in so many ways. We are praising God for all of it. God is doing great things! These opportunities for life growth are possible because of your generosity! Thank you for partnering with us!
Obedient to the Opportunities
The last thing on my mind was being obedient. It had been a long day in the office, followed by a stop at the doctor’s office with a sick kid. It was one of those days when talking with everyone I knew in Walmart was low on my priority list. All I wanted was a few groceries. Lunches needed to be packed for the morning, and frozen pizza could only be served for dinner so many nights a week. I must have had the same idea as everyone else because I was seeing everyone I knew. I waved hello to a girl from high school, nodded at the sister of a friend, helped a stranger find what she was looking for, and said hello to a guy who used to go to our church that I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. As I finished up shopping, the guilt started to set in. I felt guilt because I felt like I should have remembered his name. I should have had something to say that would have reminded him he was welcome in our church. But instead, I was busy. I even got in line behind him in the check-out, incidentally. Then out of nowhere, he said: “Have a good night, Pastor Nick…” I just replied “you too” still not remembering his name. And then the check-out girl spoke up. “Where’s your church?” There it was – the opportunity. I proceeded to share about The Village. Long story short, she ended up coming to church that week. It was a great conversation. She’s moved many times and felt judged as a visitor at many churches, but she felt pretty comfortable talking to me. She even seemed excited! I wonder if I slowed life down enough and really took a look around for opportunities, how many people in that Walmart just needed an invite? How many just needed to know the truth about Jesus and how He was for them and not against them? How many could we reach if I was just obedient to the opportunities God put in front of me? Maybe it’s time to slow down and pay attention. Look for those opportunities and take action. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. – Colossians 4:3
Wanting A Spiritual Connection
Life is filled with highs and lows. Amidst the busyness of daily responsibilities, it’s important to develop a spiritual connection, a genuine friendship with God. In this blog, I want to share this perspective on why having a spiritual connection with God is essential and how it can positively influence your life. Seek Something Deeper You may find yourself caught up in the pursuit of material success and society’s expectations. Working hard at school, a job, maybe a family. You may have moments of accomplishment, but often feel unfulfilled and disconnected. Can you relate? Maybe you want something deeper, something beyond the physical realm – a spiritual connection. Find Comfort and Support Life has a way of throwing challenges at us – career uncertainties, relationship struggles, personal losses, and more. It can be a lot to deal with. During these difficult times, try turning to God. Think of God as a close friend that you can share anything with. Pray, share what is on your heart and mind, and discover a sense of comfort and support that you can’t find elsewhere. Know that there is a higher power, the Creator of our universe, looking out for you and guiding your steps. Letting God in can bring immense relief and strength. Embrace Vulnerability You may have been taught to be strong, independent, and self-reliant. However, in a pursuit of a friendship with God, you can learn the beauty of vulnerability. Opening up your heart and sharing your fears, doubts, and desires with God allows you to embrace your humanity fully. Surrender your ego and acknowledge your vulnerability, then see what God does with that. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” James 4:8 (NLT) This scripture emphasizes drawing close to God and experiencing His closeness in return. By seeking God’s presence and focusing on Him, you can have a more authentic friendship with God. Become a Better Person Cultivating a friendship with God will transform you. It’s not about putting up a façade of strength, but rather embracing humility, compassion, and a genuine desire to grow spiritually. Through a relationship with God, you can learn how to treat others with respect, kindness, and understanding. You can shed toxic societal expectations and become a better partner, friend, and member of your community. Discover Purpose One of the most significant benefits of your friendship with God can be discovering your life’s purpose. A deepened connection with God can help you understand that your talents and passions are gifts meant to be shared for the greater good. Whether it’s mentoring others, volunteering in your community, or supporting causes close to your heart, you can find fulfillment in contributing positively to your world. Navigate Life’s Challenges Life doesn’t stop presenting challenges just because you have a friendship with God. The Bible teaches us that trouble will come. This Bible verse says, when trouble comes, not if. The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7 However, having this relationship can guide you through life’s uncertainties. For example, in times of confusion or adversity, turning to prayer to seek guidance and clarity. While the solutions may not always be immediate, knowing that there’s a higher plan at work can give you the patience and resilience to endure and learn from life’s trials. Appreciate the Present Moment In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past. Your friendship with God can teach you the significance of living in the present moment. By grounding yourself in the here and now, you can enjoy and appreciate life’s simple joys. Be grateful for the unwavering support, love, and guidance that your friendship with God provides, making your life richer, purposeful, and meaningful. Take A First Step Toward Spiritual Connection Take a first step toward having a friendship with God. Then take a next step towards relationship and trust in Him because apart from Him, we can do nothing. Guard against other priorities that keep you from God and prevent you from starting and growing that friendship. We are here to help. If you would like to talk about taking a first step or next step, please reach out.
