How to Slow Down and Be More Intentional

One of the easiest ways to ruin a good song is to play it at the wrong tempo. The same can happen in life. We have the best of intentions, we know the lyrics, but we play it too fast and miss the beauty.

“Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life in our day.” -Dallas WIllard

If we are not intentional we will naturally keep speeding up. This happens to me on the highway. If I don’t set the cruise control and be intentional my speed goes up and I don’t even notice. Hurry is dangerous. So how do we begin to be more intentional?

1. Establish dashboards

The dashboard of my car has a lot of information. There are lights that will turn on to let me know if there is a problem. The dashboard is continually monitoring levels and temperatures of various things throughout my vehicle. The dashboard let’s me know if I need gas or if it is time for an oil change.

What if we intentionally identified the priorities in our lives and created a dashboard to help monitor it. I use a free “Life Wheel” app for this. There are a ton of these types of apps to choose from. I love it because a “Life Wheel” is a visual way to see each of my priorities and make a plan for being healthy.

What are your priorities? Here are some examples:

Faith Life – My relationship with God
Marriage Life – My relationship with Kara
Family Life – My relationship with my kids and immediate family
Physical Life – Am I taking care of myself?
Work Life – My relationship with people at work. Am I being faithful to the assignment that God has given me?
Social Life – My relationship with friends
Attitudinal Life – An attitude check
Creative Life – Am I dreaming? Am I full of God’s vision?
Financial Life – My personal finances? Am I being a good steward?
Travel Life – Is my schedule healthy?

Take time to make your own list and create a dashboards that you review each week.

2. Give calendar time to your priorities

After determining your priorities, put them on your schedule first. I have found that if I don’t put these big rocks in first then the rest will not fit.

3. Don’t sacrifice the important for the urgent

There will always be things that feel urgent. Rarely do priorities in life feel urgent. The important things are not loud and flashy. The important things are quiet and are easily overlooked. However, in the end, they are all that matter.

That may mean you disappoint people by saying no to good opportunities so that you can say yes to God opportunities.

4. Receive grace

We are all going to get it wrong from time to time. Life happens. Maybe you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “What’s the use? I’ve done this before and failed.” Receive the grace of God and get up again. There is a reason you are reading this right now! God is not finished in your life!

Let’s live this life that the Lord has given us at the right tempo.

Have a great day.

What Psalm 23 would be if everything was up to me

This past Sunday I shared about how Psalm 23 is a picture of what happens when we allow the Lord to be our shepherd. The following is what happens when we try to be our own shepherd:

I am my shepherd.
I always want something I don’t have.
I lie down in worried places
I hear the roar or noisy waters
It depletes my soul

I feel confused on my path
Trying to achieve something for my name sake

When I walk through the darkest valley
I fear every evil
I wonder if God is even with me

My possessions and popularity
They try to comfort me
I have prepared a table, but I can’t even enjoy it because of the enemies all around me.
I anoint my life with hurry and distractions; my cup is empty

Surely busyness and worry will follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of anxiety forever.

I am so thankful I am not called to be my own shepherd. I have a shepherd and His way is the best way. Let’s trust the shepherd this week!

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!

God’s Promises About Generosity – Part 1

On Sunday I was overwhelmed thinking about all of the blessings that God gives to us as we are generous with all that He has given us. If you missed the message from Sunday at City Hills you can visit www.cityhills.com to watch and listen. Here are some promises that we can circle as we are generous with all that God has blessed us with!

#1 GOD PROMISES GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO ME

“Goodwill come to him who is generous . . .” Psalm 112:5 (NIV)

“Generous people will be blessed . . .” Proverbs 22:9 (NCV)

#2 GOD PROMISES MY CHILDREN WILL BE BLESSED

“The godly are always generous…and their children will be blessed.” Psalm 37:26 (NIV)

#3 GOD PROMISES HE WILL BLESS MY WORK & BUSINESS

“Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will overflow with the
finest wine.” Prov. 3:9 (LB/NLT)

“A generous man will prosper and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

Let’s circle these promises of God today!

Click here to take the 90-Day Tithe Challenge: Because we believe what the Bible says about tithing, we commit to you that if you tithe for three months and God doesn’t hold true to His promises of blessings (Malachi 3:10), we will refund 100% of your tithe. No questions asked. After you sign up, we’ll send you resources and encouragement.

40 Life Lessons

bonfire surrounded with green grass field

I recently was listening to a great message and in it a story was shared about a man in his late 80s who was told he has a few weeks to live. In his last few days of life he wrote down 40 life lessons. Take a moment to check them out:

