1 Major Stumbling Block To Sharing Jesus With Others!

Even in the life of Jesus there were stumbling blocks that tried to hinder him from accomplishing the mission that God the Father had sent him into the world to accomplish.  Watch this video to learn about 1 major stumbling block that Jesus encountered and how he dealt with it.  

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3 Things To Improve Your Ability To Love

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-12 (NIV)

1.  Remember Your Debt Of Love You Can Never Repay.

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another ..."

The first place to start when it comes to improving you ability to love is to remember that God first loved you when you were unlovable.  God loved us while we were still in the middle of our sinful condition and He demonstrated that love by having Jesus die on the cross to take the punishment that we deserved for our sins. Then God after Christ's resurrection offered forgiveness of sin as a free gift if we would only receive it by faith.  How can you pay back that kind of debt?  You can't but we can pay it forward by loving others the way Christ loved us. 

2.  Regard Others Like Yourself

"Love your neighbor as yourself ..."

The next place to go for improving your ability to love is to remember that the scripture tell us to love others as we love ourselves.  Just as you take care of yourself - in the same way you should also take care of others.  If you are one who doesn't love yourself very well then do what Christ said.  "A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another like I have loved you."

3.  Refuse To Harm Others

"Love does no harm to a neighbor."

And finally, in order to improve your ability to love others better you should always remember that love does not harm others.  When we love people it is our intent to build them up - not to tear them down!  It's to heal them - not injure them! Here's a good question to ask yourself before you talk to someone or do something to someone:

"Is what I am about to say or do going to harm this person?"

If the answer is "yes" then don't do it!  Why? Because love does no harm!

Now that these suggestions and go out into your part of this dark world and love people liberally! Shine the Light of Christ brightly by doing loving deeds in such a way that God gets the glory for it. 

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A Bible Story Of Hope

Today I want to share with you a true story from the Bible that should bring you hope and encouragement.   It will make clear to you that Jesus truly does love you and is willing to change your life. 

If you are a fully devoted follower of Christ that wants to join Christ on His mission then I highly encourage you to learn this story for yourself and begin to share it with people over and over again.

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The Importance Of Forgiving One Another

In order to shine the Light of Christ brightly in our part of this dark world we must learn to forgive one another.  Forgiveness is the proof that we really love and love is the proof that we really know Christ!  Watch this video and be encourage to forgive those that have hurt you.

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5 Important Lesson About Anger!

Today we are going to learn about God’s Way For Dealing With Anger.  Our text is found in Genesis 4:1-15. 

"Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so[e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

What Do We Learn About Anger:

1.  Anger can develop from a bad attitude.

“... The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” (v. 4,5)

The bad attitude that Cain had was jealousy. He was jealous that his younger brother had his sacrifice accepted by God when his wasn't.  There are all kinds of bad attitudes that we can develop but if left unchecked anger will quickly develop from it.

2.  God will always call us out on our anger.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted ...” (v. 6, 7)

Don't think that your anger goes unnoticed by God!  He not only notices it but will also calls us out on it and warn us about it. 

3.  Not dealing with anger will lead to sin

“... But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it’s desires to have you.” (v. 7b)

Anger is a seed from which sin can be birthed.  When we are angry we make Godless choices.

Jesus during His Sermon On The Mount said, 

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” (v. 21,22)

4.  God will punish us for the sin that our anger caused us to do.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ ‘I don’t know,” he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ The Lord said, ‘What have you done? Listen! Your brothers blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (v. 9-12)

Don't think that you can use your anger as an excuse that God will accept for the sin you committed.  Anger is no defense for sinning in the sight of God.  Even though you were angry God will hold you accountable for the sin.

5.  Anger Can Be Mastered.

“... it’s desires to have you, but you must master it.” (v. 7b)

Every can learn to manage their anger so that it doesn't control them.  How many times have we been in a heated argument with a family member when all of a sudden the phone rings and instead of screaming and yelling when we answer the phone we change our tone and calmly say, "Hello, can I help you?"

You see we do have the ability to control our anger, it's just a matter of if we are willing to or not. 

How To Be Credible In Living A Powerful Missional Life!

