ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES!!!

People have been asking me what I see from the Lord in 2010, I will be giving a “state of the Kingdom” address at the church on Jan 3rd and it will be posted on our sermon.net site however I wanted to write some preamble for my blog/Facebook community.

The verse that has come to me over and over is:

2 Corinthians 9:7-13 (New American Standard Bible)
7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9as it is written,
"HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER."
10Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
11you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,

Last year our thrust from the Lord was to build authentic community, to work past the differences and intentionally find the Love of God in our hearts and learn to express it to Him and each other. We intentionally built bridges to each other’s heart; we got honest about what has kept us apart. This was not an easy year for many but those who lived transparently had a great break-though. We wrestled as a community to find that tension between open heart living and learning to trust and be trustworthy; the tension between having the freedom to be you while living out that freedom responsibly within a community context.

2010 is a time of alignment;
“Each one must do as he has purposed in his heart” like never before we must allow God to reveal what is in our hearts and ask Him to reveal the desires of His heart. I am challenging you my friends and family to align your heart with God’s in 2010. Discover what He desires for you in this year of life and then surrender it to Him and do it willingly as an act of worship and love. For me and I believe the Bridge as a community I believe He wants us to SERVE our neighbors with extravagant faith and generosity this year. I have found the best way to build authentic community is to serve together!!! Serving brings out many things, it reveals heart…it challenges our motives…it develops integrity…it pleases God!!

At Christmas we joined with Son Valley Fellowship and delivered 25 hampers. It was a great evening and there was a sense of excitement and team work. We worked along side one another with anticipation of the joy this was going to bring to many families. As we prayed together for those families to receive the gifts with the love they were given real heart felt prayers of concern and love came out from our hearts. It was an awesome time in fact several people said I can’t wait for next year…NEXT YEAR!!!! I thought we DO NOT have to wait for a year to be a blessing, we do not have to wait for lights and trees and Santa to actually serve!! Let’s make it a life style in 2010!

Micah 6:8 says 8He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Lets purpose in our heart to “do justice” that is serving our community; to “love kindness” that is serving each other; and “walk humbly with our God” that’s serving HIM!!

So my friends and family ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES here we go!!!

Mark is a motivational speaker with a difference - he connects right to the heart of the audience. This year Mark is hoping to see his faith community find a deeper connection to the "what" of their mission. Mark's favorite thing about the Christmas season is spending time with his family.