LifeChurchBlog.com

Pastor Mark Turner

Life Is For Living

Like a good coach, we need to keep coming back to the basics. Today, I want to encourage you to take a moment and reflect, to adjust if need be, and to enjoy this great day God has made for us. 

I pray today that you may truly live and not exist. That this day will be filled with victory and that you will even enjoy the "battles" of the day, because you know you are going to win. You have been called to be more than a conqueror, so go ahead and conquer. You are a believer, so believe. You are a lover, so love. You are a giver, so give. 

Why don't you pray this prayer with me today. 

Father, open my ears that I might hear. Open my eyes that I may see. Give me the wisdom that I need. The insight and understanding needed, but Lord “help my unbelief” may I trust you as never before. May I “lean” on you and stay so close to you that it would be impossible for me to “miss it”.

You are my place of safety and security. You are the one who will never leave me. You are my provider. You are my everything. Your Holy Spirit is my personal Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby.

I declare today that my God supplies all of my needs. That no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Nothing will harm me. Let God arise and my enemies run and hide. Everything I put my hand to will prosper today and everyday. I have the “mind of Christ”. “No good thing will you withhold from me as I walk in righteousness.” I walk in Love today and my love will move me to actions of faith.

This is a new day for me and for The Life Church of Bartlesville. I will hear and I will obey whatever the Holy Spirit speaks to me. I choose today to walk by faith and not by my senses. I will not live a life lower than the one God has ordained for me. I will run and not get tired today. I will persevere and overcome in every situation, because my God has made me to be an overcommer.

I will stay “In His Presence” where there is all the Joy I will ever need. I will be so full of Joy today that others will actually see it. That same Joy will strengthen me. I will live and not just exist. I will fulfill my destiny for this day and not just “make it through the day”. I will Love others as Christ has loved me.

Today will be a great day. I purpose to enjoy every minute of it. To be everything God has called me to be, and to do everything God has called me to do. What a great day this is going to be.

Thank you Lord – You are Amazing!

I Love You So Much

Remember: Life Is For Living! 

PMT  

You're Being Followed

You’re Being Followed!

Have you ever had the sense that someone was following you? It sort of “creeps you out”. Well we do have someone following us all the time and it’s a good thing. This really stuck out to me this morning as I was reading Psalm 23.

Surely goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life. Psa 23:6 amp.

A pastor was giving a lesson to a group of children on the 23rd Psalm. He noticed that one of the little boys seemed disquieted by the phrase "Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..."

"What's wrong with that, Johnny?" the pastor asked.

"Well," answered Johnny, "I understand about having goodness and mercy, because God is good. But I'm not sure I like having Shirley following me around all the time."

Have a blessed day. You are being followed.

PMT

Enjoy Every Day

Labor Day 2006.

You know, the day we don’t labor. Sitting on my deck enjoying almost (but not quite) fall weather. More importantly enjoying the presence of God. Take some time (each day is best) to take a breath, relax for a moment and enjoy all that God has created.

Enjoy his company, what a great friend he is. He never tells you “I’ll call you back”. He doesn’t see it’s you on caller ID and not take the call. He is amazing!

Reading Wayne Cordeiro’s “Running on Empty”. Interesting read primarily for Pastors. Some great insights into having pace, rest and living in God’s grace as a priority in your life. Good words for all of us.

Was advised this week to sign up for Medicare. That was a strong dose of reality of where I am in life. It’s not an ego thing, but since I have no plans to retire (there’s no Biblical basis for it). It sort of humored me more than anything else. I’ll do it, and I’m thankful for it, but I will do my best to never need it.

Life is filled with so many choices. I want to encourage you today to never stay in a victim mindset. We all get hit with things, but how we respond and choices we make, will in turn make us.

There is adversity in every opportunity, and opportunity in every adversity.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thes 5:18 nlt (note: Be thankful “in” – not “because of” – there is a difference)

Be Blessed 

Love ya

PMT