These last 2 weekends at FCC-Phoenix have been great! Easter Sunday was a beautiful and great day. We had a good crowd at the sunrise service; some great breakfast burritos afterwards provided by the Cordova family; great worship services; and great crowds with many new faces! I hope you were fully able to celebrate our risen Lord that day - "Christ has indeed been raised from the dead..." I Corinthians 15:20
This last Sunday was our 2nd Baptism Day and Family Fun Fest. We had 20 baptisms on May 1! Praise God! It was so encouraging and moving to see so many people respond to God's call on their life, and to make the decision to follow Christ. We had 1 other baptism earlier in the week, so 21 lives were changed last week by entering the baptistery and coming out with new lives! Wow. 2 great weekends. I really hope you were here to experience them.
This Friday (5/6) is the Chik-fil-A Leadercast, and we are one of the valley host sites. If you'd like to come, you can register here. May 15 and 22 are the 2 parts of our First Steps class. In Part 1 we talk about connecting with God and with this church family, and in Part 2 we talk about getting plugged into service here on our campus or in the community. If you've never been to First Steps, then now's your time. Sign up here.
We've had some great (and busy) months, and summer is just around the corner. Make sure you're spending time with God each day and don't let the busyness of life keep you from being with Him.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Let's Pray!
Beginning this Friday night, April 1, FCC is starting another week of 24/7 prayer. This has been a great week for this body of believers and the individuals who participate. I strongly encourage you to sign up for an hour (or more) during this very important week. This church is strengthened and encouraged every time we do this.
The week kicks off with a worship and prayer service on Friday evening at 7 p.m. I know you will be blessed if you come to this event. Let's pray!
The week kicks off with a worship and prayer service on Friday evening at 7 p.m. I know you will be blessed if you come to this event. Let's pray!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A Couple of Book Recommendations
Last week I finished reading an amazing book - Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward by Dr. Henry Cloud. Dr. Cloud is one of my favorite authors and speakers so I knew I'd like the book, but it went way beyond my expectations. His main thesis is that there are necessary endings that we must all deal with, but we typically don't because we don't know how.
My main learnings were: the three different types of needed pruning; how to distinguish between a hope and a wish; and the three types of people we all deal with. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. It's already impacted my life and relationships, and I believe it will yours, too. Get a copy today.
On March 6, Chuck mentioned a little book called Two Roads, Two Rooms. It's actually a condensed version of a book titled TrueFaced. Our small group is reading the book and going through the study guide, and I highly recommend them for you and/or your group. It's a transformational book and concept, and I very strongly recommend these books as well. Click on any of the titles to follow a link to more information.
My main learnings were: the three different types of needed pruning; how to distinguish between a hope and a wish; and the three types of people we all deal with. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. It's already impacted my life and relationships, and I believe it will yours, too. Get a copy today.
On March 6, Chuck mentioned a little book called Two Roads, Two Rooms. It's actually a condensed version of a book titled TrueFaced. Our small group is reading the book and going through the study guide, and I highly recommend them for you and/or your group. It's a transformational book and concept, and I very strongly recommend these books as well. Click on any of the titles to follow a link to more information.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
I'm Beginning to Understand
There are some great stories in Mark 6. I was reading this chapter today and some points jumped out to me.
First of all, Jesus sends out the apostles and gives them authority to teach and over evil spirits. "They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them." (vs. 12,13). Then, after they have sought out a solitary place, the crowds find them and want to hear from Jesus. He teaches them, and then the disciples decide the crowd should be sent away to find food. "But he answered, 'You give them something to eat.'" (vs. 37) The apostles protest that it would cost too much to feed the crowd. Jesus answers, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." (vs. 38) Of course, they fed 5,000+ people that day with 5 loaves and 2 fish - and had leftovers!
Immediately, Jesus sends the apostles back out on the water to cross the lake. He is walking past them when they see him, and "they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified." (vs. 49-50) "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." (vs. 51b-52)
Let's recap: the apostles teach, heal, and cast out demons; they see him feed 5,000+ people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish; they see him walk on water - but their hearts were hardened. It's easy for me to read this and think "what kind of morons were these guys?" But then I catch myself and think, "how many times have I see God working in my life, but I can't put 2 and 2 together and understand His goodness and love because my heart is hardened?"
Lord, open the eyes of my heart so I can see where You are moving and working so I can understand Your great love and power. "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 1:18-20 (NLT)
First of all, Jesus sends out the apostles and gives them authority to teach and over evil spirits. "They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them." (vs. 12,13). Then, after they have sought out a solitary place, the crowds find them and want to hear from Jesus. He teaches them, and then the disciples decide the crowd should be sent away to find food. "But he answered, 'You give them something to eat.'" (vs. 37) The apostles protest that it would cost too much to feed the crowd. Jesus answers, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." (vs. 38) Of course, they fed 5,000+ people that day with 5 loaves and 2 fish - and had leftovers!
Immediately, Jesus sends the apostles back out on the water to cross the lake. He is walking past them when they see him, and "they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified." (vs. 49-50) "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." (vs. 51b-52)
Let's recap: the apostles teach, heal, and cast out demons; they see him feed 5,000+ people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish; they see him walk on water - but their hearts were hardened. It's easy for me to read this and think "what kind of morons were these guys?" But then I catch myself and think, "how many times have I see God working in my life, but I can't put 2 and 2 together and understand His goodness and love because my heart is hardened?"
Lord, open the eyes of my heart so I can see where You are moving and working so I can understand Your great love and power. "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 1:18-20 (NLT)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Is He listening?
These verses really encouraged me this morning in my quiet time.
"To you I call, O Lord my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help; as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:1-2, 6,7
I am so encouraged to know that God hears my prayers and my cries for mercy. He is our strength and our shield. Trust in Him. Be joyful. Give thanks to Him in song.
"To you I call, O Lord my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help; as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:1-2, 6,7
I am so encouraged to know that God hears my prayers and my cries for mercy. He is our strength and our shield. Trust in Him. Be joyful. Give thanks to Him in song.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Space Between...
Wow! I've just read a great post from Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing. He's a blogger I regularly read. Here's the link.
Read the post and then tell me, how about you? Can you live in the space between the stimulus and the response? I'm working on this one, too.
Read the post and then tell me, how about you? Can you live in the space between the stimulus and the response? I'm working on this one, too.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Key Item I'm Working On
A key item I'm working on in my life is to have the courage to trust God. I know He's faithful and true, but sometimes my doubts creep in and I trust myself instead, and end up regretting it as I crash and burn.
I read these verses this morning - "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. I trust in you, my God! Lead my by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you." Psalm 25:1,8
I can put my trust and hope in God. He leads me by His truth and teaches me, and He is the One who saves me. I'm trying to re-train certain thought pathways in my brain to think these thoughts first instead of doubting. I think I'd better memorize them and meditate on them!
I read these verses this morning - "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. I trust in you, my God! Lead my by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you." Psalm 25:1,8
I can put my trust and hope in God. He leads me by His truth and teaches me, and He is the One who saves me. I'm trying to re-train certain thought pathways in my brain to think these thoughts first instead of doubting. I think I'd better memorize them and meditate on them!
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