What is Holding You back?

I am passing on a post from Pastor Perry Noble. God has given you a dream, call or some kind of direction and I have met many people over the years that talk more than they act on it… they are still in the same place years later! Still talking about what they are going to do. Whether its health, financial freedom, relational, or spiritual- I want to encourage you to take a step toward your goal or dream TODAY! Don’t let GOOD rob you of BEST any longer!

Phil 4:13 

Love ya

Mark

I don’t think people fall short of what God has for them because He isn’t revealing Himself…I think many do so because He does reveal Himself, but in Him doing so we are forced to face several things that MUST be overcame if we are going to achieve what He has for us…such as…

FearPeople…never listen to people who are not doing anything tell you that you cannot do anythingLack of faith…Jesus will never ask you to do anything easyProcrastination lie

#1 – Fear

If you don’t say “oh crap” when God reveals what He wants for your life…then you probably didn’t hear from God!

We will never become who God has called us to be and do what He has called us to do if we do not face our fears.

  • David faced his fear and stepped out to face Goliath.
  • Moses faced his fear of not being able to speak and went before Pharoah.
  • Noah faced his fear of not knowing how to build a boat

People that accomplish great things for God MUST fight through their fears because reality is than God has never asked anyone to do anything that was easy (other than receiving Christ!)

#2 – People

When you want to do something great for God there will always be LOTS of people who try to tell you why you can’t do what HE said you can do!  My advice…never listen to anyone who is not doing anything tell you that you cannot do anything.  OR…in other words, NEVER take dance instructions from a person who just stands against the wall and does nothing but criticize those who are trying to stay in rhythm.

#3 – The Procrastination Lie

I know so many people who swear than “one day” they are going to do what they “know” God has called them to do…but…”one day” for most people NEVER comes…because in their minds “one day” is when everything is in place and doing what God has called them to do does not require any step of faith at all.

“I will do it one day” is a lie that we tell ourselves in order to justify our disobedience.  God doesn’t speak to hear Himself talk…His word is not to be considered but to be obeyed.

#4 – Underestimation of Him Working Through You!

If God has called you then He has also equipped you and will sustain you.  Of course the task at hand is large and seems “impossible,” that is why Zechariah 4:6 says it is by HIS Spirit and II Corinthians 12:9 says that HIS power is made perfect in our weakness!!!  He didn’t call us because we are “able,” we are nothing more than common jars of clay (see II Corinthians 4:7) that He wants to use for HIS glory…and He has a history of take ordinary people (Acts 4:13) and doing extraordinary things through them!

Our Journey Continues…

Hey CC-

As you may know, this Sunday will be our last service at McMorran Place. We have had an amazing summer together and God has shown himself faithful yet another time to us. So thankful! We saw many make commitments to follow Christ and lives are being changed! Unity is growing and the Wehearthiscity movement has been begun! Other cities are wanting to partner with us to create a kingdom movement of Gods compassion and love. That’s the way- uhh hu uhh hu- I like it!!! 

Beginning Sept 5th, we will be having our services at Landmark Academy on Lapeer Rd! We will be tackling your questions through September- visit CC and click on the ‘You asked for it” for more info. Come expecting big God stuff. Invite someone and come early. Lets impact this area together!

A couple of things to know in the journey- whether personally or corporately

* God is NOT all about the destination like we are! Get rid destination disease! We can miss a lot of Gods plan by focusing solely on the destination.

* Learn to live in the moment! You will never get this moment back so live it fully.

* God does not change but He is on the move! Don’t get stuck in a rut or stuck in your preconceived ideas of what it should be.

* We want to be led by His Spirit and not by a formula! Sons and Daughters are led by his Spirit and walk by faith. Not stupidity- but a real confident faith with full reliance on Him.

* Don’t journey alone! It is much more fun traveling together. You don’t have to be a lone ranger.

* He is not surprised by where we are in the journey! I learned a long time ago that where He guides- He provides! It’s His vision so that means he will make provision for it! Plus, He is a lot more wealthy than me- lol.

* Live and move in Him and you will experience His unforced rythms of Grace!         It’s all about Him! Always has been and always will be! Greater things are here!!

Love you so much and am honored to be pastoring a great church!

Committed to Him

Mark 


Are you feeling resistance? Feeling resistance? Good! It’s a necessary part of the journey. Many people look at the resistance we go through and begin questioning whether God is in it or not. Truth be told- resistance is part of the overall design for us to become and accomplish Gods plans. Get in the gym, lift some weights and you will see that resistance makes us stronger. For every muscle in our body there is an opposing muscle that gives resistance. A built in strength training! The bible is full of stories where Gods people came up against great resistance. Jehoshaphat felt it. David felt it. Ruth felt it. Noah felt it. Jesus’ first disciples felt it.  Paul felt it. I think you get the point. Jesus himself felt resistance and He was Gods son! What’s up with that?!? As you and I continue to follow Him, we will encounter resistance at all kinds of levels. Here are some thoughts regarding resistance-  * Resistance can and will come from within and from without  * Resistance can come at any time- when you least expect it! James tells us to be sober minded.  * The enemy does not want you to move forward in the call of God  * There is no such thing as unopposed spiritual progress  * The resistance you face today, will be a victory milestone as you move forward!  * Dont let the resistance you are facing paralyze you!   Make the decision today- lean strong into Jesus and His power! (Zech 4:6) Don’t turn back, but get up from where you are and move it forward! Resistance will always be there, but remember this “Its not your might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” says the Lord. Your might and power will only do so much and has limits, but His power knows no limits!  Rely on His power, not yours! Through Jesus, you are more than a conqueror. Greater is Jesus in you, than he that is in the world. Get up! Get up! Get up! Get movin! Get movin! Get movin!

