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“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.” Luke 15:8-10

JVP
2 years ago Jax & myself went to the Dream Center to serve and it just so happened that the Team Impact was there and Jaxon was so excited. At the end of their show they prayed the typical salvation prayer and I was peeking around the room to celebrate salvations with the people across the room as they raised their hand and I saw the precious hand of our 5 year old slide up. And i thought…WHAT? Did that really happen? Can he even understand?……I’m 27 and was just now able to fully understand. So we got in the car and we both had been crying and Immediately call JP because he was out of town. We celebrated but never really pushed him with baptism bc he is so shy and crowds just aren’t his thing. Every now and then he would randomly say, I remember the day Jesus came into my heart. So, I thought maybe he did understand?
He is so compassionate, soft hearted and gifted and we know that God has big plans for his life.
Over the past few months he has helped Mrs.Emily teach on stage and he has prayed for his friends in quest from the stage so I knew God was up to something in his big heart for him to have this all of a sudden courage.
Last Sunday Jax went with JP to the childrens baptism class just because I was in another meeting(or so we thought) and he was hanging with daddy. Justin said he had to ask jax to be quiet and stop answering questions in the class to make sure the other kids where ready. So again, we didn’t push it or even ask and last Sunday night jax came to us and said, I’m ready to be baptized. Now tonight we are so excited for tomorrow as we get to be a part of this sweet moment as our son takes the next step on his journey!

Thankyou to everyone who has influenced our sweet son, prayed for him, spoke life into and encouraged him. This is nothing Justin and myself could have ever done alone! We have the most amazing church, ekidz depts, friends and family who have been incredible and helped us raise this child to become a Christ follower! This is just the beginning!

“Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. Mark 10:13-16

Lights

Exposure: Read these passages about Jesus being the light. Research the beginnings of the tradition of Christmas lights. Drive around town with a group of friends or family and look at the different expressions of lights.

Exploration: How is Jesus the light of world? Think about the scientific facts you know about light. In what ways is light the perfect illustration God created from the beginning to illuminate who Jesus is?

Expression: Why do you think Jesus refers to His followers as the light of the world? What would that mean for your life to be a light in your relationships and situations?

Experience: How has your life been a light to those around you? Make a point to be light during this season.

When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills. This move completed Isaiah’s sermon: Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, road to the sea, over Jordan, Galilee, crossroads for the nations. People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light; Sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up. This Isaiah-prophesied sermon came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.” (Matthew 4:12-17 MSG)

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

Imagine if you were a shepherd…..

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:6-12 MSG)

Can you imagine what was going through the shepherd’s minds when the angels appeared?

Think about this….. Have you had an experience where God interrupted your life with an important message? How was that a combination of terrifying and wonderful? Take time to pray—not to say anything to God, just to listen.

When you are thinking of getting out of the boat but worried about your reputation remember this: “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. (Matthew 5:10-12 MSG)

Someone said, ‘bitterness is like swallowing poison and expecting someone else to die’.

From what I’ve found, some of the most central principles of being a Jesus follower are forgiveness and grace. Whenever I hear about ‘brothers and sisters’ not associating with each other due to a disagreement or an argument, it saddens me. It’s a hard pill to swallow [so to speak]. Now, I’ll be the first to raise my hand and say I’m right there with the best of them, I’ve sneered at or passed judgment on someone due to what I’ve seen/heard of them. But the foundational issue with passing judgment or being bitter towards another is 1. It grows and spreads like disease. 2. It often times only ends up being detrimental to me.

Luke 6:41-42 says, “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? …Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”

Let us be a people who hold short accounts…a people who forgive and who forget. Thank God for grace. Thank God people change.

We don’t view ourselves as experts in the the matter of life, but rather we’re fellow travelers. Let us live on purpose and let us live for Someone greater than ourselves.

Big work day at 2008 Enolam Blvd! The more the merrier! Thankyou all for your hard work and time. You all are awesome :)

No matter where you are in life, where you go to church or maybe you don’t, I want you to hear a life changing message at epic church today! Even if you have a church home come by tonight or login to iCampus to hear this measage at 4 or 6! After starting this journey 4 years ago we grew, learned and followed as much as we could but we never experienced the full life that God has placed before us until we understood this! It’s that powerful! Love you all and pray that everyone of you hear this today!