What can I say? This past Sunday our attendance was up and many new faces in the crowd and all three services had special moments of God's presence and grace as we are on the journey to being challenged to live the lives God called us to live. I am honored to see so many living heart first! Tonight it will happen again, as we meet for elevate and our youth team and some of our church council will serve the students free BBQ burgers and more. The youth band is practicing as I write and this place is buzzing with life. From 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM much will happen and students will be touched by God. Is that not what this is all about?
Forgive me for wanting to recap a bit but there is so much that happened in my own life as a result of Sunday that I needed to share a few things.
Worship really touched my heart and the upbeat songs were not only moving but allowed for people to connect with God and some to move a bit!
Seeing people we have not seen in awhile meant a great deal to me.
Hearing people ask others what God was calling them to do and sharing what they were getting from the messages was amazing. Having God's help to process the message and deliver the challenges of this series. I don't take His power and presence for granted. One young lady stopped me and said: THANKS PASTOR BERNIE, I NEEDED THAT WORD TODAY!
I sense that God is up to some great things at LFC - He is filling our times with Himself and moving in the midst of relationships. It is up to us to connect with His presence and to take a risk and build relationships with others, with new people as they enter our church or long term attendees you have yet to get to know. Team LFC was amazing. A large contingent of the team showed up and Mike Leach did an incredible job leading us in worship and our video - glimpses of 2007, that all the church will eventual see, was shown. It was moving and emotional to me, to recall all the great things that happened in 2007 because of God's grace and people who have decided to step it up. Our building expansion, our multi-purpose project underway, new lives connecting with LFC, sermon series, dramas and youth and children's ministries and men and woman's ministries......YES, Easter right around the corner, and it is all larger and more than we can handle. But God did not call us to handle it all - He told us he would work in and through us. And we have come to realize He is doing just that! Thanks to all of you who are giving, praying and serving. You are amazing and we make room for all to come and join the celebration of living out our faith. All of this is over our heads! Now that is not a negative insecure statement, but sheer honesty. But remember from Sunday's message: Unless you are attempting to do more, be more or have more, you will not feel inadequate. If we are simply living the status quo, we will always feel like we have the goods - but when God raises the bar a bit and asks us to jump higher than we ever had before - then we come to grips with our humanity and the reality of our shortcomings. But great news, God is greater than we are and is an expert at working with those who are open, attempting and eager. As we surrender to Him, great things will happen. I urge you to step out and move forward, especially when you feel inadequate to do so. I asked this simple question this past Sunday:
What would the difference be if all of us moved one step closer to the Lord and His calling for us and did it now?
Paul the Apostle helps us understand our moments of inadequacy:
I Corinthians 15:9 &10
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (NIV)
God is going to use us in 2008 and He will use YOU. As you open yourself up to Him.
I am so very excited about this church family and the potential inside of each of us. Let's go for, jump higher, connect deeper and let us give our all for the Master - Jesus. Can I ask you to consider joining us on for Who's Your Valentine?
On Febraury 9th from 11:30 am - 1:00 PM on our multi-use / parking corner lot we are inviting the kids of LFC to join with as many kids from Lompoc to come and hear about the Heart of God and have their hearts touched by God's love. We invite you to come and serve with us and to invite children to the day.
I love being your pastor,
Pastor Bernie
If you missed this last weeks message or the week before you can check for it through this connection.
LFC MESSAGES
Forgive me for wanting to recap a bit but there is so much that happened in my own life as a result of Sunday that I needed to share a few things.
Worship really touched my heart and the upbeat songs were not only moving but allowed for people to connect with God and some to move a bit!
Seeing people we have not seen in awhile meant a great deal to me.
Hearing people ask others what God was calling them to do and sharing what they were getting from the messages was amazing. Having God's help to process the message and deliver the challenges of this series. I don't take His power and presence for granted. One young lady stopped me and said: THANKS PASTOR BERNIE, I NEEDED THAT WORD TODAY!
I sense that God is up to some great things at LFC - He is filling our times with Himself and moving in the midst of relationships. It is up to us to connect with His presence and to take a risk and build relationships with others, with new people as they enter our church or long term attendees you have yet to get to know. Team LFC was amazing. A large contingent of the team showed up and Mike Leach did an incredible job leading us in worship and our video - glimpses of 2007, that all the church will eventual see, was shown. It was moving and emotional to me, to recall all the great things that happened in 2007 because of God's grace and people who have decided to step it up. Our building expansion, our multi-purpose project underway, new lives connecting with LFC, sermon series, dramas and youth and children's ministries and men and woman's ministries......YES, Easter right around the corner, and it is all larger and more than we can handle. But God did not call us to handle it all - He told us he would work in and through us. And we have come to realize He is doing just that! Thanks to all of you who are giving, praying and serving. You are amazing and we make room for all to come and join the celebration of living out our faith. All of this is over our heads! Now that is not a negative insecure statement, but sheer honesty. But remember from Sunday's message: Unless you are attempting to do more, be more or have more, you will not feel inadequate. If we are simply living the status quo, we will always feel like we have the goods - but when God raises the bar a bit and asks us to jump higher than we ever had before - then we come to grips with our humanity and the reality of our shortcomings. But great news, God is greater than we are and is an expert at working with those who are open, attempting and eager. As we surrender to Him, great things will happen. I urge you to step out and move forward, especially when you feel inadequate to do so. I asked this simple question this past Sunday:
What would the difference be if all of us moved one step closer to the Lord and His calling for us and did it now?
Paul the Apostle helps us understand our moments of inadequacy:
I Corinthians 15:9 &10
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (NIV)
God is going to use us in 2008 and He will use YOU. As you open yourself up to Him.
I am so very excited about this church family and the potential inside of each of us. Let's go for, jump higher, connect deeper and let us give our all for the Master - Jesus. Can I ask you to consider joining us on for Who's Your Valentine?
On Febraury 9th from 11:30 am - 1:00 PM on our multi-use / parking corner lot we are inviting the kids of LFC to join with as many kids from Lompoc to come and hear about the Heart of God and have their hearts touched by God's love. We invite you to come and serve with us and to invite children to the day.
I love being your pastor,
Pastor Bernie
If you missed this last weeks message or the week before you can check for it through this connection.
LFC MESSAGES
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