‏‏‎ ‎90 Day Bible Challenge

Day 11 of 90: God is searching to bless an AVAILABLE heart.

Opening Song: People get ready by Crystal Lewis

Closing Song: (same as opening)

Night 10 of 90: From Scandal to Surrender -He Turned It!

Opening Song: He turned it by Tye Tribbett

Closing Song: (same as opening)

Day 10 of 90: Should I be thankful for my mistakes?

SHOULD I BE THANKFUL FOR MY MISTAKES? by Shaun Saunders 

Opening Song: For every mountain by Kurt Carr

Closing Song: TBA

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. Genesis 37:5

I have heard so many sermons about Joseph—we all have! Joseph is a popular Old Testament character. His story is one of triumph and elevation; a pit to the palace theme that inspires all of us to have faith in God despite the circumstances around us. Most preachers never teach about
Joseph without stumbling up on this lesson: “be careful who you share your dreams with. Why? Because Joseph’s brothers used his words against him. So, ask God to reveal the right people who can handle your dreams.”

And this is true. Sometimes we talk too much and we give too many people access to the passwords of our heart. Sometimes we share too much with people who clearly don’t need to be told a thing. There are even times that we fall by the sword of our own loose tongue, and when we do not discipline ourselves to keep some things a secret, the world will publish our breaking story without our permission. So, yes, it is very important that we guard our tongue, guard our hearts, and be careful whom we share our dreams with. But there could be another way of looking at it. Did it ever occur to you that Joseph’s mistake gave his destiny permission to begin? Did it occur to you that his promotion might not have ever happened had Joseph kept his mouth shut? Just think. What if God allowed Joseph, in his naiveté, to spill the seeds of his future into the garden of his brothers, all so that the planting process could begin?

What if jealousy was his fertilizer? What if betrayal was his water? And what if false accusation was the sunlight he needed to spring forth into a palace that he would’ve never seen if he hadn’t opened his mouth; an abundance he would’ve never enjoyed if he hadn’t opened his mouth; a God he would’ve never known if he hadn’t first experienced the forsakenness of his family? 

Here’s the point: What if the mistake you keep wishing never happened was the best mistake of your life? What if your most humiliating memory helped you to develop a heart to love those that most people won’t? We all have something in our past that we wish had never happened. Somebody has a criminal record they wish could go away. Others have made poor love decisions that left them with 5 kids and a rerouted destiny. Still others feel like we weren’t exposed to life because church was all we knew. But what if all this was a part of the master plan? What if God included the messiness of your mistake into the recipe of your destiny, in order that you might be the person you are today? Joseph beware— you may be beating yourself up for something in your past that was meant to promote you in your future.

Let me share a secret with you: if I knew what God foreknew about my end from the beginning, I would’ve made the mistake sooner. If I knew where my experiences would lead me, I would’ve submitted to the process quicker. Get this: I do not glory in my mistakes, because some things I brought on myself unnecessarily. However, I will no longer allow my mistakes to guilt me. There is no condemnation to those who are in the Lord. So I will not let personal paranoia or human guilt, keep me from professing what God is doing through me. Whether your brothers squeal on you, plot your demise, or steal your idea, God is in control. The idea He has given you and the dreams He has for you, have your DNA on it! All things work together for the good—including the bad things! Today, look back over every mistake and follow its trail down to the door of your today. You might discover that it was the best mistake you ever made.

Night 9 of 90: Gratitude, my anti-depressant.

Opening Song: Secret Place by Karen Clark Sheard

Closing Song: Praise Offering by Kierra Sheard 

Day 9 of 90: complaining is contagious. LEARN to be content.

Opening Song: TBA

Closing Song: TBA

Night 8 of 90: Gratitude Begins Where Entitlement Ends

Opening Song: Secret Place by Karen Clark Sheard

Closing Song: Praise Offering by Kierra Sheard

 

To hear the full sermon of “The Gratitude Factor” by Pastor Stephen Furtick visit http://newspring.cc/watch/overwhelmed/the-gratitude-factor

 

Day 8 of 90: Appreciate your Assets.

Day 8 of 90: Appreciate your Assets.

Opening Song:  Thank you by Hillsong

Closing Song: I want to say thank you by Page Brooks

Have you ever been hurt by someone you loved? Well that is kind of where I found myself last year this time. I had a close group of friends who were incredible to hang around until I started making them into my crutch. One day they were in my life, and the next day (seemingly) they weren't. Before I knew it, my heart became overwhelmed. I was hurt but didn’t know where the root of my pain was coming from. So there I was...sitting in my office...feeling all types of ways and I didn’t want discouragement to win so I opened up a few video files on my computer to reminisce about the "good ole days." Clip after clip, I began to feel better as I saw the hundreds of hands lifted in worship. I saw familiar faces and not-so-familiar faces, but the one consistent face that continued to show up in every video was... my wife’s. 

1. Don’t overlook the consistent people in your life because you’re so focused on the conditional people. Consistent people pour into you even during "off seasons". Conditional people will come and go. Often, we do not water the seeds from the fruitful batch of friends because the other group steals attention away from the committed ones. And we stay up all night, not counting our blessings but calculating what we lost; we stay up asking ourselves questions that really have no answer; thinking about how hurt we are that someone left instead of thanking God for the ones who have stayed.

2. remember the hundreds who were blessed instead of responding to a handful of haters. So many writers, preachers, and people I know will receive thousands of "thank you" letters for their work, but when that 1 negative letter comes to them, they will shut down and want to give up. Proverbs 18:24 whips us into shape because it teaches us the importance of honoring the friends who stick with us through the thick and the thin. One who has unreliable friends, it says, will soon come to ruin. Let’s think about that for a second. If people who have unreliable friends will eventually come to ruin, could it be possible, that God removed everything that was unreliable to protect you from the possibility of ruin? It’s a good thing that fickle folks are gone because now you can grow with those who really know your heart. Now you can trust that the few folks who have stayed are really in your life because they want to see you excel.

“But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” 

That’s who Ana is to me. Despite it all, she has been a consistent presence in the midst of others’ absence. And oftentimes, I have been so distracted by their absence that I forgot to tell her, “thank you for your presence.”

I wonder how many friends you’ve neglected to thank all because of unreliable folks. Today, make a concerted effort to call the “Ana’s” in your life who are reliable, dependable, and committed to your success and tell them thank you. If you water the seeds that are growing, your garden will never experience drought. But if you chase after un- reliable friends, you will quickly encounter ruin. Instead of giving your emotions the space to have a pity party, have a praise party. Praise God for every person who has deposited something valuable. Mail out personalized thank you letters to those whose love has never been questionable. The more you do that, the more likely your heart will heal and your love will grow.

Who are the confidantes in your life? Who are the people who are with you if you win, and with you if you lose? Who are the carriers of grace who forgive you when you’re wrong, and celebrate with you when you’re right. Appreciate your assets, for they will be there when your liabilities leave.

Scripture Referenced: One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. –Proverbs 18:24

Night 7 of 90: Design your HALL of THANKS

Opening Song: Oh give thanks by Judith McCallister

Closing Song: TBA

Day 7 of 90: Be the One who comes back to say THANK YOU

Opening Song: Thank you Lord for all you've done for me by Walter Hawkins

Closing Song: I want to say thank you by Page Brooks

Night 6 of 90: Why settle for mercy when you can ask for a MIRACLE?

Opening Song: I am looking for a miracle by The Clark Sisters

Closing Song: It's about time for a miracle by Beverly Crawford