God is moving in CR

As we reflect on the year that was it is amazing how much has happened. On a sad side, we lost some loved ones, we saw many struggle with illnesses, and lots of hurt in a broken fallen world. On a positive side though, we saw many lives changed in huge ways. Did you know that just under 11,000 people, not counting teens and kids walked thru our doors here at Fellowship CR. Just under 900 newcomers entered our meeting on Friday night. Marriages were restored, relationships reconciled, sobriety given to many, many people from alcohol, drugs, pornography, unhealthy eating habits. We had front row seats to people finding healing from destructive depression, smoking, unhealthy anger, loneliness, abandonment issues, and so much more. We get to be a part of a ministry in its eighth year now moving and changing the heart and soul of NW Arkansas and the world. We saw Life’s Healing choices go to Mosaic and also go to 11 new countries including Pakistan, Syria, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Israel...

Here’s a Henri Nouwen reflection on “The Spirituality of Waiting” "Waiting is not a very popular attitude. In fact, most people consider waiting a waste of time. For many people, waiting is an awful desert between where they are and where they want to go. It impresses me, therefore, that all the figures who appear on the first pages of Luke's Gospel are waiting. Zechariah and Elizabeth are waiting. Mary is waiting. Simeon and Anna are waiting. The whole opening scene of the good news is filled with waiting people. But what is the nature of waiting? What is the practice of waiting? How are they waiting, and how are we called to wait with them? Waiting, as we see it in the people on the first pages of the Gospel, is waiting with a sense of promise. This is very important. We can only really wait if what we are waiting for has already begun for us. So waiting is never a movement from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more. Second, waiting ...

Christmas time is a wonderful time of the year for most. But for other's it brings sadness, insecurity, depression and even doubt. So many Christmases this is where I've been, because of hard times and inconvenient times. With construction this is usually the time of year jobs start dwindling and income slows to a trickle. So many times I've wanted to get my kids something, anything, but just didn't have anything to give. Or at least that is what I used to think! As a Christian I’m online with a resource even more valuable than Amazon.com when it comes to finding the perfect gift. God has an abundance of gifts to give us. His riches are beyond comprehension. Plus, the price is right for any budget because the gifts He gives, he gives freely. Yep, you heard me right—no money down, no cash payments EVER. I’ll be honestly, some of those gifts we don't really want and some of those gifts we covet. For example, I love to sing, and always wished God would have blessed m...

One of my accountability partners who is also one of those men that is a great a friend and a kindred spirit, has for the last several months has kept saying something every time we meet that I understood the truth of biblically and theologically, but I am not sure I have always lived out in a practical way in how I have viewed God. My friend’s statement, his declaration really, is that “God is for me.” He said it again yesterday morning as we met. Yet, while I have always understood this in principle even from a biblical and theological place, yesterday morning it was as if I felt the Holy Spirit tap me on the shoulder and say, “Listen up, can you make the same declaration with the same conviction?” and as I looked inside, I have to admit, I found myself wanting. So the last 24 hours for me I have thought about this question, “What is God for?” The place to start I would guess would be the bible… So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn...

Ever been lost? I mean down right didn’t know where you where at, couldn’t find north, east, west, or south lost? I mean deep in the woods lost? Or you turned down a street and realized that you aren’t where you are supposed to be and didn’t know where you were at lost? The type of lost where you are looking for something familiar, some marker, some tree, some rock, some vista, something that will let you know where you are at but nothing looks familiar. I have been out of the country a few times and there were times when I was separated from our guides and interpreters and I felt lost. I didn’t know the land, couldn’t read the signs, couldn’t speak the language, I was lost. How about you? Ever been lost like any these situations? No? Well, okay let’s imagine that you have been talked into an adventure; you are on a safari in the one of the deepest, densest, darkest jungles of the world. Not to worry, you are with a group of experts and have a great guide, along with a good ...

Doing some reading on a familiar book and favorite of mine, “In a pit with a lion...” by Mark Batterson. Great reminder for me that we should stop asking God to get us out of a difficult circumstance and start asking Him what he wants us to get out of those difficult situations. Prayer is less about changing our circumstances and more about changing our perspective. I don’t know what all you are going thru this week but God is with you and is walking thru it with you. I am reminded that it is important that I stop spending all my energy making plans for God and start seeking Him more. I pray you are seeking Him in your walk as well. Why do we worship? Why do we celebrate every Friday night? Worship is not about pretending all is well and acting happy. No, "Worship is about forgetting about everything that is wrong with us and remembering what is right with God." Wow! That is what Friday Nights are about aren’t they? The simple fact that we are breathing is a reason to give th...