Personal Offense

Read “Chazown” by Craig Groeschel during my vacation, what a great book on defining and living out God’s vision for your life.

A great thought he had was regarding “personal offense”. It stuck out to me because I often hear Christians say that they take something personally. It also hit because I receive criticism every week from people, on things that they know nothing about. I’m often tempted to become defensive.

Craig writes that a person living a spirit-filled life has no room for personal offense. If my life isn’t about me, but about Him, I don’t have the luxury of taking things personally. I should only be offended by that which grieves the heart of God, not that which is aimed at me, makes me uncomfortable, or is simply something I don’t like.

What if we as Christians began to “stop taking things personally”, and began to be more concerned about His name than our own?  Just a thought

 

Bible Thoughts…

We’re in this series, “Don’t Fight Naked”, and talking about how to stand firm in our faith (See Ephesians 6:10-18). Yesterday I mentioned that we are no longer our own…

1 Corinthians 6:19-20…    ”19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

When I became a follower of Christ, I received the forgiveness of my sins, His presence in my life, and the gift of eternal life. In exchange, my life, my body, my mind, are now His.

I’m seeking to live the rest of my life for His glory. I’m not free to choose to do things with my body that He paid the price for on the cross. As 1 Peter 5:8a says… “Be self-controlled and alert.”

Shots

Today I received 15 shots in my right leg.  I hit the limit of dosage they can give in one day, so I have to go back Thursday to do the left leg. Ouch!

Thanks for the prayers, the end is in sight. I’m grateful we live in a day and age where I can can receive this care (even though it’s painful). My legs already look and feel much better.

Please Continue To Pray

Got the bandanges off my legs today, and man, I look like a pincushion.  I’m still pretty sore, and not walking really well.  Please pray that my legs will be strengthened before the weekend.

I’m burning inside to share what God has been teaching me, and to help us all understand how to live in victory as followers of Christ!  I look forward to seeing you, and your non-believning guests, this weekend at Palm Valley! 

Don’t Fight Naked

I’m pumped about this weekend, as we start a new series titled “Don’t Fight Naked”.  Now before you get all excited, this is a Biblical series, based on the writings of Paul in Ephesians 6.

We’ll be talking about how to prepare for the battle’s we face in life, and to live victoriously through God’s strength in us!  Trust me, you don’t want to miss any of this series, it’s going to be awesome.

This sunday I’ll start out by talking about who satan is, who he isn’t, what his plan is, and how we can overcome him.  I think we’ll clear up a lot of misconceptions about satan, and help you prepare for the battle we’re in.  See you this weekend, and bring people with you. Find out more here…

 

Surgery Went Well

A huge thanks to everyone who prayed for me yesterday, the surgery went well, and I’m home resting.

I will tell you though, don’t ever believe doctors when they tell you, “this procedure will be painless”.  What a bunch of bull.  That thing was 4 hours of constant pain! I know I’m a wimp, and i have a serious problem with seeing needles stuck into my body, but OUCH!

Got to wear my IPod during the procdeure, listened mostly to Passion05 and Hillsong United.  Tomlin’s version of “It Is Well” got me through a few tough moments!

I’m off my feet for a few days while I recover. Pretty cool though, I get to have meetings with different staff today here at the house.  We’re working on some fun stuff, I’m totally pumped about this weekend; you don’t want to miss! Please pray I’ll be able to preach this weekend!

Please Pray For Me Tuesday

Found out tonight that I’m going in for a surgical procedure tomorrow (Tuesday). As many of you know, i’ve struggled with varicose veins that have led to swelling, cramping, and pain in both of my legs (and they’re getting ugly).

Tuesday at 2:15 they’ll go in and surgically remove the most offensive veins from my legs, and then over the next 4 weeks I’ll have a number of follow-up procedures where they will take care of the smaller veins.

I’m a big wimp when it comes to needles, so please pray for me during this. They say it’s a “routine procedure”, but i’m still freaked out.   If all goes well I’m supposed to be able to preach this weekend, although I may be sitting on a stool most of the message.

By the way, don’t miss this weekend as we start our new series, “Don’t Fight Naked”.

Back From Vacation

Lori and I (and Brooke) got back tonight from our vacation. It was a much needed rest, and gave me lots of time to think. I’ll be blogging more about things we experienced last week, but suffice it to say that vacations always help me relax, and that gets my creative juices flowing.

Can’t wait to get back to work.

Palm Valley Lost A Friend Today

We lost a good friend today.  Barb Cassell was involved in a car accident, and went home to be with the Lord.

Barb was involved in Celebrate Recovery, and was a volunteer with our Project Freedom ministry for students, and also worked with the “Go – Student Missions Team”. She was loved by all who knew her. Please pray for the students, as Barb was scheduled to go on the missions trip with them beginning this weekend.

Barb always  had a smile and a hug for everyone, and her genuine love for the Lord shone on her face. Truly there is a void in our church body today. I know with confidence that we will see Barb again in eternity, she was a true follower of Christ!

John 14:1-6

¹“Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. ²There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ⁴And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

⁵“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

This Weekend Will Rock

I’m pumped about services this weekend at Palm Valley. As I sat in our Creative Team meeting yesterday, I realized how challenged every one of us will be by the message this weekend.

You’ll be hearing from two gals who have incredible stories, Jillayne Payne and Nancy Mondzak. They’ll challenge your socks off.  These gals are two of the coolest people I’ve ever met (no exageration), and they are rocking our world at Palm Valley Church.

They head up our Volunteer ministries, and this weekend they’ll be sharing about what it means to serve at PVC, and how you can get involved. If you’re already volunteering, they will encourage and excite you. If you’re not, be ready to “get out of your seat and into the game”.  ‘Nuf said!