Thriving

The Vision of Thriving in the Community of Faith

Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)
⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

One can acquire everything in solitude except character. 

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One of Australia’s greatest natural attractions is the Great Barrier Reef. Colorful corals stretch hundreds of kilometers along the northern coastline.
At points you’ll notice that the coral in close to the coastline is nowhere near as vibrant and colorful as the coral on the ocean side of the reef. There’s a very simple reason for this. The coral on the coastline side is in still water. With no challenge for its survival it dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms – surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of it’s life. As it is challenged and tested it changes and adapts. It grows healthy. It grows strong. And it reproduces.

Creatures of a coral reef are designed to live in a certain environment where they flourish. Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters. Remove them and they perish. Like them, God designed us to live in a certain environment~an atmosphere of community.  However, coral reefs are fragile ecosystems, partly because they are very sensitive to water temperature.

That is how it is with the people of God too. Challenged and tested, we come alive. Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow in the atmosphere of grace and faith. Without it we won’t survive.

“I have a vision for the church. And it begins with creating an

atmosphere, an environment where supernatural living is encouraged.” (Jim Kallam-Risking Church)

is it in you?

This Advertisement always makes me think about the indwelling Holy Spirit in a believers life!

            1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.


I find it interesting how attractive that Gatorade makes their product for athletes.  The correlation between ingesting Gatorade to make you a better athlete and the indwelling Holy Spirit in a believers life really makes for a strong illustration for how God will work in us.  The Question is always "is it in you"?
John 15:4-8 (NKJV)
⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.


I want to be SATURATED BY THE HOLY SPRIT!

So, what do you want on your Tombstone?

"A man after God's own heart"! This is what I want for my epitaph.  I was listening to Steve Camp this morning and the words to this song really express the longings of my heart.

A Man After God's Own Heart
I have come to an empty place;
to the wilderness of my soul
The selfish life that I once embraced,
seldom satisfies me anymore

I have been tried, I have been tested

Now, I know the only way for me;
is to follow after God's own heart

After God's own Heart
How I long to be what He wants me to be
After God's own heart
No other love means so much to me
So, I will follow after God's own heart

I will tell of His faithfulness;
how He carried my iniquity
I will sing of His holiness;
that demands a life of purity

I must obey, I must be broken

If this world is ever gonna see;
(oh) a man after God's own heart

After God's own Heart
How I long to be what He wants me to be
After God's own heart
No other love means so much to me
I will follow after God's own heart

There's no shadow of turning;
as I head straight for Him
Oh, His calling is burning;
I will follow, I will follow

After God's own Heart
How I long to be what He wants me to be
After God's own heart
How my soul desires to be
After God's own heart
No other love means so much to me
So, I will follow after God's own heart  

  1 Samuel 3:10 (NKJV) 
¹⁰ Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears."

Here I am, Lord....speak for Your servant is listening!

Looking....Looking to the unseen...the eternal!

2 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV)
¹ Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

What a tremendous encouragement and challenge this scripture gives me in times of difficulty and personal struggle.  This leads in to one of the most powerful passages of scripture in my life.  Twice, in this chapter we are challenged...Do not lose heart!  It is because we count on this world so much, and depend on what happens to me as the source of happiness, security, and contentment that when it is not going well I am devastated.

Mercy!  Is the ministry of God in my life that does not allow me to succumb to  disappointment, delusion, discouragement. It is that which allows me to see through the foggy haze to the reality that he has set before me "the eternal weight of Glory".  And He reminds me that it is not this "clay pot" that matters, but the treasure inside that matters.  

So what has more weight in your life?  That which perplexes and puts us in despair or the Mercy of God

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

The Word of Life

Jesus The Word of Life is the greatest influence in my life.  He is my life.  I am reminded of the disciples who were with Jesus when many stopped following Him because Jesus began talking of His coming death.  Though they didn't understand the twelve stuck with him.  When Jesus asked if they were going to leave too, their response was, "How can we? You hold the Words of Life".  His Words....The Bible is His Life in Print.  We have the greatest treasure on earth yet we struggle with picking it up and reading, studying this powerful Message from God.

Jesus How can we leave you?  You hold the Words of Life!