Is Following God A Waste Of Time?
Have you ever invested time, money, or energy, or maybe all 3 into something, and then found out later it was a waste of time? Maybe you thought it was not worth what you put into it. How did that make you feel? Some Super Bowl commercials stick in your memory a long time. Over 20 years ago, E-Trade was a 5-year-old company that made a commercial with a monkey and two old guys all clapping off beat. During the last 5 seconds, they said, “Well, we just wasted 2 million dollars.” That was the cost of 30 seconds of air time during the big game that year. They urged their viewers to not waste their own money how they had. Looking a little deeper, you might find it wasn’t as much of a waste as they had let on. E-Trade was a newer company back then, providing a platform to buy stocks and options from the comfort of your own home, as the internet and personal computers were finding their way into more homes. They had a net profit of $671 million dollars the year of that “2 million dollar waste” commercial. They also added over 1 million new accounts – more than double the previous year. We might look at the commercial as a waste, but they were laughing all the way to the bank. They weren’t paying for a quality commercial or for 30 seconds of fame. They knew that money would go toward something of far greater value and return to them ten times over. How Do You Know Following God Is Worth It? In Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” In the short parable, Jesus tells of a man who found something that held such great value that it was worth trading in all he owned. I bet some of his merchant buddies thought, “what a waste” or “what are you thinking?!” He saw the greater value behind it and knew it was worth the cost up front of all he could offer. What would you do in that situation? Would you risk it all? Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like that. It’s worth laying down everything, so we can take hold of it. Others may look at you and think, “what a waste.” All that time and money you put toward that God stuff – it isn’t worth it. But we have tasted and have seen that it is worth it. It’s worth everything we could offer and more. We’re getting the better end of the deal, if you could even call it that. Jim Elliot was a missionary who died doing his work and was famous for saying, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Let that sink in. No matter how you look at it, we’re all spending our lives on something. If we’re brutally honest, we see a lot of those things don’t hold their value for long. The memories fade. The clothes wear out. The things break. Spend your life on what matters and what holds value beyond this life. Jesus shows us the way in this parable, and was willing to give us His life so that we could grasp the greatest thing this world cannot offer – eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Where Do You Start? If you are looking for a place to start living a life with value, check out Rooted. Rooted is a 10-week life-changing experience where you will connect with God, the church, and your purpose. Learn and practice 7 rhythms essential to a healthy relationship with Jesus and build strong roots in the truth of God’s Word, the Bible. You were made for a purpose! Here are some Missions that are always looking for volunteers. Find one or more that break your heart and dive in! We encourage you to take that first step and just start. It will not be a waste of time. Following God is not a waste of time.
Stuck In A Rut
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? If you’ve had that feeling when your life has become boring, stale, and monotonous, you’re stuck in a rut. This happens when we do the same thing over and over again, which some may call a habit. In fact, the definition of a habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. Habits become lifestyle. Have you ever heard of the 21/90 rule as it relates to our habits? The 21/90 rule states that it takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days to make it a permanent lifestyle change. This is a true for good habits and bad habits! Most people want to develop good habits. Habits like getting enough sleep, getting up to get to work on time, exercising and eating healthy. In March our country was locked down due to Covid-19 and life changed. There were feeling of depression, anxiety, and fear. Many of our good habits were thrown out the window and replaced by not so good habits. Some people have become stuck in a rut and are having difficulty getting back to their good habits. Can you relate? What Is Essential? May I press in a little here? Did you go to the grocery story this week? Did you go to a Big Box store (Walmart/Target/Home Depot/Menards) this week? If you answered yes to the questions above, may I ask one more? Did you connect at church this week, online or in person? Are you going to connect in a Lifegroup this fall, online or in person? Those are habits – good habits. Being with other people, safely of course, is good for your mental health. God wants you to be with people. Connecting in a Lifegroup provides the opportunity for you to connect with Godly people, which will encourage and support you. This is critical especially in challenging times. Your relationship with God IS “ESSENTIAL” You need to make sure you are in the habit of giving priority to your relationship with God. Much the same way you are in the habit of making sure you have the food and supplies you need for each week. We are honored to provide online and in person opportunities for you to connect and give that priority to God. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25) Please make your habits of connecting with other believers a lifestyle for the next 21/90 days. You won’t regret making this decision to go from habit to lifestyle.