In today's post I want to share with you about our credibility for living a missional life.  How will people know that what we are sharing about Jesus, about the Gospel or the forgiveness of sin is accurate and true?  The answer comes back to our credibility!  Are we credible? Can people believe us?  Watch this video and see what God is telling you!

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Powerful Missional Living Requires Confidence In Our Personal Prayer Life

If you are going to have a powerful missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ in your part of this dark world then you will need to have confidence in your prayer life!  You will need to have confidence that God hears and will answer your prayers!

In this video I am going to share with you one Biblical way you can have that confidence.

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1 Hard To Swallow Explanation For Why God's People Suffer

Have you ever asked a question, sincerely wanting an answer, but once the answer was given you really didn't like it?  When it comes to why God allows His people to suffer no answer is really comforting.  The answer itself actually might be very hard to swallow and accept.  

In today's post I am going to lead us to examine one explanation for why God's people suffer. But let me be up front with you from the get go; I don't think it's going to taste very good in your mouth.  It's true but hard to accept.  And while it may be hard to accept it is also at the same time very challenging and noble.  Take a moment and read the verse that I am going to be using as my text.

"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." 2 Corinthians 4:6-12 (NIV)

I just love how verse 6 starts off.  God who made the light shine in darkness also made His light shine in our hearts through the knowledge of God that we see in Christ.  GOD MADE HIS LIGHT SHINE IN US!  That's just powerful.  We didn't discover the Light!  We didn't create the Light!  We did't even put the Light inside ourselves.  The Light of Christ that shines through us is a work of God from start to completion.  It was through God's initiative and by His own hand that the Light of Christ lives in us and shines through us.  In other words, we are God's chosen vessels, that He is displaying His light through in our part of this spiritually dark world.  That's our purpose and our mission.  POWERFUL!  SIMPLY POWERFUL!

We contain Christ's Light in "Jars of Clay" or in our broken and feeble mortal bodies.  Now here it comes. This is the part that can be hard to swallow!  God has chosen to display his light in the broken down and beaten up bodies of His saints in order to show the world that the power His saints display are not from them but really from God.  

God wants to make sure that the world realizes who is truly the one powerful!  God wants to make sure that we, his saints, don't get the credit for what He has done and for the credit that He deserves.  And to insure that God's power and Light is manifested to the world in such a way that He alone get's the glory, He (God) allows his saints to experience trials, tribulations, persecutions and all kinds of hardships.  In dying with Christ, through persecution, the life of Christ is manifested through us!

Here's why I also call this explanation and this kind of lifestyle noble:  It's what the Apostle Paul says at the end of these verses.

"So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." 

It's NOBLE because all this suffering and dying is intended for the eternal life to be made available to others who still need to experience it.  Nobility isn't define by what you say you believe but through your acts of righteousness out of your beliefs.  What better act of righteousness is there than a person willing to suffer and even die so that others can see Jesus and receive eternal life?  DON'T YOU THINK IT SOUNDS VERY CHRIST LIKE? ISN'T THAT EXACTLY WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US?

As Followers of Christ we are still here on planet earth for one reason and one reason only!  That reason is simply so we can live a powerful missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ in our part of this dark world.  If nothing else is accomplished and we simple shine Jesus in a way that God gets the glory and not us then we've accomplish all that is of real importance. And as we accept our role of being the Light of the World then we need to also accept the very real possibility that suffering will be a part of that shining.  

3 Important Choices That Lead To Powerful Missional Living

A powerful missional life just doesn't happen by chance.  It comes about because Christians make choices that lead them into that kind of lifestyle.  These choices are not always easy to make and if the truth be told they are often extremely difficult.

As we look at Moses we can see 3 choices that he had to make that allow him to powerfully join God on His mission.  These same 3 choices still face Christians today!   To make the choice the way God would have you will lead to greater effectiveness in shining the Light of Christ but to make the choice contrary to God will cause you to become impotent and ineffective in missional living.  

To choice God's way is not easy and will require you to have faith in God.  The outcome of your choices may not always be clear but your conviction to follow Christ is not only clear but firm and your trust that God will work all things out for good is steady.  Without faith you cannot please God - you cannot make the choices the way God would have you to make.  

The Bible verse to help us navigate in understanding these choice is found in Hebrews 11:24-26.

