Be In The Moment!

Everyone arrives at church under the same circumstances.  Everyone – our guests, our volunteer teams, our staff.

Someone couldn’t find their socks.  Traffic was heavy.  They left late.  They forgot something and had to go back.  The kids were fighting.  You were fighting.  Someone didn’t feel like going today.  You overslept.  You were up too late the night before.  You couldn’t decide what to wear.  There’s a long lists of possibilities.

Everyone experiences this … the pastor, the volunteers, you.  We arrive at church easily distracted.  Rushed.  Mind everywhere but here.  Right here – right now.

But providing excellent guest service requires being present in the moment, from moment to moment.

Not our own moment.  But someone else’s moment.  And the next moment, and the next person, and the next…

Here are some quick thoughts to help you stay engaged:

• Sleep.  The night before.
• Awake with some extra time – to eat, to focus, to reflect on why you’re going where you’re going.
• Go early.  You never know what’s ahead of you on the road.
• Meet with friends, your team well before you need to be where you’re going to need to be. Debrief.  Decompress. Pray.  Get focused.  Keep praying.
• Practice presence with Jesus.  Read body language.
• Connect with the eyes – yours with theirs.
• Ask questions.  Enter into another person’s world, if only for a moment.
• As your mind drifts back into your day, or forward into your day, stop.  Set it aside.  Come back to the moment.
• Engage people as Jesus would… as though they were Jesus.

Be in the moment.

It’s All Because Of Jesus!

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What Does Jesus Want To Multiply in You?

After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.

 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” He said this to stretch Philip’s faith. He already knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn’t be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.”

One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.”

Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.

When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.   (John 6:1-13  – The Message)

We’ve all heard the story of Jesus feeding the crowd with 5 loaves and 2 fishes … but have you ever pondered how this concept could be manifested in your own life?

No … I don’t mean that you have to try to feed an army with breadcrumbs … but what has God given you that he can multiply? 

Jesus took what was available that day, blessed it and it became more than enough. 

He’s given you gifts and talents … are you allowing him to multiply what’s inside of  YOU??

Food for thought …

Father … thank you for the gifts that I have been given.  Teach me Lord to use them for your good.

I Love You Jesus!
   In Your Name I Pray,
   Amen

Be Blessed!

It’s All Because Of Jesus!

Victim or Victor?

On Sunday night we were reading the story of the healing at the pool, from John, Chapter 5.  As the story goes, Jesus had gone up to Jerusalem for one of the feasts, and he was walking through the pool of Bethesda, where many disabled people hung out.  It was said that once a day, an angel stirred the water of the pool, and if you could get into the water, you would be healed. So this was a popular hangout for those with infirmities.  Jesus came upon a man lying by the pool who had been an invalid for 38 years.  He asked the fellow an interesting question, “Do you want to get well?”

And the guy had an even more interesting answer, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Okay … So this guy made the effort to get to the pool every day, but when the water got stirred, he could never get into it for the healing. 

Seems to me, if I had someone help me get to the pool, after 38 years, I’d be asking them to stick around one day and help me get into the water.  Or something?  But the guy had determination, he hadn’t given up … he was continuing to make the effort to get there.

At first the guy’s response sounds like he’s a victim to his situation, but then we see the evidence of perseverance – he continues to come to the pool, in spite of the lack of  healing.  I believe this guy has some character.  How difficult would it be to continue dragging yourself to those waters day in and day out with no positive results?

There are always two ways to look at our situations.  We can be the victim, blaming others for what is going on in our lives.  Sometimes it just feels good to have that pity party for ourselves – but does it do us any good?  Do we feel better afterwards?  Are we any closer to Jesus?  Are we any closer to freedom or healing?

Or we can be the victor … taking responsibility for our actions and our reactions.  Although no wrong doing on our part caused the situation, we are looking for a positive way to remedy it.

Paul tells us:  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

So … am I a victim – living in the unfairness of my past, or a Victor, straining towards what is ahead! 

Father, help me to let my actions and my life portray the victory that I have already won through YOU!  Thank you that YOU are the Prize … life eternal with you. 

I Love You Jesus!
   In Your Name I Pray,
   Amen 

 
It’s All Because Of Jesus!

Volunteers ROCKED NFL at TLC!

 

The Coffee Chicks doing their thing!

 

 

 

 

 

Hot dogs … the breakfast of champions!!

 

 

 

 

 

Signing the kids into Kid’s Church with a smile!

 

 

 

 

 

Feeding the babies!

 

 

 

 

 

Greeter Guys!

 

 

 

 

 

Cooking the wings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ushers Ushering!

 

 

 

 

Greeter Girls!

 

 

 

 

 

Worship Guys Resting!

 

 

 

 

 

Friends having fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor Andrew Rocks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kick-off to two services went GREAT thanks to all YOU wonderful Volunteers!  You made the day a great day for God!  You Rock!  Thank you for all your hard work!

You are truly the best!

It’s All Because of Him!

It’s Okay To Have Fun!

It’s okay to have fun in church … I know … crazy concept.

• If you enjoy what you are doing … it will show on your face. 
• If you enjoy what you are doing … others will join your team.
• If you enjoy what you are doing … you will never get tired of doing it!

Smile … Jesus Loves You!

What’s Your Next Faith Level?

Happy Saturday!

One more week and we start Two Services at The Tree!  This will give us double the opportunity to serve …

When I started serving, I thought it was about me helping someone out.  And that is true.  My time offered is a blessing to others.  But what I didn’t realize, when I serve, I walk away with the blessing as well.

GOD DOUBLES HIS BLESSINGS …

I want to encourage you today … let God bless you through your efforts to serve others.  Fill out a Ministry Interest Card.  Openings in all Ministry Areas!  Get started today!

 

Next Faith Level – September 13, 2009

9:09 am & 11:11 am

It Starts With Me At The Tree!

Living Stone

Whether he’s leading a group in prayer or playing games with the kids in Children’s Church, Keith Crandall is giving  his all.  Keith is a positive example of a life changed by Jesus.  When Keith was asked why he likes to serve at  The Tree, his response was, “Because it’s fun, because it’s The Spirit, because it’s my Life!   Serving is Keith’s Life and for that we honor him!

 

Keith Crandell – August 2009 – Tree of Life Living Stone

 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  (I Peter 2:4,5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s All Because Of Jesus!