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Observations from "IT" [+] Tuesday E-Devotion

Our leadership team is reading Craig Groeschel's new book IT .  Last night we had a healthy discussion through the first 5 chapters.  Here is a little of that for your daily devotion enjoyment (I've also shared some of Craig's message from the Catalyst Conference in these notes).

First, a disclaimer: what is IT?  Some churches and ministries have IT and some don't.  IT is present when you see and know God is working in a real and relevant way.  Read on ...

Proverbs 29:18   Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained...  

Habakkuk 2:2   Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run." 

IT has an upside: lives are changed.  IT has a downside: creates critics and controversy.

Acts 2:41  So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 

When you loose IT, you have to do something drastic to get IT back!

Some churches seem to have everything together but don't have IT.  Why is that?

The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of.  Our attention would have been on God. – C.S. Lewis (chap 2) 

Prayer – God stretch me! 

Luke 10:41-42   But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." 

Prayer – God heal me!

Why do we exist?  What breaks your heart and keeps you up at night…what wrecks you?

Prayer – God ruin me?

Joel 2:12-13   Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments "  Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. 

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