Friday, May 30th AN ABEL FAITH

"By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." Heb 11:4 (NIV)

The best way to learn faith is from people. Why? Because faith is not so much a matter of what you know as of who you are, it's built not out of knowledge but out of relationships. Take Abel, the first faithful man. Three things happened to him because he had faith. They each point out how faith will affect our lives.

Faith affected his generosity. “He offered a better sacrifice.” What was better about Abel’s sacrifice? Cain offered but Abel offered his best. Faith adds up to a willingness to give your best to the Lord. You can trust Him with it!

Faith affected his relationships. “He was commended as righteous by God.” Righteous is a word about relationships, it points to being in right relationship with God. Preschoolers define it as being God's friend. Faith gave Abel a commendation for his relationship with God.

Faith affected his influence. “He still speaks” The most powerful tool you have for influencing this world is your faith. Why so powerful? Because actions and decisions based upon faith simply last longer. Cain may have cut Abel’s life short, but Abel’s faith still speaks! Want to make an impact? Seminars can sharpen your skills and organization can improve your opportunities and principles can enhance your planning... but it's all a drop in the bucket without faith. If you're mathematically minded: Impact = (Skills + Organization + Planning + “Whatever”) x Faith. Great skills times no faith equals zero impact. A few skills multiplied by a great faith adds up to incredible impact.

Family discussion question: Where could you “offer your best” to the Lord right now in one specific way?
Children’s activity: Have your children take an offering to church tonight or tomorrow. Put it in an envelope, on which they write (or write with them) “My best for the Lord”.

Thursday, May 29 True Dedication

With the excitement building around our upcoming ground-breaking celebration this weekend this is a great devotional. I can sense that God has begun to build THE church, while we build a church and I can’t wait to see US when He is done with us. Some of you right now are experiencing things that are unexpected but know that God is in control and is still on the throne. This weekend is going to be awesome! This may sound like I'm repeating myself and it's because I am. “So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the LORD." 1 Kings 8:63 (NIV)

What do we mean when we say dedication? To one person it may mean giving up a part of a football game to come to church on Sunday mornings, to another it may point to a decision to begin giving some of their money to the Lord's work, while to another it may add up to leaving all that they know to serve the Lord as a missionary in a foreign country. What does it mean to dedicate a temple, a church, a child... a life - to dedicate them to the Lord. In I Kings 8 Solomon dedicates the great Jerusalem Temple to the Lord, and in so doing teaches us some important lessons about the character of dedication.

Dedication means Open Declaration

Dedication is a public announcement of your intentions and commitments. Many see dedication as some inner commitment that no one can really see or understand. Not true... it is expressed in public commitments and public actions. Do you know when dedication begins to happen? When you begin to place your faith on the line in terms of public commitments. It's that willingness to declare to others that adds up to dedication.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Rom 12:1 (NIV)
Dedication means Sacrifice

They sacrificed an unbelievable amount that day! 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. That's a lot of T-bone steak and legs of lamb! Why? What could be the purpose of such sacrifices? What did sacrifices do for men that were so important to the Lord? Sacrifices are “A gift of trust to the Lord.” As they sacrificed they declared that they trusted God to take care of their needs. They were saying, “Instead of hoarding and declaring my trust in myself, I’ll give to you Lord to declare my trust in you.”

Dedication will inevitably involve some sacrifices. Sacrifice is ultimately an expression of trust in the Lord. You're willing to give something up because you trust Him more then that something.

Dedication means Praise

A significant part of dedication is praise to God. Solomon’s praise as he dedicated the temple centered on the fact that God had kept His promise. There is a specific praise that not only expresses, but actually increases our dedication to the Lord. The specific praise that grows our dedication is "Thank You Lord for your Faithfulness.” It is a praise that recognizes that all that we have comes as a result of God's promises to us... as a result of His faithfulness in our lives.

That type of praise recognizes that I can be dedicated to God because God is dedicated to me! He is dedicated to my joy, my peace, my growth. God has dedicated Himself to my personal happiness and fulfillment. How dedicated is He? "He who did not spare His own Son, how He not also along with Him will freely give us all things." (Romans 8:32)

"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way." 1 Kings 8:22-23 (NIV)

Dedication means praise and sacrifice and open declaration. Today we learn one final truth about dedication from King Solomon

Dedication means Ministry

We cannot be dedicated to God without being dedicated to meeting the needs of the people He has made. Solemn dedicated this temple to the needs of the disappointed, depressed and the defeated, those besieged by sin and by loneliness, those involved in the battles and the prisons of life.

Too many make dedication the most impractical of things. It could never be lived, only talked about. Theirs is a dedication made up of myths and fables pie in the sky and dreams.

If you're striving to become more dedicated to the Lord it doesn't take you long to discover that there is a whole subculture in the Christian Community which says dedication is made up of spiritual sounding words, religion and rutuals. Dedication is built out of trusting God with the practical needs of your everyday life.