"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." (NIV)

Let us take a look at the 3 choices:

Choice #1:  Choose To Identify With God & Not The People Of The World

"By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter" (Vs. 24 NIV)

We all know the story of Moses of how Pharaoh, out of fear of having the Hebrew slaves grow so large in numbers that they might overthrow him, ordered that all the male children under a certain age be killed.  We remember how Moses' mother hid Moses until he was to big to hide any longer but then out of faith put baby Moses in a basket and floated him downstream. We've heard about how Pharaoh's daughter found the basket and fell in love with baby Moses and decided to raise him herself thereby making him a Prince of Egypt.  And in the palace of Pharaoh Moses was raised in the wealthiest country in the world.  He had pleasure, prestige, power and property.  He was living in the lap of luxury.  

That was until he was all grown up and decided to no longer live in the lap of luxury while his people were living as slaves.  He wanted to help his people. He wanted to find a way to ease their suffering.  MOSES GAVE UP THAT IDENTITY OF BEING A PRINCE OF EGYPT TO BE KNOWN AS A HEBREW SLAVE. 

As we intentionally set out to live a life on mission with Christ we too will be asked by God to exercise our faith to abandon our identity with the world and instead, be known as a Child of God.  We will be asked by God to stop considering ourselves as a member of this world but instead to consider ourselves as ambassador for the Kingdom of God.

When we make this choice most of the people in the world will not understand why we would do that.  Many people will ridicule us - make fun of us - and even malign our character for choosing it.  They will consider us foolish and even traitors.  

But we also need to keep in mind that how we view our identity will have a powerful effect on how we go about God's mission and how effective we will be in accomplishing His will. 

Choice #2:  Choose To Embrace Suffering Rather Than Pleasure

"He chose to be mistreated along with people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time."  (v.25 NIV)

Did you see that?  Moses chose to be mistreated!  That's amazing!  Instead, of living in the lap of luxury with everything your heart could ever want.  Moses gave it all up just to follow God and be obedient to him.  That requires a growing faith to make that kind of Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

.And it's not just about giving up the pleasures of the world (Egypt) but more importantly to give them up in favor to being mistreated by others who don't believe in God.  Moses could have enjoyed all the sinful pleasures that a wealthy life as a Prince of Egypt could offer.  But he chose not to.  Why? Partly because Moses realized that sin, though pleasurable, is only temporary but in like fashion he also realized that that the mistreatment he would experience was also only temporary.

In missional living we will experience the mistreatment from the people of this world.  By choosing Christ and obedience to His mission we become an enemy to the world and the rulers of this world. We could experience all the pleasures of the sinful lifestyle this world has to offer.  We could easily drown ourselves in debauchery and party until to our hearts content.  But we are willing to give it up!  Why? Because we know that with Christ's return comes the end of all of the pleasure of sin. 

But it's going to require faith for you to make that choice!  We can see sin and the pleasures that people get from their participation in it but we don't see Christ and all that he has offer yet.  We have to believe and trust that Christ will be true to his word.  THAT'S FAITH.

Choice #3:  Choose The World's Disgrace Over Getting Their  Approval.

"He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward."  (v. 26)

This is a choice of what's of most value to you!  Moses felt that being disgraced and dishonored by those of the world was of more value than all the riches in Egypt.  All the hate, all the name calling, all the beatings and even death was of worth more than all the treasures the world could gather together.  

Jesus express the same sentiments on the Sermon On The Mount in what we call the Beatitudes.  Read what he says:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11,12 (NIV)

According to Jesus we are "BLESSED" when we are insulted, persecuted and lied about all because Jesus.  We are to rejoice when these things happen because our reward in Heaven because of it. 

I'm not sure what you think but Jesus believed that our reward in Heaven is going to be far more valuable than all of the treasures of earth.  

You know, when suffer for Christ we are in really company. Moses suffered, all of the prophets of the Old Testament suffered and even Jesus' own disciples died because of their choice to follow Christ. and not submit to the opinions and attitudes of the world. 

3 Choices!  Making these 3 choices will greatly enhance your missional living.  It will help shine the Light of Christ brighter than you ever thought possible. 

