2 Corinthians 5:17
" This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
I cant stop thinking about this verse today. When I became a Christian at the age of 15 my life was completely changed. At the time I was just a little girl with serious abandonment issues. I remember I would come to church and my youth pastor would say this simple sentence to me "Dana, I am so glad you are here!" and that simple sentence would bring me to tears. Every week he would say the same thing and every week I would cry. During that first year of me becoming a Christian my life was completely changed. I didn't become a perfect Christian (I am still not) but my life was set on a completely different course. I fell in love with Jesus, I realized that Jesus loved me even though I was a completely broken person. I realized that he had a plan for my life and I wanted nothing else but to fulfill that plan. I was a changed person, not a perfect person, but changed.
As we are closer then ever to the launch of Catalyst Church I cant help but to remember that 15 year old girl who gave her life to Jesus at a tent revival meeting on a rainy summer night almost 15 years ago, and wonder about all the other 15 year old girls who are desperate for their own life changing encounter with God. Those are the people we want to reach. The broken, the hurting, the abandoned. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus and show them that God sees them and that he loves them. We don't want to grow a church full of church attenders, we want to grow a church full of broken people that have a life changing encounter with the living God and will never be the same again.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Provider
Philippians 4:16
"My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Church planting cost money. And not a little bit of money, a lot of money. we need money for a building, for chairs, for sound equipment and video projectors and screens, for kids curriculum and kids equipment, and a million other little things. It gets expensive really fast.
I have to admit that at times it becomes overwhelming when I begin to think about all we need in comparison to all we have. But isn't that how God always seems to work? He seems to always asks us to do something beyond our own ability. And at the end of the day all we can do is have FAITH that He will provide.
These last couple of weeks I have been amazed at how God has already begun to provide for Catalyst Church. We haven't even begun to do our official fund raising yet and money has already began to pour in. First with a ten thousand dollar donation, and then a two thousand dollar donation.
But the donation that impacted me the most happened a week and a half ago while we were in Panama. The church took up a 1800 dollar offering for the church plant. They told us they believed in us and wanted to be apart of what God was going to do in Portland Oregon. As we stood in front of 500 Panamanians I was overwhelmed with emotion because I realized that this gift was from God. He used the generosity of the Panamanians but the gift was His. It is a reminder that He is for us and that He has called us.
"My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Church planting cost money. And not a little bit of money, a lot of money. we need money for a building, for chairs, for sound equipment and video projectors and screens, for kids curriculum and kids equipment, and a million other little things. It gets expensive really fast.
I have to admit that at times it becomes overwhelming when I begin to think about all we need in comparison to all we have. But isn't that how God always seems to work? He seems to always asks us to do something beyond our own ability. And at the end of the day all we can do is have FAITH that He will provide.
These last couple of weeks I have been amazed at how God has already begun to provide for Catalyst Church. We haven't even begun to do our official fund raising yet and money has already began to pour in. First with a ten thousand dollar donation, and then a two thousand dollar donation.
But the donation that impacted me the most happened a week and a half ago while we were in Panama. The church took up a 1800 dollar offering for the church plant. They told us they believed in us and wanted to be apart of what God was going to do in Portland Oregon. As we stood in front of 500 Panamanians I was overwhelmed with emotion because I realized that this gift was from God. He used the generosity of the Panamanians but the gift was His. It is a reminder that He is for us and that He has called us.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
New Logo and New Promises
Hey guys! this is our new Logo for Catalyst church. We haven't decided on color yet but I kinda like the gray on black. Let me know what you think.
The old song "I have decided to follow Jesus" has been running through my mind all day. If you don't know what song I am talking about, here are the lyrics......
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back
The lyrics are so simple yet so powerful. "I have decided to follow Jesus." I can remember singing this song as a 15 year old girl when I gave my life to God. It was my hearts prayer and I meant it with everything in me. But the truth is, I did turn back. Lots of times. That is why I love the scriptures in Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
His compassion is new every morning. Some translations say His MERCIES are new every morning. I am so grateful for this truth because I need mercy and grace everyday!
So, I will continue to promise my devotion to him, and try my hardest to live that promise. And even if I do turn back I know that he will never turn away from me, and I find my comfort in the truth that His Mercy and His Compassion is new everyday for me.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Isaiah 32:17
"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." -Isaiah 32:17
I came across this scripture today in my daily reading and I just loved it. It reminds me of what Jesus says in Matthew 6:33-34 to "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own."
It is an amazing reminder that when we seek God and His righteousness we can find peace and confidence knowing that no matter what our situation might be, He is with us, and He will take care of us. Seek God today. Seek His righteousness; and find your confidence and peace in His promise.
I came across this scripture today in my daily reading and I just loved it. It reminds me of what Jesus says in Matthew 6:33-34 to "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own."
It is an amazing reminder that when we seek God and His righteousness we can find peace and confidence knowing that no matter what our situation might be, He is with us, and He will take care of us. Seek God today. Seek His righteousness; and find your confidence and peace in His promise.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Radical
I just read the most amazing book. It is called Radical (Taking your faith back from the American dream) by David Platt. In this book David Platt confronts the idea of the "American Dream" and challenges Christians to live for a greater purpose. To live a life of radical obedience and abandonment to Christ so we can make Jesus' name known in all of the world. It is a book that will make you feel uncomfortable and inspired all in the same sentence. And its a book I think every Christian should read. 
Our Oregon team is reading David Platts second book from the Radical series called Radical Together (unleashing the people of God for the purpose of God). David starts the book off with an analogy that I just loved and thought I would share it with you.
"High atop the Andes Mountains, the rays of the sun strike ice, and a single drop of water forms. It begins to trace a hesitant course downward, gradually joining with other drops of water to become a steady stream. The stream gains speed and strength. Thousands of feet below and hundreds of miles later, what were once single drops have converged to become the mightiest river on the earth. The Amazon.
Using this imagery above, I tried to picture what happens when the truth of Christ penetrates our hearts, melts our assumptions, and propels us on a journey of abandonment to God. But you and I are not intended to plunge down the mountain of obedience alone. That's one of the reasons I love this imagery of the Amazon. The force of a single drop of water descending the Andes is minuscule. Similarly, as long as individual Christians journey alone-no matter how "radical" they are, their effect will be minimal. But as men and women who are surrendered to the person of Christ join together in churches that are committed to the purpose of Christ, then nothing can stop the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth."
If you are looking for a great book to read I recommend both of these!
Monday, July 4, 2011
4th of July
I love the 4th of July. I love the fireworks. I love the hot dogs and watermelon. I love Otter pops and ice cream. But most of all I love the patriotism. I love how everyone wears red white and blue. I love that parents are teaching their children why we celebrate our independence day on the 4th and how not all nations have this privilege, that we are special. I love that people cry and stand with pride as they sing the National Anthem and God Bless America. Because God has. God has absolutely blessed America. But God has not blessed America just so we can be blessed. God has blessed America so we can reach the world for Jesus. I want to challenge all of you today as we celebrate our nation and the God given independence we have been given. How are you using the blessings God has given you? Don't waste them. Use them for His glory. Use them to change the world. Happy 4th of July!!!!
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