Champion (Darwin Hobbs)
church stats
I recently read these statistics on someone elses blog and it fired me up!
- Eight churches in America close their doors every day.
- Less than 20% of Americans now attend church.
- The average church has shrunk to less than 90 people.
- The average church member gives $756 a year!
- Less than 10% of a church’s giving is for any form of outreach.
These numbers confirm what I already know in my heart…..
We need more churches!
We need to get more people saved!
We need to teach more about giving in the church!
We need to get outside the 4 walls of a building to reach those who are on their way to hell!
It is my prayer the 72:12 Church will be active in going against the flow of these stats.
jumpstart 7/12
“Trust in the Lord with your whole heart…..”
(Prov. 3:5)
Trust is an interesting word. It means to have confidence and rely on someone or something.
There are many people and many things who want our trust.
Sometimes we have trusted in our money only to see it dwindle away.
Often times we trust in people only to see them let us down.
We expect to be healthy forever, but sickness seems to come more frequently now.
It said that there are only 2 things in life that are guaranteed, death and taxes.
As a follower of Christ, we can always depend on God.
The tricky part is learning to trust Him.
It’s easy to trust Him when things are going well, but what about when all hell is breaking loose?
What about when it seems like we can figure it out on our own (God..I got this).
We have to learn to depend less on ourselves and our intellect and learn how to completely depend on our Father.
Give Him an opportunity to move and operate in every area of your life.
He won’t let you down.
Father, thank you for loving me. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you Jesus for never changing.
When all is moving and changing around me, You never change. I put my complete trust and confidence in You.
I depend on You for life and breath. I will seek You Word for direction and guidance. I believe You.
Amen.
wisdom wednesday
“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children……”
Proverbs 13:22
I believe that God gives us wisdom and he also blesses us when we put that wisdom into action.
Being wise with your money is one of the best things that you can do.
Not only will it help you maintain and prosperous lifestyle, it will also you to bless those around you.
My wife and I, along with over 100 other people, have started the 52-week challenge this week.
We decided that we would begin this journey so that we can further develop our life-long habit of saving.
Proverbs 13:22 had me thinking this morning that I should consider more than me and this current generation when I save.
My future grandchildren need to feel the direct results of God’s blessings flowing through me.
So, consider your children’s children and do what’s right with your money.
If you aren’t sure of what route to take, ask God.
Just be prepared to move when He says so.
it’s okay to be salty
I Peter 2:9 talks about Christians being a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people…”
Peculiar means to be “distinctive from all others”.we have been called to be different, to be salty.
Salt is defined as a white or colorless crystalline solid, sometimes used as a food seasoning.
Salt is something we add to our food to bring flavor to it.
We also use it as a food purifier.
As Christians we need to be salty.
Don’t worry, it’s okay to be salty.
If we were really salty, we would make people thirsty
What we have should make others hunger and thirst for God.
Do we live in such a way that would compel someone to become a believer?
Our lifestyles should be convicting and attractive to unbelievers.
I Cor. 7:14 talks about a saved spouse winning their mate over to the Lord’s side just by their lifestyle.
If we were really salty, our salt would be released when our container is shake
Extreme situations can happen to anybody.
Divorce, sickness, and job loss do not discriminate.
What’s inside of us will come out when our lives become shaken.
Job is a great example of someone who’s life is turned upside down.
What comes out is his unwavering faith in God.
If Go allowed your life to be shaken, it’s for a reason.
2 Timothy 1:8 tells us that we should not be ashamed of our testimony.
God has allowed you to be shaken, and come through it.
Paul and Silas broke out of jail with praise. This event just wasn’t for them.
The jailkeeper was depending on their salt to get him and his family saved.
Someone’s life is depending on your salt.
Release it.
If we were really salty, we wouldn’t have to be seen, but we would need to be noticed
What kind of container that salt is in is not important.
It’s not about how we dress or what we look like.
Jesus said in John 7:24 “stop making judgments by mere appearance”.
It’s funny how we judge people simply by how they look.
Sam Walton, while a billionaire, was known to drive around in a pick-up truck.
While not looking different, we should act differently.
We should not have situational ethics.
We should always do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
Let’s be salty.
The world is waiting on your flavor.
peace
funky faith friday
Here are some of the things that I am crazy enough to believe God for:
1. I am believing God for new and fresh ways to present the Gospel to people in my city. Over 65% of our population don’t attend church on a regular or have a personal relationship with God.
2. I am believing God for a sold-out crew to come alongside me to launch 72:12 Church next spring. We are looking for all races, ages, experiences, etc. to make an impact for God in Joliet.
3. I am believing God for wisdom and strength to handle whatever comes our way in our journey. He has never failed us and I look forward to Him showing off in the future!
I refuse
I refuse
I refuse to walk in negativity
I refuse to let the spirit of “I can’t” dominate my life
I refuse to believe anything contrary to the word of God
I refuse to speak words that go against the word of God
I refuse to receive lies
I refuse to submit to the pressures of the world and my flesh
I refuse to back down from my anointing
I refuse to be broke
I refuse to be sick
I refuse to be depressed
I refuse to be on the losing side
I refuse to cancel the Blessing on my life
I refuse to cripple my future generations
I refuse to drown in debt
I refuse to be silent in the midst of injustice
I refuse
jumpstart 6/28
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”.
Matthew 4:19
Whenever I’m on a road trip, I hate to have to follow someone to our destination.
I seem to either drive too slow or I get distracted by the scenery.
Either way, eventually, I lose track of where they are and I inevitably miss a turn.
Who or what we follow has a lot to do with where we end up and how long it takes us to get there.
As you start your day today, who or what are you following?
Are you following the latest trends and losing your identity?
Are you following the money and forgetting your purpose?
Jesus wants us to lay down our desires, our motives, what we really want, in order to follow Him.
In return he promises to give us a life that is really worth living.
He is the only way to get to that life.
If you follow Him, you’ll never be lost.
Father, help me to continue to follow the path that You have set before me. Thank you for opening doors of opportunity on a daily basis for me. Help me to look past the distractions of life. I also ask for the wisdom and guidance to be successful in pursuing Your vision for my life.
Amen.
