12 Months of being Thankful

The Holiday’s Season is my favorite time of the year.  However I have noticed a trend over the last few years, during the Holiday time of the year people get ultra thankful about the blessings in their lives.   Hey don’t get me wrong, it is wonderful to be bless and recognize those blessings.  We are to thank God everyday for our blessed lives.  Most often though, we are not as thankful as we should be throughout the rest of the year.  All I am suggesting is, we become conscious of our blessings from God on this earth and for eternity the entire year, not once a year. 

The Bible declares in Ephesians 5:20 that we are to be thankful for everything.  Satan the enemy of our souls wants to prevent you from being thankful.  If he succeeds he has taken your joy.   By having a thankful heart and attitude you open the blessings for prosperity in your life

Seasons

Fall begins my favorite time of year.   I love the color changes of the trees, even though in South Georgia we don’t see much of that.   I’ll take what I can get.  On the heels of Fall is Winter, which is my absolute favorit e time of year.  You think I’m crazy but i’m a hot natured person and I like it cold!   Just like seasons of nature our lives have seasons as well.  There is a season to plant, a season to water, and a season to grow.   We all share in the shpaing of others lives through family, friends, colleagues, co-workers and aqaintances.  As we move into the time of year we become grateful for the blessings God has given us, we need to remember that everyone one of us goes through seasons.  some maybe struggling, others maybe succeeding with life.  Whatever the case please consider Psalms 145:14  God gives a hand to those down on their luck, He gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.” (msg)

Customized

Haave you ever noticed in this day and culture when someone says “God”, it is mostly a general term?  Christians are even guilty of using “God” as a general term.  The Bible declares that we are to be set apart from this world.  We are to be in the world, but not of the world.   The Bible even goes on to declare that we are strangers in this world.  The average believer and non-believer have an image in their mind of what they think a Christian should  be, and do based on the knowledge of the examples around them. 

What about you?  In order for you to have a Supercharged relationship with Jesus Christ you are going to have to be a unique, uncompromising, person who has strong beliefs in the Bible, Jesus Christ, and Father God.  You are going to ohave stand out among the other Christians.  Have your identity in Jesus Christ.  Let Jesus be the one to customize your relationship with him so that it will be unique to others but reflect the true heart of God the Father.

Got Custom?

Supercharged Life

Teens today are faced with an incredible amount of peer-pressure.  There is the pressure of  hectic schedules, perfomance of grades, atheletics, relationships, self-esteem, character, and much much more.  How can you balance all of these things and still live to please God?   I’m glad you asked!  Your life needs to be supercharged!  Beginning Wednesday, October 14th – October – October 21st twenty20 will give you the resources you need to supercharge your life.

See on Wednesday Nights!
Pastor Clay

Fall is Here

Fall begins my favorite time of year through spring.  I am not a hot weather person.  I prefer the fall/winter season over the spring/summer seasosn.  In addittion to cooler weather Fall brings with it football, Thanskgiving, the aroma of fireplaces burning and plenty of color.  Fall is a reminder of the changes of seasons in our lives.  Our challenges and difficulties we walk through in life are temporary.  They are seasons that come and go.    Imagine experiemcing Christmas or other winter holidays every year in 90 degree heeat.  Sure there have been plenty of hot Christmases back-in-the-day.  Whe that happens we have the hope of the next year being what Christmas is susposed to be. 

Let this change of seasons cause you to evaluate your realtionship w/ Jesus.

SYATP

See You At The Pole, is an annual event that students nationwide can participate in, by gathering around their flagpole of their school and praying on the third Thursday of  September every year.  Even though prayer has been dismissed in our schools and sporting events it is still legal as long as it is student lead. 

SYATP should be more than a once a year event.  Don’t get me wrong it is a great thing, and students should get involved in it.  However prayer can be everyday in our schools.  Consider all of the opportunities for students to pray throughout their day;  lunch, in between classes, if you can multi-task, in class, etc…… you get the idea.   Let the SYATP focus put a desire into you to pray everyday at your school ,work , and home. 