Dedication is expressed in ministry. It is expressed in what you choose to DO with your life to serve the Lord and the heart to serve the people He has made.

Family Discussion Question: What sacrifice would REALLLLLY stretch your dedication? Can you think of one simple ministry your family could do this week?

Children’s activity: Do a simple ministry project with your children this week. (Write a card to encourage someone, make cookies for somebody, go out an do something for someone who could never do anything for you in return or _________________________ you fill in the blank.)

Wednesday May 28 - FAITH’S FINAL EXAM

"Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." Acts 6:8 (NIV)

Know how to recognize a priceless person? Just look at their price tag! You can see what a person is worth by looking at what it takes to buy them off. I wonder how you and I would do if we had to face “faith’s final exam.” It is an exam that only a few Christians down through the ages have had to face. It is a test that has only one soul searching question.

Stephen faced this test when he was being judged for his faith in Acts 6. Faith’s final exam is “Would I be willing to give up my life for what I believe?” We sing about giving our all to Jesus and tell Him that we’d offer our very life for him. But what if the threats were real? It’s an important test, for your attitude towards dying for your faith has much to say about how you’ll live your faith!

Take a look at Stephen, for example. He showed himself to be a priceless person, a person who would not back down in his faith no matter what the threat. Stephen became the first Christian to actually die for his faith. What was the secret to such a great faith? Acts 6 tells us that Stephen lived as a man “full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” He had answered faith’s final exam long before he faced the court that would condemn him. When our children where growing up we often didn’t family night that included a short bible illustrated lesson. One even we taught the kids that we’re all like tubes of toothpaste. When the squeeze is put on us what comes out is whatever we’re full of! This means that we don’t have to “cram” for the tests of faith. Let Christ fill your heart and mind, your decisions and actions... today!

Family Discussion Question: Where do you need to be “full of faith” today?
For younger children: Make up some “price tags” to show the real value of some of the things in your home. Have your kids tell you how much things like furniture and appliances are worth...make up a tag and put it on those things. Then, ask them to put a price tag on a Bible.... then on themselves. Remind them of the incalculable value of the Bible, of the tremendous value God places on them.

Deepening Your Family Devotional Experience During Time2Build

Dear Bethel Builders,

I’m excited about this journey (Time2Build campaign) and I hope you are as well. After this past weekend’s experience I know God is going to use this time to build our faith corporately and individually.

As promised the previous post is today’s devotion but in order to deepen our family devotional experience here is a few simple suggestions…

1. Choose a consistent time and place. Whether it’s at breakfast around the table or in your children’s rooms just before bedtime, having devotions at the same time and same place is the best way to be consistent. Choose the best time for your family and then don’t worry if you miss a day here or there.

2. Have different family members read the Scripture and devotion each day. This will give everyone a feeling that they’re a part of deciding to have family devotions.

3. After reading the devotions, take a minute to pray together. Talk to God about the needs in your family... the church...the world... your friends... those who need to find Christ... your work... your school...etc.

4. Be yourselves! It’s O.K. to laugh. Noise is not only allowable during devotions...it is a must. Let your children be themselves during times of devotion it’s amazing how much more they learn.

“You must love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might. And you must think constantly about these commandments I am giving you today. You must teach them to your children and talk about them when you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the morning.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (TLB)

Tuesday May 26 - FAITH IS LIVING BEYOND THE ROUTINE

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead." Heb 11:1 (TLB)

Faith is the secret to “rut free living.”

We all know what it’s like to live in a rut. Too often what starts with great promise settles into a lifelong habit of routine. A couple gets married - yet somehow a promise of lifelong love turns into habit and routine. A business gets started - but before long the dream turns into a grind. A fresh and real commitment to Christ is made - yet you find yourself settling for the average life rather than the abundant life. Faith makes the difference! Faith helps us to handle the two main things that might push us into the rut of routine...

Life’s disappointments...
Disappointment can make us feel, “I guess that’s all there is... I’ll have to learn to settle for less.” Faith energizes us to look past our disappointments and to see God’s promises.

Life’s successes...
Disappointments can make us bitter... success can make us self-satisfied. A little success can be a dangerous thing! Faith has the power not only to help us with our struggles, but also our successes. Faith puts success in perspective. It reminds me that I’m not the source of the success - it is God who has given these gifts to me. It also helps me to see that I’m not the reason for the success. Of course, God is pleased with my happiness. But the ultimate reason for all He does in our lives is to show the world what He is like... to bring glory to Himself.

Family Discussion Question: Is disappointment or is success the greater challenge in your life right now?

Children’s activity: Show your children how “ingrained” a routine can become by having an “unroutine” day: Have everyone sit at different places when you eat or watch T.V... or sleep with your head at the foot of your bed. You come up with ideas.... have fun with this!