Invite God Into Your Decisions
Have you ever had to make decisions? There is this fascinating conversation that Moses had with God in Exodus 33… “Moses spoke with God as a man speaks with a friend.” – Exodus 33:11 Can you imagine speaking with God like that? How cool. In the conversation Moses essentially says to God, you’ve told me you will lead us, but you haven’t told us where to go or to whom we are going. God replies…I will go with you and I will give you victory. Sounds pretty good. The next sentence is to me what is so fascinating. God said 2 things… I will go with you I will give you victory In my brain, I think I would have focused on the victory part. What is going to be our next victory? Who are we going to defeat and when is the battle? Moses instead focused only on one thing. That God would go with him. Check out these amazing 2 verses in Exodus 33…. Then Moses said to him, “If you yourself don’t go with us, then don’t send us away from this place. If you don’t go with us, no one will know that you are pleased with me and with your people. These people and I will be no different from any other people on earth.” – Exodus 33:15-16 Moses says if you don’t go with us, it’s not even worth packing our bags. Your presence in our lives is the absolute most important thing. Without your presence, there’s no point in going anywhere because there will be no victory. What’s your next step in your life? What’s the next stage with your kids? Your career? Your marriage? Have you invited God’s presence into those decisions, those moments? According to Moses (and I happen to agree with him ?), the most important thing is God’s presence leading. He wants you to invite Him into your decisions. He is ready to accept that invitation. Better to stay still than to lead out without God. Better to have God’s leading, then follow.
Why Hearing From God Can Be Hard
I was recently asked the question “What does God want from me?” I responded with, “Have you asked Him?” To say it as clearly as possible, God desires to speak to us. He wants us to hear Him clearly. He doesn’t want to confuse us. Why Hearing From God Can Be Hard Why do we have such a hard time hearing from God? Could it be that we aren’t listening? Have you ever called someone or had someone call you on the phone and rattle on and on (seemingly without taking a breath) and then need to get off the phone abruptly? How does that feel? It probably depends on which side of the phone call you were on. Important to note, it is not a conversation unless there is more than one party involved in it. If one person does all the talking, it is more like a lecture. So why do we lecture God? We call Him and talk on and on and then we get off the phone because: we have met the criteria in making the call or because we must hurry to the next activity or responsibility etc. There are any number of reasons why we hang up, but on the other side of the phone, God is like “hello”.… “hello?”… I want to tell you something, answer your question, and point you in this direction. What would it look like if we stopped and listened? Can we learn to be quiet and wait for Him to speak? John 10:3-4 (NIV) says, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” How To Do It “They listen to His voice.” Step 1: The first step to hearing from God is asking, “Do we know His voice?” We all long to hear him. Do we recognize it when we hear it or wonder whose voice we are hearing? “The sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Step 2: Once we have heard him, are we willing to respond or are we too busy? Is what we heard too hard? There are so many beautiful and creative ways God communicates with us. We may have visions and/or dreams, supernatural circumstances, Angels, believe it or not even hearing an audible voice is possible! Although there are many supernatural means, I have found that God seems to speak most often through His beautiful Creation, the completely true and trustworthy Bible, guidance from His Holy Spirit, Worship, Prayer and Fasting, and, through other believers. Hearing from God through other believers is an awesome reason to get more involved at the Village! We ask for advice often and we are so willing to listen to people’s opinions regarding our choices and circumstances but what criteria do we use for determining who gets to speak truth into our decisions? Having people as a sounding board can be a great benefit or detrimental to our growth. Here are my criteria for allowing a person to speak into my life; They must love the Lord, love me and my family and live a life that visibly bears fruit of the Spirit. When someone displays love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), God can definitely speak to us through them!
