We Trade Purpose for Pleasure.

JP gave an awesome message last week! Definitely one that we could probably all hear a couple times. I encourage you all to read back through Ephesians 2 & 4.

JP said, “We will sell God out, our relationship with the good shepherd, for the next pleasurable thing this world has to offer.”

Look at your life, what distracts you? What causes you to be a sellout and choose pleasure over purpose? Is it money, nice cars and homes, a career, partying, friendships, or relationships?

My biggest struggle has been relationships. In the past I would choose the immediate gratification of having someone around to “love” (it was never really love), over pursuing God and trusting in Him. I even made the mistake of getting married to a man that was not pursuing the Lord (I am now divorced), because I wanted to be loved so badly. I’ve completely sold out time and time again.

It has taken a lot of heartache, prayer, community, and an incredibly patient Father for me to get to the place of discernment where I will no longer sell out, and when I start to get tempted I am quick to get right with Him. It also took me 26 years to finally understand I have the greatest love already in the Lord, the kind of love no man could ever give me, and that I am here for purpose, not temporary pleasures that leave me hurting and never satisfied.

I really liked when JP said we trade purpose for pleasure. The only thing I would add is that since I have started truly following the Lord and locked in on Him, my life has been more pleasurable than I could ever imagine…and this time it leaves me without guilt and regret :)

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

God is so good! Don't be distracted... Don't sellout!

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

Abundant Life: John 10.

We started our new series about abundant life. JP went through John 10 with us and I encourage you all to read back through the chapter. Here are a couple verses:

John 10: 11-13
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

There have been many times where I put my trust and hope in everything except the Lord. Often that meant depending on others for my happiness, or depending on myself for success, or my family and friends for comfort. While re-reading these verses it really hits home because all that lead to was feeling let down, hurt, disappointed, frustrated, regretful, sad, and never satisfied. JESUS is the good shepherd. He is the one that has come to give us life, and life to the full!

"Paul shows us that abundant life being content in any and every situation. Abundant life is "I don't need stuff; I have Christ. If I'm stripped of everything, I still have Jesus" Philippians 4:12"

Why then do you, and me, continue to look elsewhere for abundant life? Even if you feel like you have everything this world could offer, doesn’t part of you feel like there is something missing? Sort of that “yank” at your heart that there just has to be more? A longing for purpose and meaning to this life? There have been so many times where people that I really cared about abandoned me and ran away, because he/she cared nothing about me (John 10). How about you? It is the greatest feeling to know that Jesus is our good shepard who knows us, and will NEVER abandon us.

I decided to look up the word abundant in the Bible to just see what it would pull up. One of the last ones I came across happens to be in some of my favorite verses because as someone who is their own worst critic and struggles with guilt I can truly identify. So here is some great news!!!...

1 Timothy 1:13-16
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me ABUNDANTLY, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

2 Corinthians 8.

I really enjoyed reading back through 2 Corinthians 8 and encourage you all to do so. While going back through it this weekend I felt a lot of conviction. So often I will go and spend $10 to $25 at dinner with friends, yet I am slow to give to people who are in need. Personally, I feel that often I can only give small amounts and therefore convice myself that it wouldn't really help someone or make a difference. Boy is that wrong! While doing support raising for my mission trip I was truly touched and moved by the people that gave, and it didn't matter whether it was $10 or $300. It was the heart behind the support...the generosity...the love shown.

I loved when Wes talked about people having a savings account for emergencies. There are people all around us, in Haiti, and around the world that are in an emergency situation, just because it isn't YOUR emergency doesn't mean it isn't any less of an emergency.

God has been so good to me in these situations where when I really needed some help, somehow someway it's always worked out. There have been tough times, but he has ALWAYS provided, and ofen in the most unexpected ways. My question to you is do you look at your finances as yours or His? Could you skip one meal out and eat at home to help support someone's mission trip or the people in Haiti etc? Or maybe not by that over priced shirt or pair of jeans? This is me also talking to myself too :)

2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for YOUR sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

Your Job Isn't Going to Fulfill You.

JP’s message this week about why we work really hit home for a lot of people. I loved when he said, “Your job is not going to fulfill you, its not meant to. Christ will fulfill you.”

This is so true, we search… and search… and search just hoping to find that one thing that will fulfill us. Only to realize we’ve had it all along in Christ Jesus. Nothing. Else. Will.

I strongly encourage you all to read Colossians 3. We looked at verses 22-24 but the whole chapter has a lot of great truth…and its only 25 verses so no excuses of not having time J

JP mentioned Philippians 4:12-13

12. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being CONTENT in ANY and EVERY SITUATION, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Wow. I love these verses. It seems like a lot of people know verse 13, but have missed 12 about being content in any situation. No matter where you are working, or if you just lost your job, looking for a job, are in a relationship, just got out of a relationship, would like to be in a relationship…be CONTENT in EVERY situation. Trust that God has you right where you need to be. In fact, rejoice!

Just before the verses above, Philippians 4 tells us:

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Let’s put what we have learned into practice.

“Your mission is between your two feet.”

Has anyone made any changes to bring glory to God in the work place or elsewhere? We’d love to hear. I’ve left a place on the fan page: The Porch at Watermark. It would be fun to hear what y’all are doing and to be able to encourage you as well!

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

Psalm 51.

Mike Shelton did an awesome job last Tuesday on Humility. I encourage you all to read back through Psalm 51. One of my favorite verses from Psalm 51 is verse 10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

While spending time reflecting on both messages from this past week I started thinking about my life, as well as some conversations I have had with different friends lately. One thing that’s been on my heart is that we all seem to have at least one main struggle that is really hard for us to surrender to Christ. Something we hold onto so tightly, almost stubbornly. JP’s “horn” example this sunday reminded me of just that. We just don’t want to let go, even though we know God has something far greater for us.

Whenever I stumble I get really frustrated with myself, I am definitely my own worst critic. I always think of a verse JP shared last year:

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

Man that’s tough for me to read, because how gross does that sound?! Yet, we do it all the time.

JP also shared Proverbs 14:12 this weekend: There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

I can tell you that when I ignore what I know is right (true), I always end up with hurt, pain, and regret. There has NEVER been a time while following the Lord and doing what he has called me to do that I have had any regret. Why then do we continue to do things our own way?

In the past when I would stumble it would set me back, hurting my relationship with the Lord because I would try to ignore what I did that caused me to sin against the Lord, or just pull away from Him. Now I am reminded of the following verse:

Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

I want to encourage yall to be broken before the Lord, to repent, to ask Christ to create in you a pure heart and a steadfast spirit focused on Him. Remember that Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly (John 10:10)! "God will never love you more than he does right now, he loves you." Like the song says "He never lets go". No matter where you are, what you've done, or what you are going through...He never lets go.

The party is now...don't miss it! Eternity includes our time here as we get to fellowship with our Father!

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com