NEW DAY, NEW POSSIBILITIES

 

ROOTED JOURNAL (for women)

 Check out the new ROOTED JOURNAL that I designed for my wife Amanda! It makes a great Mother's Day gift. 

The journal is available on Amazon now. Click HERE to purchase. 

MONDAY FUNDAY: COW DILEMMA

MONEY MINDSET #FinanceFriday

Can you believe I looked forward to splitting another Chipotle bowl with Amanda? It's all about your mindset...

JESUS STYLE SUCCESS

For the first time in 44 years, the Purdue Boilermakers Men’s Basketball team will be playing in the Final 4 this weekend. Coach Matt Painter and 7’4” center Zach Edey have led the Boilers to a successful season. 

Success is unfortunately becoming viewed as a bad word by many in our culture. They reason if you are successful then you have hurt others or wronged them in order to get ahead in life. 

If we want to know what success in life truly is, we should look to Jesus’ example because Jesus redefines success. 

Jesus was both loved and hated. That tells us success does not necessarily mean popularity. As followers of Jesus, you will also be both loved and hated. 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ ministry is summarized by saying: 
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38 NIV) 

In word and action, Jesus brought the reality of God’s presence and Kingdom into the lives of those around Him. This is what Jesus style success look like and this is what you and I are called to imitate. To achieve success like Jesus, you need to model your life on Jesus and share His vision. 

Why? 

Because the need is urgent. 


Jesus saw that ‘they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’ (v.36). Today, we see so many people around us who don’t know Jesus and are spiritually lost. In addition to that, we see many who are in need of the basics of life. The need is urgent. We need to pursue Jesus style success. 

Why? 

Because of love. 


Jesus had compassion (v.36). His heart broke when He saw the condition of the people. Jesus loved them all. 

Jesus was not concerned with the people having worldly success or importance, but He knew true success is knowing God and being faithful to Him. This is why Jesus told His disciples to pray that God would raise up more people to follow Jesus’ example of success and bring in a huge harvest of people.  

Will you follow the success model of Jesus in your life?
Will you share in His mission and allow God to multiply yourself?
That’s true success. 

NEW BAPTISTERY SLIDE COMING SOON!

I'm excited to announce today, April 1, 2024, that we will be adding a new waterslide to our baptistery at Grissom!! I must confess that I did not expect our church leadership, Mark Torkelson and Terry Carter, to approve this idea, but these two men are men of faith and vision and they know serving the Lord is a joy and a blessing! 

"We cannot think of a better way to begin your new life with Christ than joyfully sliding into the baptistery." - statement from the Grissom eldership.  

Installation will begin next week. A waiting list for baptisms has already seen several spots filled... mostly by kids in Jr. Church and the ladies Bible study group.  

MONDAY FUNDAY: Umbrella Inventor

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

MARCH MADNESS begins this week! It's the most wonderful time of year for college basketball fans. Fans of all ages are looking forward to see if their team can win the NCAA championship. 

What are you looking forward to in your life? 

Luke chapter 2 tells us about a man named Simeon, who was also looking forward to something in the future. Of course, he wasn't looking forward to a basketball championship, he was looking forward to a Savior. And God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. So, when Joseph and Mary bring 8 day old Jesus to the temple, God's promise is kept to Simeon. What Simeon had been looking forward to actually happened. Simeon sees and holds the Savior of the world!

There are a lot of people looking for a Savior in this world. Some are hoping for a political savior in this 2024 election year. Others are looking for a spouse or someone significant in their life to bring them meaning and purpose. They long for their life to have peace and hope.  

I want to encourage you to be like Simeon and look forward to Jesus.  

Look to Jesus for PEACE. 

Simeon takes baby Jesus in his arms and says to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace." (Luke 2:29 NIV) 

Seeing Jesus gives Simeon peace. 

Look to Jesus to SEE WHAT GOD IS LIKE. 

In Luke 2:30-32 we read Simeon announce that Jesus is "a light for revelation" which means He is revealing to the world what God is like. 

I pray that you and I will have eyes like Simeon to look to Jesus and see God's salvation in the world today. May we see His grace and truth and wisdom for all of the decisions and encounters with people we will have today. Jesus is the way we can truly have something to look forward to in this life. 

DOING HARD THINGS #FinanceFriday

You can do hard things. Whether it’s creating a budget and sticking to it, or growing in your relationship with God and others, I hope my story inspires you today. #financefriday #moneycoaching

MONDAY FUNDAY: Sweet Carol Line