Couples Date Night

My highly favored car

My friend was buying a new car and told me he would just trade in the old car or sell it for $500, well I thought it might be a good opportunity for me, my family could sure use another vehicle, so I checked the value on Kelly Blue Book and it was valued at $2800 in fair condition. I decided I had to tell my friend the value, truthfully I wanted to steal it for the $500, but I had to do the right thing. So I told my friend the value, and he was taken back by the news.  A couple of days later he told me he didn’t want to deal with the hassle of trying to sell the car so he would still offer it to me for $500. I was so happy and excited, the car did have some leaks and needed front tires, but for the price I wanted to gamble on it and fix it up. So a couple days later he called and said he was at the dealer buying a new car and wanted to know if I wanted the car or if he should trade it in, I wanted it but I knew i had to discuss it with my wife first, so I called her and we couldn’t agree that this car was a good decision, so I was angry and I called my friend and told him thanks but I can’t buy the car. Later that night he called me and said that I have always been a good friend and more than generous with him, so if I want the car I could have it for free. WOW! I was blown away, He gave me the car for free!

So I dropped the car at the mechanic and he fixed it up, it needed a gasket and some ‘o’ rings for the cooling system, nothing major. I put new front tires on it and my wife loves the car. Looking back its just another awesome blessing from God. I was taught at Life Christian Church that I am blessed, highly favored, empowered to prosper and walking in devine health all the days of my life, I have received these words, I recite them and believe them and it is working for me. The more I testify and give the glory to God, the blessings keep coming. Its becoming insane! And I love it, Thank you so much for sharing these truths, I just wasn’t aware we could have heaven on earth.

The ship that went through the storm

The process of getting my wife and son a green card was difficult. Through this journey my faith has been made stronger. I imagined this as if we had set sail on a boat headed to our destination. Our destination was getting the green cards, once we set sail the Lord blew our ship towards the right direction. We chose not  to hire a lawyer against worldly advice, because we knew with God we didn’t need a lawyer (this was for this instance, because we felt led this way). Now once our boat settled we were just sitting in the water, well we couldn’t just sit there and expect God was going to push us the whole way, we had to start rowing. So we printed out the papers, we prepared them ourselves, it was hard and frustrating, but God opened our eyes to be able to understand the questions and fill out the forms properly. I believe it took me over a week or two to have everything filled out along with supplying the required evidence. There were some issues from my past as well as my wife’s that brought some rough seas to our journey, but we stayed the course, we received confirmation that our papers had been received and within a certain time we would be called in for a interview. I believe it was a period of 3 months, during this time we saw many dark clouds form, heavy thunder and rain, many times we though our ship might sink, but we continued to remember that our God loves us and even though we are out in the middle of the ocean and we can’t see land, our God is faithful.

We finally received the letter for the interview, we prayed a lot, we prepared ourselves and headed out. We had so much confidence because our God is good. Well the interview was terrible, everything from beginning to end, the lady was really mean, rude, and nasty. It really took me by surprise, we left there uncertain about what had happen, they made us feel like criminals, I almost thought we were going to be put in jail, when we got outside I thought “what happened!” did we pass? did we get the papers? We were so confused, we called the hotline and they said the next step was for them to check our background and to verify our evidence. However, our friends who had been through this process thought we should have been given an answer. So at this point our ship was damaged, we were lost and we weren’t  sure which way to go, but we knew how to pray and that’s what we did, and our ship started moving once again.

So, after more phone calls we were told to expect an answer within 90 days. (One important thing to remember is my son’s biological father is expecting to have his son for a couple months in the summer (in a different country). But he can not leave the country until he receives his green card. This process can get very messy and take a very long time, and we didn’t want to get into a situation with my son’s “other” father.) So our ship is pretty large but we are rowing along with prayer, but then we started learning a new way to pray. Life Christian Church was teaching to believe, thank, receive and praise. They were so convincing, they back it all up with Bible verses that made it so clear. We started to pray this new way, our old way was something like “we need, we want, but if it be your will, and no matter what we will accept the outcome” basicly we were praying a prayer of accepting failure. So, this new way of praying was working for my family in many areas so laying in bed one night my wife and I agreed we needed to pray our new way over these papers, our victory prayer.

