Feb
2
Sunday was an awesome time of learning some great testimonies of God’s grace, talking about gracepointe and just hanging out. We had around 30 in attendance for our FIRST IMPRESSIONS luncheon at our home.
Phil did an incredible job leading worship!
This coming Sunday will be the last message in our “X” series, you don’t want to miss it!
Jan
11
Yesterday was an amazing day of worshipping our unchanging God at gracepointe church. Nicole & the worship team did an incredible job and Phil sounded awesome on “You Are God Alone”. I began a series yesterday entitled: “X” . I have never been more excited about anything God has laid on my heart to communicate than the principles found in Exodus Chapter 20.
One of the most important verses for me in Exodus 20, is the very 1st verse, “and God spoke all these words”. I am amazed at the every day reminders of the truthfulness of God’s word.
The Ten Commandments (and they are Commandments, not suggestions or options) were, are and forever will be, God’s perfect “10″. These principles are not intended to prevent our fun and enjoyment of life, but just the opposite. Our Father’s message was intended for the protection of His children and to provide us with the best quality of life imaginable, both now and for eternity.
Jan
1
January 1, 2010. The first day of the new year. I have had a wonderful day of spending time with family and friends, watching TV and of course lots and lots of eating. Our traditional New Years feast always includes collards and black eyed peas (the vegetable not the group). My mother always told me the peas were for good luck and the collards were for money. I can’t say either one ever paid off, but I love them just the same. As I began the day with some time alone with the Lord, I opened up the word and immediately got stuck on that one statement, “In the beginning God created…” I thought about all the things God did in 09. Although the year had its share of challenges, there were many more reasons to celebrate.
*A new home for gracepointe
*getting to baptize our daughter in law
*Seeing Nicole go from singing at Cowboys to singing for Christ at gracepointe
*69 prayed to receive Christ at the annual Paulding County Youth Detention Thanksgiving dinner
* Engage Atlanta
* Emma starting high school
*Seeing God work in a miraculous way in my son Trey’s life
I am so so thankful for everything God did in 09, but He is still creating. I don’t believe God is through with me, my son, my family or gracepointe church. Today is only the beginning, I cant wait to see what God is going to create this year.
Oct
29
I remember reading once how much time a person spends, in an average lifetime, waiting in line for something. If you live in Metro Atlanta, one of the top 10 nationally worst, you spend a lot of time waiting in traffic.
If you are a child or teenager, you spend a lot of time waiting for school to end. Waiting for some event, priviledge or present that is in your future.
Lamentations 3:22-24 talks about the benefit of waiting on the Lord. “Because of the Lord’s great love , we are not consumed for His compassion never fails. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him.”
Instead of waiting for the economy to change or for someone who I’m praying for to respond to God’s love; I need to refocus the reason on the One I am waiting for. God is my portion. He is everything I need and more than I desire. May I learn to wait for Him and on Him (service) and not for Him to do something for me.
Sep
27
Went four wheeling after church with Emma and Stephen. Got covered in mud , nearly flipped 3 times but had a blast!
Sep
27
Today was our last time for gracepointe church to meet at Poole Elementary and what a day it was!
Almost all the chairs and half the bleechers were full; baptized 7, and the presence of God was everywhere.
The last year and a half have been an amazing journey to say the least. I can still remember our very first meeting at our home with a whopping 13 in attendance, that included me Kelly, Emma , Trey, and both our Moms. Then we had our kick-off service at West Ridge where Johnny Hunt (who almost didn’t make it back in time) along with Brian Bloye and James Merritt all spoke. At our first service at Poole with our core group we had around 40, then 70 for our second “dress rehearsal.”
Finally, on March 22, 2008, we officially opened our doors for the first time. Looking back we weren’t ready. We had no money, only 4 sponsors and no full time staff. We had no equipment, not even chairs. We had to borrow those from West Ridge. We have had many challenges along the way. Who can forget the dead deer left for us at the front entrance of Poole.