Think About This On Valentine’s Day
We are coming up on Valentine’s Day. My husband, Bob, and I are not a big Valentine’s Day couple, but I “love” the focus on love. Anytime is a perfect time to show love and appreciation for your significant other. Bob and I have been married for 20 years. He immediately drew my attention that first day, not because of his looks, but because he was courageous. Bob stood up for me even though he didn’t know me. He didn’t think twice when he saw injustice and responded in a calm and confident manner, without thinking of himself. We didn’t meet for a couple of months after this initial encounter, but I wanted to know who he was. Aren’t we always drawn to people of high character? We want to be associated with individuals we hold in high regard. I was quite enamored with Bob in our “honeymoon” years. I was in love and focused on every sweet and precious thing about him. It was easy to follow scripture during this time frame. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2 Who Had Faults? My focus had been on all the good qualities and strengths. I wish I could say that remained the case. Like many of us, the “honeymoon stage” wore off. My focus, ever increasingly, turned to other things; work, school, children and worst of all, myself. I went through a period when I lost sight of what had immediately drew me in about Bob and of God’s grace in bringing him into my life. I began to take notice of things that irritated me and areas I thought he was not measuring up to my expectations. It happened quietly and slowly but increased rapidly unchecked. Just to be clear, I didn’t wake up one day with a plan to tear down my husband and I knew that our marriage was struggling. I was sure that was “his fault” too. Now, I know it was me who had changed the tone of our interactions. I was not being loving, patient or humble. I am so thankful for the love, grace, mercy I was shown during and after this timeframe. Thankfully, I realized it is pointless to move forward and backward at the same time. You just get tired and you don’t get anywhere. I am thankful for this scripture that helped me to accept the hand up and out of the mess I was in, “Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 I had always been known as being brave and courageous. I would define courage as bravery in action. It would take a new level of bravery to admit my flaws and faults. How had I allowed it to get this far? I had to be accountable for my shortcomings if I was going to turn away from them. I would have to have a new level of courage to humble myself and do what was necessary to allow God to restore my marriage. Fortunately, Bob had remained steadfast in the character that had drawn me to him in the first place. He was so quick to extend forgiveness, grace and mercy. In the 15 years that have followed, he has never brought up what was forgiven. He had the strength to leave the past where it belonged. 20 years into marriage and I am so thankful that God knows me completely, loves me so well, met me where I was, and provided me with the opportunity to grow. He loves all of us the same way. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. If you have a beautiful, loving relationship, thank God for it, remain focused on God first, your spouse second and yourself last. If you are struggling, know that God can restore anything that is broken and he wants to help. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14 Read about 5 Reasons To Invest In Your Marriage
Rightnow Media Equips You
When I was a little girl, I loved the library. It was one of my favorite places to go. I loved the wealth of information available at my fingertips, the smell of the books, the anticipation of learning something new or discovering a new author. At one point, we lived in a tiny town that didn’t have a library of its own. That was the worst possible scenario to me! One day, to my surprise, a library truck pulled into town and I quickly ascertained that they came once a week. Now I wouldn’t have to be without books, and the access to learning, growing… I still feel that way because I love to learn and discover. That is one of the reasons I am so ecstatic about Rightnow Media. What a wealth of information. It is like the “Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory” of Christian resources. Just about any topic at your fingertips with so many gifted speakers, teachers and authors. Immediate access to incredible conferences. So much love and pursuit of Jesus all in one place. We study, we learn, we receive encouragement and hope as Romans 15:4 tells us, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope.” Rightnow Media Is For Everyone There are over 20,000 learning options. It is easy to access, simple to navigate, and a readily available option to engage with friends or family. Our Lifegroups can choose solid curriculum that meets the current needs and interests of the people that attend. All the groups can be studying something different but equally impactful. That is awesome! Age isn’t a factor. Our children, tweens, teens and adults can all find something to engage with. It is for those that are new to faith or born and raised with it. No one is left out. You can access it from any smart device, your phone, notebook, laptop, tv. Parents, how many times do we hand our children our phone to watch something? We put parental controls in place and we hope for the best! There is no need to worry when you use Right Now Media for children’s entertainment. They will be engaged with Christ-centered content geared for them. I have been aware of and have wanted to get Rightnow Media for quite a while. It seemed like a dream to be able to have this resource for our church, like a “someday” possibility. Now, that possibility has become a reality. The “library truck” has rolled into town and isn’t just available weekly but 24 hours a day for each and every one of us. I am ecstatic to offer Rightnow Media to our church community. It is absolutely awesome. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. I hope that everyone will take advantage of this opportunity and use it to get even more equipped to do the great things God has planned for us!