1—have a firm handshake 🤝
2—look people in the eye 👁
3—sing in the shower 🚿
4—own a great stereo system 🔈
5—protect others secrets—don’t gossip 🤫
6—never give up on anybody❤️
7—always accept an outstretched hand ✋
8—be brave, even if you’re not – pretend to be—no one can tell the difference💪
9—whistle while you work 😙
10–avoid sarcastic & condescending remarks- speak life 🗣
11—choose your spouse carefully – from this one decision will come 90% of your happiness or misery…💍
12—Make a habit of doing nice things for people who will never find out☺️
13—Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life and death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.🤙
14—-be romantic 🥰
15—-become the most positive & enthusiastic person you know. 😃
16—-don’t allow the phone to interrupt important moments – the phone serves us, not we serve the phone…📲
17—- be a champion when you lose 🏆
18—- be humble when you win🙏
19—- be a HUGGER and let them be the first to let go…🤗👐
20—- be modest, a lot was accomplished before you were born😌
21—- keep it simple—don’t over complicate life and love✅
22— don’t burn bridges —you’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river 🌁🏞
23—if something is going to bother you on your death bed that you didn’t do then go do it— live with no regrets—when you look back on life you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did. 🗺🏃‍♀️
24—-never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. 🤟❤️
25—-remember no one makes it alone, have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you 🙏
26—- take charge of your attitude – don’t let someone else choose it for you👔😄
27— visit friends and relatives in the hospital—you only have to stay a few minutes-but they’ll never forget it.🏥
28—-begin each day with some of your favorite music 🎼🎶
29—-once in awhile take the scenic route— it helps your mental and emotional health…🚗🌄
30—-send a lot of valentine cards and sign them, “someone who thinks you’re terrific”💝
31—-when you call a friend or family member and they don’t answer- always leave a kind voicemail- you never know if it will be the last time they hear your voice🏡💜
32—- show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job. ✊
33—- always leave a tip, even for the rude waitress—she has issues in life you don’t know about and your seed of kindness will be the tipping point for what she needs most.💁‍♀️💵
34—- make someone’s day by paying for their coffee, or the meal behind you in line at the drive through ☕️🍔
35— compliment the meal when you’re a guest at someone’s home 🍽🥘🙌
36— compliment others’ outfits every time you think something someone’s wearing looks good- 👗👞
37—remember that 30% of the success at any job is based on your ability to deal with people🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️
38—- don’t expect life to be fair🎡🎢
39—-before going to sleep forgive everyone who hurt you that day— anger blurs your vision and defeats you and deflates you on the inside😢❤️‍🩹💛
40—— always go to church ⛪️ and read your Bible

Which ones spoke to you the most? What would make your list if you were putting one together?

3 Things to Do Every Monday

What an awesome day yesterday! It really was #TheBestSundayEver! If you missed it you have to check out the message from Pastor Mark Johnston! It was an awesome day! Thank you to everyone who brought friends and family!

So here we are at the beginning of a new week! You may already be busy and excited about your Monday or you may be dreading this day. No matter how last week went, Monday is an opportunity for a fresh start! You were made for Monday! Practice these actions today to start your week off healthy!

Be Grateful

Monday is the perfect day to be grateful for the blessings that God has given you. Today is a great day to say thank you to someone in your life. It makes a difference in their week. Don’t just focus on the negatives in your life, be grateful for the blessings. Thank God for the opportunities he has give you.

Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Pray First

Monday is a great day to focus on putting God first in this work week! Before you walk into a meeting, pray first. Before you make that phone call, pray first. Before you walk into that class or start writing that paper, pray first. Put God first in what you are doing today. Don’t just rush off into Monday in your own power! Invite the Holy Spirit to be active in your life today!

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Live on Mission

Lastly, Monday is a great day to remind ourselves that God has created us with purpose! You don’t have to go around the world to be on a mission trip. Make today a mission trip to help the people in your world. You are not an accident. God made you on purpose for a purpose.

Whatever rooms you walk into today, you are called to lift the room through the way that you live! See opportunities today to share hope with people! Pray for opportunities to invite people to church and to pray for people that are in need. If someone says they are going through something, take a moment and pray for them. Reach out to them. Encourage them. You could have the very word of encouragement that they need to keep going another day. You are called to make a difference right where you are this week! In Jesus Name!

Matthew 10:6-8 Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. 7 Tell them that the kingdom is here. 8Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

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

Anchored to Hope

An anchor is something that holds a boat in place. Once the captain arrives at a destination he drops the anchor. He does this because the boat will drift without an anchor.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:19

As a believer we have access to the anchor called “Hope” because of what Jesus has done for us! God always keeps his word! As believers we are anchored to the hope that God is in complete control. We may drift for a moment, but hope pulls us back to where we are called to be.

An anchor has no value if you don’t drop it in the water!

God is for you. He is with you in every season. He has not forgotten you, you may just be in a storm right now. It’s time to drop the anchor of hope! How do we drop the anchor of hope?

Reach Out

If you are in a storm now is not the time to disconnect yourself from God and people. In storms it is easy to feel isolated. When you are drifting you can get discouraged so quickly. This is the time to reach out to God and to others! Reach out to someone that you were in small group with! Reach out to someone who can pray with you! Reach out to God. Don’t get caught drifting. When you feel overwhelmed reach out to God and then reach out to God’s people!

Speak the Promise

The enemy does everything he can do to lie to you about who you are and what this situation is going to bring about in your life. He wants you to drift in the storm without an anchor. He is intimidating you because victory is near! One of the ways that we drop is the anchor is to speak God’s promises over our lives every day, especially when we are in a storm. What are you speaking over yourself right now? Speak God’s truth over your life and watch as the anchor of hope begins to pull you back into a place of hope!

Here is a link to 50 promises of God you can speak over your life today!

Drop the anchor today! Lean into Jesus. He is our anchor of hope!

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

Prayer Under Pressure

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You;
Psalm 63

We Seek You Lord

My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
Psalm 63

You Are The Answer

2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.
Psalm 63

I Remember What You Have Done In the Past

3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
Psalm 63

I Worship With My Whole Heart

5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.
Psalm 63

You Are My Provider

6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
Psalm 63

You Are My Peace

7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.
Psalm 63

You Are My Help

9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. 10 They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals.
Psalm 63

Thank You For Your Protection

11 But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.
Psalm 63

I Rejoice In You Lord

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