Choosing a warrior

I was reading in Luke 6:12-13 (NLT) this morning where it talks about Jesus going up on a mountaintop and praying to God all night. At daybreak Jesus called all of his disciples to the mountaintop and he choose the twelve apostles. He and His disciples came down from the mountain and they stood with Jesus in front of multitudes of people who had come to hear Jesus teach and heal the sick.

A couple things stood out from this passage:

Leaders, are you in fervent prayer to God before you make a decision on whom to stand with you in battle? Jesus spent many days with his disciples and then spent countless hours in prayer to God before he made His decision. The stakes are too high. The battle is tough. The enemy would love nothing more than to see you choose the wrong warriors. Jesus sought advice from the one person who’s opinion matters and is always right. Seeking advice from others is wise, but make sure that God is the one whom you obey.

Warriors, are you ready to do battle with your leader? Jesus called His team to Him and then they went down the mountain and they (the Apostles) stood with Jesus. The leader has a tough job and he needs good warriors who will stand with him and do battle for him. If you are not ready to do battle, then you cannot be trusted to stand with the leader in the trenches.

Reaching souls for Christ is thee most important job in the world. Buckle up and get ready to do battle every day. The enemy is not playing around, neither should we.

How will you be remembered?

What will you be remembered for? Lately we have seen a number of celebrity deaths and it made me wonder; what will I be remembered for? I do not think I will ever be known by the masses, but to the people in my life, what will they say about me when I am gone?

What is the first think that you think of when you read the following names?

Michael Jackson.
Farrah Fawcett.
Ed McMahon.

I have no idea if any of the aforementioned was a Christian. I wish I could say that each of them was a great ambassador for Christ, but I can’t. We have one chance to live for God and spread His saving grace to the world.

I hope that when I die, and leave this earth forever, I am remembered by my family and friends as a man who loved God, loved his family, and did all he could to advance the Kingdom of God. Nothing else will matter. If you have fame, riches and influence, and do not use them for God, you have lived a wasted and useless life. God has a plan for all of our lives. He has placed us on earth at this particular time to do His work. I do not want to disappoint Him.

How will you be remembered when you are gone?

1st ever Element Baptism and BBQ

The 1st ever Element Baptism and BBQ was an amazing experience.

36 people took the plunge! Amazing!

Not many things can top the experience of seeing new believers being baptized.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this an amazing event. Pastor Grant did an awesome job planning and coordinating the whole day. You guys are amazing, and I am privileged to be a part of such a wonderful body of believers. The passion and energy for God is alive and well, and I am excited for the upcoming few months at Element.

I believe that God has laid some very serious topics on Jeff’s heart, and I am excited to see what God has planned for us as a church.

Looking forward to a great week at Element.

Day 4-7

I had every intention of fasting for the full week, but during day 4 I felt like the fast was over. I do not understand why, but I felt a peace and calm from God, and a reaffirming whisper from Him that it was OK to break the fast. He had given me the answers I sought.

I will not make any future fast public, for it is not my intention to bring notice to myself. I believe that fasting is something that every Christian should do. God has a way of speaking to you during this time that is unlike any other.

If you have not fasted, I encourage you to try it and see how God speaks to you.

Day three

Malachi 3:10

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

I love how God throws down a challenge to us and basically tells us to try and out give Him.

When we surrender all we have at the feet of Jesus, and give more than we think is possible, God will bless us beyond our wildest dreams.

I encourage you to give all you can to God, and get ready to experience God’s supernatural outpouring on your life. God has told us what will happen, and last time I checked God has never been wrong.

When we are focused 100% on Christ it does not mean we do less, but we do all we can for Him.

Day two

Just a quick note:

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God does not need us, but He desperately wants us. God could accomplish all He wants without our help, but He gave His life so we could accept His gift of salvation.

God has great plans for your life. He created each of us to undertake a particular role in His kingdom.

I challenge you to find your role.

My seven day journey

I have decided to do something this week that I have never done before. Starting Sunday night I began a one-week fast. I am seeking God in prayer on a number of issues for both my family and Element Church. During the course of this week I am asking God to reveal seven truths for me, and in return I will do my best to share them with you.

Day 1 – The power of the right prayer

Yesterday I was in the book of James and the following passages hit home:

James 4:1-4

I love how in James 4:2 we are told “…You do not have, because you do not ask God.” I have heard many people talk about this passage but often they seem to forget about James 4:3 which says “…When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives”.

I have been praying for God to sell my house in Bartlesville quickly. But, I have been challenged from God with the following statement:

“I sent you to Cheyenne, I know what you and your family need and I will provide. Let me handle the selling of your house on my time -table not yours. I know what is best for you”

Julie, my amazing wife, said something Saturday that was very similar. We were house hunting and not having any luck, and I was growing impatient with the whole situation. She said; “Perhaps the perfect house God has picked out for us is not even on the market yet and He is protecting us from making a mistake.”

She nailed it on the head!

I have been praying for our house to sell quickly, but God has a better plan, a perfect plan, and He will take care of us. He always has. He always will. I have been praying for my own desires to be done, and not for His perfect will. God will not fail us, as long as we are seeking after His perfect and holy will

My prayer for the selling of my house has changed. I am now praying for Julie and I to be wise in our decisions and choices when the house does eventually sell.

I encourage each of you to pray for God’s will in your life. Be careful that what you are asking for from God is to glorify Him and not for your own selfish desires.

Kody

Just a quick thought….

I was reminded today how much our lives are a representation of Jesus Christ to the lost and unsaved. I come across some situations in my job that make me want to tell people exactly what I am feeling, but I am constantly thinking:

I am representing Jesus Christ, Element Church, my Lead Pastor (Pastor Jeff) and the Christian faith.

I hope that you keep these three things in mind when you are dealing with difficult people.

I am representative of Jesus Christ.
I am representing the Christian faith.
I do not want (fill in the blank) to reject God because of my actions.

People are watching to see how you react in all types of situations.

kb

It is good to be where you are called.

I had one of those mornings where I woke up and thought what I had just dreamed was real. I was dreaming that I was back at my old church in Bartlesville and was going back to work just as before. Now, I loved my job there and I loved the people, but it is not where I am called to be.

I laid in bed and did not open my eyes and began to pray: “God I thought I was suppose to be in Cheyenne, I thought You had called me there.” After several minutes of this I finally opened my eyes and realized that it had all been a dream. I cannot explain the sense of relief that flooded over my body as I realized I was still in Cheyenne and doing what God called me to do.

If you are not sure if you are doing what God has called you to do, I urge you to being praying and asking Him what you should be doing. The feeling of being in God’s will is amazing and nothing will compare to t.

Once you submit to the plan God has for your life, sit back and watch how He will open doors and move mountains for you.

The power of prayer

I loved the message Sunday from Francis Chan on how powerful God is and how this is His universe and He can do whatever He desires. It reminded me that we have the ability to tap into that awesome power at any time.

I was reading today in James 5:13-18 and was once again reminded that we have the ability to ask the Creator for anything.

If we are sick, pray for healing.
If we are in trouble, pray for deliverance.
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

I think too ofter our prayers are weak and meek. We forget sometimes who we are praying too, and how powerful He is. The God who performed miracles in the Bible has not changed.