2. For the power of prayer, it works if we keep at it.

3. For jeans shorts (jorts)…not really!

4. For my car, even when it’s on empty it always go a little father!

I got more areas for you to consider:

What would it take you for to reach uncommon levels of courage, trust, and hope? Where would you start? Who could help you? Where in the scriptures could you find guidance?

What would be the one part of your life you could apply one of these today?

I know it’s a lot of questions, but, could it be possible that the reason we are not getting the right answers in life is because we are not asking the right questions?

I would recommend starting with Philippians Chapter 2-it describes quite an uncommon life.  Have fun!

By up, I mean that we need to have people in our lives that we look up to. They mentor us, help shape us, and grow us.

By down, I don’t mean people we look down to, but rather we reach down and help up. They are people we are mentoring, helping to shape and grow.

By sideways, I mean people we walk along side. They are our peers, people who are in the same boat, season, job, etc. The are people who sharpen, shape, and encourage each other.

The pastor I was talking to realized that he had people who he looked up to but was missing the other two.  If we only have people we look up to, we might become self-focused consumers.

So, are you looking up, down and sideways? It’s never too late to start.

2.  For the Mosaic staff team. They make ministry fun!

3.  For people who love to create, they make this world beautiful.

4.  For Starbucks oatmeal, they claim it’s “perfect” – I’d say it comes pretty close!

Worship is like eating your vegetables for some. By “worship” I mean listening to worship music, meditating alone or singing aloud in a church service. By “eating your vegetables” I mean that some people (mostly guys) don’t enjoy it.

Worship is necessary. Worship makes us sensitive to God’s spirit and reminds us that it isn’t about us but truly about Him. We have all allowed ourselves to be moved by a song on the radio. Worship is allowing ourselves to moved by the Holy presence of God.

It also a surefire way to “feel” Him – Psalm 22 says that “He inhabits the praise of His people…”

1.    Content was king. Sometimes the content of a Christian conference can get diluted by the “cool” stuff. The cool stuff such as lights, bands, skits, funny videos – now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE cool stuff. But it was refreshing that this conference decided to focus on content.

2.     Content was real. Sometimes the content can be based on “the ideal world” scenario.  So most of the content doesn’t fully connect since most people don’t live in the ideal world but rather a fallen world. So, choosing to focus on real situations, real realities and real faith really helped pastors connect with the content.

3.    God is the door keeper. God opens and closes door. God is in control and I need to get better at being ok with that. At conferences like these, the dirty secret is that most of us are hoping to be “discovered” …meaning we are hoping for key people to notice us, connect with us, invite us, include us, like us …discover us. But, God needs to be the one that opens the door of opportunity, not me. I have personally resolved that I don’t want to open or go through a door that I have opened. I’m going to let Him do it.

4.    You are unique. Pastors Conferences can tempt you to be like some other pastor. We need to fight against it. You are unique, all of your attributes, your talents, gifts, abilities, talent and “crazy” (everybody has a little crazy in them) – is uniquely you. So be You. Don’t we preach it? …maybe we should live it!

1.  Her conviction to do the right thing in every situation.

2.  Her patience and love for me.

3.  Her brilliant mind and keen insight.

4.  Her ability to be an amazing mother, passionate entrepreneur, and strategic leader.

5.  Her smile and her laugh!

Love you Ashley!

It’s the same with a spiritual or emotional heart condition. On the outside you look and act fine but you’re dying on the inside. The scriptures say in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” God is reminding us that who we are, is much more important than what we do. However, doing the wrong things can lead to becoming the wrong person.

Are you doing things that are spiritually and emotionally hurting your heart?

 Here is how I protect MY heart.

First, I have resolved that I cannot totally trust my heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and incurable; who can know it?” –Jeremiah 17:9

Secondly, I have discovered that the Holy Spirit is the only one who can purify and protect my heart. So, I often pray … “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” -Psalm 139

Third, have a friend that you can confess your “sins” to.

Lastly, see a counselor to help process complex emotions.

At end the day it’s not about how good you look on the outside but how healthy you are on the inside.

Hope you’re well. This Mother’s Day is going to be an incredible day at Mosaic. Not only are we going to honor mother’s, but we’re going to dedicate babies, and change our service times.

Wait. What?!

Yep, you heard it. As of Sunday, May 13th, 2012 we will have new service times, 9:30am and 11:15am. These updated service times will not only benefit our staff and volunteers, but our people and their families as well. We will be giving ourselves more time between services to clear out our already packed parking lot and foyer-making a more welcoming environment for new people.

Thank you for embracing this change with us. Our goal is to help people become passionate followers of Christ who are known by Faith, Love, and Hope-thank you for being flexible and giving us the room to do that.

Naeem