Friday, May 23rd Faith "True Dedication" Pt. 2

Good Morning Bethel Builders,

As promised here is our daily devotional reading for today and I'm praying for your family time today.

"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way." 1 Kings 8:22-23 (NIV)

Dedication means praise and sacrifice and open declaration. Today we learn one final truth about dedication from King Solomon

Dedication means Ministry
We cannot be dedicated to God without being dedicated to meeting the needs of the people He has made. Solemn dedicated this temple to the needs of the disappointed, depressed and the defeated, those besieged by sin and by loneliness, those involved in the battles and the prisons of life.

Too many make dedication the most impractical of things. It could never be lived, only talked about. Theirs is a dedication made up of myths and fables pie in the sky and dreams.

If you're striving to become more dedicated to the Lord it doesn't take you long to discover that there is a whole subculture in the Christian Community which says dedication is made up of spiritual sounding words, religion and rutuals. Dedication is built out of trusting God with the practical needs of your everyday life.

Dedication is expressed in ministry. It is expressed in what you choose to DO with your life to serve the Lord and the heart to serve the people He has made.

Family Discussion Question: Can you think of one simple ministry your family could do this week?

Children’s activity: Do a simple ministry project with your children this week. (Write a card to encourage someone, make cookies for somebody, go out an do something for someone who could never do anything for you in return or _________________________ you fill in the blank.)

Welcome Family

Welcome to my blog this has been used for personal reason since its conception but during our 28 days of fasting and prayer earlier this year those that partnered with us were able to join me through this media. Now I’ve invited the entire church…as we now begin another spiritual growth campaign called “Time2Build…Building the Church while Building a Church!” I’ve been working hard to get this brand new, hot off the press family devotional guide that will help deepen our experience as a church during this campaign. Each day I will post a new daily devotional for you to use in your daily family time.

The way this will work is, each week I will share a message during our weekend worship experience that will tie into that week daily devotionals. This is a very exciting time for our church and we’re believing God for miracles, spiritual growth, and unspeakable joy! Below is day one.

TRUE DEDICATION

“So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the LORD." 1 Kings 8:63 (NIV)

What do we mean when we say dedication? To one person it may mean giving up a part of a football game to come to church on Sunday mornings, to another it may point to a decision to begin giving some of their money to the Lord's work, while to another it may add up to leaving all that they know to serve the Lord as a missionary in a foreign country. What does it mean to dedicate a temple, a church, a child... a life - to dedicate them to the Lord. In I Kings 8 Solomon dedicates the great Jerusalem Temple to the Lord, and in so doing teaches us some important lessons about the character of dedication.

Dedication means Open Declaration
Dedication is a public announcement of your intentions and commitments. Many see dedication as some inner commitment that no one can really see or understand. Not true... it is expressed in public commitments and public actions. Do you know when dedication begins to happen? When you begin to place your faith on the line in terms of public commitments. It's that willingness to declare to others that adds up to dedication.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Rom 12:1 (NIV)

Dedication means Sacrifice
They sacrificed an unbelievable amount that day! 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. That's a lot of T-bone steak and legs of lamb! Why? What could be the purpose of such sacrifices? What did sacrifices do for men that were so important to the Lord? Sacrifices are “A gift of trust to the Lord.” As they sacrificed they declared that they trusted God to take care of their needs. They were saying, “Instead of hoarding and declaring my trust in myself, I’ll give to you Lord to declare my trust in you.”

Dedication will inevitably involve some sacrifices. Sacrifice is ultimately an expression of trust in the Lord. You're willing to give something up because you trust Him more then that something.

Dedication means Praise
A significant part of dedication is praise to God. Solomon’s praise as he dedicated the temple centered on the fact that God had kept His promise. There is a specific praise that not only expresses, but actually increases our dedication to the Lord. The specific praise that grows our dedication is "Thank You Lord for your Faithfulness.” It is a praise that recognizes that all that we have comes as a result of God's promises to us... as a result of His faithfulness in our lives.

That type of praise recognizes that I can be dedicated to God because God is dedicated to me! He is dedicated to my joy, my peace, my growth. God has dedicated Himself to my personal happiness and fulfillment. How dedicated is He? "He who did not spare His own Son, how He not also along with Him will freely give us all things." (Romans 8:32)

Family Discussion Question: What sacrifice would REALLLLY stretch your dedication?

Dear Bethel Builders,

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about our "Time2Build...Building the Church while Building a Church" spiritual growth campaign. WE HAVE BEGUN the building of our NEW WORSHIP CENTER. Simultaneously, we will launch a 90 day spiritual building campaign (building lives) and capital building campaign (raising capital). I know that many of you have questions and maybe some apprehension, but our goal is that you to feel confident and comfortable, so with that said we invite you to come out tomorrow afternoon from 6pm-7pm to answer any question you might have.

