Tuning in to God

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Tuning in to God
by Rick Warren

"God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it." Job 33:14 (NCV)

"God's will is found in God's Word."

After we ask in faith for God's guidance, we need to listen for God's response!

Did you know that the room you are in right now is filled with radio waves? You can't see them but if you had the right type of receiver - like a radio - to tune them in, you'd be able to hear them.

God designed you to hear His voice. There is a receiver in you that allows you to get guidance from God. Job 33:14 says, "God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it." We don't understand when we're not tuned in.

What channels does God use? The primary way that God speaks is through the Bible. The Bible is God's guide book. It's like a road map to guide us along the way. It helps you negotiate the mazes you face in life, giving you the directions you need. This is why we need to read the Bible very day. God's will is found in God's Word.

God also speaks through godly Bible teachers. Have you ever been in church or at a Bible study and you feel like the teacher is speaking directly to you? In that moment, God is speaking directly to you.

God not only speaks through teachers, he also speaks through every Christian. He even speaks through you. If you'll stay in tune to Him and learn His Word, sometimes God will use you to say things to people that He wants to say to them. It's not something special reserved only for pastors; God speaks through every believer at different times. 

God also speaks through your circumstances and your pain. God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain.

God is speaking all the time. But we must listen. Tune in to God and He will lead you on the right path.

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life

February 21, 2010

Running In The Right Direction

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READ: John 6:53-69

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” —John 6:68

One of the most difficult experiences in my years as a pastor was telling a member of our church that her husband, her son, and her father-in-law had all drowned in a boating accident. I knew the news would shatter her life.

In the days following their tragic loss, I was amazed as she and her family responded with unusual faith. Sure, there was deep brokenness, haunting doubt, and confusion. But when nothing else made sense, they still had Jesus. Rather than deserting Him in the midst of their desperately difficult days, they ran to Him as the only source of hope and confidence.

This reminds me of the reaction of the disciples to Jesus. After some of them “went back and walked with Him no more” because He was hard to understand (John 6:66), Jesus turned to His inner circle, and asked, “Do you also want to go away?” (v.67). Peter got it right when he responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v.68).

Whatever you face today, be encouraged by the words of Peter and by the example of a family who went through the fire with their faith intact. As long as you’re running in the right direction—to Jesus—you’ll find the grace and strength you will need. —Joe Stowell

Jesus is the One to run to
When our lives bring grief and pain;
He provides His strength and guidance
With a peace we can’t explain. —Sper

When all is lost, remember that you haven’t lost Jesus. Run to Him.

Harvest Principle: Give generously

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Harvest Principle: Give generously
by Rick Warren

Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" John 6:8-9 (NLT)

Whenever you have a need, acknowledge your faith by planting a seed. In other words, take your focus off your need and look at ways you can provide for the needs of others, planting a seed in their lives.

This isn't easy; it goes against our nature; it's totally illogical. If I'm out of money, I'm probably going to think, 'I can't give away any money?' Or, if I'm out of time, I'm probably going to think, 'Why should I spend more time on something else?' Or, if I don't have any energy in a relationship, I'm probably going to think, 'How can I give more energy away?'

Yet, God says this is exactly what demonstrates faith: when you have a need, you plant a seed.

You can see this principle imbedded in our blood. When you give away blood, you get more blood. You don't end up with less blood; you end up with as much blood or more than you had before.

God often works through this harvest principle, that when you have a need, you give - and what you give away, God replenishes. Faith is like a seed, so it has to be planted - deposited.

Remember the story of the little boy who had five loaves and two fish? He gives them away, and God uses it to feed 5,000 people. Jesus takes what the boy gives; He breaks it; He blesses it; and He uses it. 

That's what God does in our lives.  He takes us; He breaks us; He blesses us; and He uses us. He multiplied a little into a lot because it was planted as a seed.

OH, GOD! USE ME!

OH, GOD! USE ME!

I’ve been in the ministry for 50 years–and every day I’m looking for something to do for God.

In 1959, my boyfriend, George DeTellis, opened a church in Medford, Massachusetts. I was 17 years of age. Our Saturday night dates consisted of going to Medford Square to the Colonial Theatre… up to a second floor room that we rented for church services. Together, we swept up the cigarette butts, picked up the beer bottles, hung a cross on the red drapery, rolled out the piano and set up the chairs. On Sunday mornings, my father let me borrow his station wagon. I did a transportation route, played the piano, taught Sunday School, and was the secretary and treasurer. My employer gave me permission to duplicate the church bulletins on their stencil machine. It’s no wonder that George asked me not to go to Bible School but to continue on in my role supporting his new ministry.

In 1960, I became the pastor’s wife. Our big Italian wedding gave us the finances to buy the former mayor’s home for the church. We took down the walls on the first floor to create a chapel. After six years of establishing a church, three children and three miscarriages, George gave up the keys and deeds to the house, church building, and a valuable piece of property next to an interstate. George started broadcasting on the radio and began travelling the East Coast as an evangelist.

In 1967, George accepted an inner city church in Worcester, Massachusetts. We opened the first coffeehouse in New England, and had three community houses working with the street people, directed a summer camp, and built a loving, strong congregation.

In 1975, I opened Women’s Aglow Fellowship in Worcester, and the following year became the President of New England Women’s Aglow Fellowship. Speaking throughout New England was a ride on the edge as I balanced being a pastor’s wife and mother to now four children.

In 1977, I went to India. Missions was my breath and passion. I established New England and World Missions.

In 1980, I became the president of Camp Woodhaven and in 10 months dedicated a chapel–my first construction project.

In 1982, New England and World Missions purchased land in Haiti. In 1983, George and I lived in a tent in Haiti.

In 1984, we resigned from our pastorate. I graduated from Clark University with a master’s degree in international development.

In 1992, I turned 50 years old in Haiti and planned a big birthday party–launching an evangelism event that opened more than 50 Bible studies in local villages.

In 2000, George and I moved to the Dominican Republic where I worked with George to open churches and schools, and was by his side during his
nine-year battle with cancer.

In 2008, George rested from his work, and I returned to the DR to resume directing the ministry.

In 2009, this may have been the most painful time of my life, but it has been the most exciting time of being used by God.

After 50 years of ministry, I still want to run alongside my great big adventurous God and see Him do marvelous things.

~ Jeanne DeTellis

[ New Missions Website ]

Easter Musical 2009

Operation Christmas Child 2009

Having Patience in the Midst of Discouragement

September 3, 2009 Having Patience in the Midst of Discouragement by Rick Warren “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay’” (Hebrews 10:36–37 NIV).

If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is not a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come—yet—that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer, or that he’s forgotten you, or that he doesn’t care about you. It simply means “not yet!” Spiritual maturity is knowing the difference between “No” and “Not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37 NIV). The delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And, anybody can be patient twice. And, just about anybody can be patient three times. So God tests you patience over and over and over. Why? To see how patient you are? No, he does it to show you how patient you are. So you’ll know what’s inside of you, and you’ll be able to know your level of commitment. God tests you so that you can know he is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed. If you’re discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience. You may be going through difficult times right now and feel like dropping off the planet. You’re discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair. It may seem unbearable and inside you’re basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I just can’t take it anymore!” But you can. You can stay with it longer because God is with you. He’ll enable you to press on. Remember, you are never a failure until you quit. Don’t quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set before you.