God’s Promises about Generosity – Part 3

This week I have been sharing promises about generosity from God’s Word that we can circle and stand on! Here are three more promises for us to circle today!

#7 GOD PROMISES TO MEET ALL MY NEEDS

Paul: “I want you to have the good that comes from giving . . . My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everythingyou need.” Phil. 4:17b, 19 (NCV)

“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to their needs will receive curses.” Proverbs 28:27 (NIV)

“You should give as you have decided in your heart to give. Never give reluctantly or under pressure because God loves the person who gives cheerfully. THEN God will generously provide for you, so that in ALL things at ALL times you’ll have ALL that you need and plenty left over to give more to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

#8 GOD PROMISES HE WILL MULTIPLY WHAT I GIVE HIM

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)

“Just as God gives seed to farmers and bread for food, God gives you a supply of seed (to plant) then he makes it grow so there’s a great harvest from your generosity. And God will make you rich enough to be generous at all times.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

“Be generous, and one day you will be rewarded.” Eccl. 11:1 (CEV)

#9 GOD PROMISES MY GIVING IS STORED UP IN HEAVEN

“Use your money to do good . . . and give generously, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given you. By doing this you will be storing up real treasure for yourself–it is the only safe investment for eternity!” 1 Tim. 6:18-19a (LB)

Let’s circle these promises of God today!

This Sunday we are celebrating City Hills' 6th Birthday!  It's going to be a party as we celebrate what God has done and look forward to all that God has in store in the future!!  Invite someone to join you at 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30am!

God’s Promises About Generosity – Part 2

a person sitting on wooden planks across the lake scenery

God has called you to make a great difference! You have a great calling and purpose from your creator! Part of our calling is to be generous with our time, our talents, and our treasure. This is why God has given us so many promises about the blessings of being generous! He knows the more generous we become the more we will step into our calling and destiny! Here are three more promises we can circle today!

#4 GOD PROMISES I WILL BE HAPPIER

“Remember the words of our Lord Jesus himself who said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.'” Acts 20:35

#5 GOD PROMISES MY INFLUENCE WILL INCREASE

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Proverbs 11:24 (Mes)

#6 GOD PROMISES I WILL END UP WITH MORE

Jesus: “Give, and it will be given back to you in full measure. What you receive will need to be pressed down and shaken together, but it will still run over and be poured into your lap! The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:38

“Some people give generously and end up with more, while others don’t give what they should and end up poor.” Proverbs 11:24 (NCV)

“Being generous to the poor is like lending to the Lord, and God will pay you back for what you’ve done.” Proverbs 19:17

Let’s circle these promises today!

This Sunday we are celebrating City Hills' 6th Birthday!  It's going to be a party as we celebrate what God has done and look forward to all that God has in store in the future!!  Invite someone to join you at 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30am!

I Doubt It

What would happen if instead of doubting the promises that God has given us we began to doubt our doubts.

“I am always going to be single.” I doubt it.
“I am going to die from this sickness.” I doubt it.
“I am going to lose my job not be able to provide for my family.” I doubt it.

Don’t doubt the dream. Doubt your doubts.

Many times instead of doubting our doubts we doubt the promises of God. We doubt the dreams that God has placed in our heart. All it takes us one bad report, one bad break, one sickness, one negative interaction with a coworker to make us doubt the promises of God.

That is why the the writer of The Book of Hebrews says:

“So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.” -2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Let’s keep our eyes on the unseen today! Let’s hold on tight to the promises that God had on our lives. Let’s doubt our doubts and believe the dream!

Join us this Sunday, August 22nd at City Hills for "THE BEST SUNDAY EVER!"  There will be food, fun, bounce houses for kids, and giveaways after each service!  Invite friends and family to join you!  For more information visit cityhills.com

An Attitude Adjustment

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Praise

Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Surrender

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thankfulness

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Trust

Make plans to be part of "21 Days of Prayer" beginning Sunday, August 1st.  Daily Prayer services Monday-Friday 6:00-7:00am & Saturdays 9:00-10:00am (There will be a special prayer experience for kids as well on Saturday mornings.). For more information visit www.cityhills.com/21days

What Fuels You?

“And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd.
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:17-24‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Pleasing God

They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore.
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:17-24‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Truth

Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:17-24‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Purity

But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it!
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:17-24‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Conviction

And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:17-24‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Worship

Challenge: Check your heart

Finding Your FIT

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Live By Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

Be Intentional

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Be Teachable

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 12:15

To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
Proverbs 12:1

Do you know where you come from?

My oldest son looks just like me. Recently, while visiting his grandparents, he went back to my hometown. He came back and said to me, “Dad, everyone kept telling me, “I know who your Dad is. You look just like him when he was your age.”” People who saw me grow up could spot the resemblance.