We realize you are busy people. However I feel this campaign is so important that I’m asking you to commit the next two months to allow God to pour into your life and build you up spiritually as we watch God build the church.

We are corporately praying these things over our entire church family that our spiritual growth campaign will?

1. To Help Us Grow To Spiritual Maturity!

2. To Deepen Our Fellowship As A Church Family!

3. To Help Everybody Find A Place Of Ministry!

4. To Worship God By Celebrating Him!

5. To Challenge Us To Get To Phase One Of Our Campus!

And we claiming the following promises?

1. You can expect to see some miracles.

2. You can expect to grow spiritually.

3. You can expect to be hassled by Satan.

4. You can expect to experience joy.

Tomorrow night Reminders 6-7pm question and answer period Bonds, Building and Campaign 7pm Prayer and Bible Study Children will Rehearses Wednesday due to holiday weekend

Sunday Church starts @9am (ONE SERVICE THIS WEEKEND) Mortgage Burning Ceremony

Dear Bethel Builders,

As we approach this weekend’s kick-off of our “Time2Build” Campaign, I simply want to cast the vision and deposit four things that you can begin to pray about.

What is our “Time 2 Build” Campaign all about?

1. IT’S TIME 2 BUILD SPIRITUAL MATURITY!
2. IT’S TIME 2 BUILD OUR NEW WORSHIP CENTER!
3. IT’S TIME 2 BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY!
4. IT’S TIME 2 BUILD A SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING!

Join me in prayer tomorrow during our Midweek Experience. It’s going to be the greatest ride in the history of our church!

It’s Time2Build!
Pastor G

Our goal for in is $1,000,000 in total bond sales by our ground breaking ceremony. Get involved! We will announce the ground breaking ceremony date during this weekend’s experience. This event will be marked by a commemorative ground breaking t-shirt (full-color).

Please be in prayer for the following: Sister Rosie Jones, Sister Jerrion Cooper, Sister Lucille Kirklin, and Rev. Clyde Thomas. If you have prayer request please e-mail them to the staff or call our office and we will add your request to our list.

First Lady was name Woman of the month for May by Black Church Media. Check our First Lady at http://www.blackchurchmedia.com/

In God's Hands

God is a loving, kind and caring Father, who cares more about our character than our comfort. Over the last six months I've been challenged to stretch my faith and demonstrate where my trust lies. With the health condition of my mother, God has caused me to understand that I'm limited in how far I can go. I've had to walk away many, many times with no guarantees only with my faith and trust in God. God knows me because He created me, by nature I'm very independent and proud but God hates a proud spirit.

As a church family we've been praying and working for the past five years and now God has said 'Yes'. What a huge sense of responsibility, God has given us clearance to take-off. I often say that if you can do what you do without God its not God' will for you. I believe that there is a strong divine calling on our church corporately. He is going to use us in a way that has not yet fully been revealed. As we built the physical building we must build the spiritual building.

Life is a journey. Everyday has a new lesson attached to it. God has used life to teach me some of the toughest lesson but at the same time most profound lessons. The writer of Proverbs encourages us to "trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean no unto our own understanding..."

I am privilege to lead a awesome and great people. As I celebrated 25 years in ministry just hearing about life change makes it all worth it. To see our church step up and claim God's promises has been a great source of encouragement to me. The celebration was one for the records, the staff was outstanding. There was a level of excellent that weaves itself through everything that transpired. The preaching was powerful starting with Pastor Kelly R. Booker (New Union Baptist Church), then Pastor Ricky Patton (Holy United Baptist Church) and closing out was Pastor Jeffrey L. Mitchell (Tabitha Baptist Church).

Now its time to go back to work but I thank God for His unspeakeable gifts.

Wednesday Evening

Dear Family,

We have entered our building program finally God has been faithful and we’re truly blessed to be apart of what God is doing. 1 Kings 8:17-19 (NLT) says, “Then Solomon said, "My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. [18] But the Lord told him, 'It is right for you to want to build the Temple to honor my name, [19] but you are not the one to do it. One of your sons will build it instead.” What the scripture is simply saying is that Solomon’s father King David desired to build a temple for God but God did not grant him that privilege, it was purposed for Solomon to build. God has given us this blessed opportunity to build a place for the Spirit of God to dwell.

On Sunday, May 18th we will Kick-off a new series of sermons called “Time2Build” Eccles. 3:1-3 (NIV) says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to build” We will focus on building the church [the people] while we build the church [the physical building].

We are planning now for our ground breaking ceremony [isn’t that awesome]!

Everyone’s attendance is vital Wednesday evening. We will begin at 6:30pm with prayer and it will be followed by our financial seminar about our bond program.

It’s Time 2 Build!
Pastor G

If you have your bond reservation you can meet with Mr. Weaver from 2pm-5pm tomorrow.