know you are serious [+] Tuesday E-Devotion

I have been preparing for our 30 Days to Live series for almost 6 months. We are now in countdown mode with only 12 days until we begin. Our leadership team has been praying, and we believe that this is a time when God is going to bring some people, many people to accept Him. So, we ask you to join us in asking God for 45 plus people to be saved. That's big!

What's different about this series, about The Community church or about this prayer time? It is our understanding that God has been preparing us, preparing this time and that God is going to move. We mean business, and we are serious about this. God is too. How do you know that you are serious?

First, you take God at His word. He is the Savior, forgiver, healer and lover of people. Nothing has changed that from day one of creation. But do we get serious about God? Here is a verse to prove the case:

Revelation 3:15 (nlt) --- I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

The Apostle John was put away on an island all by himself, out of the way, but God shows up. Here is a message for the church from John, and we are still reading these words thousands of years later. People who are serious about God, get hot for God. They literally take Him at His word and get busy.

Here is another verse that proves the case:

Matthew 17:21 (nasb) --- But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

Jesus was talking with His disciples, some other followers and a man who had a demon in him. What Jesus said was essentially when something is hard, is that these things are to be dealt with through prayer and fasting. I believe that prayer and fasting says to God "I am serious about this thing." Does that make sense?

Luke 9:23 (nlt) --- Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me."

Following Jesus is not for cowards, not for people who are not serious. We are dealing with eternity, with heaven and hell, with stuff that will matter after we die and after all this world is gone. Do we really mean business about God and our relationship with Him? If you and I do, then answer this question: Do we care if people are saved or not?

Answer that one. By the way, then you (and others) will know you are serious.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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