In Acts 5, the Apostles are on trial, their crime was being too serious about Jesus, more than enough were present to put the men to death for heresy, blasephemy and insurrection. The bible says that an expert in the law, Gamaliel spoke up and said, “In this present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men;
you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
The vision that God placed on my heart 2 years ago sitting on my back deck, is that gpc would be a place of worship for all people. A place where it is ok, not to be ok . Through all the ups and downs of the last year and a half, I can say God has been faithful. Each and every time there has been a need ( many times before we even mentioned it), God provided just what we needed. This is amazing to me!
I want to thank so many people for believing in the vision God gave me and Kelly and for staying with us. For the staff at West Ridge without whom gpc wouldn’t be. For my friend and brother Brian Bloye, whom I will always be indebted to. Most of all, thank you to the people of gpc. You are the greatest group of followers of Jesus Christ I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do as we begin this new chapter in the life of gpc; as we enter into our new home at
North Paulding High School.
I don’t know what the future will be, but as I often say, “The best is yet to come because of the Savior.”
See you next Sunday, what a day glorious day that will be.
Sep
25
Genesis 8:13-14, “….and Noah saw that the water receded from the earth….”
The last week for all of Metro Atlanta, particularly Paulding Co., Douglas Co. & the Austell area have truly been awe inspiring. It is amazing to see something that we are so dependant upon as water, become such a natural force of destruction. For my household, we have merely experienced a little inconvenience, some leaks in the roof and the frustration of bored children who don’t know what to do with this break from school. But for many, the past week have been much more than an inconvenience.
The prayers for God’s grace & mercy for those who have suffered should be constantly before us. We should also be mindful of every opportunity to be Jesus to the many we come in contact with who are in need.
gracepointe is working with West Ridge Church and Noonday Assoc. through Samaritan’s Purse in response to the Flood Relief in NW Atlanta. Persons in need can contact Samaritan’s Purse by phone (678)202-5974 or by email at disasterresponse3@samaritan.org or for a place to stay contact the Red Cross (404)876-3302, for food contact Warehouse of Hope (770)489-0509. Water, blankets and shoes can be picked up at West Ridge between the hours of 10:00am to 7:00pm
Sep
17
Only 3 more weeks till we move into gp’s new home at North Paulding High School. We have become experts on mass mailers, almost 36,000 pieces for the relocation. We have at gp, the greatest people in the world who are working so hard for the Kingdom. My verse in my quiet time this morning for our church is Isaiah 26:12,
“Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”
My prayer as we look back on this time in the life of gp is that we will be able to say,
“God Did That “
Sep
16
I believe myself to be a pretty social person , I love people . When it comes to worship , the more the better . I grew up in the 70’s listening to lots of very loud music but the older I get the more I am not only appreciating more solitude but it has become a necessity . More often than not I find myself when alone turning the radio or television off and basking in those rare occasions of silence . When it comes to prayer solitude is an even greater need . There is a power that comes from the privacy . Jesus said in Matthew 6:6″But when you pray , go into your room , close the door and pray to your Father , who is unseen . Then your Father , who sees what is done in secret , will reward you . ” I love the entry for Oswald Chambers today ” the main idea in the region of religion is your eyes on God not men , do not have as your motive the desire to be known as a praying man. Get an inner chamber in which to pray where no one knows you are praying , shut the door and talk to God in secret . It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.”
Sep
13
I have been privileged to see many places in my life but there is no place I’d rather be than fall in Ga. Football , deer season , and the beauty of creation , I can hardly wait. This past week was our second high school football game as the parent of a North Paulding High School cheerleader . Varsity and JV did a great job . Only 3 more weeks til our move to North Paulding High.Our church sent out this week the first of 3 different mail outs to nearly 18,000 homes . We need many volunteers and so many resources but I am confident God will provide and the best is yet to come for gp.