Shock and Awe
Hey Friends,
So Sorry I did not post a blog yesterday, I completely forgot! I’m serious I forgot. You may wonder how I could forget something I do every day, and that would be a good question. I was just so blown away by the weekend at FPC. I was in shock all day Sunday and Monday morning. We started a new series called “Intoxicated” many of you commented about it last week on the blog. I must confess I went into it a little concerned; I never want to offend people for no reason. With that said, I was just a little on edge. At the end of the weekend not only were lives changed but we set another record attendance for a non holiday weekend, over 3300 worshipers and seekers! Thank you Lord.
I felt better, to be honest with you, after last Wednesday’s blog and your many encouraging comments, thanks! As we launched the series I was blown away at the hunger of the people with us for the weekend and on both of our I-Campuses. God showed up in a big way. I believe He may do more in this series that ever before. I am so excited at the potential and what God can do if we are open to Him.
We must never forget we serve the God who is able! He has all authority and ability. I am praying that He show up and fill 1000s with His Holy Spirit during this series. I believe He will give a hunger for His Word and for His presence that most have never experienced.
The crux of the series is that we learn to experience God 24/7! That is His expressed written will for us. He said, “I will never leave you or forsake you, I will be with you even to the end of the age.” I am so sad at the multitudes of believers that go day to day and don’t even think of God or all He has for us. Brother Andrew called it “practicing the presence of Jesus.” That is what we all should do. Life would be exponentially better for all of us.
Yours to count on,
Pastor
P.S. Let us know the daily disciplines you use to experience God 24/7, it will help us all.
10 Comments
Pastor Chris, sounds like I missed an awesome service. I had to be out of town, but I look forward to viewing the webcast.
Some days I get bogged down with work and become lazy when the day is over and I don’t read the Word as much as I should, but one thing that never fails is that I’m in constant communication with God. Even though I spend most of my time alone, I never feel alone. I always feel like I have my best friend right there with me. We talk throughout the day no matter what else is going on.
I try to encourgae my friends to always go to Him first with everything instead of telling their problems to everyone else. Just sit down and talk everything out with Him and be expecting Him to talk back to you. He will and it’s so wonderful!! He’s the best friend a girl can have!!!
I am also still in Shock and Awe about the “Intoxicated” service!
To tell you the truth, I left “Intoxicated”on Sunday. I am in constant “communion” with my Father (sometimes to the point that I think I’m bugging Him too much sometimes…LOL) I cannot go one day without Him. He is an AWESOME Father, and I’m constantly reminded of His Love for me, so I show it to people, with the way I talk, and act, so that they may see the “Intoxication” in me (Like a drunk:happy, not afraid, wanting to share..etc)…hehehe!! Looking forward to Wednesday!
dear chris,, I would like you to know how much you and fpc has done for me I never liked church in fact I hated it god lead me to fp and I walked in that door totaly alone but I didnt leave that way. I have been attending,tighting, and learning alot from you. I like the way you tell the truth, you never candy coat things .and your love for god and others is apparent. I hope one day to be the christ follower you are, by the way one year ago i was baptisted at fp . by Art I never ever thought that would happened . all things are possible with christ. I love the way you love you wife and kids thank you for your acountablity.
@ Alicia. Thanks so much for your input.
@ Angie, So excitinng to see all God is doing in you.
@Anglea, Thank you so much and I pray you keep growing and experiencing God.
You know I have never been involved in a church where the church’s heartbeat and the pastors heartbeat are so in tune with each other. I am still blown away with the crocs for Africa. It takes a man of God to prune a church so that it may grow. You’re heart and passion has brought back the passion and zeal that I have for the Word of God and ministry! By the way concordances are really thick and very detailed! Thank you!
I pray that the church will be more and more open to stretch the boundaries. Oh that the church would be like Paul and become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. Thanks
As busy as we are (collectively) in this society, it is essential that we make it a priority in our lives to include God, deliberately, in each day.
I have noticed that God and other important things often whisper instead of yelling (I Kings 19); spending time with God will slip through the cracks if we do not deliberately focus on it.
I find it helpful to schedule a Bible time with the kids every day. (It is part of our homeschool) When you develop a pattern, kids will not let you forget!
If somebody needs motivation to include their children in daily Bible study (which necessitates your own daily Bible study) check out the statistic that 90% of children from Christian families have turned their back on their faith by their 1st year out of high school (most Freshmen in college). My further (personal) motivation is the statistic that only 4% of children from homeschool families do the same. I believe this is because most homeschools place a deliberate focus on including Bible time daily.
BTW, great services last weekend! Thanks for providing great leadership and direction for our church.
It was an excellent sermon, very well done and a great foundation. When people get a hold of this message and learn how to utilize the Spirit, hearing and responding to, this will change there spiritual lives forever.
Thanks for doing this series!
Every morning God chooses to speak to us to wake us from our sleep our buzy days, He want to spend a little time with us (all day) I have to choose every day to spend the time with Him. Today I choose again to be with Him. This past weekend was a blessing to see so many people to choose to walk with Jesus, there is no greater joy for a christan is to see menwoman and child to follow J esus. My prayer for you this and the staff at FPC is to hear what the Sprit of God wants from each of you as you all go through your buzy days. use them lord to win souls for the kingdom, Amen
yeah im not going to lie…i think i checked like 3 times to see if you had posted a new blog on monday. lol! not to make you feel horrible or anything. but i was excited to tell you what had happened. A friend of mine had “heard” from a friend that FPC was doing a sermon on intoxication. that friend invited her and her husband. The next day I asked her if she had found a church yet…she said no and asked about mine. when i told her about the FPC series she informed me that she had already been invited the day before. The following day she interviewed a great friend of mine and he also invited her to FPC because of this series. She and her husband were at FPC on Sunday…they want to come back next week. WOW…is it just me or is God chasing people down lately? haha!
Keep it up, Pastor Chris! I’m Praying
oh…your question…I have a white board at my front door with a challenge for the day written on it. It helps me to start my day off and finish with the right focus.