greg | bearss

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...

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. What if...we became encouragers? What if...by God's grace we were able to do this everyday? What if...this "encouraging" was a part of our everyday conversation--wherever we went this was our attitude and focal point for every conversation. What if...we lived life to be a encourager and lift up build people up! What if...it became a thread of our life fabric and we went beyond just a daily thing but it became a moment to moment thing? What if...we searched out ways to be an encourager to our co-workers, spouse, children, friends,...

So I got a text message from a new pastor friend that came to visit as he has been contemplating being a part of the movement God has been doing through LakePointe. It was interesting that he related Psalms 126 to what God is doing at LakePointe and worship that he experienced. As I read it there were so many things that popped out that I couldn’t help but share: This Psalm was written and likely refers to the return of the Jews from captivity and slavery from Babylon returning to Jerusalem c.a. 538B.C. can you imagine the feeling of being taken to a foreign land for almost 70 years and finally you get to return to your home? It’s must have been surreal--like a dream that you have been dreaming for so long when it becomes reality you still feel as though it’s a dream. (maybe the same way Peter felt being rescued & released from prison in the middle of the night by an angel of the Lord- Acts 12:9 ) This reminds me of what we have been seeing at LakePointe where there have be...

We Are All Beggars (Readings from the "Through-the-Bible Reading Plan"  Oct 30th) Job 21, Mark 5 & 6 What's been hitting me today is there are so many things that are out of my control.  For a high "D" personality and a high "I" (meaning I'm a control freak that likes to influence people) this is very difficult to swallow.  Even today my middle daughter is in the ER because of stomach pains she has been having and I cannot control this situation.  I have been praying for God to heal her and His ultimate will to happen, I have asked several prayer warriors to join me in this prayer but ultimately I am just a beggar before God. Reading today more of Job's story-line is a reminder that the unjust prosper and the follower's of Yahweh don't always have it easy.  We are just beggars of God's mercy and we pray for strength and understanding that can only come from Him when we are in the middle of some junk that we don't understand....