wondering what to do in the New Year. I want you to consider the last thing God asked you to do. Were you faithful to complete it? "Oh but this is a new year, all is wiped clean." Sure... consider the words of Paul. Here he is addressing the Philippians as he is imprisoned. Many thought this would stop him from sharing the message but it didn't.
Philippians 1:18-21 So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on! And I'm going to keep that celebration going because I know how it's going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose.
22-26As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do.
"Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted.
But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably." Oswald Chambers
If God has called you to do something and you have not completed it, he isn't gonna give you something new just because of the calendar change. Pick yourself up and put your foot forward into 2010 and follow through!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
2010
Hello everyone this is a continuation of my last post New Year New Decade. For Christmas I received/bought the by Primal by Mark Batterson. Mark is the Lead Pastor at National Community Church in Washington D.C. This book talks about finding the lost Soul of Christianity and getting back to the Greatest Commandment: to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Matt. 22:36-40). I recommend this book to anyone in need of a restoration or refreshment in their life.
In the book Mark talks about God sized dreams. One of National Community Churches God sized dreams was to open a coffee house on Capitol Hill and today that coffee house named Ebenezer’s nets around $100,000 and all of that money goes to missions. What was even bigger about this dream is that the building that the coffee house is in was not cheap. The asking price for the building was around a million dollars, long story short they purchased that building for around $300,000. NCC had a God sized dream and He made sure that dream was going to happen.
So what are your God sized dreams that you want to reaching in 2010, 2011, 2012, etc. Go for them. In a time when people are talking about New Year’s resolutions, start talking about God sized dreams. In church world every church has a vision and the same should be true for your life. What is your vision? After all where there is no vision, you will perish (Proverbs 29:18).
Below I am posting my vision for my life in 2010 and the future. I hope it helps you get some ideas on where God may spark some of those God-sized dreams in your life.
My New Year’s RESOLVE!
I will not let career come before family.
I will not love my job more than my home.
I will not Choose to spend more time on “my” ministry…whilst forgetting my number ONE ministry at home.
I will not give my laptop more face time then my family…NO MATTER WHAT cool Apps come out that demand my attention.
I will not let fear or selfish ambition drive my decisions…nor seek to make my name great…under the cover of “ministry”
However….
I WILL spend more time in God’s word as an answer to our World’s “economy” issues, as an answer to fear of the future, as an answer on how to be the best dad I can, the best husband I can be, the best servant I can be, and as the guide for living the life He has called me to.
I WILL give My Saviour the glory in all things that He entrusts to me this year.
I WILL lead worship as a lead worshiper and out of the overflow of what He is doing in my heart and in my life as person of humility that realizes I am FIRST in line for making mistakes and falling short…as well as realizing I am not exempt from the things I say from the stage and continue to remember…WORSHIP is “so much more than a song!”
I WILL love my family, guard my heart, Laugh as much as possible, Hug and kiss my girls (and new baby) every day, Talk to my parents no less than once a week.
I WILL Make a HUGE deal of my 7th year anniversary to my wife and best friend Melissa!
I WILL sing and shout His fame with every opportunity I’m given…both on and off the stage…in how I conduct myself at the grocery store, in traffic, at home….as well as in front of people when it’s convenient.
I WILL boast in Jesus, even when my flesh and shortcomings, and strait up male stupidness make this list another failure to add to my already growing list in the years gone by!
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
All of the above… is my hope and prayer for 2010.
See ya Sunday
Mickey
In the book Mark talks about God sized dreams. One of National Community Churches God sized dreams was to open a coffee house on Capitol Hill and today that coffee house named Ebenezer’s nets around $100,000 and all of that money goes to missions. What was even bigger about this dream is that the building that the coffee house is in was not cheap. The asking price for the building was around a million dollars, long story short they purchased that building for around $300,000. NCC had a God sized dream and He made sure that dream was going to happen.
So what are your God sized dreams that you want to reaching in 2010, 2011, 2012, etc. Go for them. In a time when people are talking about New Year’s resolutions, start talking about God sized dreams. In church world every church has a vision and the same should be true for your life. What is your vision? After all where there is no vision, you will perish (Proverbs 29:18).
Below I am posting my vision for my life in 2010 and the future. I hope it helps you get some ideas on where God may spark some of those God-sized dreams in your life.
My New Year’s RESOLVE!
I will not let career come before family.
I will not love my job more than my home.
I will not Choose to spend more time on “my” ministry…whilst forgetting my number ONE ministry at home.
I will not give my laptop more face time then my family…NO MATTER WHAT cool Apps come out that demand my attention.
I will not let fear or selfish ambition drive my decisions…nor seek to make my name great…under the cover of “ministry”
However….
