shawnlovejoy.com

Sunday Reflex 11-8-09

2009-11-09T07:23:08-05:00

Yesterday we continued our “Favor” msg. series, as God REALLY showed up in our services. I can’t even explain it, but I felt His presence so strongly! Here are a few reflections from my perspective:

We talked about faith yesterday, and after praying and working through this msg, I believe it’s the most impt. msg I’ve given in a while.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God…” Hebrews 11:6
HOW did Noah walk in step with God so completely?
“It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood.” Hebrews 11:7
Faith is trusting that God is who He says He is, and He can do what he says He can do.
Faith is required to walk with God.
“Most of us say we trust in God, but do we really? How can we know?”
Our faith is primarily revealed through two things: our emotions and our decisions.
If we’re freaking out all the time; driven by fear, anxiety, worry, and despair, we might SAY we trust God, but we don’t!
Our faith is also reveled through our relational decisions, professional decisions, and our financial decisions.
Probably NOTHING reveals whether we trust God or not,more than THIS:

If we trust God completely, we’ll operate with complete financial integrity; and give to Him EXACTLY as He commands!
“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.” Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
“Favor requires getting in eth boat BEFORE it rains. That’s what Noah had to do.”(See Gen 7).
Fruit from yesterday: Two kids from one of the families in my Growth Group got baptized yesterday! Congrats David & Christy!
A lady in my Growth Group by stopped by to let me know she “checked THE box” yesterday on her communication card. WOW!
Two different people came to me expressing their desire to begin to tithe. (even though they’re struggling), because of yesterday’s msg. WOW!
We showed the next “Sonic knock-off” FAVOR commercial. I posted it below.
Closed the service with “I will walk by faith” song
Great parent/student lunch yesterday in the LOFT after the services. Helped parents in the transition from authority to influence as kids get older.
GREAT DAY. God was here. He’s changing a lot of lives right now!

Favor Promo 1

2009-11-07T16:53:49-05:00

shawn lovejoy

What have you done to try to get Gods favor?

2009-11-06T06:35:39-05:00

Favor comes through relationship not by behavior!

Stay tuned this Sunday for part 2 of this video series…

Becoming a Creative Leader

2009-11-02T17:56:49-05:00

I laughed out loud today when I noticed that someone had added me to a Twitter list they had created called “Creative Leaders.” The fact that any human being considered me for that category still astounds me! However, to be honest, I DO consider myself to be a highly creative person! It hasn’t always been this way.

When I started Mountain Lake Church almost ten years ago, I would’ve told you that I didn’t have a creative muscle in my body! OK, maybe one. However, hundreds of hours of creative and brainstorming meetings later, I’m proud to say that God has helped me become a highly creative leader! EVERY week, God uses me these days to bring fresh, creative ideas to our church, our Ministry Team, and our Worship Services. I’m still not the most creative leader in the world, but my growth in this area gives me confidence about what God can do in this area of my life in the future!

So the other day I asked myself the question: “How? How have I become a more creative leader over time? Here are a few things I put down that that have fueled my passion and growth in this area:

Creative muscle is just like any muscle: It doesn’t grow unless its stretched!
Creativity is hard work for just about anyone! that’s why most people aren’t creative!
Creativity often requires time alone.
Creativity often simply requires staying in the room long enough.
Change of place + Change of pace = Change.
Creativity is strengthened by a team.
Creativity is a spiritual pursuit. Creativity is expressing part of the image and personality of God in and through my life! God is a creative God!
Creativity breeds creativity. If you want to be creative, get around other creative people as often as possible.
The creative PROCESS can be draining. The product is always better because of it.
For tenured leaders, creativity is the fuel that keeps the passion for the mission alive!

How are you growing as a creative leader?

By the way, my friend Ed Young, Jr. will be speaking on “Creative Velocity” at our upcoming churchplanters.com conference , Feb 22-23, at our church! Ed understands the important of a creative, redemptive imagination when it comes to the weekend, but also the weekday! Get registered now!

Sunday Reflex 11-1-09

2009-11-02T07:07:19-05:00

Yesterday we kicked off our new series called “Favor” based on the life of Noah.
If you missed the message , or want to share it, you can watch it here.
I’m willing to bet no one in the room had ever heard this story told through these lenses, but I really believe it’s the POINT of the story!
The word FAVOR is actually the first occurrence of the Hebrew word for GRACE! Ever heard that God is a God of wrath in the OT and grace in the NT? Not!
Noah proves to us once again, that: “Favor comes through relationship, not by behavior.”
Noah found grace because He pursued a personal relationship with God!
Noah walked with God. This is significant, because in may of our relationships with God we want God, but we want Him to walk with us! Be in step with us! Bless our plans! Whoa.
Everything about our lives: The quality of our lives and relationships, or joy and peace; everything about knowing God’s will for our lives…flows out of our relationship with God!
If you relationship with God is not right, nothing else will be!
“How would you characterize your relationship with God? By where and how often you go to church? Where and how you volunteer? What small group you’re in? Or by the amount of time you’ve spent with God lately?
God always takes the initiative in our relationship with Him. He invites us to walk with Him!
The band did another awesome job leading us in worship!
We continue to baptize people every week in our services at Mountain Lake!
One of my favorite songs right now is “Let Me Sing.” It allows me to respond to the favor God has shown on MY life. Here are some of the lyrics:

“Let me sing louder than creation to you, for the pain your bore in your body, to bring me back to you, Let me sing.”

Newcomer’s Lunch yesterday. John Shepherd has done a GREAT job in helping us step up that environment! Tons of new people joined our church today. The mission is happening!
Yesterday we announced that we have connected 435 new people into Growth Groups this Fall! WOW!!!!
Still astounded at God’s favor on my life in allowing me to preach His word. Thank You, LORD….

Favorpt. 2

2009-10-30T09:24:34-04:00

Starting this Sunday, we’re going to be talking about one of the most well known, 1st learned, hard to believe, controversial stories in the Bible, about a huge boat filled w/ 1 family, & 2 of every animal on the earth; a devastating flood; and the world’s first rainbow!

All of these things make Noah and the ark a remarkable story! However, to me, the most remarkable part of the story is one that’s never talked about! Here’s God getting ready to mark the end of the world as we know it; basically wipe humanity from the earth…but ONE man on the entire earth finds “favor” in God’s eyes;

Enough favor to spare him, his family, and ultimately all of humanity from extinction!

So the real question is…WHAT was it about Noah that enabled HIM to find FAVOR in God’s eyes? HOW did HE get FAVOR?

But the bigger question is: “Can WE find favor from favor from God?

If so, HOW do WE get it?

That’s what we’re talking about over the next 3 wks!

Get here!!!

Don’t forget to set your clocks BACK an hour!!!

Favor

2009-10-27T08:58:28-04:00

Many have tried everything to obtain it.

Everyone would like to think they could get it.

Noah did. We can.

We’ll talk about HOW beginning this Sunday! Get here!