I read a great quote today: It’s impossible to listen to a song and sing another one. What destructive thoughts are you holding that keep you from hearing words of life?

What an amazing picture! Whatever is playing over and over again in your head is the only song that you can “play” in your life. Some of us forget what God says about us and the song that plays is one of pity, failure, and our short-comings. I serve a God who bestows power and goes before us in our struggles. That’s quite a different song to be heard!

In this day and age changing the literal song is as simple as pushing a button on the ipod. However, in the spiritual realm, changing your song is done by filling your heart with the Word of God. Open the Bible daily and watch the song in your head begin to change from what the world fills it with to something much more victorious and Christ-like.

Enjoy the journey.

Life is completely defined by what you choose to see and how you choose to see it.

Two nights ago I was broiling some bread with cheese on top for dinner. I got distracted and the toast got a dark brown tone. Needless to say, it was not was I was aiming for! I set it on the table and immediately Delaney said, “Yuck! I am not going to eat that!” I turned and casually said, “Huh. That’s too bad. It’s my specialty. It’s burnt cheese toast and it’s yummy.” I then picked up a piece, took a big bite, and smiled as I chewed away.

A few minutes later Delaney picked up her toast, took a bite and said, “This is good! You are the BEST mommy EVER for making this for our family.” Mark laughed under his breath at what had just taken place. I had just changed the perspective of my daughter from toast failure to family blessing in a matter of minutes.

What “failure” in your life do you need to “re-perspective”? Sometimes if you’re not getting the right answer, it’s because you’re not asking the right question. Change your lense and you change your life.

Church Highlights!

I have a new favorite moment in ministry. One of the teenagers brought her mom to church for the first time. She walked up to introduce me and said, “Mom, this is Stacy. She didn’t have sex until she was married.” Yep. That was my intro. Two things to keep in mind: 1. Worse things have been said about me. 2. She heard and REMEMBERED something from my message about sex and purity last Thursday. I love teenagers…

We had lots of new faces at church today. That’s good! The bad news is that we also have lots of faces at home sick, which is a BUMMER! Tis’ the season, but I don’t like it. I’m praying for each one of you and your fevers…

I really appreciate our volunteers! We run our entire organization off of the backs of volunteers. We have volunteer training tonight from 6:30-7:45 pm. It’s important that we all stay on the same page and that we are growing as leaders. Volunteering can literally make the difference in someone’s eternity and it probably doesn’t even seem like a big deal to you at the time…

Thanks to all who gave to help the teens raise money for Speed the Light. We took an offering of about $400 to help them along the way.

Fun Facts:
All of our children’s workers have background checks.
Mark and I are both licensed pastors with the Assemblies of God.
The largest check that North Creek has received from an individual at one time is $11,007. No, I do not know why the extra $7. I REALLY wish I knew why…
Our youth pastor has a master’s degree in Bible.
Our current attendance average is 145.
Marcus, our worship leader, owns a company that makes parts for pipe organs.
We have baptized 45 people since we started in Sept. 2006.
We actually like this gig. It’s fun watching people’s eternities being changed.

Tomorrow night is volunteer Training at the church from 6:30-7:45 pm. It’s for everyone who volunteers (or wants to) at North Creek. It’s a great time to grow your life and change your perspective! Join us!

Ephesians 4 was my Bible reading last night. What a passage! I feel like Christians could CHANGE THE WORLD if they simply applied this one chapter to every aspect of their lives. We are a people plagued by offenses, gossip, disunity, unforgivenes, hard hearts, and living a life lower than what God would have for us. What would your life look like if none of that was ever a part of your world?

Ephesians 4
Unity in the Body of Christ
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”[b] 9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Living as Children of Light
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26″In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.