Pain
- Where you are and where God wants you to be depends on the pain that you are willing to endure!
- Hebrews 12:2 (The Message) - "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it! Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside of God."
- If your goal is to be safe and pain-free - then you are following a false god! Jesus Christ did not die on a cross so that you can be safe!
- If you are persecuted, rejected, betrayed, or an outcast then EMBRACE it!! Worry if you're not!
- This is "living by faith." We will not always have 100% certainty. Logic will not make sense!
- It didn't make sense for Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water. Before we rip him apart, think about the others in the boat! Peter took a risk and although it failed, he showed more faith than those who didn't try at all.
- Too many of us don't want to get out of the boat in our lives! I much rather try and fail, than to do nothing and be safe!
- Risk, Fail, Learn, and Adjust - the constant cycle of a dangerous disciple who is willing not to live by sight but by faith!
- Matthew 10:39 (NIV) - "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - To gain, you must first lose!
- Sacrifice - to give up something you love for something that you love a whole lot more!
- Jesus told the fishermen to drop net to follow him. They gave up something that they love (catching fish) for something that they loved a whole more (catching men).
- Thankful for the Nipper's and the Sabo's who are moving to Detroit to start Lakepointe Church with me and Karen. They are sacrificing jobs, families, all-year around sunny weather, and a great church home to reach people in a hard area of our country.
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