Thursday, September 15, 2011
Why I love our church
We received pictures from Francisco and Rosa this week of their back to school outreaches. We are working hard on getting them posted to the website - should be on by tomorrow afternoon. I wanted to share one with you today. The expressions on these faces is why I love our church - awesome job Mill Creek! Love Wins!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Fall Life Groups
Information and registration for one of our fall Life Groups is now available at www.thecreekonline.net. Looking forward to another great session. Life Groups are a great way to be connected at Mill Creek with others who are looking to grow in their faith journey as well.
This fall, our Life Group leaders are excited about the idea of "relationships". It's all about doing life together and we hope you'll join us!
This fall, our Life Group leaders are excited about the idea of "relationships". It's all about doing life together and we hope you'll join us!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Saying "No" means saying "Yes".
During Sunday's message on worry, I shared about the idea of learning to say "no" to things/devotions/passions in my life in order that I might say "yes" to the things of God. Saw it shared a little differently this week and was challenged and thought I would share it here.
I don't know of anyone at Mill Creek who is actively involved in the armed forces at this time. That means I don't have to obey orders. I'm not going to be court martialed or shot or thrown in the brig if I say "no" in life. I have a choice. This is very important. While I can't control what people demand of me, I can control my reaction and response.
I am responsible to set the boundaries of what I will and won't do, what I will or won't tolerate, what I will or won't sacrifice.
Now you could reply, "Well of course I'm not legally obligated to do what they want, but its unrealistic to think that I can just say 'no'. I could lose my job. I could get passed over for a promotion or a raise." I agree, that's true. Actions have consequences. But it's not a question of whether to say "no". Every choice you make requires you to say "no" to something or someone, every choice is a tradeoff.
* When I say "yes" to working late, I'm saying "no" to having dinner with my family.
* When I say "yes" to going into work early, I'm saying "no" to a quiet time with God.
* When I say "yes" to a business trip, I'm saying "no" to my child's birthday party.
I'm not saying you should never do any of those things. But the question isn't whether you are going to say "no". The only question is who, or what, you're going to say "no" to. That takes the issue out of the realm of obligation and makes it an issue of choice.
Now I have to ask myself - why am I doing this? Is it really worth it? What is motivating my choices? If I don't do that, then my life will simply be choices dictated by circumstances and I'll always be operating with someone else's priorities and values.
Something to think about...
I don't know of anyone at Mill Creek who is actively involved in the armed forces at this time. That means I don't have to obey orders. I'm not going to be court martialed or shot or thrown in the brig if I say "no" in life. I have a choice. This is very important. While I can't control what people demand of me, I can control my reaction and response.
I am responsible to set the boundaries of what I will and won't do, what I will or won't tolerate, what I will or won't sacrifice.
Now you could reply, "Well of course I'm not legally obligated to do what they want, but its unrealistic to think that I can just say 'no'. I could lose my job. I could get passed over for a promotion or a raise." I agree, that's true. Actions have consequences. But it's not a question of whether to say "no". Every choice you make requires you to say "no" to something or someone, every choice is a tradeoff.
* When I say "yes" to working late, I'm saying "no" to having dinner with my family.
* When I say "yes" to going into work early, I'm saying "no" to a quiet time with God.
* When I say "yes" to a business trip, I'm saying "no" to my child's birthday party.
I'm not saying you should never do any of those things. But the question isn't whether you are going to say "no". The only question is who, or what, you're going to say "no" to. That takes the issue out of the realm of obligation and makes it an issue of choice.
Now I have to ask myself - why am I doing this? Is it really worth it? What is motivating my choices? If I don't do that, then my life will simply be choices dictated by circumstances and I'll always be operating with someone else's priorities and values.
Something to think about...
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Having a little fun.
As we get ready to share more about Life Groups this fall at Mill Creek, hope you enjoy this little video on group life. Pretty funny - enjoy!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Worry
A quick preview of this Sunday's teaching as we continue our series "Lovin' Jesus" with an important look at one of the most disabling and crippling issues to our faith journey - WORRY.
I don't think there is anything that hinders us more when it comes to knowing Jesus than the worries and stresses of our lives. We toil and work and worry because we've bought into what's supposed to make us happy, but in the end it only leaves us empty, so we toil and work and worry more. We miss out on the relationship, the lovin' of Jesus because we are so busy going. We stay up late at night worried about this bill or that relationship or this decision and forget about how much God cares about these things in our lives.
Hope you will be encouraged and challenged to take one more step closer to being the person God has called you and gave His life for you to be. Hope together we will grasp how much God has given us and how we don't have to live in fear and worry of tomorrow - He's already there!
I don't think there is anything that hinders us more when it comes to knowing Jesus than the worries and stresses of our lives. We toil and work and worry because we've bought into what's supposed to make us happy, but in the end it only leaves us empty, so we toil and work and worry more. We miss out on the relationship, the lovin' of Jesus because we are so busy going. We stay up late at night worried about this bill or that relationship or this decision and forget about how much God cares about these things in our lives.
Hope you will be encouraged and challenged to take one more step closer to being the person God has called you and gave His life for you to be. Hope together we will grasp how much God has given us and how we don't have to live in fear and worry of tomorrow - He's already there!
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