SYATP Pre-Rally this year is at FBC Douglas, GA  Tuesday, September 22 @ 6:30pm.

Words+Actions=Character

This past week two celebrities allowed their words to succumb to their actions.  First it was during the U.S. Open that former champion Serena Williams went into a shouting match with the line judge.  It was obvious by the line judges face in the video clip that she was appalled at Serena William’s actions.  The line judge was enforcing the rules and even deferred her decision to the match judge whom sided with the line judge.  Williams was penalized a point.  Serena went into a verbal rage and later said that her emotions got the better of her in a press conference after the match. 

Let’s move to the VMA’s on Sunday night.  Artist Kanye West under the influence of alcohol rudely insults Taylor Swift and cuts her “thank you” speech off during the live show.  Later after the event he apologized to Taylor and wanted to speak with her personally so he could say he was sorry. 

So many times our actions speak louder than what we says everyday of our life.  These two examples demostrate that celebrities are humans that make mistakes too.   When given a powerful platform it needs to be used wisely and responsibly.  God’s word the Bible tells us in our anger do not sin, and that out of the heart the mouth speaks.  Sure people make mistakes all the time and can be, and should be forgiven of them if asked to be.  There is one celebrity this week that went under the radar due to the ones previously mentnioned.  That is David Robinson formerly of the San Antonio Spurs NBA team. 

David Robinson in his acceptance speech to the NBA Hall of Fame was outstanding.  His actions and words over his NBA career complimented each other.  During his acceptance speech he made a reference to Luke 17:1-7 “hard trials and temptations are bound to come, but too bad for whoever brings them on……

If you are breathing your words and actions will be tested!   That’s a promise.  God has already given you all that you need to “ace” the test of character.  True follwers of Jesus Christ willingly admit their short comings and trust God for the strength to make it through the difficult chaleenges of life.

n-vite

Never under estimate the power of an invitation.  When you get an invite to a b-day party, hang out w/ your friends party, or a friends house it makes you feel good.   We all want to be accepted, needed, and loved.   Our twenty20 family has experience the benefit of an invitation through two individuals.  These individuals came as a result of a personal invite to twenty20.  Since coming and experiencing the life changing power of Jesus Christ their lives have been changed for ever. 

Most people will go to church becasue they have been invited by a friend of family member.   Special events and services are effective in the sense they give a person a reason to bring someone with them.  Even with txt, and IM in this technological craze, their is nothing like taking the time to make a personal invitiation to a friend about church.

Risks=Faith

Every one of us has dreams to be successful in whatever we do.   There is a lot a teaching and messages being delivered today about dreams.   God has a purpose and a plan for your life and to live his dream for your life, as opposed to your dream you want to live, is what he wants from you.    In order to live God’s dream your going to have take a risk.  Taking a risk is never easy, because it is “risky business.”  Risky buisness means you have to take a chance and go against the popular opinion and status quo.  You have to be different in a way that gets the attention of others in a good way.  

You will never know true faith until you take a risk.  Risk and faith are similiar in concept, but faith has substance to it.  Once you try living by faith you will want to do it more and more, day by day.   By taking a faith-risk you will be stepping out with nothing while allowing God to do what he does best, give strength to the weak.  

Let ’s get Jesus out-of-the-box and the four walls of our worship houses we keep Him in.  If we would all take a faith-risk then we will watch faith grow.

Pastor Clay

Friday Night Redefined

Every weekend teens spend their Friday nights making decisons that have an impact on their lives.  Friday night Redefined is designed to be a high-energy alternative worship event for students to come hang out at the church with friends once a quarter.  With things to experience like live music, illustrated message, X-Box, basketball, giant inflatables, contests, specialty foods, and much more of the stuff that 9 out of 10 dentists agree will harm your teeth.  This is a night created for students.  It is Friday night fun w/Sunday morning values. 

Friday Night Redefined is Friday, August, 14th, begins 7pm

Pastor Clay