You Are The Church
Do you remember the last time you went somewhere new? You didn’t know where the location was (you trusted your phone app ?) and arrived and everything was new. It may have been exciting, uncomfortable, or scary. Last Fall my wife, Rachelle, and I made a trip to Washington, D.C. We had an appointment to meet our tour guide at the representative office in the Rayburn Office Building. If you’ve never been there, it’s a maze. We got lost twice and it could have been uncomfortable and scary, but both times members of Congress helped us get to where we needed to go. We were so thankful for a friendly face and the help from people who didn’t need to take time out to help us. Visiting a new church can bring up those same feelings of being uncomfortable and scared. Last year over 600 people visited the church. Each one may have felt nervous and unsure because it was something new. Your response (a friendly welcome, an offer for help, a thanks for being here) can make or break their next step of faith in trying to get closer to God. I love it when people engage in ministry because Church isn’t a building or a place. It is a group of people experiencing life change, life growth, and life purpose. You are the Church. In 2020 we are praying for over 1,000 first time visitors at The Village. That is 1,000 lives being changed by God. We are praying that they feel welcomed, comfortable and excited about their next step. You can help make that happen. You are the Church. Recently a family visited for the first time. One of our regulars introduced themselves and flagged me down to say hello. The visiting family had kids, so immediately the welcoming family told them about Pulse Student Ministries that was kicking off that night. The kids came and loved it! Then, the next day two of our Pulse students met one of the new students at high school because it was their first day having just moved to the community. The students showed the new student around so he could feel right at home. Isn’t that wonderful?! My prayer is that I and WE can be as welcoming as our students and do our very best to point people to Jesus, living out this verse… Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:1-2 NIV)
Be A Disciple – Take The Next Step
What is a Disciple? I would define a disciple as someone following Jesus, who helps others to find and follow Jesus. Finding Jesus can be a process and learning to follow Him is part of that, but teaching someone to find and follow Him may seem like another ballgame altogether! We don’t just automatically know what it looks like to live a life of someone who loves Jesus, we need to learn. Thankfully, there are many incredible options available for us at the Village; attending church and learning from the Pastor’s teaching, studying the Bible, the Rooted Experience, serving and joining a Lifegroup. Matthew 28:18-20 calls us to make disciples, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” How Do You Do It? We typically understand the “what and why”, but the “how” can be tricky. What if we are asked questions, we don’t know the answer to? What if they are offended? We can easily be left feeling unsure, insecure or scared to share, however feeling equipped can make all the difference. Personal Discipleship After you have taken advantage of the opportunities listed above, the next step could be a personal discipleship. I love these words from one of our attenders who just finished her personal discipleship, “I had just ended Rooted; which significantly changed my perspective of God, Jesus, and my life. I wasn’t ready to disconnect from the deep learning Rooted offered, so I reached out for an option to continue learning. One of those options was a one-year personal discipleship with Sarah, one of the Pastors. As I started the discipleship, I was uncertain about what it would entail, but I knew it would be a commitment. Each week I learned so much more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Any question I had and real life experiences I was facing, Sarah utilized the study to improve my understanding of who I desired to be as a follower of Jesus and who my identity is in God. In addition, I felt challenged and God made me focus on things I did not want to face. Through this process God helped me learn to forgive myself and begin the process of my new life in Him. The book we used did such a great job at detailing every area of living a Christian life. It explained questions that I did not know I had and frequent questions people have about being a Christian. It empowered me to believe I am adequate to spread the Word of God and provided a way for me to express my daily life differently than the world. This study was a foundation to grow far bigger in God than I ever imagined. Now I know the Holy Spirit is giving me the strength, knowledge, and love to reach others. I cannot express how amazing an opportunity it has been to do this discipleship. I truly believe this is a blessing all people need to experience so they can honestly see the bones of what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. Leave all the world’s misconceptions of what a follower of Jesus looks like and open one’s eyes to the humbling love of God.” Samantha Tyree What’s Next? Are you a devoted follower of Jesus? Who are you discipling? Are you willing to commit to walking with someone as a mentor and discipler? Or do you feel like you need a personal discipleship as a mentee or disciple? My prayer is that we will have people in each of these groups that will step forward. Imagine the steps we could take for the Kingdom of God with hundreds of followers feeling equipped to share and disciple others. The impact would be exponential!
What’s The Big Deal?
Pulse Student Ministries held a kickoff event for the 2019-2020 school year and the turnout was incredible – 119 students ranging from 5th graders through seniors in high school. The plan was simple: play games (bags, 9 square, spikeball, etc) and cookout burgers and hot dogs. The night was a success. The students had fun, the leaders had fun, and there seemed to be no problems. As leaders, we left the night excited and energized about the atmosphere, but why did we feel this good? What’s the big deal? What’s the big deal that we got a large turnout of students for some free food and games? That doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, right? WRONG. The atmosphere and community of Sunday night sets the tone for the year. When our students get together and have fun, it sets the heart of the group. Ready to praise, ready to grow, ready to love, ready to serve, and ready to yield. Life Change, Life Growth, Life Purpose When we talk about Life Change, Life Growth, and Life Purpose, it is God who does the work when we allow him to live in and through us. There is no age limit on this. He doesn’t check your ID or ask you to submit your high school diploma. He is actively pursuing our students without hesitation and that is a big deal. In 1 Timothy 4: 12, Paul tells Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” At this point, Timothy was not young as our students are young, but the message rings loud. Our students don’t need to be in worship or engaged in a lesson to live this charge out. As I watched and listened at the Kickoff; it was clear this example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity was set. It wasn’t set in a worship room or with open Bibles (don’t worry, we’ll open them plenty this year), but rather, the example was set over burgers and yard games. That is a big deal. Paul later writes in 2 Timothy 2: 20-21, “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” Allow God To Work We want the students to allow God to work in them and surrender themselves to be “instruments for special purposes”. With that comes the need to cleanse, to step away from what’s common. All we did was provide food and games. The students chose to step away from their “common” to have a little fun and most importantly, cleanse and prepare their hearts to grow. We will be moving into a series over the next four weeks titled, “What’s the BIG deal?” where we will dive into what the big deal is for our students navigating some of this world’s biggest confusions and temptations. For now, a cookout and some games provided much more than a few laughs and a full stomach. And yes, it was a big deal.
