Window to the Past

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MEMORY VERSE:
Romans 8:28
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those
love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”


Introduction: Here are the notes from our Sunday service that concluded our DREAM series. In this series we talked about the DREAM, or VISION of Olathe Life Fellowship and also the dream of each individual person. Yes, YOUR DREAM! What is your dream? And I am not talking as it relates to your church... but your dream for your personal life here on earth?

When we were kids didn't we have dreams of what life could be, or should be? I did! I still do. Though I must admit sometimes I get so caught up in the day to day grind that I forget to DREAM.

One day I will die (hopefully not anytime soon!) and I will stand before God... and the nagging thought I have (that almost haunts me actually) is, "did I accomplish my purpose? Did I fulfill God's dream for my life? Did I do what I was created to do? Or, did I just survive?"

Maybe those thoughts don't ring in your head, but they do mine. I've got maybe 90, and if I'm really blessed 100 years to live here on earth... i want to make something of it! Don't you want to make something of you life? I hope so!

I could write for hours on this topic... it fascinates me.

1) Define our CORE VALUES.
Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”
Core Values help our AIM in life!

2) Spiritual GIFTS.
Romans 12:6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” 1 Peter 4:10 says we “should use whatever gift (we) have received to serve others…”
3) Past EXPERIENCE.
CHALLENGE: Begin to explore your past experiences to determine your sweet spot…and then live your dream!

DIG DEEPER

EXPLORE YOUR CORE VALUES
What do you feel are your core values?
EXPLORE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
What do you have a passion to do, and enjoy doing?
EXPLORE YOUR PAST EXPERIENCES
What have you learned from your past?
How can you help others from what you’ve learned from your past?
Thinking about your past, is there anything unique that could be used to inspire others? (i.e. Death of a parent, death of a spouse, overcoming illness, overcoming addiction, etc.)

Living Your Dream

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MEMORY VERSE:
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

1) Define our CORE VALUES

Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”
  • Core Values help your AIM in life!

2) Spiritual GIFTS

Romans 12:6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.”

1 Peter 4:10 says we “should use whatever gift (we) have received to serve others…”

3) Past EXPERIENCES

CHALLENGE:

Begin to explore your sweet spot… and then take aim, and when you shoot you’ll hit your target.


GO DEEPER

EXPLORE YOUR CORE VALUES

What really angers me?

What really excites me?

What do you feel are your core values?

EXPLORE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

What do you have a passion to do, and enjoy doing?

What do you do that seems to have a significant impact on others?

What do you secretly believe you can do, but have never tried?

What is your dream?

Loved

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Recently I received an email from someone who attended our church for the first time. The interesting part is that she has always had a heart for God, but has felt rejected by church because of her personal struggles. And the sad part is that the church is supposed to be a reflection OF Jesus...

Dear Timmy,

I just wanted to say you and the church are awesome and thank you. I finally feel like I can go to church and be accepted. I watched the “Hindrances of Prayer” sermon online and wow!! That’s why I have stayed away from church for so long. It’s taken me a long time to finally accept and love myself for who God called me to be. It was hard being catholic and having feelings for women when I am a woman myself. God bless you and please keep up the good work!
T- - - -


She referred to the sermon, Hindrances to Prayer; in that sermon I talked about feeling we do not qualify to pray because of our personal struggles. We feel that we must be perfect to earn God’s love. When in reality God loves us all, period! No matter what our struggle, no matter what, God loves us!

Be encouraged today, God truly loves you and wants you to have a wonderful life. Invite Him into your life. I promise you will not regret it.

Smell

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It seems like yesterday I was holding my little slimy daughter just after she was birthed into the oxygen-filled world we live in… she had an interesting journey coming from the dark place she had been baking in for 9 months… known as the womb.

Now, she is 10 years old and can walk, and even ask for things. It’s crazy actually. I am learning to enjoy every moment I can her… as well as my son… stopping to smell the flowers, as they say. I think it actually helps to bring further clarification to the purpose of life!

Enjoy each day, each moment of your life!

If Jesus Started a Church...

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Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church”

We often quote this scripture in reference to “marriages”, and the importance of loving our wives… but I read this today and it made me think about how much Jesus loved the church. Yes, the organized religious establishment! Let us not forget, He (Jesus) set it up!

Now, I will be the first to admit that we may not resemble what Jesus intended totally, some more than others, BUT there are those churches who are really trying to be what Jesus intended.

So, the question of the day is; If Jesus started a church what would it look like? Not what color would the walls be, but what would it feel like, what would it be doing, saying… in this culture, in this time in history? Great questions I seek answers to everyday.

Without going into all my thoughts, I think we get glimpses of what that church might have looked like by simply looking at the early church. So here are just a few things I think The Real Church of Jesus Christ, pastored by Jesus Christ, might look like:

1) There would be a prevailing spirit of LOVE for each member
2) There would be a prevailing spirit of LOVE for their city, state, country, world
3) There would be UNITY amongst other religious groups all trying to do the same things
4) The people of that church would be irrepressible in helping hurting people
5) The church would be open-armed to all who would come… all are welcome to come and drink

… and if that church were in Olathe, it would be called Olathe Life Fellowship!

Mastermind

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Sir Isaac Newton [1642-1727]
"This thing [a scale model of our solar system] is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you know, and I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer and maker; yet you, as an atheist, profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being without either designer or maker! Now tell me by what sort of reasoning do you reach such an incongruous conclusion?"


I am reading a book right now (actually listening to it) entitled, The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel. What an awesome book. Though I will admit a lot of the scientific, biological and physics lingo is over my head. I am catching much of it.

I would say the bottom line from what I am getting so far is that there is very strong and even compelling evidence for a mastermind behind all this stuff.

As I mention regularly, I was raised in church, so I’ve always believed in “creator” God, the one responsible for all that is. But honestly it was based on just my personal “faith”. I had no proof of any of what I believed, besides “the Bible says, ‘in the beginning God’”.
But the reality is it would take more faith to believe that “all this” just came to be out of nothing, by nothing.

There is a God, and He created you for a purpose!

Choices

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So many choices to make each and everyday; what clothes to wear (for women: what shoes with what outfit), which cereal to eat, where to go for lunch, what project to begin first, what book to read, what show to watch, what movie to see, which car should I buy, who should I date, which one will I marry, what college to go to, which job to take... on and on we go through the life we live called CHOICES!

I think we may underestimate the importance of each and every choice we make.

I have talked with people before and have been surprised that they were surprised that their life went down a particular road… when it was clear that they chose the road themselves. We don’t get to pick the results of our decisions; therein lies the issue.

1) We chose to eat a snicker bar a day, rather than eating the “apple a day” and then we wonder why we don’t feel well. I am simplifying, of course. But the same is true.

2) We steal a car, and then wonder why we are sitting in an 8 X 8 little concrete room in Leavenworth.

3) We have sex, and wonder why or how we got pregnant. (I can draw a diagram of how this works if you need me to) J

4) We give 60% effort at work, and wonder why we got fired (laid off).

5) We ignore God, then wonder why we feel distant from Him.

I could go on, but I assume you get the point… each of us have choices to make, some big, some really important, and some small and not so important. But must I say (clearing my throat) God help us all choice wisely when it comes to the BIG IMPORTANT STUFF.

Answers to above situations:

1) Eat the APPLE
2) Don’t Steal
3) Don’t have SEX unless you want children


Disclaimer: If you are married abstinence is not a good form of “protection” for a healthy marriage. There are other alternatives I would recommend. Abstinence is preferred for the un-married.

4) Give 100% a work
5) Connect with God