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What The Faith Of Moses Can Teach Us About Living A Powerful Missional Life

"By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.  By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." Hebrews 11:27-29 (NIV)

Moses Faith Teaches Us:

I.  That Our Faith Will Help Us Stay Focused On God Who Will Help Us Overcome Our Fears!

"By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger he persevered because he saw him who is invisible ..."  

Pursuing God's mission will always bring opposition.  That thought can be a very frightening proposition.  There will always be people that oppose God and His will and they will come to attack God's servants in order to stop the success of God's plan.

Faith allows you to see past the opposition to focus on the God who delivers.

II.  That Our Faith In God Will Help Us Live Obedient Lives To God!

"By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel ..."

Moses had heard how God was going to send the death Angel and kill all of the first born sons that lived in Egypt.  He also heard about how God provided a way for His people to escape the judgement coming from the Death Angel.

Because Moses' faith allowed Him to believe that God would be true to His word and everything would happen just as He said - that faith propelled Moses to obey God by getting the Children of Israel to put the blood of the lamb on their door post and thereby making it possible for the Death Angel to pass by those homes.

Obedience is always necessary for experiencing God's blessings.  Obedience always come before the blessings flow.

Part of missional living, as taught by Christ at the Great Commission, is to teach new disciples to not only understand all that Christ commanded but to also obey all that Christ commanded. 

Missional Living doesn't teach God's word just for knowledge but to lead Christ's followers to obey.  Missional Living is an obedience driven discipleship venture.

III.  That Our Faith In God Will Help Us Overcome All Obstacles!

"... By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." 

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A BIG OBSTACLE!

Moses and the Children of Israel would never have made it to the Promise Land if they didn't exercise their faith in God and start walking through the Red Sea on dry land with a wall of water on both sides of them.  They had to trust God that they could get across safely.  

Unresolved obstacles hinders God's people from moving forward to accomplishing God's plan and mission!

In missional living there will always be obstacles standing in the way of accomplishing the work of God but faith allows us to trust God to overcome those obstacles by providing away.  

Faith compels us to move forward trusting that as we step forward God will prepare the way. 

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Compassion: A Key Component To Missional Living

Having compassion is essential for living a powerful missional life.  Without compassion it is truly isn't possible to share Jesus! Why? Because Jesus embodies compassion!  He is the personification of compassion!  If you are not compassionate you cannot fully represent Jesus to a lost and dying world.  The message of Christ and the Heart of Christ must go hand in hand.

From the story of the Good Samaritan we can learn 3 essential activities to express compassion.  First let's read the story and then I will share with you these 3 activities.

"In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  Luke 10:30-37 (NIV)

First Activity:  SEE:

The first thing that you need to do before you can truly show compassion on someone who is in need is to look and see the person in need.  All three of the men walking by saw the man who had been robed and beaten.  They saw his trouble and difficulty.  But I fear that in todays world we can go through an entire day never really seeing those around us who are in suffering and pain.  I fear that we can actually walk by people who have given up on life and are barely existing and never see them or even know they are there because we are too wrapped up in our own little life.  How can you show compassion for someone if you aren't looking to see if people are hurting? THE FIRST STEP IS TO LOOK & SEE!

Second Activity: STOP:

While seeing is the first step it does absolutely no good if we aren't willing to stop and inquire about the other person and how they are doing.  If you see and keep walking by you accomplish nothing except for developing an even harder heart.  To stop means to check on the person, talk to the person, asking them if they are ok, inquiring and evaluating on what you learn.  When the Good Samaritan stop he discovered the man was naked, beaten and bleeding. He needed medical attention. He needed someone to come alongside him and do for him what he was unable to do for himself.  When we stop we are discovering what the needs of the person truly is.  THE SECOND ACTIVITY IS TO STOP & EVALUATE.

Third Activity:  SERVE:

Once you've seen and stopped if you truly want to be compassionate you will need to then serve the person in need. You will have to alter you planned activities in order to help this person you have discovered in need.  If don't believe it was in the plans of that Samaritan to pickup a stranger, nurse him, take him to an inn and pay for his medical care.  But that's how the story goes that Jesus told.  To truly show compassion to person in need you will have to serve them and serving them will cost you.  It will cost you time, money, and emotional energy. It will mean you will have to put on hold other things you have planned to help this stranger. THE THIRD ACTIVITY IS TO SERVE & GIVE!

