Pastor Joshua C. Spence

11/06/2019

03/12/2019

Lenten Inventory Week
Day 6 of Lent
"Your Worldview"

Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father. - Colossians 3:17

I know God has made everything beautiful for its time. God has also placed in our minds a sense of eternity; we look back on the past and ponder over the future, yet we cannot understand the doings of God. - Ecclesiastes 3:11

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us." - C.S. Lewis

Why is our worldview important when dealing with our inventory this week? It is my believe that our individual and communal views of the world we live on as Christians is reflected directly in the things that we hold to, those people and things that we allow to depart from us, and even our actions or inaction when we are faced with obstacles and paths. Our worldview ultimately shapes our view of the reality that we live in, translates the conversations we have, and magnifies our success or trauma.

Our worldview also deems how we feel about the world: If we view the world as a temporary home, or our place of eternal reign. Geopolitics. Our place in the world. Our influence. And, I could continue on with all that reflects or imposes our differing worldviews. However, I will ask this question on our sixth day of Lent... Does your Worldview align with God's worldview?

As a Christian, we should view the World with our "spiritual glasses," knowing that the state of the world currently is temporal, but the eternal plan is always in motion that will bring about the Glory of our Creator. In Romans, Paul reminds us that "all of creation groans for the revealing of the Children of God," that revealing is waiting on a shift... a paradigm shift, that will push each of us more fully in the thoughts and views of God.

Take this for instance... God's worldview could have been that the sinking ship should just sink.... However, instead from the very moment of the Fall of Man, God implemented His plan to save His creation, His image bearers, and Showed Love and Mercy despite the actions of others. How are we doing individually and communally with this aspect of the Kingdom Worldview?

As we reflect today, consider the following as you take account of your inventory: Am I hopeful for the world? How do I view God's creation, and people? What thoughts do I have regarding the world are out of alignment with the Creator?

Pray this with me:
"Creator and Most High God,
Like a master painter You created each of us as You have identified.... Masterpieces. Whatever Your hand touches is good, and is purposed to bring You Glory. Holy Spirit, I ask that You show me where my thoughts don't align with the thoughts of Heaven towards the World, and may You guide and direct me to think as You think about the world and people You formed and spoke into existence. May Your Eternal Kingdom Invade me more today than it did yesterday, and may it come on Earth as it is in Heaven. AMEN."

03/11/2019

Lenten Inventory Week
Day 5 of Lent
"The Good and Bad"

Because of the grace allotted to me, I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith. - Romans 12:3

"Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday." - Bill Graham

Welcome to the Monday of the First Week of Lent, and now that we've prepared our hearts, minds, and souls for a new harvest of refreshing. It's time to take an inventory of what we've found, and make real decisions about what to do with the "its"

This weekend I did something I don't normally do... I sat down and watched one my wife's reality TV shows: Iyanla, Fix my life. In this particular episode she took viewers on an inside look of her own story, and the narrative was "Getting over it." One thing she said has stuck with me through the week... Too many of us know we need to get over "it," but do we truly know what "it" is?

This week we will explore the Good and Bad that we've discovered in the previous week: thoughts, actions, beliefs, feelings, remorse, identification, etc. And, at the end of the week we will have a decision to make... am I ready to get over it?

That "it" might be something you've traveled with through every season since your birth... a worldview that you're trouble, unworthy, or unwanted. Possibly, it's a pain-point or trauma that happened to you that no one took the time to hear or even believe.

Prayerfully, I'm sure that you also found "Good" this past week. Amazing blessings, testimonies, and favor that has been placed in your life. In sorting out the Good and the Bad we make conscious decisions on what we will hold onto as we transition into our next BEST seasons... the question is are you willing to get over the "its" and hold on to all His Good in your life?

Pray this with me:

"Father of Light,
I pray that You in all of Your Tenderness and Mercy shine a light on all of the areas of my life this week. In the comfortable and even uncomfortable places and expose those things for what they are. I invite You, Holy Spirit, to sort out the Good that is of God in my life, the perceived good that is not of God, and I ask for Your Grace as the "its" that I've buried in deep darkened places are exposed by the Love of Your Light.