I WILL spend more time in God’s word as an answer to our World’s “economy” issues, as an answer to fear of the future, as an answer on how to be the best dad I can, the best husband I can be, the best servant I can be, and as the guide for living the life He has called me to.
I WILL give My Saviour the glory in all things that He entrusts to me this year.
I WILL lead worship as a lead worshiper and out of the overflow of what He is doing in my heart and in my life as person of humility that realizes I am FIRST in line for making mistakes and falling short…as well as realizing I am not exempt from the things I say from the stage and continue to remember…WORSHIP is “so much more than a song!”
I WILL love my family, guard my heart, Laugh as much as possible, Hug and kiss my girls (and new baby) every day, Talk to my parents no less than once a week.
I WILL Make a HUGE deal of my 7th year anniversary to my wife and best friend Melissa!
I WILL sing and shout His fame with every opportunity I’m given…both on and off the stage…in how I conduct myself at the grocery store, in traffic, at home….as well as in front of people when it’s convenient.
I WILL boast in Jesus, even when my flesh and shortcomings, and strait up male stupidness make this list another failure to add to my already growing list in the years gone by!
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
All of the above… is my hope and prayer for 2010.
See ya Sunday
Mickey
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Oswald Today
December 29, 2009
Deserter or Disciple?
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more —John 6:66When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must "walk in the light" of that vision ( 1 John 1:7 ). Even though your mind and soul may be thrilled by it, if you don’t "walk in the light" of it you will sink to a level of bondage never envisioned by our Lord. Mentally disobeying the "heavenly vision" ( Acts 26:19 ) will make you a slave to ideas and views that are completely foreign to Jesus Christ. Don’t look at someone else and say, "Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can’t I?" You have to "walk in the light" of the vision that has been given to you. Don’t compare yourself with others or judge them— that is between God and them. When you find that one of your favorite and strongly held views clashes with the "heavenly vision," do not begin to debate it. If you do, a sense of property and personal right will emerge in you— things on which Jesus placed no value. He was against these things as being the root of everything foreign to Himself— ". . . for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" ( Luke 12:15 ). If we don’t see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord’s teaching.
Our tendency is to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we had when God revealed His will to us. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don’t try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.
Deserter or Disciple?
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more —John 6:66When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must "walk in the light" of that vision ( 1 John 1:7 ). Even though your mind and soul may be thrilled by it, if you don’t "walk in the light" of it you will sink to a level of bondage never envisioned by our Lord. Mentally disobeying the "heavenly vision" ( Acts 26:19 ) will make you a slave to ideas and views that are completely foreign to Jesus Christ. Don’t look at someone else and say, "Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can’t I?" You have to "walk in the light" of the vision that has been given to you. Don’t compare yourself with others or judge them— that is between God and them. When you find that one of your favorite and strongly held views clashes with the "heavenly vision," do not begin to debate it. If you do, a sense of property and personal right will emerge in you— things on which Jesus placed no value. He was against these things as being the root of everything foreign to Himself— ". . . for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" ( Luke 12:15 ). If we don’t see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord’s teaching.
Our tendency is to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we had when God revealed His will to us. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don’t try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
New Year, New Decade
Hello Fellowship Peeps,
We have come to the end of another year and the end of a decade. When I look back on what this past decade has brought us I’m flat out floored, just think: 9/11, War, Corporate America in turmoil, Saddam Hussein was executed, Apple Computers resurgence with the invention of the Ipod(Thank You Jesus), Social Networking (facebook, myspace, twitter), Global Warming, Hurricane Katrina, Election of 1st African American President, the greatest entertainer Michael Jackson died. The list could go on and on and I’m amazed how fast this decade has gone by. I look back 10 years and I would have never dreamed I would be in the position I’m in right now. I was a 20 year old college baseball player who’s aspirations were to be playing baseball the rest of my life. Thank God He had a different plan. I look back and can see the influence different people have had in my life and see that Jeremiah 29:11 is certainly true. I can also look back and see where the devil has tried to destroy everything in my life.
Enough about the past let’s talk about the future. What is it that God has been calling you to do? Maybe it’s to step out and go into the ministry(after all we are all in ministry), it could be to start a new business that doesn’t make sense in this economic time, or maybe to get rid of that girlfriend or boyfriend, or marry that girlfriend or boyfriend, some of you God may be calling to step up and serve more. All I can encourage you to do in this next year and next decade is to seek God, get in the Word and go after Him not holding anything back. 2010 is going to be incredible at Fellowship Church. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us. All I can say is you better hold on. Our goal is to make Hell a little less crowded.
What are you wanting to accomplish in 2010? Let us know by commenting.
I am going to post My New Year Resolve next week so all of you can hold me accountable.