Ain’t No People Like My People
I have a t-shirt that says “Ain’t no people like my people.” SO TRUE! My people, my friends, my sounding boards, at times my guardrail. They love and support me well. They know I have a hard time asking for help so instead, they offer it and sometimes, they just tell me they are helping me, even if I say no. They know me well. That wasn’t always the case. I didn’t always have these people in my life. I had to step out of my comfort zone and into the “uncomfortable” world of Lifegroups to get there. These relationships were built as we got to hang out, learn, laugh, open up our lives, serve alongside each other, study, and chase Jesus together. I can call my people when I need prayer, good advice, or a checkpoint for my thoughts or actions. This is so necessary to have in our Christian walk. James 5:16 says “therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” I have experienced and I have witnessed followers go “off-roading” in our journey with Jesus and I have wondered, where are their friends? How did it get this bad or go so far, so fast and unchecked? They must not have had “my people”. Because they call me out left and right if I get off track. They have permission to do so because they know and love the Lord and me and want what is best for me. Find a Lifegroup. Find your people. Invest in relationships that will invest in you. Check out Village Lifegroups…
Stand Still And Trust
When you were a little kid, did you have trouble standing still? I’m 46 years old and I have trouble standing still. I like to be on the move and exercise. I like to lead and get things done! But sometimes, it’s important for me to just stand still. After Moses led God’s people out of Egypt and they were marching to the promised land, Pharaoh had a change of heart and chased them down. They were pinned in. The Red Sea was in front of them, Pharaoh’s army was behind them. The people cried out to Moses and said, “What have you done to us? Have you brought us out here to die?” Moses’ response was pretty amazing in Genesis 14:13: “Don’t be afraid! STAND STILL (emphasis mine) and you will see the Lord save you today.” Does this mean we shouldn’t do anything when faced with a crisis? No. We have to be engaged and doing all we can, but what it does tell us is the first thing we should do is stand still and ask for God’s help. He may choose to work in and through us for the solution and we need to be ready to do our part. Or, he may choose to do it on his own. Maybe he’d be able to do more in my life (or even in your life) if we’d first stand still and trust him…
Small Beginnings
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin… (Zechariah 4:10 NLT) This was a verse I clung to desperately in the first 3-5 years of the church because we certainly had a small beginning. In year 14, I still cling to this verse because I believe God is just getting started in what he wants to do in each person’s life in 2019. We are nearing the end of January and it’s a good time to reflect on those New Year’s resolutions you may have made. What were your New Year’s Resolutions in relation to your walk with Christ? Did you know that God REJOICES when you begin to grow in Him? My goal is to read my Bible every morning before I do anything else. I’ve never been able to carry this through successfully all year, but I’m ready to BEGIN. What’s your goal to grow closer to Christ in 2019? He REJOICES to see you begin! Did you know that God REJOICES when you begin to use what he’s given you to make a difference for Him? You might not think you have much to offer to God. You are in good company. All that Moses had was a walking stick to go up against the most powerful nation in the world. All that David had was a sling and a few rocks to go up against a giant. The one thing I have in abundance is the ability to encourage. It’s what comes natural to me. This year, my goal is to speak encouraging words to at least one person every day! Who know what God might do with my effort, but I know he REJOICES to see the work begin! God has great things in store for you today. All you have to do is begin! Get started! God will bless your efforts.