Well we threw the paddles over board and fired up our motor! Our boat started hopping waves, we were cruising. Storms would roll in but God would clear the skies of doubt. Ok, so to wrap this story up it was time for us to see land, and we saw it it was good land, the enemy tried to convince us it was bad land and sail a different course, but we rejected his word. Almost daily we checked the status of our case by the internet without any answer , and even 1 day ago my wife called the hotline and was told that they had no info for us and in 15 days we would receive a notification. We rejected it, and ‘bam’ today the green cards came.

I know some people won’t get it , but let this be a blessing to the people who do. We received the green cards by supernatural works of our God. I’m convinced God had our papers pass through the system, He didn’t allow anyone to see any fault or error, and the papers made it through and were approved. This was made possible by prayer, thanks to my wife and son joining with me and thanks to Life Christian Church for teaching us how to pray victoriously.

I’m blessed, Highly favored, empowered to prosper, living in divine health all the days of my life. Amen

Not too small for God. The lady bug miracle

Finally I have a few minutes to write and I wanted to share how my ‘ring toss victory’ came about (you have seen the prize right? LOL – I am attaching the pic below just in case)
We were at SeaWorld and Julian wanted to play the ring toss. So I bought a big bucket of rings because that way we got a small “prize” no matter if we win or not. And Kata really liked the small doggie she got;-) So we started tossing. The bottles were not too far and there were many of them but the trick was that right below the narrow top there was a wide glass part that made the landing ring jump right off. The angle had to be just perfect for it to stay on. I was aiming really carefully and hit the bottle twice within the first 10 tosses but the ring jumped right off. Now I knew why nobody was getting it even though there were many people trying. Plus in two days I have not seen a single person strolling around with that huge stuffed animal on their heads (or strollers:-). Ok so I said out loud: “Holy Spirit, I can’t do this by myself. But you know exactly at what speed and what path I need to throw that ring to stay on the bottle. Thank you for guiding all my muscles in my arm so that the ring stays on.” I kept tossing but this time, I was not really aiming, it was sort of careless. And just a few tosses later…bingo! It was on there and I don’t even know how it happened. And the ring landed exactly on the one bottle I had in mind (even though previously my rings landed on several different ones – they were really close together). And from the reactions of the staff and everyone around I understood it didn’t happen that often that somebody would win.

Ok I know this is silly. It cost me $40 to send that thing home, because it wouldn’t fit in the car and now that we have it at home I don’t know where to put it because it takes up half a room;-) But to me it was really significant. It confirmed and let me experience what I have been learning. So that’s why I decided to drag the huge ladybug home so I have it here as a reminder: I can’t do anything but He can. My job is to get mySELF out of the way. And if He is not ‘too busy’ to get involved with a silly insignificant game at an amusement park, how much more with the important things:-)

Complete Overwhelmed series videos

Feardom series starts October 7th

These topics will be discussed in this series:

1.  False Evidence

2.  Fear of Rejection

3.  Fear of Loss

4.  Fear of the Unknown

Online Small Group Directory – Fall 2012

LBI Facilitators: Gary & Debra Underwood
Life Bible Institute is an academic approach to studying the Bible. Whether for your own enrichment or to prepare you for ministry. Life Bible Institute will revolutionize your thinking, and cultivate an environment for success.
Day & Time: Mondays 7-9p – Location: Church Admin Office – Requirements: Bible, notebook and pen.

Life Facilitators: Rick & Michelle Sproviero
Many times we are unaware that there are roadblocks from our past and even our present that are preventing us from walking in freedom, purpose and true intimacy with God. The LIFE Small group is dedicated to equipping, discipling, and maturing believ- ers and leaders to victoriously wage spiritual warfare, experience personal cleansing, and minister freedom to others. Our mission is that believers will have every obstacle to intimacy with the Lord removed.
Day & Time: Mondays 7-8:30p – Location: Pine Ridge & Livingston Road – Requirements: Bible, notebook and pen.

Women’s Bible Study Facilitator: Pastor Tracy Boyd
CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD
Nothing happens without prayer, yet so many struggle when it comes to prayer. In this small group we will explore how to have effective, refreshing conversations with God that bring results in our lives and the lives of others. (Childcare will be provided.)
Day & Time: Tuesdays 9:30-10:30a – Location: Church Admin Office – Requirements: Bible, notebook and pen.

