Monday - "Are You a Dreamer or Realist?"

"They said one to another, "Behold, here cometh the dreamer." Genesis 37:19

Has anybody ever said that about you? "Hey...here comes that dreamer?" Are you known as a dreamer or a realist? Focused on what could be...or what you think is?

How much time do you spend dreaming? No, I'm not talking about the type where your eyes are closed and you are hugging your pillow... I'm referring to the type of dreaming that you do when you are wide awake! That kind of thinking that stretches you...that allows your mind to just roam...coming up with new and creative thoughts...

Ever spend any time dreaming? Ever wonder what things you can do that you've never done before?

Let's get bigger...

Ever have God-sized dreams? I want to challenge you to start thinking differently....but how? Ask yourself these questions:

1) What would I do with my life if I was guaranteed to succeed?
2) How would I live my life differently if I only had 24 hours to live?
3) How many people would I share my faith with if I knew they wouldn't reject me?
4) Would my life be different if I lived believing that God has a plan for my life? (Jer. 29:11)

This week, we're going to talk about our dreams...God's plan...and how we can live out our faith in a bold and confident way...

You in?

Blessings,
Pastor Brian

"A Lot with a Little" - A Devotional for Wednesday

Acts 1:15 "In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)"

I read today's passage and I simply can't believe it. Here you have Jesus. He walked the earth...healed the sick...raised the dead...walked on water...was crucified...came back from the dead... and after 33 years of ministry there are only 120 people that called themselves believers.

Was it fear that drove people away? Was it disbelief? No matter. 120 people looked pitifully small compared to the eternal impact that Jesus made. The disciples felt like failures.

But then, when you think about it, it was those 120 believers who began the movement known as the early church in Acts chapter 2. It was those 120 people who stuck around when everybody else fled. It was those 12o faithful followers who, with great personal risk, faced the Roman authorities and proudly proclaimed their allegiance to Jesus. Only 120. God can do a lot with a little.

Have you noticed that God can take very little and make very much? The mustard seed, if you've never seen one, is about the size of a poppy seed from your bread. Extremely small. But did you know that the Bible says that if you have faith (even mustard seed-sized faith)....God will do something with it. He's fed thousands with 2 fish and 5 loaves. Populated the planet with two people. Saved the world through an ark and a small faithful family... Taught multitudes of people with 12 disciples... and redeemed the world through 1. On a cross.

God does a lot with a little.

120 believers? Seems like a small number. The amount of money in you bank account? Maybe a small number. You- the only believer in your whole family? Again, a small number.

God does a lot with a little.

What may seem like a failure to us numerically...God uses as an opportunity... a chance for us to show faith. A chance to believe. Do you believe that God can take the little things in your life and make a big difference? You should. He can.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian

"The Question" - A Devotional for Tuesday

Matthew 5:3-4,6,10 (TM): “You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you...You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat....You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.”

I talk to so many people that ask me the same question: "Pastor, why am I going through this? Have I made God angry with me? Am I being punished for something that I've done?" Challenging situations...financial ruin...relational collapse...emotional train wrecks... I've seen (and experienced) many of these. If this is you this morning, I have happy news...you have a choice.

I don't mean that you have a choice in your circumstances...many of us don't. Life happens and we are tied to the consequences of our choices directly. However, you get to choose your reactions to these events...should you grow bitter and never trust again? How about jaded and skeptical about the presence of God? C'mon let's get honest...have you ever doubted He's there?

I have

But time and time again...God reaches down and pulls me back up. I am allowed to go to the bottom...because the only place to look is up. Toward God. Towards hope. Towards happiness.

Want to live a happy life? Start today. Commit yourself to looking to God when you feel driven down, starving, beat up, forgotten, ignored, hurt, or just plain lonely. We get to choose our perspective...you can either focus on the end of the rope...or the beginning of hope. Remember that God is ALWAYS there...no matter how we feel...no matter how we are treated...no matter what we are facing...He is there. We can't do it all. We don't need to do it all.

Hang on. Stay faithful. Never give up hope. Sometimes the crisis that we are in is exactly what we need. Does that sound strange? Remember...

Less of us means more of God. Our weakness...His strength.

Feast in His power and glory...Accept His warm embrace...Trust Him...You'll be much happier...and much closer to peace.

Pastor Brian