We are often aware of our natural heritage or lack thereof. Maybe the legacy of your family is something that makes you proud, or not. Do you know that if you are a follower of Jesus, you have a spiritual legacy that far surpasses any natural legacy that you have or don’t have. The Book of Hebrews says:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Hebrews 12:1

In heaven, you are surrounded by a huge arena filled with overcomers cheering you on! They are cheering you on right now.

Do you know where you come from? You come from a long line of overcomers! You look just like them! I can see the family resemblance!

You are an overcomer!

People just like you have overcame problems just like the ones that you are facing right now! Don’t quit, don’t give up. This is the family that you are part of. Read the stories of the people in the Bible, this is your spiritual heritage. These are the overcomers in your family. If they made it through the fire, so can you!

You are part of a grand story!

As followers of Jesus, we are a small part of the grand story of God. We are just part of continuing His story. When we think it is our story we can easily get stressed out. However, when we realize this is the story of God and He has invited us to be part of it it fills us with joy and confidence!

Do you know where you come from? You have a mighty spiritual LEGACY! You are from a long line of overcomers! Just read the pages of Scripture and be encouraged. If God did it for them, he will do it for you! Don’t forget where you come from. You are an overcomer! You are a son or daughter of the most high God!

Father, help us see that we are a small part of your grand story.  Thank you for calling us.  Thank you for having a plan for our lives.  Thank you Holy Spirit for your presence and power in our lives.  I pray for anyone today who feels inferior because of their natural family!  Help them to see that they have a great spiritual legacy of faith!  Help them to know that they are not alone today.  Fill them with encouragement and hope to keep trusting you and facing the battle with faith and trust!  In Jesus Name!  Amen.

Give Up or Go On?

In his book “Holy Sweat” Tim Hansel wrote about what made a person successful. 413 famous and exceptionally gifted people. 392 had went through huge obstacles that they went through before they were famous. For example, the following were the opinions that others had of the following people:

Fred Astair – After his first screen test in 1923, the director wrote the following memo: “Cant act, slightly bald, can dance a little.”

Vince Lombardi – “He possesses minimal football knowledge and lacks motivation.”

Beethoven – “He wont practice on improving his technique. He is hopeless and incompetent as a composer.”

Walt Disney – He was fired from a newspaper for “Lacking ideas.” He found a minister who paid him a small amount to draw advertising pictures for his church. Disney had no place to stay, so the church let him sleep in a mouse-infested garage. One of those mice, which Disney nicknamed Mickey, became famous.

Anyone who made a difference had to overcome obstacles and others opinions. Maybe you are here today facing some big obstacles in your life and you feel like giving up. In Genesis Chapter 37 Joseph dealt with many obstacles on the journey to the dream that God gave him. He undoubtedly felt like giving up many times. He had to make the choice… should he give up, or should he go on!

Here are two truths about the obstacles you are facing:

#1 Just because you are facing an obstacle does not mean that you are not following God.

Along the journey to the dream God has for your life there will be obstacles. You may be feeling down because of the obstacle that is standing in your way. Let me encourage you, God is with even in this trial! You are not alone. Joesph had to feel alone as he was sold into slavery by his brothers, lied on by Potiphar’s wife, and forgotten in prison. These circumstances were not the end for him. These obstacles were all part of the path to purpose!

#2 God has brought you to this obstacle so that He can get all the glory and you will share it with others.

Why did Joseph’s story have all of the twists and turns? Why does our stories feel disjointed at times and we don’t understand God’s plan? God was more focused on the man that Joseph was becoming through the ups and downs then he was just about getting him quickly to the fulfillment of his dream. If he didn’t feel powerless along the way he would not have the patience and humility needed to lead the nation and to save the people of God. God could not put him in a place of leadership in Egypt until he knew he would not kill his brothers that harmed him. God’s whole purpose in calling Joseph out was to save his entire family so that the nation of Israel would be saved during the famine. The future messiah was going to be brought forth from this tribe and Joseph had to have the right heart. When the time was right and he was the second in command in Egypt he had a heart to save his brothers instead of hurting them. This was God’s plan all along. Watch the heart of Joseph when he saved his brothers.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20

Let us keep moving forward today! Let’s see God as being in control of it all and even using the obstacles that Stan in our way for His glory. God wants to use you to share His story through the obstacles that you are facing. Don’t face obstacles alone! Connect with others on the journey and be encouraged. If you are not in a small group click here to find a small group today! Don’t give up… Go on!!!

