Rooted Worshiper

Earlier this year, our church studied what it means to be rooted in Jesus Christ. The key verse was this:

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

One MAJOR test that tells how well we are rooted is how easily we get offended. Are you easily offended, worship leaders? The bible says you have to be reconciled FIRST to others before you bring your worship to God (Mat 5:23-24). Ever tried getting up in front of people with an offense in your heart towards someone? I have done this before and it is very painful, especially when you see that someone in the third row at church smiling as if nothing is wrong. What?!

The reality is we can get offended at small things every day and at any given moment. I could have gotten offended because the waiter didn’t refill my sweet tea fast enough at lunch yesterday. See what I mean? Poor waiter, he just didn’t know I needed a refill every five minutes instead of every ten.

We have to stay rooted to avoid being easily offended. Rooted happens once in your life and every day of your life. Once, through God’s undeserved favor (aka grace); Christ died for you and now you are his! You can’t earn this one; it’s all Christ’s work. Everyday rooting happens when you WALK in his grace, LIVE as a new creation, CHOOSE his ways, and PUT on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). All action words, all your part. You choosing to do this will help you get rooted. Choosing to be offended or choosing to forgive someone is a good test for how deep your root REALLY goes.

“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” Mark 4:16-17 kjv

Shallow root + affliction/persecution= easily offended and bad fruit
Deep root + affliction/persecution = forgiveness and good fruit

Main point……

Be nice to your waiters and don’t take on an offense against ANYONE! If you do, quickly resolve the issue and don’t let the offense take root.

Time To Be A 'Quitter'

I think this is relevant for today! If you are sitting in your cubical reading/watching this and thinking 'I wish I had more time to pursue my dream job but I can't because of my day job' then check out this book.

I have to admit, I am a quitter, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made! Remember, all of this only works if you are not running from something but running towards something.  Big difference! 

Just Say YES!

I'm sure that there is someone out there that has written book about this but I will claim it as an original thought for now!

I was talking with my Worship Director, Cedric the entertainer, today and we both agreed that it is better for our automatic response to be 'yes' instead of 'no' when presented with opportunities or even unwanted task. Doing this automatically puts your brain on the positive side of thinking rather than believing the worst.  It opens you up to think about the impossible instead of staying in the realm of possible.  This means that you will have to trust God for the rest!

What about when God is prompting you to do something?  Is your automatic response to him a question or a maybe or a no?  Just think of the great things that might happen if you were to practice saying YES! Just think of the doors that might open up.

Of course, when the lady at Fuzzy's Toco's asked Cedric if our bill was all on one ticket he said no...I guess we have to have some boundaries!

Rooted!

Pastor John is in the middle of a series called "Rooted" and it has been great to hear some easy to follow tips on how we can become rooted and established in our faith.  

So here are some discussion points from this weekends message.  You can also find this at valleycreek.org. 

READ: Matthew 26:36-46; 1 Peter 4:7

1. Prayer is unnatural. It requires us to live in the world of the unseen - to be GOD-reliant

instead of SELF-reliant.

DISCUSSION: In what areas of your life do you show more SELF-reliance, than GODreliance?

How might you best submit those areas to God in prayer?

2. Jesus invites us to pray. He wants us to partner with Him, so that we will grow in our faith.

DISCUSSION: Reflect on some prayers that you’ve prayed in the near and distant past.

How has God answered those prayers? How has that impacted your trust in Him?

DISCUSSION: What is the best time of day for you, personally, to pray? How might you

begin developing a healthy, consistent prayer life?

READ: Matthew 6:5-13; Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 7:7-11

1. We must pray with humility, honesty, and hunger.

DISCUSSION: Think about the language you use and the level of transparency you have

with God when you pray. Are you intimate and honest or cold and distant? Have you ever

experienced God when you prayed? What did it look/feel like?

DISCUSSION: Discuss your attitude toward praying out loud – do you enjoy it? Are you

afraid of it? What is your motivation for feeling one way or the other? Is pride or the “fear

of man” hindering your prayers?

2. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us how to pray, not what to pray.

DISCUSSION: Read through the Lord’s Prayer again. In what area do you need to grow

most in your prayer life: praise and worship, submission, asking for provision, giving and

receiving forgiveness, or seeking protection and deliverance?

FINAL THOUGHT

Read Romans 8:26. The Holy Spirit enables us to pray, when we don’t know how or what to pray.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?

Give Yourself To Death

Halloween just passed and all these memories of the past flooded my head. I remember dressing up in some funny, often homemade outfits and going around to all my neighbors hoping to find the one overly generous person giving away candy bars instead of Jolly Ranchers. Most of the time I never remembered to thank the person for the treats. I just wanted to see how much candy I could get before the sun went down and we had to go home.

This is a picture of a Heman figure that I pulled off one year.  I had the make-up, the painted shirt my mom made, the fake wings that my dad rigged.  Decided to pass on the loincloth. Of course I did not have to fake the muscles since I look like this already....:-)

This Halloween we decided not to go out and trick or treat but stay home and give out candy. I have never seen a more excited person giving out candy than my little girl Izzy. She (literally) was running down the sidewalk and up to kids giving away handfuls of candy. Most kids were pulling away from her because they though she wanted to take away their candy. This has been a huge talking point for our family and how it is better to give than to receive.

There is a reason why the bible says to be a JOYFUL giver. God knows that it will do you more good to give than you will ever from receiving. You remember the cliche phrase "you can't out give God"? Believe it or not, this is true. Is it possible to look at people and always ask the question, "What can I give to them"? Maybe it is money but maybe it is time, an open ear, encouragement, an inclusion into your circle of friends. Maybe it is mowing their yard or paying their water bill. Either way, it is always better to give than to receive!

What if we all had this attitude?  Do you think it would make a difference?  What are some ways you are going to give?