livin' on love

well, the past week or so has been jammed packed with friends and family. lots of little get togethers with friends to just share our lives and be encouraged in one another. to share victories and failures. wow. God is amazing when you allow Him to have His way. So Dee and I are having an amazing time ministering in our new roles. His grace is more than sufficient. amen. We have seen an amazing increase in serve teams out at Middleburg as we have some 35% or so of our congregation serving on any given sunday! that is awesome! we are so excited to be apart of Gods plan and His kingdom! we are going to the lake this saturday with some dear friends Janet and Orlando. They are wonderful people that have helped love on us in the short time we have known them. We look forward to building more relationships as time goes on and being a blessing extending the hand of God, not only in our community but even to the ends of the earth.

One of the desires God has placed in our heart is to be more involved in global missions in our future. we made our first trip some 14 months ago and are just still on fire about going. we have taken some time to make sure we were not just feeling those emotions that can really mess you up sometimes!! but this is truly a calling we feel is ordained by God. We know we have an apostolic/evangelism type calling on our lives and are ready to see what God is going to do with our lives in the future. So pray with us as we ask God to direct us.

Well talk to you soon! Stay Blessed!

Married Life

alright marrieds! the time is near for our kickoff groups for married couples. this is an exciting time in our church and we are looking forward to see what God is going to do in the marriages of all you who choose to attend. I want to encourage you all to attend, whether your marriage is great or falling apart. it will be a time of restoration and strengthing for all. the event last night was awesome and just a preview of the fun we will be having in homes and other meeting places all across the tri-county area! so buckle up(its the law) and get ready for some God encounters with other couples just like you. see you soon!!

the second mile...

so i am in the middle of reading the book by Mel Blackaby called Going the Second Mile. well worth the read. he talks in detail about the passage of scripture in Matthew 5: 38"You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40"If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. 43"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Wow. such a difference to what we are conditioned to here in our culture and lives. I think recently in my own life and see how I have had to live this out. the Holy Spirit dealt with me on certain issues in my own life and now i am living on the second mile. it has alot to do with your heart. Mel makes this profound statement: "the second mile is the road Jesus has called us to walk, and this is where you will find Him doing His work" If you want to be where Christ is, then break through the barrier of just being a "good" person doing a good duty. Mel states anyone can perform the first mile that is expected of them and be a good person, but it is when you walk that second mile that it is no longer you doing good, but Christ being shown through you! I pray that you and I would be second mile lovers of Jesus!! check out the book, well worth the 120 something pages of Gods wisdom.

another fast...

So Dee and I are doing another fast, we are going to another media fast which absolutely blessed us the last time we did. now you might say wow, a media fast. what does that exactly mean? well for dee and i we make it real simple, whatever media we allow is to declare the glory of God. if we are on the web it is a God declaring site, if we turn on the tv it is God tv or TBN, if we listen to music same thing. this is an awesome way to grow closer to Jesus, and to make sure we are spending our time wisely. so i encourage if you want, try it next time you decide to fast. you will be blessed!

I want to encourage you in this also, if there is someone in your life that you are in conflict with talk to that person. show the character of the one you serve, and give grace, mercy, and forgiveness a fighting chance. read Matthew 18 and believe God for restoration and then go and love like Jesus did us. amen

Dee and i are so excited about all the good Jesus is doing in our lives and on the earth. I pray right now for the church here on earth. i pray that it will represent Gods kingdom and glory just as it is in heaven! Lord let your glory come forth and be shown in truth and grace as you have ordained it. let your son reign and lord over our hearts and lives. let us be an accurate represntation of your kingdom and son that is true and just, in Jesus name...amen

wow...amazing week!

we have had a very busy week. lots of planning for Gods kingdom! we just met with some of our childrens ministry team this morning and got some great ideas. lots of good stuff to build teams, promote ministry, and most of all impact some young children for Jesus! We also met about an upcoming event we are going to do for some very special children in Clay county. we will be hosting the first annual Celebrate Kids Day which will be a great kids event where we will be raising the awareness of the Foster care system here in Clay county! we are very excited to do this. this is going to be a great opportunity to make an impact in these childrens lives and the community around them. The bible in James chapter 1:26-27 states If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. it is imperative that we reach out to the downtrodden. we can no longer be satisfied trying to just get a name out, or try to reach people that can benefit the church through service or money, but that we turn our attention toward the ones no one else will. the forgotten in our foster care systems. the poor. the widows. the homeless. and the list goes on. so i hope as this event and many more to come happens, I pray that you too will answer the call to see lives changed not by a name of a church or a clever marketing scheme, but a genuine love for the gospel to be taken to the ones Jesus intended to reach in his ministry. Jesus said I come to seek the lost and heal the lame. he also sent Johns disciple back to him stating the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. So lets reach those the world forgets about and impact their lives for eternity! If you would like more info on how to get involved please email toddndee@celebration.org Thanks and God bless!