Father, I pray today for anyone that is facing an obstacle and feels like giving up.  Give them the strength to trust you in this season.  Help them to see you in complete control of everything!   Help them choose to not give up on the calling that you have on their life!  Help them to go on despite all opposition.  In Jesus Name!  Amen.

The Password to God’s Presence

grayscale photo of people raising their hands

It’s Sunday morning! As we prepared to worship together I want to share what Psalm 100 says about worship:

On your feet now—applaud GOD! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For GOD is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 (The Message paraphrase)

There is nothing more frustrating than needing to log into a site and you can’t remember your password. I have to click the “I forgot my password” button often!

There are times in life when I get spiritually dry and loose perspective. I don’t feel God’s presence and wonder where He is in my life. I can’t log in. In my pain and in my fear I forget my password.

What is the password to God’s presence? God could have made it anything.

He could have made the password “Perfection.”

If perfection was needed to be in the presence of God then we would never be good enough! That may be the case for people. There may be people that have given up on you because of your imperfection and they have rejected you because of past mistakes. God does not reject you! God has a plan and purpose for your life.

We can wait to enter God’s presence because things are not perfect in our lives. We have our own idea of what things should be like. When things are not going our way we miss the presence and power of Jesus.

What is the password? Psalm 100 says:

Enter with the password: “Thank You.”

The password is praise. When we focus on everything in our lives having to be perfect and to go our way we get so frustrated. However, when we just decide to praise the Lord we enter His presence and find the fullness of joy!

As we worship today, let’s lay aside all of our mistakes and the mistakes of others. Let’s lay aside our hurts and fears. Let’s enter God’s presence with the password: “Thank You.” Let’s thank God that even when things are not going good, He is good! Let’s thank God that He is sovereign even in the storms of life. Let’s thank God for the blessings. Let’s thank God for the battles.

Lord, as we come to worship you today, we give you all of our imperfections.  We give you all of our doubts and fears.  We give you the hurt and the pain and we choose to praise.  We praise you for Your goodness in every season.  We worship You today with all of our hearts.  We enter into your presence, not with demands, but by simply saying, "Thank You."  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

See you this morning at City Hills! Join us at 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30am in person or live online at www.cityhills.com!

How Many Sundays Are In 30 Years?

“If your organization requires success before commitment, it will never have either. Part of leadership (a big part of it, actually) is the ability to stick with the dream for a long time. Long enough that the critics realize that you’re going to get there one way or another…so they follow.”
Seth Godin, (Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us)

I love this quote about leadership because so many times when pursuing God’s purpose we wait to fully commit. We wait to see how things are going to turn out before trusting God with everything. We stop too soon. We fail to remember that we are living for an audience of one.

When my wife and I moved our family to Knoxville from Florida to start City Hills in 2015 we were doing so because the Lord give us a big vision. However, when we moved here there was no evidence most days that the vision was going to come to pass. A few months after the church launched I distinctly remember the Sunday when we had our lowest attendance ever. There were about 30 adults there that morning and one of the Kids Serve Teamers came to me asking if they have to stay in the kids rooms because no kids were there. I remember feeling so low. I did my best to preach an encouraging Word and afterwards I went home and slept from that Sunday afternoon until the next morning. The next day when I woke up I had a word in my mind that another local pastor had said to me. He said, “Don’t forget, one bad Sunday does not define your future.” I thought to myself, “How many Sundays are in 30 years?” I made up my mind that day that I was not going to focus on that one Sunday when there were still over 1500 Sundays left in 30 years. We were here for the long-haul and were not going to wait to go all in until things were going better. I was following a calling God gave me and was committing to leave the results up to God. That day I went to a local store and bought 1500 pieces of candy and put them in a big glass jar. Each Sunday for the next few months I would eat a piece of candy and be reminded to stay faithful and enjoy the journey. Then my kids knocked the jar off the counter and broke it. But that’s another story. #DadLife 🙂

What has God called you to do? Don’t let the circumstances you are seeing right now discourage you from following God’s purpose for your life! Don’t quit! Don’t give up! God is not finished with you yet. Go buy you a big jar of candy and keep trusting the plan and purpose of God for your life 🙂

Father, I pray for anyone who is discouraged right now.  I pray that they would sense your love and grace in their lives.  I pray that they would have the courage to keep trusting you.  I pray for anyone who has been knocked down my circumstances in life.  Give them the strength to get up again and trust you!  I thank you that You are a God of second chances.  We fully commit our lives to you Jesus!  Have your way.  We trust your plan and purpose.  We give this day to you.  In Jesus Name!  Amen.

I can’t wait to see you this Sunday at City Hills! Join us in-person at 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30 am and live online at www.cityhills.com