Stop, Be Quiet and Listen
We live in a busy world and it can be difficult to stop and just slow down. Ask any person how they are and chances are they will say, “I’m really busy”. That is accentuated during the holidays. Rachelle and I were married December 14, 1996, which is a challenging time to celebrate because of the busy holiday season. Last year, we decided to escape to a beach the first week of December to celebrate, but also use the time to review the year and make plans for the next year. Rachelle loves to sit by the ocean, read, and pray. I love to swim, snorkel, play beach volleyball, run, swim with dolphins, read, and pray. As you can see, we have different ideas for vacation. 🙂 This year, I’m in a walking boot because of a broken toe that should have healed by now if I would have followed the doctor’s orders. So this year since I can’t be active, I decided to bring a bunch of books to read and be open to God’s voice. The first book I read began with this quote from Steven Furtick, Lead Pastor at Elevation Church: “Most believers aren’t in imminent danger of ruining their lives. They are facing a danger that is far greater: wasting them.” That sentence has caused me many hours of reflection. In 2019 I’m beginning my 25th year in ministry. As I’ve reflected on the last 25 years and prayed about what I hope will be the next 25, allow me to share some ideas with you that I’ve come up with in my time of sitting still… 1. Daily time with God to stay connected to Him, trust Him, and be challenged to life change. 2. Invest in relationships. I won the lottery when I married Rachelle and I’m so thankful for her. Time spent on building our marriage must take more of a priority and I can’t take her for granted. 3. Teaching your children. Teaching my boys (Kaden/Carder) to have a daily relationship with Jesus needs to be a priority. I’m amazed at the young men God is molding them to be, but just because they are older doesn’t mean my job is done. I need to continue to encourage and challenge them every day. 4. Invest in The Church, Life Change, Life Growth, and Life Purpose. Seeing God work in thousands of lives over the years never gets old and will last forever. 5. Developing leaders. The last half of my career needs to be focused on developing others to do the work of the Church. 6. Discipleship is what it’s all about. Spending time with 1-2 people per year, helping them develop a relationship with God, then challenging them to do the same for others needs to be a priority. A broken toe is a good thing. It’s helped me to slow down and listen to God’s voice. In this new year be aware of those opportunities to slow down and seize them. Reserve time this week to stop, be quiet, and listen to what God has for you.
Dreaming Big Dreams
When Did It Stop? When did I stop dreaming big dreams? Have you ever asked yourself that question? In my life, I never stop dreaming about what is next, but there are times where I minimize the dreams to make sure they are within reach. Then, there’s a verse from scripture that reminds me that God is bigger, greater, more powerful than anything. I’m reminded that I need to dream BIG dreams. Recently, I was reading and came across Jesus’ words to his disciples from John 14. He let them know that he was going to die, be raised again, and not to worry. And, oh by the way, after I go back to heaven it’s your job to continue my work and you better dream BIG! Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these. John 14:12 (NIV) What? Remember who is talking here…JESUS. The man who raised people from the dead, turned bread/fish into a meal for 5,000 people, turned water into wine, and walked on water. He’s saying, we will do greater things….seems unlikely, right? But It’s True God wants to use you to do great things! Jesus raised people from the dead. We are used by him to change eternities from hell to heaven. Jesus fed people who were hungry. We feed thousands of people every year with Mobile Food Pantries and hundreds of thousands of people through our partnerships with Feed My Starving Children. Jesus turned water into wine. We get to be a part of turning a cornfield into a life-changing place. Jesus walked on water. We all get to take a next step that we never thought possible. Some of those next steps could be praying out loud, reading your Bible, leading a Lifegroup, serving those less fortunate, or inviting a friend to church. God wants to do greater things in your life! If you haven’t taken a step or stretched your faith in a while….now is the time! If you have stopped or paused on dreaming big dreams for what God can do, repent and be reminded by scripture that he is wanting to work in and through you! Start dreaming, start acting in faith, start moving towards God’s dream for you!
Ending And Beginning
This past weekend, my wife, Rachelle, and I dropped off our oldest son Kaden at college. It’s an ending, but also a beginning. Now…before you worry about me getting sappy and mushy please read on. This is an encouraging and fun blog! When The Village Christian Church began Kaden was 4. It’s been a huge blessing to watch him grow up and see God work in his life. As a pastor, my most important priority is my wife and 2 sons. For both Kaden and Carder to have grown up in a healthy church, with great people as mentors to challenge them, I couldn’t be happier. Now comes the time for Kaden to start college and step into all kinds of new opportunities in his faith and life. It’s a beginning for him. He will attend a new church on the weekends. He’s connected in a new life group on campus. Knowing Kaden, he’ll invite new friends to connect with him in his faith. This is what we raise our kids for…to go out and change the world. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. (Psalm 127:4) Notice that God describes our kids as arrows. We encourage them, we love them, but ultimately, we release them into the world to make an impact. I’m so excited for what the future holds for Kaden and all the ways God will use him. I’m so excited for what the future holds for all our graduating seniors and all the ways God will use them. I’m so excited for YOU and what the future holds for you. God is ready to work in your life. This is your beginning. Are you ready to let him lead?
