2011 A Year of GROWTH!
Last Sunday I declared that 2011 is going to be a year of growth. Now I'm not talking about trite growth like numbers or masses of people although I do believe that God is going to bring more through our doors because there area many still out there that are far from God that we will continue to reach out. The growth I am talking about and believe God is going to do is a Spiritual growth and a leadership growth. I know that our Father wants us to draw close to Him and grow our relationship with Him. My challenge on Sunday was to find a reading plan to get into God's word each day and grow closer to Him. Get into a ConnectionPointe group (small groups of people 5-10 that meet at church or in homes throughout the week-call 501.623.4237 for more information about how to get in a CP group) where you will be around other brothers and sisters that are going on this journey with you and grow together! Here is what our LakePointe Staff is doing as a reading plan:
+ We are all reading through the book of Proverbs in January and sharing our Proverb of the day with each other.
+ Scott: Reading through the Bible in a year.
+ Brandon: New Thru 30 reading the new testament in 30 days
+ RKelley: Major Stories of the Bible (takes you through OT and NT to study major stories and themes)
+ Ben: Reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John)
+ Katie: Proverbs
+ Brian: Reading through the Bible in a year.
+ Pastor Greg: Reading through the Bible in a year.
I share this with you so you know what some of the leaders are studying and reading and that you're not alone in this journey that there are many who are serious about learning and growing. Also, I want you to know that our team is serious about growing in our relationship with God and learning more about His love and desires for us and our life!
Here are a couple of verses that stuck out to me from today's reading. They speak of God's love and providence for us. In Hebrew there are many names used to describe the attributes of God. They help us understand who He is and what that means for us. we see this as Jehovah-Jireh -- meaning the Lord our Provider.
JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." Gen. 22:14. From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.
God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God is our provider of all things in this life and He continues to provide. Check these verses out:
Matthew 6
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Psalm 8
2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
God loves and cares for us His creation so much, I think often it's easy to forget the love of the Father. We can easily get caught up in worry, fear, and anxiety related to wondering how are we going to make it. How are we going to pay our bills, provide for our families, house, auto, and gas expenses. WORRY plagues our life and this is nothing new! Hear Jesus speak to the people:
Matthew 6
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
Our security and comfort rest in our God the provider. The one who has and will continue to give us what we need. A promise from God is that He will take care of us, that He knows what we need before we even ask! We are to trust in Him and have faith that He will do what He says He will do! God also wants us to come to Him as we would our earthly Father and share the cares of our heart with Him. Check this last verse out:
Matthew 7 Effective Prayer
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
As we are called to "grow" in wisdom and strength putting our faith and trust in God our Father may we be diligent to study His word and talk to Him (prayer) all the time. May we continue to trust that He hears and have faith that our God will do what He says He will do!
+ We are all reading through the book of Proverbs in January and sharing our Proverb of the day with each other.
+ Scott: Reading through the Bible in a year.
+ Brandon: New Thru 30 reading the new testament in 30 days
+ RKelley: Major Stories of the Bible (takes you through OT and NT to study major stories and themes)
+ Ben: Reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John)
+ Katie: Proverbs
+ Brian: Reading through the Bible in a year.
+ Pastor Greg: Reading through the Bible in a year.
I share this with you so you know what some of the leaders are studying and reading and that you're not alone in this journey that there are many who are serious about learning and growing. Also, I want you to know that our team is serious about growing in our relationship with God and learning more about His love and desires for us and our life!
Here are a couple of verses that stuck out to me from today's reading. They speak of God's love and providence for us. In Hebrew there are many names used to describe the attributes of God. They help us understand who He is and what that means for us. we see this as Jehovah-Jireh -- meaning the Lord our Provider.
JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." Gen. 22:14. From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.
God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God is our provider of all things in this life and He continues to provide. Check these verses out:
Matthew 6
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Psalm 8
2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
God loves and cares for us His creation so much, I think often it's easy to forget the love of the Father. We can easily get caught up in worry, fear, and anxiety related to wondering how are we going to make it. How are we going to pay our bills, provide for our families, house, auto, and gas expenses. WORRY plagues our life and this is nothing new! Hear Jesus speak to the people:
Matthew 6
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
Our security and comfort rest in our God the provider. The one who has and will continue to give us what we need. A promise from God is that He will take care of us, that He knows what we need before we even ask! We are to trust in Him and have faith that He will do what He says He will do! God also wants us to come to Him as we would our earthly Father and share the cares of our heart with Him. Check this last verse out:
Matthew 7 Effective Prayer
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
As we are called to "grow" in wisdom and strength putting our faith and trust in God our Father may we be diligent to study His word and talk to Him (prayer) all the time. May we continue to trust that He hears and have faith that our God will do what He says He will do!
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