personally, I like “to do” lists
check boxes and color codes and deadlines, all of that grabs my attention
but alas, just making the the list won’t do
neither will ripping it up
you have to put in the work
Continue reading “what are you attracted to?”(notes added post-sermon in italics!)
‘1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; 8 the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. ‘
what does it look like to be a child of God? Continue reading “church notes: All in the Family x Pastor Jim Miller | 6.2.19”
When God is bringing you out of sin in your flesh, there’s going to be a long period of time where you will struggle against it. You will have to have extremes on the boundaries you set, especially if you’re surrounded by people who are undecided. Wear the ash and sackcloth. Continue reading “summarized: The White Elephant | The Power of the Hedge x Dr. Matthew Stevenson (7/7)”
When you are on your way out of sexual sin, God is going to call you into a season of divine extremes. If the people around you are uncomfortable with your extremes, you’ll start to leave your extremes to make them comfortable with what you have to do. You’ll start to hate the fact that you need to be so extreme, because you will become unpopular.
We have to realize lust is nothing to play with. What’s after you wants to end you and your future. You can’t be half in half out, and you can’t leave room for compromising. Your soul should be your priority.
Continue reading “summarized: The White Elephant | Extreme Life x Dr. Matthew Stevenson (6/7)”
The journey into lust never happens overnight, but the way you go in is the way you come out. One feel-good church service won’t turn everything around. There were levels to you going in to sin, and there will be levels to you coming out of it. Without revelation, repentance does not last. If you don’t have a reason to repent beyond just knowing something is wrong, you’ll take your repentance back. Being apologetic doesn’t mean that you’re repentant. There’s a difference between feeling remorseful and being repentant, thought they have a similar impact on the heart. When you’ve repented of something, you’ve lost the desire to do it, and you’ve taken it upon yourself to continue do things that will keep you away from it.
Rape and molestation are things that need to be talked about. They have brutal effects, especially on underage women. The devil tries to use them to derail your purpose, to derail your destiny. They have brutal effects, especially when you’re underage, and there are several misconceptions about them. #1, not only men molest. It’s everywhere, and it has to be talked about. Continue reading “TW// summarized: The White Elephant | Rape and Molestation x Dr. Matthew Stevenson (4/7)”
Again, the only way out of this battle is through ultimate reliance on the Spirit of God. We need the right relationship with Him, not one built on gifts and grocery lists. Be careful with charisma. Let The Spirit convict you and utilize His full ministry.
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Continue reading “church notes: Praying with Power x Pastor Nathaniel Wright”
If you want out, Jesus needs in. There is a way out of bondage without being condemned.
God had a problem with Solomon and his many women, mainly because whenever Solomon would fall with them, they would turn his heart towards whatever they worshiped. Seduction has an distracting, destructive agenda.
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The path of something is the way to it. Lust is not stationary; if you have it in one part of your life, it will affect you in others. Every path, including lust’s, has a starting point, a midpoint, and a landing point.
Continue reading “summarized: The White Elephant | The Path of Lust x Dr. Matthew Stevenson (2/7)”
“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:40-47 NKJV
The ultimate measure of a church is the number of people it saves. We find ourselves in an interesting place where we want to grow our faith, but we struggle with witnessing and sharing our faith effectively with those who need to knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is always effective, but we have to make it infectious.
Continue reading “church notes: Faith & Growth x Pastor Nathaniel Wright”
Vessel in the Valley 