These are a few things that I am crazy enough to believe God for:

1. Our next Prayer Initiative is next Saturday, July 9th from 8am-9am in the Parkwood area of Joliet. We are expecting a great turn-out and believing that God will show up!

2. I am contemplating a few ways to empower married couples later on this year. One of them include writing a book! Stay tuned…..

3. I am looking to connect with people who are interested in increasing the diversity in church. Unfortunately, churches across our country are still one of the most segregated places you will find. I am looking to change that in Joliet and elsewhere.

“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.

“Am I my brothers keeper?”
Genesis 4:9

As we go about our daily tasks it’s easy to think that we are on an island.
We rush from one appointment to the next, consumed with our own agendas.

We have to look out for ourselves.
If we don’t, who will?

God never intended for us to live out lives alone.
He created us with a strong need to be on a team.

Whether your team is in an office, on a field, or in a church, God made us for relationships.
The stronger our relationships, the more success we will achieve in life.

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
Henry Ford

We need each other for our lives to be as successful as God intended them to be.

Father, help us to work together as a team. We long to be ONE family, representing You to the entire world. Our unity and concern for each other should be a reflection of Your love for us.
You have given us an important assignment. We trust that your Spirit will be with us to guide and direct. Thank You for the victories.
Amen.

“It was for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:1

Oxen never look real excited when they’re in a field pulling a plow.
I’m sure they rather do anything but be outside, under a hot sun, working.
Unfortunately, they don’t have much say in the matter.
When the farmer decides that it is time to work, its time to work.

Thank God that Christ decided to give up His life so we can enjoy ours.
His sacrifice gave us the ability to be with Him in eternity.
It also gave us the right to live here on earth, free from the chains of sin and death.
Once we have accepted this gift, we no longer have to be held back, held down, or reminded of our past.
Our freedom overtakes our past, our present issues and it protects us from future problems.

Whom the Son has set free is free indeed.

Father, thank You for freeing us. This is a deed that only Christ could do. There was no way that we could change the course that we were on. Sin bound us to eternal separation from You. Christ freed us and we are forever grateful. We are also thankful for knowing, if we are born again, we don’t have to be subject to the chains that the enemy uses to keep us from enjoying life here on earth and with You in eternity.
Amen.