As of midnight tonight I begin a 40 day fast in preparation for Easter. I will be fasting from sweets and cola. The colas won't be too big of an issue as I hardly drink 1 a day, plus I've gotten to where I really enjoy drinking water along with some Gatorade. It's the sweets that are going to be the real test. I love cookies and ice cream and it's going to be tough.
However, I am seeking God (Matt. 7:7), believing that He is on the verge of doing something BIG. Not sure what that is or how it looks, but I believe that He is leading me to seek purity, maturity & unity in my relationship with Him and in my leadership as a pastor.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
What about you? Have you considered asking, seeking and knocking at the heart of God (Matt. 7:7)? Maybe it's time to pursue a passion for purity through fasting.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Immeasurably More...
So this is my first ever blog. Yes, I'm a little delayed but that's always been the case with me and technology.
So what better way to begin than to share the "immeasurably more" story that has just taken place regarding our building. But, before I share it, I had better back up a bit and set this up.
So (3rd paragraph in a row for me to begin with "So" - a new one I believe), I knew God was calling me 3 yrs. ago to go and plant a church. Only, I thought we would be moving somewhere like Dallas. No, God had other plans - to leave us right here in League City and join up with a phenomenal group of people launching out a brand new church. By October of 2008, we knew this was God's plan and we were off. The church had begun in June and had been meeting in school for 5 months. At the same time they were bringin me on board as pastor, they also secured an incredible lease space that had already been built out for a church. It was 6,000 sq. feet at only 40 cents psf. What an "immeasurably more" story to launch out with. Oh, BTW, this is the same space I did Student Ministry in for Clear Creek so was it was like coming back home.
So (4 times now), by late December we were in the facility and God was beginning a great work. By the following December, we leased an additional 2,100 sf in our strip center. Now, just 15 months later, God has opened the floodgates again and is giving us more space... only better! There has been a preschool next door to us since we moved in and it's really awesome. Sharp build out with all that is required. Sadly (and I am sincere about this), the owner had to close down. Business had fallen off the last few years and they could not sustain. The building owners came and ask if we would be interested in leasing that space to which we gladly accepted. We are giving up our 2,100 sf space and leasing 4,787 sf of this preschool building. We will be connecting the two building internally and it will house all of our preschool and children. And the landlord has given us a very good price. When so many churches are meeting in schools and leasing space is difficult to find, God has graciously blessed us.
Now, what's even more amazing is that all the equipment from the preschool including cribs, tables, chairs, bookshelves, toys - everything has been left in the building. We will pay the building owner a fee for that which we will keep but it will be far less costly than buying it new.
Want to hear more?? This preschool has an outdoor playground area that is unbelievable! And no one even knows its back there. It's completely hidden from view. But it's huge and it's awesome!! Our kids are going to love it! It even has a small indoor play area with the soft flooring.
I was doing a little tour yesterday for our prayer ministry volunteers and they were in awe of God's blessings and spoke it out loud many times. God is faithful to do the "immeasurably more" if we will just believe in Him to do it. It is nothing of our doing, only of our faith. God does the work by his "power that is at work within us." What a privilege to be a son of the Most High God.
Take some time to read Ephesians 3:20 and begin praying asking God to do the immeasurably more in your life.
My next post will be our immeasurably more adoption journey which has been incredible.
Sign up to receive my blog and I'll try to share my thoughts, dreams and hopes for immeasurably more living.
So what better way to begin than to share the "immeasurably more" story that has just taken place regarding our building. But, before I share it, I had better back up a bit and set this up.
So (3rd paragraph in a row for me to begin with "So" - a new one I believe), I knew God was calling me 3 yrs. ago to go and plant a church. Only, I thought we would be moving somewhere like Dallas. No, God had other plans - to leave us right here in League City and join up with a phenomenal group of people launching out a brand new church. By October of 2008, we knew this was God's plan and we were off. The church had begun in June and had been meeting in school for 5 months. At the same time they were bringin me on board as pastor, they also secured an incredible lease space that had already been built out for a church. It was 6,000 sq. feet at only 40 cents psf. What an "immeasurably more" story to launch out with. Oh, BTW, this is the same space I did Student Ministry in for Clear Creek so was it was like coming back home.
So (4 times now), by late December we were in the facility and God was beginning a great work. By the following December, we leased an additional 2,100 sf in our strip center. Now, just 15 months later, God has opened the floodgates again and is giving us more space... only better! There has been a preschool next door to us since we moved in and it's really awesome. Sharp build out with all that is required. Sadly (and I am sincere about this), the owner had to close down. Business had fallen off the last few years and they could not sustain. The building owners came and ask if we would be interested in leasing that space to which we gladly accepted. We are giving up our 2,100 sf space and leasing 4,787 sf of this preschool building. We will be connecting the two building internally and it will house all of our preschool and children. And the landlord has given us a very good price. When so many churches are meeting in schools and leasing space is difficult to find, God has graciously blessed us.
Now, what's even more amazing is that all the equipment from the preschool including cribs, tables, chairs, bookshelves, toys - everything has been left in the building. We will pay the building owner a fee for that which we will keep but it will be far less costly than buying it new.
Want to hear more?? This preschool has an outdoor playground area that is unbelievable! And no one even knows its back there. It's completely hidden from view. But it's huge and it's awesome!! Our kids are going to love it! It even has a small indoor play area with the soft flooring.
I was doing a little tour yesterday for our prayer ministry volunteers and they were in awe of God's blessings and spoke it out loud many times. God is faithful to do the "immeasurably more" if we will just believe in Him to do it. It is nothing of our doing, only of our faith. God does the work by his "power that is at work within us." What a privilege to be a son of the Most High God.
Take some time to read Ephesians 3:20 and begin praying asking God to do the immeasurably more in your life.
My next post will be our immeasurably more adoption journey which has been incredible.
Sign up to receive my blog and I'll try to share my thoughts, dreams and hopes for immeasurably more living.
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