Have a Merry Christmas
Mickey
We have come to the end of another year and the end of a decade. When I look back on what this past decade has brought us I’m flat out floored, just think: 9/11, War, Corporate America in turmoil, Saddam Hussein was executed, Apple Computers resurgence with the invention of the Ipod(Thank You Jesus), Social Networking (facebook, myspace, twitter), Global Warming, Hurricane Katrina, Election of 1st African American President, the greatest entertainer Michael Jackson died. The list could go on and on and I’m amazed how fast this decade has gone by. I look back 10 years and I would have never dreamed I would be in the position I’m in right now. I was a 20 year old college baseball player who’s aspirations were to be playing baseball the rest of my life. Thank God He had a different plan. I look back and can see the influence different people have had in my life and see that Jeremiah 29:11 is certainly true. I can also look back and see where the devil has tried to destroy everything in my life.
Enough about the past let’s talk about the future. What is it that God has been calling you to do? Maybe it’s to step out and go into the ministry(after all we are all in ministry), it could be to start a new business that doesn’t make sense in this economic time, or maybe to get rid of that girlfriend or boyfriend, or marry that girlfriend or boyfriend, some of you God may be calling to step up and serve more. All I can encourage you to do in this next year and next decade is to seek God, get in the Word and go after Him not holding anything back. 2010 is going to be incredible at Fellowship Church. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us. All I can say is you better hold on. Our goal is to make Hell a little less crowded.
What are you wanting to accomplish in 2010? Let us know by commenting.
I am going to post My New Year Resolve next week so all of you can hold me accountable.
Have a Merry Christmas
Mickey
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday WOW
Just thought i would take a moment to highlight the amazing day at Fellowship Church.
Baptized = 6
Salvation's = 1
People seeking = 3
Attendance = 390
Today we concluded the Harvest series with a talk about Giving Thanks. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to Be joyful, pray and Give thanks in all situations. Over the last 6 weeks we have asked God to make us more intentional about sharing our faith. We have over 200 names on our Harvest wall and today we marked out two that have come to Jesus. God is Amazing.
As some friends say often, I never get tired of seeing peoples lives changed.
Final Thoughts - even in the rain and cold we had one of our largest attendance Sunday in the last couple of months.
I love our church and love all of those who call it home.
The Guest Services Team hit it out of the park today. You guys made sure everyone got in the building with umbrellas and the buses. You greeted everyone and made them feel welcomed. The Coffee bar rocked and I personally enjoyed the two cups of cappuccino. And you parking lot dudes, all i can say is wow, you guys stood in the rain and helped everyone find places to park. Thank you dudes and dudesses for your personal sacrifices, Fellowship Church is great because of you.
Missed Mickey today, but Stan did a great job leading us in worship with Celeste singing some amazing praise stuff. Good job Celeste and Stan.
Next Week: We will begin a new series called When Love Comes to Town and there will be a special song that U2 made great and we will be talking about the Gift of Jesus this Christmas season is some unique ways. Hope you all make sure you don't miss next week and bring a friend.
Have a great Thanksgiving week and honor God with Giving Thanks.
Baptized = 6
Salvation's = 1
People seeking = 3
Attendance = 390
Today we concluded the Harvest series with a talk about Giving Thanks. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to Be joyful, pray and Give thanks in all situations. Over the last 6 weeks we have asked God to make us more intentional about sharing our faith. We have over 200 names on our Harvest wall and today we marked out two that have come to Jesus. God is Amazing.
As some friends say often, I never get tired of seeing peoples lives changed.
Final Thoughts - even in the rain and cold we had one of our largest attendance Sunday in the last couple of months.
I love our church and love all of those who call it home.
The Guest Services Team hit it out of the park today. You guys made sure everyone got in the building with umbrellas and the buses. You greeted everyone and made them feel welcomed. The Coffee bar rocked and I personally enjoyed the two cups of cappuccino. And you parking lot dudes, all i can say is wow, you guys stood in the rain and helped everyone find places to park. Thank you dudes and dudesses for your personal sacrifices, Fellowship Church is great because of you.
Missed Mickey today, but Stan did a great job leading us in worship with Celeste singing some amazing praise stuff. Good job Celeste and Stan.
Next Week: We will begin a new series called When Love Comes to Town and there will be a special song that U2 made great and we will be talking about the Gift of Jesus this Christmas season is some unique ways. Hope you all make sure you don't miss next week and bring a friend.
Have a great Thanksgiving week and honor God with Giving Thanks.
Monday, November 9, 2009
In Case you missed it.....
Here is a video from Sunday of the band doing Glory to God Forever by Fee. More to come on this later.
Mickey
Mickey
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Worship Night
Hello everyone back in September we had a worship night at the church and had about 250-300 people here so I thought those of you who where not able to make it that night could experience some of it on here so here are the videos of that night broken down into 4 different videos.
Thanks
Mickey
Thanks
Mickey
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