I'm ready to get over the its and discover the Truth of what You have to say about my life in You. Amen!"

03/07/2019

Lent Day 2
"Preparing for a Harvest of Refreshing"

Plant a crop of righteousness for yourselves, harvest the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your hard soil, because it’s time to seek the Eternal until He comes and waters your fields with justice. - Hosea 10:12

"Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of." - Charles Spurgeon

As we continue in the Lenten Season we are now on Day 2, consider those first pains of yearning that you might be feeling even now. Isn't it amazing that when we make decisions to push ourselves in a new direction, or to start something new... What once was not an issue, can become a mountain we feel that we are struggling to climb?

This first week of Lent our focus in on preparing our hearts for a season of refreshing, but first requires a moment of reflection.

Any good farmer, taking a lesson out of the Ted Reid handbook here, will first teach you that the quality of the soil must be addressed before ever planting a new crop for a future harvest. Addressing the field will require different tools, multiple tactics, and a keen eye... Preparing the soil requires it first to be turned over and over, revealing the nutrients and vital minerals, while creating a soft ground for the new seed to take root in. Weeds, stones, and other 'killers' will need to be removed, and finally the field will need to be irrigated to bring life giving water directly to that seed.

This first week of Lent is exactly that! Exposing the most valuable soil of your heart, removing boundaries that will 'kill; your new harvest, and establishing a direct source to life giving water that will empower your season of refreshment.

Pray this with me:

"My Creator and God,
Thank You for constantly having Your Mighty Hand on the plow and Your Holy Spirit revealing in me the most secret of places and where Your Reign needs to be established in my life. May I continue to remain humble within the process, and You prepare my mind, body, and soul for a harvest that will bring You Glory!

Amen"

03/06/2019

Ash Wednesday (Day 1 of Lent)

"Repentance Brings Seasons of Refreshing"

Acts 3:19-20
"So now you need to rethink everything and turn to God so your sins will be forgiven and a new day can dawn, days of refreshing times flowing from the Lord. Then God may send Jesus the Anointed, whom God has chosen for you."

On the topic of Ash Wednesday Billy Graham said, "Ash Wednesday helps us in preparation for Easter in three ways: by teaching us to mourn the past, to examine the present, and to look forward to an inspiring future."

In fact in Jesus' first public sermon He stated firstly "Repent, for the Kingdom is at Hand," the Biblical truth of repentance is that it tills the soil for a new harvest. The old hardened, and unkempt ground of our hearts is turned over and prepared for a new seed of harvest... one that in time will be a season of refreshing.

Today, as you and I look into our past, consider our present, and move forward to the many tomorrows to come, what is there for us to repent for? Maybe it's actions that we've taken in the past year that did less than bring life to situations? Maybe, we judged people incorrectly? Maybe, our thought life needs to be redirected?

Today, as we consider Ash Wednesday in the light of our actions or non-actions it sets the tone for the rest of our Lenten Season, and what we hope to redirect and realign closer with the Throne of Heaven. Pray this with me:

"Father of Heaven,
I thank You for the awesomeness of Your Presence, the Glory of Your Name, and the Power of Your Son's Blood that bought me at a price. I ask that through Your Holy Spirit that You shine a light in the areas of my life that I must bring to You in Repentance, the areas I have yet to give You reign. May Your Kingdom continue to come into my life, and may I continue to seek more of You, Your Presence, and Your Kingdom.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit may Your Will be done in my life.
Amen"

08/06/2018

Unlocking Your Potential… Releases you as a gift to the world. Have you ever considered your place in the World?  I have found that many people ask this questio...

08/06/2018

Watch for the blog! Publishing @ 7 pm today!

10/01/2017

The B.E.L.L.S. Challenge to LIVE ON PURPOSE
Bless one person a week
Eat with one person a week
Listen for one hour to the Holy Spirit
Learn Christ by spending one hour in the Gospels
Sent: Look back on your week, How did you live like Christ?

09/27/2017

"The only way to inspire authentic disciples is to LIVE an authentic life".

09/04/2017

Proud moment!