Are you feeling resistance?

Feeling resistance? Good! It’s a necessary part of the journey. Many people look at the resistance we go through and begin questioning whether God is in it or not. Truth be told- resistance is part of the overall design for us to become and accomplish Gods plans. Get in the gym, lift some weights and you will see that resistance makes us stronger. For every muscle in our body there is an opposing muscle that gives resistance. A built in strength training!

The bible is full of stories where Gods people came up against great resistance. Jehoshaphat felt it. David felt it. Ruth felt it. Noah felt it. Jesus’ first disciples felt it.  Paul felt it. I think you get the point. Jesus himself felt resistance and He was Gods son! What’s up with that?!? As you and I continue to follow Him, we will encounter resistance at all kinds of levels.

Here are some thoughts regarding resistance-

 * Resistance can and will come from within and from without

 * Resistance can come at any time- when you least expect it! James tells us to be sober minded.

 * The enemy does not want you to move forward in the call of God

 * There is no such thing as unopposed spiritual progress

 * The resistance you face today, will be a victory milestone as you move forward!

 * Dont let the resistance you are facing paralyze you! 

 Make the decision today- lean strong into Jesus and His power! (Zech 4:6) Don’t turn back, but get up from where you are and move it forward! Resistance will always be there, but remember this “Its not your might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” says the Lord.

Your might and power will only do so much and has limits, but His power knows no limits!  Rely on His power, not yours! Through Jesus, you are more than a conqueror. Greater is Jesus in you, than he that is in the world. Get up! Get up! Get up! Get movin! Get movin! Get movin!

Why Leaders Flame Out!

Here is a great blog from Perry Noble for all those in any sort of Leadership position! Leadership can be the most challenging and yet the most rewarding adventure ever! 

10 Reasons Why I Believe Leaders Flame Out!

Feel like have something to proveHard time accepting Gods grace. Feel like rest is sin. Do not trust the leaders around them, thus feel like they need to do it all. Unwillingness to ask for help. Consumed with the expectations of others…fear of man. Unwillingness to repent of sin. Refusal to set up manageable boundaries Not allowing our identity to be established in Christ Not caring for their own family. Consumed with fighting the wrong battles.

#1 – They feel like have something to prove…and so instead of becoming obsessed with God’s greatness they become obsessed with their own.

#2 – They have a hard time accepting Gods grace…thus throwing themselves into an achievement based mentality.  They think the more they accomplish the more God loves them – despite what is written in Ephesians 2:8-9

#3 – They feel like rest is sin…despite the LONGEST command in the 10 commandments being the one on rest!  (Leaders…Isaiah 30:15…READ IT NOW!!!)

#4 – They do not trust the leaders around them…thus they feel like they need to do it all.  (We were not called to do life and ministry alone!)

#5 – They are unwilling to ask for help…thinking that doing so is a sign of weakness, when in actuality it is a sign of strength!

#6 – They fear man way more than they fear God…thus becoming obsessed with “their” expectations rather than HIS!  (SEE Proverbs 29:25)

#7 – An unwillingness to repent of sin…instead of doing so they become obsessed with pointing out the sins of others!

#8 – They do not allow their identity to be established in Christ but rather in how many people they having attending/giving to their church/ministry.

#9 – They refuse to care for their own family and begin to recite the ridiculously stupid phrase, “I take care of the church and God will take care of my family.”  Dude…the church is HIS bride, not yours!!!

#10 – They get consumed with fighting the wrong battles.  Christian leaders fight over the most ridiculous things…and doing so ALWAYS drains the life out of them!  We should fight for what Jesus fought for–period–and leave the rest alone.

Mid Way through!

We are now mid-way through our journey to the center of the city. Here are some things to keep in mind as we approach the last half of this journey.

* God is still in control and I am not! Pretty obvious! lol.

* God loves people way more than I ever could, but I am growing daily in my ablility to understand and demonstrate His love. A benevolent love!

* When He is my source in life, I (we) can do more than I (we0 ever thought was possible!

* With all of us pushing and praying in the same direction, we can do some pretty awesome things!

* God’s plans will come to pass! We can trust what He has spoken and is faithful to complete it!

* Faith Hope and Love are in the very fibers of this ministry! 

* Loving Loud requires humility!

* Loving Loud requires authenticity!

* Loving Loud requires the right connection (Click CC to listen) 

* God is still changing lives at McMorran!

God is ramping some things up here at CC and I am so pumped for what He has in store.