" I AM SO EXCITED "

I am a pretty emotional guy. I mean when I sit down and read something that gets my attention, my excitement level really gets moving up. When I sit down and read the Bible and know God is speaking to me through it, about a specific situation, WOW!

SO, this morning I am reading the Bible and specifically Hagggai's 2 chapter. You need to understand I have a real burden to see the church grow and to really expereince revival
in the church of the 21st century.

Here is what I read;
           

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: ² "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: ³ ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? ⁴ Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. ⁵ ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ ⁶ "For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; ⁷ and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

First we must remember the church of the 21st century is not our parents church. If we are going to be successful for the Kingdom of God we are going to have to take some risks. Read Matthew 14: 25-31. I have always said, "you can monkey with the method as long as you don't monkey with the message."

Second thing to remember it is not what We do IT is only what God IS doing. Re-read the fourth verse, GOD is with us. If He isn't, your church will continue to be as it is, no matter what you try. As the old song says, YOU work your fingers to the bone and what do you get? Boney Fingers!

What really excited me was what GOD says He is going to do! HE is going to shake it up! I am ready, are you?

One last note. Don't worry about God shaking it up, He always does so with His church in mind for the very best!

Peace and Grace

Pastor Bruce 

WHO'S YOUR DADDY?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Psalms 20:7

Since moving to the Silicon Valley I have often wondered, "what have I done"? As a leader of a group of people it has been one of the hardest times of my "Leadership Life"! Now don't get me wrong, I have met some wonderful people and many have become personal friends and confidants.

But none the less the question still nags at me, "What have I done"?

But it came to me today what I have done. A little background first...

This started at my house one afternoon in 1998. I was leading a little country church in Georgia. A young family was lead to move to this town and join us in the work. Jay was so excited about the word of God he would sit and talk to me about all the time. That afternoon, after a 3 month struggle to get the hours he needed at the post office to support his family, Jay without knocking rushed into my living room. Instantly he blurted out, "it's going to be fine". I said, "Jay what are you talking about?" He said "Bruce all my troubles, not enough hours, cant feed my family, all of it".

He had been meditating that afternoon, after being sent home with only 2 hours on the clock. He spent more money in gas and food than he made that day. After reading the 20th Psalm he came to realize his trusts where in all the wrong things. He been trusting in the U.S. Postal Service to honor their word when they moved his family there. He had been trusting his boss to understand and give him more hours. He trusted his landlord not to raise his rent, and he trusted his car to run faithfully. (IT DID NOT)

Not long after Jay moved his family back to his home in Alabama, and time has past and I have lost contact. BUT, I have not lost contact with what I was taught that day!

Last week in the midst of a good pity party, God reminded me what He taught that day. I went and re-read Psalms 20. I re-read the prayer King David prayed for me that day or night. I had to be reminded who my Heavenly Father loves and cares for, ME! and you. You see that prayer is valid for you today IF you know where your trust really lies.

I challenge you, Go read Psalms 20. It is only 8 verses. In it I found who my Daddy is!!
WHO"S YOUR DADDY?

THE PEOPLE ARE UNITED

At one time all the people of the world spoke the same lanuguage and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east they found a plain in the land of Babalonia and settled there. They began saying to each other, "Let's make bricks and harden them with fire", ---in this region brick was used instead of stone and tar was used for mortar----Then they said, "Let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world. But the Lord came to look at the city and the tower the people were building.
Look He said, "The people are united and they speak all the same language. After this nothing they do will be impossible for them! Genisis 11:1-6

This was a crazy time in the world, sound familier? What was so crazy, all the people were united. They were so united God said nothing they decided to do would be impossible. Wow what a thought! What an encouragement to the people of God.

What could we accomplish if we decided to unite knowing He is on our side!

That is indeed our goal! Let me encourage us to think big like the people of old. They felt nothing could stop  them because they united and God agreed!

Nothing can stop us if we unite for the Kingdom of God!

If you keep reading you find God did stop them because they had self interest.

God desires a people that are interested in His Kingdom and they can do anything if 
"all the people are united."