CURRICULUM

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

"Major in the grace of God.

Focus on the cross of Christ.

Grow fluent in the language of redemption.

Linger long at the foot of the cross.

Immerse yourself in the curriculum of grace." - LUCADO

Remember when the “curriculum” for the day was carved out for us?  Back in school we might have had math for 60 minutes then English.  Maybe then you had a little study hall or gym mixed in.  All morning all you could hope for was lunch and after lunch that final bell.

Remember those days?

Been about 31 years ago for me, but I was talking to my son about his ‘schedule’ on the way to school recently and listening to him ‘complain’ a little about his curriculum I realized not much changes.

Not many of us “enjoy” curriculum.

But today’s curriculum is critical.

So that is why I thought I would “schedule” you a little today.

Your MAJOR is grace.

It is the CORE of today’s curriculum.  Learn what it is, become proficient at it and IMMERSE yourself in at as LUCADO suggests.

John 1:16 (ESV)

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

So relish in it.  JESUS has given all of us plenty to share.

Thank GOD for it.

It is your MAJOR so learn as much as you can about it.

Now it is to “crafting” class.

Grow fluent in the “language” of redemption.

Pour over what GOD has done in your life.

Pour over THIS TRUTH!

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…

There is that “major” GRACE again.  Remind yourself of your REDEMPTION and use this “time” to craft you message to others about it!

I (YOU) am/are redeemed You (JESUS) set me (us) free. So I’ll shake off these heavy chains and wipe away ev’ry stain. Now (‘Cause) I’m/we’re not who I/we used to be (I/we am/are redeemed) ~ Cowart and Weaver

That is your message!  Your "exam" is to remind yourself of that and then encourage others with that truth!

Then for our last class before the bell rings on our day, linger at the FOOT of the CROSS.  There is where GRACE began.  This is where that redemptive message was birthed!  "Linger" Max says.  Soak it in today.  Let the magnitude of its message wash over you. 

Bask in it.

Grow in your thanksgiving for it. 

That will advance your gratefulness for the grace it shares.  It is there that redemption’s message will be fortified for sharing!

“It is to the Cross that the Christian is challenged to follow his Master: no path of redemption can make a detour around it.” ― Balthasar

So go there willingly today!

Well the bell is about to ring on today’s curriculum.

Remember your GRACE

Share your REDEMPTION.

Glory in the CROSS.

Class dismissed.

I love you ALL!

FREEDOM CHURCH (CHAMPIONS NETWORK)

"JUST A LITTLE MORE JESUS"

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

Since my friend Darris has been sharing his amazing gift of worship at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio (www.sacornerstone.org), I have been keeping a little closer watch on what is happening there via social media and such.

 

I have been getting PASTOR JOHN HAGEE'S Pastoral blessing and prayer for the day in my email inbox for years, but I have been astonished by how GOD is using Darris.  It is amazing! 

And Pastor Matthew Hagee, John’s son is part of a southern gospel quartet called CANTON JUNCTION. (https://www.facebook.com/CantonJunctionMusic)

 

Tim Duncan the BASS singer for that group was with another of my favorites for quite a while, Ernie Haas and Signature Sound.

 

And for those of you who know me and have been reading this little blog for a while know I grew up in a southern gospel home and used to do a little singing too.  And while those singing and traveling days are long gone, I do still love the genre.  It kind of gets into your DNA.

 

So with Darris being in Texas working for Hagee and Tim Duncan, Ernie’s old bass carrying the low lines like only he can, I grabbed a copy of Canton Junction’s new release “EVERY HALLELUJAH”.  The title song is great; worth a download for sure.  It is a great PRAISE track. 

 

But there is a little old fashioned “BASS HEAVY” track on the record called:

“I NEED JUST A LITTLE MORE JESUS”.

Now after GOOGLING it this morning, it looks like several folks have covered the song including Michael English on his recent release worship CD.

 

But in spite of who sings it or the style it is shared, I thought the lyric provided some GOOD instruction and remedy for those days when we get a little out of alignment or the when they go a little south.  It is during those days and times we could use just a little more JESUS, AMEN?

 

I need just a little more Jesus

I need just a little more Jesus

I need just a little more Jesus

I need just a little more Jesus

Hey I need just a little more Jesus

I need just a little more Jesus

To help me along my way

 

I got too mad and I said too much

Went too far and I almost cussed

No my mama didn't raise me that way

Lord I need a little help today

 

I way too sad and I'm crying too long

I can't keep saying everything is wrong

Yes my life seems way too hard

But ain't nothin' too hard for God

 

I need just a little more Jesus

To help me along my way

 

Problems at work, problems at home

Won't everybody just leave me alone?

I can't fix you cause I'm trying to fix me

I'm trying to find help so I'm on my knees

 

Gotta ache right here, pain right there

Not enough power needed way more prayer

Seems like it's so hard to pray

Guess that's why I lost my way

 

I need just a little more JESUS

To help me along my way

 

Is that you today?

Could you use a little more JESUS?

 

Then:

…think the way Christ Jesus thought.

He was like God in every way...He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being FULLY OBEDIENT to God (Philippians 2:5-8 ERV)

 

Just that “little more JESUS” will help you along the way today!

 

 

I love you ALL!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

FREEDOM CHURCH (CHAMPIONS NETWORK)

BODY PARTS

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

Romans 12:4-6 (MSG)

…we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

 

I have this new “title” these days.  While I have not given up the PASTOR, I added “collaborator” to the line. 

I love collaboration.

I love seeing how GOD inspires others to see needs, to engage their gifts, to lead others, and to affect change.  What I love more is when we put all of those gifts together for the GLORY of GOD and the positive change of lives!

 

PAUL pushes us to APPRECIATE the uniqueness of one another while HUMBLY seeking ways to interconnect; making it about CHRIST ultimately and not our individual abilities or ministries.

 

You my friends are a part of that potential marvelously functioning BODY of CHRIST.  You were CHOSEN no less!

 

What role do you feel called to play?

Some are great prayer warriors.

Some have amazing minds for details and organization.

Some are gifted at encouragement and others worship.

The list goes on and on!

And at the end of the day it is all of that functioning together; that TEAM, that can and will elevate the name of CHRIST to the world around us!

What a TEAM that is!

 

I am reminded of Norman Dales admonishment to a drunken “Shooter” in his bed at the hospital in the movie Hoosiers.  “with all the pistons firing…we are going to be a tough team to beat!”

AMEN! 

The question is do you believe that?

Yesterday I had an amazing conversation with a woman passionate about helping teens find traction in life as they approach 18.  Across the table was an amazing teacher equally passionate about educating kids on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse.  Another was crafting a plan to empower parents.

And there I was, my rather rusty pistons doing their best impersonation of firing, trying to figure out the best way to get them all collaborating for those kids, CHRIST and the KINGDOM.

 

I believe that is what I am to do for "THE TEAM"; the BODY!

That brings me to the thought for today.

Is it time to get to thinking about your role in the Body? 

You are IMPORTANT!

You are EXCELLENTLY FORMED!

Psalm 139:14-16 (ICB)

…you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.

You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother’s body. When I was put together there, you saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old.

 GOD has crafted you for PURPOSE!

You are GOOD!  Amazing! Formed for something WONDERFUL! GOD did that!

Is it time to put that to work for GOD's GLORY?

 

Ask GOD to show you what that is.

Follow that passion and calling on your life.

Take your place on the TEAM!

Embrace your role in the body!

 

“The Body of Christ is the living temple of God and of the new humanity.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

 

I love you ALL!

FREEDOM CHURCH (CHAMPIONS NETWORK)