Love & Respect Facilitators: Pablo & Connie Puerta
This class is to help couples understand the differences of how men and women perceive love. The love she most desires and the respect he desperately needs is based on the biblical passage from Ephesians 5:33. (Childcare will be provided.)
Day & Time: Tuesdays 7-8:15p – Location: Church Admin Office – Requirements: notebook, pen and workbook.

Money Matters Facilitators: Pastors Alan & Pam Forbus
We all need a plan for our money. Teaching God’s ways of handling money. Presenting biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you’ve dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more! (Childcare will be provided.)
Day & Time: Tuesdays 7-8p – Location: Forbus Residence – Requirements: Bible, notebook and pen.

Emotional Eating Facilitators: Dr. Jorge Valverde
Katie Walker, Registered Dietitian
You are invited to Made to Crave Wednesdays!
This book study will enable you to recognize that craving isn’t a bad thing. Many of us have misplaced craving with overindulging though. Join us on a journey where we will learn that we were made to crave!
Day & Time: Wednesdays 11-12:30p – Location: Oakes Blvd & Immokalee – Requirements: Made to Crave book.

En Familia Facilitators: Pastors Julio & Dora Palacios
Ayudar a las familias es la razón por la que nos reunimos cada día miercoles. Nuestro deseo es que usted y su familia nos co- nozcan y encuentren el apoyo de un amigo cercano.
Day & Time: Miercoles 7:30-8:30p - Location: Golden Gate area – Requirements: Bible, notebook and pen.

Men’s Weekly Prayer Facilitator: Pastor James Boyd
We believe that Men’s prayer is the foundation of a strong church. This group of men get together to lay a spiritual foundation for all that happens at LCC as well as for the other men at LCC.
Day & Time: Thursdays 12-1p – Location: Church Admin Office – Requirements: none

Proactive Parenting Facilitator: Crystal Grealis
Have you ever wished that your children came with an instruction manual? In our parenting class you will learn practical methods for raising obedient, respectful children of character. This class is an eight week DVD series supplemented with group discussions and questions. We want to partner with you and grow together in raising morally wise, responsible children. (Childcare will be provided.)
Day & Time: Thursdays 7-8:15p – Location: Church Modular Room – Requirements: Notebook, pen and workbook. The Proactive Parenting Manual can be ordered online at TracyBoyd.org or at the Information Center.

Walking with Jesus Facilitators: Terry & Yaneth Arce
Caminando con Cristo
Todo el mundo sabe que caminar es uno de los ejercicios más reco- mendados y realmente menos costosos en todos los sentidos, que podemos tomar para mantenerse en forma y sentirse bien. Al ser un ejercicio aeróbico para quemar esa grasa es más que se acumulan con el tiempo, mientras que el fortalecimiento de las articulaciones y los músculos, nos hace más ligero y cuidamos nuestro corazón. Porque no compartir entonces este caminar compartiendo nuestra fe hablandoles de Jesus?
Day & Time: Viernes 7-8:15p – Location: Santa Barbara Community Park – Requirements: none

Intercessory Prayer Facilitator: Maria Martinez
We believe that nothing happens without prayer. This powerful group of praying people get together to pray for Life Christian Church services, the people of LCC, our community, and our nation at large.
Day & Time: Saturdays 10-11a - Location: Church Admin Office – Requirements: none

Scrapbook Crop Facilitator: Rachelle Payne
Time & Date: Bi-Weekly on Friday nights 7-9p – Location: Forbus Residence – Childcare would be provided

Creative Arts Facilitator: Vickie “Pastor Voo” Harrison
Time & Date: Saturdays 5-7p – Location: Church Admin Office
This is a dual small group for children and teens from 1st grade through 12th grade. Here we will learn how to praise and worship God using Creative Arts as our tool. If your Kids enjoy dance: Hip-Hop, Lyrical, or Street Dance, we have it! If they are more into drama and being in skits or plays, even Human Videos, we have it! Have you ever seen Flag or Veil worship? We do that, too! Do they like to sing, or play an instrument? We could utilize those talents in this group as well. Come see how much fun and excitement there can be in getting your worship on; it’s a blast to Praise the Lord!!

Overwhelmed series “Wealth” by: Pastor James Boyd (video & notes)

Overwhelmed – wk3

“Wealth” By: Pastor James

Tough topic, because there are two camps within Christendom regarding “wealth.”

