To sign up or just get more information, you can go to the Golf Tournament website here:  http://www.birdeasepro.com/baysidechurch

We just finished up a time of fasting and prayer a few weeks ago.  I’ve heard some great stories of the things that people experienced while we individually and collectively refocused ourselves on God and the life he has for us.

Please jump in and share with us what you experiences.  It can big or small; earth shattering or just something personal.  We’re better when we share these together.  I will jump in shortly with some thoughts of my own.  So, jump in – the water is warm….

Ensenada2012Application

You can find the short Guide to Fasting that we put together here: A-Helpful-Guide-To-Fasting

Also, we are re-posting the Bible Reading Plan here in case you’re interested:  Growth-Project-Bible-Reading-Plan

Let’s LIVE BIG, LOVE BIG, and GIVE BIG together!!

Panda Express Fundraiser Flyer

Now wasn’t that easy!?!?

In short…stay connected, fruit happens.

1.  THE GOAL

Every 60 minutes to give as much of yourself as you understand to as much of God and his will as you understand and see if God doesn’t show up in your life in the next 60 days in ways you can’t imagine.

2.  THE BIG IDEA

Use external reminders to get our attention to remind us of the 60-60 experiment and break us out of our normal daily routines, preferably something that beeps – watch, timer, phone or computer alarms.
Here’s a link to an online timer if you want to use it:  http://www.online-stopwatch.com/interval-timer/

If you don’t have anything like this, you can use something as simple as sticky notes or signs posted on mirrors, you computer monitor, your steering wheel, the refrigerator, etc…when one catches your eye, use it as a 60-60 reminder.

3.  WHAT TO DO

Here are some suggestions of what to do when the beep goes off:  stop and give thanks to God for something specific, ask God for his help, pray for a coworker, tell God you surrender yourself to Him, confess a struggle, cast your cares on Him, ask God to be real to you and to speak to you, be still and silent and listen for God’s voice, take 2-3 minute walk outside and see the glory of God in creation, worship God for who he is and what he has done in your life…

4.  WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

Everyone!  From skeptics and non-believers to life-long Christians.  See John 7:17.

5.  GUARANTEES

a.  It will be hard.  Push yourself.

b.  It will be inconvenient.  It will take sacrifice.

c.  None of us will do it anywhere near perfect. But doing it perfectly isn’t the point.  You can’t lose.  There’s no downside.  If you only pause once or twice a day and connect with God, that’s once or twice more than before.

6.  FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT

This is about training.  There is a HUGE difference between training to do something and trying to do something.  Your life becoming more and more like Jesus isn’t a matter of trying harder but of training wisely.  That’s what the 60-60 experiment is all about.  Training ourselves to stay connected to Jesus.

Please email me or stop by our Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/BaysidePlumasLake) and let us know how it’s going and how experiencing God in your life.

I’m so excited to be doing this together!

Ok, it’s been a BIG while since I last blogged.  I’m not gonna lie, there have been times where I have felt guilty.  And I’m not really sure why.

Truth is, there can be any number of things that I feel guilty or badly about when there isn’t really any compelling reason too.

How about you?

One of the things I’m learning lately is the power of a “stop doing” list.  As the rhythms of life change, there are definitely things that I need to stop doing.

Some of them I need to stop doing for good.  Others I just need to stop doing for a period or season of life.

Blogging fell into the latter category for me for a while.  Truthfully, I have missed it.  But, not blogging  freed up some much needed time to focus on school work or ministry or family.

One of my favorite verses lately is 1 John 3:19-20.  Here they are:  “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

There are areas where we need to listen to what our conscience is telling us.  But there are also times when our heart is condemning us, making us feel guilty and we just need to set it at rest in God because it is not the final voice, Gods is….and he knows everything.

So, what are feeling guilty about and what needs to go on your “stop doing” list?

One day the books are going to open.  And not just any books….God’s books.   God’s accounting books.

Romans 14:12 says – “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”

Hebrews 4:13 drives the point home this way – “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Pretty sobering stuff in light of today’s reading.  There is a day coming when God will open the books and we will all be held responsible for what they say about us.  And I’m pretty sure that God’s accounting system is painstakingly accurate.

All of humanity coming face to face with the darkest details of the lives we lived.  Every one of us exposed for who we are.  There is a day when we all will be held accountable.

This is a terrifying reality.  But there is good news.  It’s found in this sentence:  ”Another book was opened, which is the book of life.”

You see, among all of God’s books, one book trumps them all…the book of life.  We don’t know the complete contents of the book of life, but we do know that it contains a list of names.  Names that belong to a different account.  Jesus’ account.

The Scriptures tell us that the names of those who have a relationship with Jesus are recorded in his book of life.  He takes responsibility for their account.  He is accountable for them.

Remarkably, he has paid their debt in full and credited to them his righteousness.

John, the one who wrote the book of Revelation, wrote in 1 John 2:12 these words, “your sins have been forgiven on account of his name”.

Wow…that is so powerful.  Our sins forgiven on his account.

When the books are opened on our lives, it will say, “Forgiven on Jesus’ account.  See book of life.”

So, what’s our response?  I guess it depends on where we’re at this morning, on whose account we’re living.  On our own, or on Jesus’?

Just a quick thought for today from our reading.  There is a good deal of life (Christian or otherwise) that falls into the category of “calls for patient endurance”.

None of us like it.  And, we’re not really good at it.  But there it is staring us in the face.

I know we all know what patient endurance means.  But it is sometimes helpful to break the words apart and look at their definitions.

Patient is defined as: bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc…, with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.

The definition of endurance is:  the ability or strength to continue or last, despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina

What a combination!!  The person possessing this would seem unbreakable.

We are invited and instructed not just to endure, but to endure patiently.  The flip side of that we are not just to have patience, but we are to couple it with endurance.

The Scriptures are holding up a massive warning sign, “DANGER, ROUGH WATERS AHEAD!!  IT WILL BE DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL AND YOU WILL BE TEMPTED TO GIVE UP, BUT DON’T.”

The key to patiently enduring anything is the “why”.  What is waiting for us on the other side of this difficulty and pain?

Mothers patiently endure pregnancy and the pain of childbirth because their baby is on the other side of it.  Athletes patiently endure all the bumps, bruises, and injuries because there is a prize to be had.

Check out Hebrews 12:1-3.  The question becomes, what is the “why” for us?

The promise of life in God and God himself is the “why”.

As a follower of Jesus, patient endurance is a part of your calling.  It doesn’t have to be your favorite part. But if we fix our eyes on Jesus, our lives will be characterized by patient endurance and…we win.

See you tomorrow.

Saturday, February 12th from 9a.m. – 1p.m. at Rio Del Oro will be a financial learning experience featuring material by best selling author Dave Ramsey.  Dave is the author of The Total Money Makeover and hosts national radio and television shows.  During this event you will get practical advice on how to get out of debt and better handle your finances.  Lunch and childcare are provided.   To register for this FREE event, fill out this form:

http://www.jotform.com/form/10313901887