Girls, Noise, and Jesus
I have two teenage sons. They are AWESOME! We play sports together, go to events, eat great food, and get along great. My wife, Rachelle. for the past 4 years has held a high school girls Lifegroup at our house. For those who don’t have girls, they are LOUD! When 6-8 of them gather at our house, the volume level goes from a 2 to a 10! Even our male dog runs to my office or to my car to get away from the noise ? Here’s what I’ve seen over the last 4 years with this group…. 1. These girls LOVE Jesus! They have a great mentor in my wife, Rachelle, but their love for Jesus is their own. And they love BIG! 2. These girls support each other! Three of the girls who have graduated and are now in college still text and encourage each other every day. In addition, they also text and encourage the others still in high school. What a great example of connecting and community! 3. These girls serve! Every single one serves on Sunday and all have served outside the walls of the church, some even halfway around the world in Africa. Here is a picture of them serving at Heart for Africa in Swaziland, Africa. 4. These girls share their faith. This summer one of the girls made the decision to accept Christ and be baptized. There were a 20 plus high school students and youth leaders there to cheer her on. Every day the girls are inviting their friends to check out who Jesus is. They don’t hide their faith, They share it openly. What a great example to us all! The moral to the story… Even though the volume in our house goes UP every so often, the growth in Christ that is happening amongst these teenagers is incredible! I’m so proud to see this great group head off to college and change the world and share their faith with so many. So proud! Oh…by the way…once school gets started again, my wife,Rachelle, will lead a whole new group. If you see me and the dog out walking in the neighborhood, you now know why. We are getting away from the noise and also thanking God for it!
People Are Brilliant
One of my most trusted mentors and friends in life has said to me thousands of times… “People are Brilliant.” His point is that God made each person, He made you, with a specific talent that is brilliant. I’m lucky enough to be in a position to help people use those talents for the Lord. Too many times in our world, we point out the flaws in others rather than pointing out their strengths. Think about that for a moment. Is your focus on the flaws or the strengths? Kingdom Assignment Challenge Kingdom Assignments are when our church gives cash to people so they can use it to make a difference in their community and beyond. This Kingdom Assignment is part of the Get Off Your Donkey series, based on the story of the Good Samaritan who got off of his donkey to serve. The Village is now 60 days into the 90 day Kingdom Assignment Challenge. The fun started on April 5th when we handed out $100 bills to 55 people who were ready to step out and make a difference. Here are the 3 parameters to using the Kingdom Assignment money: 1. The money isn’t yours, it’s God’s. 2. Do something outside the walls of the church to help others. 3. Report back in 90 days on what you did. The stories have been pouring in daily and it’s been so much fun to see what God is doing through His people! One family who has a heart for kids who have to be in the hospital for a long time had this to say… ” The Smith family would like to thank The Village for letting us take the “Get Off Your Donkey” Kingdom Assignment Challenge. We took $100 and turned it into this… 29 goodie bags overflowing with amazing things for kids in the hospital , 1 special bag for a local boy battling leukemia, and plenty of prizes for the games offered at Lurie Children’s Hospital. We asked on Facebook for others to get in on this movement and we were overwhelmed with monetary donations (totaling $190) and many generous gifts such as books, games, puzzles, toys, etc.” Allow God To Work Through You I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Philippians 1:6…. “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I am confident that God has a plan for your life, a good work in store for you to do. Be confident that He will set you up to carry that plan on to completion. God thinks you’re brilliant. You are brilliant. He gave you specific strengths to use for others. Lean into those and watch God work in amazing ways! I can’t wait to celebrate how God will work through you!
Get Off Your Donkey To Help
How many times have you seen people in situations that just break your heart? How many times have you said to yourself, “If only there was something I could do to help”? Do you ever get the urge to help out and volunteer somewhere, but you just don’t know where or how to go about it? Get Off Your Donkey is all about serving and based on the story of the Good Samaritan who got off of his donkey to help the traveler. The Story of the Good Samaritan On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” – Luke 10:25-37 NIV You get busy and it’s easy to get wrapped up in your day to day life, but God built you for more. He gave you gifts and provides opportunities for you to use those gifts to help others. Here at The Village we encourage everyone to serve – both inside the church and outside in the community and beyond. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ” -Matthew 25:40 NIV If you’re looking for a place to serve, check this out… If you’re interested in purchasing a Get Off Your Donkey t-shirt, contact karol@thevillagechristianchurch.com.