When God's people can truly learn to show this kind of compassion for all people and not just those we like then the Light of Christ will truly shine brighter than ever in this spiritually dark world.  When we can show this compassion then the people of the world will want to know about our relationship with God because we will have proven to them how much they mean to us. 

You see most people could care less how much you know - until they know how much you care.  This kind of compassion proves you care!

3 Hinderances To Living A Powerful Missional Life

When it comes to understanding how to live a missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ and the things that keep us from that kind of lifestyle we really need to consider three hinderances. These are three things that will keep you from any kind of desired lifestyle but especially a lifestyle that shines the Light of Christ on a day by day basis.

Hinderance #1:  Not Realizing What's Involved To Live A Powerful Missional Life

This is a problem of KNOWLEDGE.  You're failing to live that powerful missional life simply because you don't know what it takes to have that kind of lifestyle.  You don't know what skills are necessary, you don't know what kind of attitude is needed, and you don't know where to begin.  This hinderance is solved through education.  Anyone can gain the information needed for developing the skills of a powerful missional life; anyone can learn the common attitudes that most powerful missional people have and through training a person can begin to develop a road map, with a starting point identified, that they can use to pursue this kind of life.  EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION!

Can Civil Disobedience Be A Tool For Living A Powerful Missional Life?

Hinderance #2:  Not Pursuing A Powerful Missional Life

This is a problem of MOTIVATION!  If motivation is the issue keeping you from living a powerful missional life that's because you have competing desires pulling your heart away from shining the Light of Christ.  This might be because you haven't fully surrender both your heart and will over to the authority and control of Christ.  It may be that we still think that the world has something to offer us and have failed to come to a heart conviction that all pursuits of this world is meaningless.  We are still trying to seek both the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world in the same time.  The solution to this hinderance is an experience with God that creates a total brokenness of our heart and soul.  It's an experience with the living God that brings a new passion, a new desire and new goals.  It's an experience that leaves us with just one desire and that's to be in complete harmony with the desires of God.  BROKENNESS IS THE SOLUTION!

Hinderance #3:  Not Achieving A Powerful Missional Life

This is a problem of persistence.  If you know what to do and you have a true hearts desire to live that powerful missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ in your part of this dark world but still haven't accomplished it yet it becomes a matter of just not giving up!  It's deposition of tenacity.  It's that warrior or athlete attitude that says, "No matter what I will never quit; I will never give up; I will never surrender.  With my very last breath I will be pursuing living that missional life that makes Christ known.  People who don't quit are the ones who achieve their desired lifestyles and goals.  For them it's just a matter of time.  It's not "If" they achieve it but "When" they achieve it.  PERSISTENCE IS THE SOLUTION.

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What We Can Learn From The Fosbury Flop About Missional Living!

Lessons for living a powerful missional life can be discovered from many different areas of life, including track and field.  The Fosbury Flop was an innovative change to performing the high jump.  Watch this video and discover a powerful lessons on shining the Light of Christ brightly in your part of this dark world!

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Living A Powerful Missional Life Is A Lot Like Playing A Good A Good Poker Hand

Did you know that living a powerful missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ is a lot like being able to play a good hand at poker?  That's right! There is an important lesson we can learn from those really great poker players that we can apply to our missional living strategies.  

In this video I am going to share with you 1 essential lesson for shining the Light of Christ brightly that we can learn from poker.  It is a powerful lesson and if you can effectively apply it to your life will amp up the voltage of brightness in being the Light of the World.

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2 Approaches For Dealing With Missional Living Failures

If you haven't already figured it out yet you will soon but no one lives a perfect missional life all the time!  We try new things like sharing our testimony but mess up; or we try to explain the Gospel only to stumble all over the place.  How we deal with these failure will greatly determine if we become successful at living a powerful missional life or experience the death of our missional living.  Watch this video and be encouraged to never quit or give up!

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3 Things That Every Christian Should Know

#1:  Christians Should Know That God Is In Control!

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Notice that the Bible doesn't say that all things are "good" but that all things, whether good or bad, work out for good for those who love God and called according to His purposes. 

