standing strong [stronger together]

You have felt like you are all alone. Yesterday I reminded us that that is one of Satan's best lies. We cannot and must not buy any of the lies that come from Hell. I read this morning that another lie from hell goes like this: before you sin Satan says "that's just a little thing" and after you sin Satan says "that's so big you can't be forgiven". You see the pattern.

When are we strongest? When in our lives and our situations do we finally realize that we are strong or have some strength? It is when we have been honest and gone ahead to stand with other people. Our strength is seen when we trust in and stand with God. Our strength is real when we see other people standing with us. Are you strong?

2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT

That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Here is an opportunity for me to get real. There have been some times in the last few days where I have seen my strength in living color. By the way, that strength came from nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing inside of me. Did you hear me?

I finally broke down and shared with my wife some stress I was feeling. You see often I close up and say nothing. That makes me weak. Also, I shared with some people who pray for me on a regular basis. Their words, knowing they were praying and my wife sharing with me painted a huge picture of my strength.

Last night I had three different meetings that were phenomenal. As we shared, listening and moved forward, our strength became evident. We are stronger when we stand together.

It is time that we understand that STANDING STRONG makes a difference in every area of my life. I am thankful for my God who loves me even when I don't think I am loved or forgiven or strong. I am so grateful for my wife (we celebrate our 17th anniversary this week) who makes me strong all the time especially when I lean on and trust her. I work with some great people at The Community Fellowship who are gifted folks who walk with Jesus and make me strong. I said it yesterday, but once again: we need each other!

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

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

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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