• Whatever God’s will is, that’s what you’ll get
  • This doesn’t motivate us to pray or believe
• God wants you well supplied
  • This gets us closer to God, because we connect with Him due to the way we believe about Him

God wants His people prosperous.

• It’s not been God’s promise that was off, it’s been our believing.
  • “Jesus was poor”
    • Anytime He had need of anything, it was provided. What is the definition of “poor” to you? It’s not that.
    • How many of us have a treasurer that follows us around?

God intended money to come to and thru you!

You’re God’s way in.

• Scripture references for knowing His will.
  • Defining God’s will
    • Scripture
    • Holy Spirit
    • Romans 12:2 NKJV – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
      • That you may prove: to approve; to deem worthy; to see whether a thing is genuine or not
        • Your example here on earth was meant to prove God’s good and perfect will to others.
        • You were meant to be pointed at for your substance here.
        • You were created to prove the goodness of God to others as the approval of the promise to His people. You deem God worthy by the way He blesses you.

You were created for money to come to and thru to prove His will.

• Colossians 1:26, 27 NKJV – The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
  • This says it all. Christ in you is where the riches for your life exist.
  • That need that you have resides in you already. You already have the potential to see it in the natural, because it exists in you.
    • Example: When you cash out at the grocery store, what do you do? Reach to your back pocket and pull out your wallet. This is the same concept.
    • How do you pull it out and use it?
      • Pull out Colossians 1:26,27 – “What I need is in you, Jesus. And you are in me. I pull out your blessing on my situation right now.”
      • This is believing without seeing yet. Faith. This pleases God.

You can have it, as long as it doesn’t have you. ~ Pastor Sarah

Psalm 112:2-3 NKJV – His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever.

• Generation of the upright – the generation of Jesus. It’s defined better in NT now, because we know Who the upright is. Jesus. In us.
• House- receptacle -
  • Like a soap dispenser. God adds, and it’s always full for others to use
• Righteousness- of Davidic King Messiah
  • “and His Son endures in you forever”
• What’s being said here: You will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be at your disposal, and He endures in you forever!

God’s intent is to get it to you so it can go thru you and prove Him.

The natural (human) principles work

• Luke 6:38 – Give and it will be given…don’t give, and the blessing (covenant) still exists, however you will only have the one promise not both.
  • God won’t allow His principles to go without fulfillment.
  • Sometimes things get held up in the spirit realm or in the human realm. Wouldn’t you want the ability to still receive when the enemy is holding something up? Then, put the principles to practice.
• You attract the blessing of God when Jesus lives in you. What about the blessing here on earth? There’s an earthly part to this. God wants you to sow here on earth to bless His people.
  • Stats: 7% of Christians “tithe”.  The average amount that Christians give equals 2.5%.
    • Christians aren’t putting to practice the principles, and can’t seem to answer the bigger question of “why am I behind?”

The Solomon “if” principle:

• Solomon prays
  • 1 Kings 3:9 NKJV – Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?
• God answers
  • 1 Kings 3:13, 14 NKJV – And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So ifyou walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.
    • God gave him more than he asked. In wisdom and discernment is where Solomon found wealth.
      • Sometimes we might be over focused on wealth, because the problem is our finances. We need to get our focus on the right things, and God will add the rest. If the problem is your finances, we’re still supposed to look at the answer instead of the problem. Jesus in you is the answer.
        • Focused on the problem Example: hijacking God
          • Guy in Seattle
          • Guy at church office
          • God isn’t moved by need, He’s moved by faith! ~ Pastor Sarah
        • “If” – Solomon gets off to a great start. God mentions at least three times the benefits that He gave Solomon for such a request. The “if” shows up again in 1 Kings 9:4. His reminder.
• Then chapter 11comes around. In short, Solomon put his women and their gods in his kingdom and they became an idol to him.
  • God gives wisdom to get wealth, but its still up to us to remember the “if“. We see that the “if” is the over abundance that God wants to get to us here on earth.
  • This is the portion that brings you into the picture. God will bless because you have Jesus (the full blessing already inside you), you attract blessing and wealth already. The “if” is the human things that we can do to put God first instead of idols that pop up in our life.
    • Giving plays into your wealth here in the “if“.
  • Solomon loses control of his kingdom. The “if” was out of place. He lost sight.
• Interesting that God still blessed in 1 Kings 11:13 because of David, Solomon’s father. Because of David, God blessed, but it wasn’t as big as He wanted.
  • Same picture of Jesus in us. David is known as the blood line of Christ. This presents a picture of Jesus and the blessing that God tracks us down with just due to His Son.
  • The “if” is our part to stay on point here and attract blessing on us due to our own will and choice.
  • There are two sides to the promise. God’s side and our side.
    • The big human “if” turns into God’s huge promise
      • Malachi 3:10 NKJV – Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, Says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That  there will not be room enough to receive it.
        • Receptacle; dispenser - Psalm 112
        • God’s “if” has promise!