This is why Joseph was able to say to his brothers after they had sold him into slavery and after he had become second in command of all Egypt that what they did they intended to harm him but God intended it for good.  GOD NEVER WASTS A HURT!

#2:  Christians Should Know They Have A Heavenly Home!

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”  2 Cor. 5:1

Maybe this is why Jesus, on the Sermon of the Mount, taught not to store up our treasures here on earth but instead store them up in Heaven!  What good is an earthy treasure when you're spending eternity in Heaven?

"This world is not my home, I'm just passing through. My treasures are laid out somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beacon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore."   Old Gospel Hymn

#3:  Christians Should Know That They Will Be Like Jesus!

“We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  1 John 3:2

Boy I sure can't wait! A new body, a new life, a new character that's just like Jesus!  Come Lord Jesus, Come!

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7 Things Not To Do As A Follower Of Christ

Matthew 6:1-7:6

Jesus, on the Sermon On The Mount, talks about many things that are important for a Christian should do in order to live a powerful missional life and to shine the Light of Christ brightly in their part of this dark world. But, Jesus also talk about things that a Follower of Christ should avoid and "NOT DO"!  

It's important to remember that knowing what NOT TO DO is just as important as knowing what TO DO, especially when it comes to missional living.  In this post we are going to identify 7 things that Jesus tells us not to do!  It's just a list and doesn't go into any commentary as to why or how, so I would encourage you to read the passage for yourself and meditate on it so you can gain the full weight of what Jesus was conveying.  SO, LET'S GET STARTED!

#1 Don't Do Good Deed's So Others Can See!

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, You will have no reward for your Father in Heaven." (6:1)

#2:  Don't Pray Like The Hypocrites

"Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They've got their reward." (6:5)

#3:  Don't Fast Like The Hypocrites

"And when you fast, don't be sad face like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They got their reward." (6:16)

#4:  Don't Store Up Treasures On Earth

"Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal."  (6:19)

#5:  Don't Worry About Your Life

"This is why I tell you: Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing?"  (6:25)

#6:  Don't Condemn Others

"Do not judge, so that you won't be judged."  (7:1)

#7:  Don't Give What's Precious To Those Who Won't Appreciate It!

"Don't give what is Holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces." (7:6)

How To Experience Freedom From Guilt

A survey in the UK found that 41% of the people said that they would enjoy everyday life more if they didn't feel guilty afterwards.  In other words, lots of people are actively engaged in activities that they feel guilty about after they are done and as a result the joy of life is stolen from them. 

A story is told of Noel Coward, the well known playwright, as a prank, once sent an identical anonymous letter to 10 notable men in London. The note said,

"We know what you have done. If you don't want to be exposed, leave town."  

Within six months, all 10 men that received the letter had moved!

Everyone Has Felt Guilt At One Time Or Another!

Why?  Because, other than Jesus, no one is perfect.  The Bible says that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. 

However, the Good News is that God wants to wipe your slate clean so you don't have to feel guilty anymore but instead experience God's total and complete forgiveness!  GOD WANTS TO:

• Give you a second chance.
• Help you start over again.

Listen to what Ephesians 1:7 says,

"In him we have redemption through the blood the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us wit hall wisdom and understanding."

And let's read Col 2:13-14,

" Where you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins having canceled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us he took it alway, nailing it to the cross."

Here's what these two verse are says!  If you are in Christ God is not going to condemn you for your past mistakes because Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins and was resurrected back to life again to pay for your pardon.  ISN'T THAT ABSOLUTELY AMAZING?

There is absolutely no reason why any of us should suffer with a guilty conscience any longer over you past sins if you have come to Jesus and received His forgiveness and freedom from guilt.

IF YOU'RE IN CHRIST

Your Sins Are Forgiven!

Punishment For Your Sins Has Been Made!

Christ Is No Longer Holding Your Sins Against You!

CHRIST HAS FREED YOU FROM YOUR SINS!

How Do You Experience Freedom From Guilt?

By Accepting What Jesus' Did For You Through His Death, Burial & Resurrection! By place your faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus!

MISSIONAL LIVING IS ALL ABOUT ENGAGING IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE!

Watch this video and get some great suggestions on how to engage in spiritual warfare while you are on mission with Christ!