God always intended money to come to you so it can go thru you.

Story of wisdom for wealth in the givers life:

• Testimony of big investment that went wrong
• A giver receives wisdom to save him.
• Wealth isn’t always new money, sometimes it’s saved money.

Some of the blessing takes activation to receive…faith activates

• Ways to get there:
  • Remember all the resources are in you already
  • Prayer of who He is that lives in you
  • Praise before you see the victory
  • Practice what He’s called us to do in scripture

• He’s still lining you up right now.
  • He still has a plan to show His covenant in you, even if it doesn’t seem like the plan is taking affect.
  • He’s working it. You might even look behind in the natural, but God is working His plan. The worst thing you could do is get negative, complain, and give up.

Application:

• Do something different – put a seed in the ground so your “if” promise can grow.
• Dedicate some prayer time to just glorify God that His plan is taking place for you. He is coming around the bend in your situation, because Jesus lives within you!
  • As Pastor Tracy said last week, “The blessing is attracted to Jesus in you.”

Speaking the Word works

I just thought I would share a little good news in my life. I have been really praying and searching inward about my life’s calling and what I would be really good at, because I’m needing to make a career change. I’ve been struggling for quite some time with this tossing and turning inside myself to do something really profitable and moral at the same time. I was toying around with some ideas and just couldn’t decide what to do. I spoke to college counselors and friends asking advice about certain fields and still coming up sort of empty. Last year, I passed my real estate course at the very top of my class and took the state exam and passed it the very first time!! Not an easy task from what I have been told.

I started to venture out in real estate and quickly became discouraged and also lacked the finances to pay my board fees, etc. I chose to lay down the real estate career and just continue on with my current business. My business has continued to be profitable and has met our needs currently, but I just feel that there is more out there for me.

Last week, a reminder card came in the mail telling me that I have a course that I have to take in order to keep my license current for real estate and as I read it, I couldn’t help but wonder if I should take the course. I have been declaring God’s love for me over my life and telling God that I know he loves me and because he loves me, I have favor and grace and mercy and prosperity every day. I have also been asking God to reveal himself to me and speak audibly to me, because I have struggled with some indecisiveness. As I put this card into my Bible I said to myself, “I’m going to seek God and pray about this class.” My husband and I have been getting up every morning to pray over our lives and our children’s lives. We have never done this in the 7 1/2 years that we have been married. That in itself is a miracle!

The very next day after putting this card in my Bible, a local pastor that I have known for over 15 years called me and said I’ve been thinking about you for a couple of days now and wanted to call you and see how you are doing. Now this pastor is also a very profitable man, because he and his wife are both realtors and very busy!! Without me mentioning real estate to him, he began telling me why I need to continue my career as a realtor!! I think that was the audible voice that I’ve been praying for and the answer to my prayers as to what career change I needed to make!!!! We also have wanted to move closer to town and that has also been on our prayer list. As a realtor the thousands of dollars that we would save is unbelievable.

God has a plan to give me a hope and a future and to make me prosperous beyond my dreams. I just have to trust him and keep speaking his word into action! Thank you all for teaching us such tremendous things that remind us to speak into fruition what God wants us to have!

Three simple words

Three simple words.

God is good.
This afternoon I received some news that was not very good.  Following the
advice that I have learned from Life, I turned it over to God.
Within minutes of trusting that God would guide me as I prayed for a word to
stand on, I was interrupted by a page on my company cell phone. I did not
recognize the number, but the text was so simple, \”God is good\”.  Turning
back to my bible I opened to the book of John, chapter 14, Jesus, the Way to
the Father.

Trusting God; knowing that indeed God is good all the time, and accepting
that revelation is always in His timing are proven principles to build on.

I do not always understand why things happen, but I know without a doubt
that through faith understanding comes through believing.