God wants to get you where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go. Isn't that a peaceful statement! Ephesians 2.10 says that you and I are God's poeme (His poetry... His workmanship... His creativity) created in Christ for good works; works that God has ordained in advance for you. That means that my primary role is to get to know His heart. I have this huge role of discovering an ever-increasing depth of the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. God wants to get me there! He wants to get me there more than I want to get there! I love Him for that. (and a plethora of other reasons!)

So, the urgency and passion of our lives really centers on seeking Him. I mean, I woke up this morning and actually thought, "God wants to do something AMAZING today!" As I seek Him and as I get to know Him, I unleash more and more expectancy about what He is doing and how He is moving. I am actually tuning my life to the rhythm of His grace.

So, here's our role. It's found in Colossians 4.2... Your role is to devote yourself to prayer and seeking to know the Word, who put on flesh and chose to live among us... the Word who is filled with grace and with truth. Really! That's what you are to do. To radically commit your life and your mind and your love and your strength to getting to know the Word. Devote yourself to being watchful.

People who are devoted to being watchful see further than others see; see things before others see them; and see things that others don't see. People who are devoted to seeking and seeing God just don't miss God-ordained opportunities. Those of us who live prayer-less lives are opportunity blind. I want to be 20/20 as it comes to being in the middle of God-opportunities to live out God's greatest glory!

Let's 'make the most of every opportunity.' - Col 4.5 Let's move toward God and watch as He moves us toward His purposes and His life and His ways. Our lives, attuned to God's heart and mobilized by His action could be revolutionary!

Mustard seed opportunities growing into a bush that BECOMES a tree! We are oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

Enjoy today. Feel free to comment by clicking below.

By Grace.... for Glory,

Mark

Sitting on the stage with Bruce was good. I have known Bruce for a long time. A really long time. I mean, I watched Betsy take her first step. Two weeks ago, I walked across the Auburn University campus with Betsy where she is a freshman! I love sitting in front of Emmanuel with a friend, who also happens to be a lion chaser! It seemed to me that Bruce was actually sharing a hope and challenge with the Emmanuel family. It also was pretty clear to me that our ability to pull off this challenge just does not exist. But, God......

Bruce was inviting us.. EBC... little ole' us to become the Strategy Planners for the NW corner of Brazil. There is no other 'they' in this equation. It's us and Jesus! That's a good team. Over the next year, we will discern and discover what that partnership looks like and how God might be inviting us to join Him in this massive endeavor. As I listened, I realized that this endeavor supersedes my lifetime, but its a lion worth chasing for the rest of my days!

A quick demographical consideration of that area tells us that only 2% of the population have heard of the grace and love of Jesus Christ. We are being invited to launch a church planting movement across that region that could be simply remarkable. As Bruce shared his vision.... a church within a days walking distance of every person in that region, I was gripped. People walking 4 - 6 hours, one-way, in order to encounter Christ with fellow followers! My imagination was running. My heart racing.

I love strategy... I love impact! I was envisioning this web of indigenous leaders who are in the floresta (jungle), who make their way to the two larger churches in the region. I can 'see' them walking into rich environments of worship (from the EBC team leaders) and having our small group leaders equip and train them in sharing in 'house church'. I see our students walking in the 'interior' and leading children and students to worship... to worship the living God. My children and my grandchildren in this huge endeavor of reaching an unreached people group. A fresh vision was planted. It's a lion chasing vision! A 500 lb beast that could devour us, but God.....

Also, yesterday was so amazing as Carrie and her team led us in worship. Her body and mind might be 'radiated', but her soul and passion was radiating the majesty and wonder of our God! She led us in worship... From the fist-pumping "Oh, Happy Day" to sharing in her story and her song, which are actually His story and His song. I love Carrie. I love that she leads us to worship the living God. I love that she brings the Word alive by action and by deed. (Carrie, I love that you love the book of James and that you are living that book right now!)

It seems that Emmanuel continues to be on the cusp of a God-sized revolution. Is is possible that the revolution might stem from allowing a fraction of a verse to makes its way into our DNA? Paul says, make the MOST of every opportunity. (Col 4.5) Every opportunity to find satisfaction in Christ, make the most of it. Every opportunity to revel in His glory... yeah, make the most of it. Every opportunity to amplify the name and fame of Jesus Christ, make the MOST of those moments! They are divine.

If we follow Paul's challenge, then we will be a people who have planted the seed of Christ in our lives and grown into bushes. But Christ might actually implement the remarkable... changing our very DNA and allowing us to become trees... Oaks of righteousness for the display of His splendor! That would be ridiculous. I am asking God to grow a body of Christ who are trees...oaks... for His glory alone... His name alone.... His fame alone.... Him.... All for Him!

Make the most of every opportunity. That could just change nations! Yeah!! I want to chase that lion. I want to grow. I want, by the grace of God, to become a tree through which many find life. I want to be surrounded by fellow trees! Let's fall in love with Him, together!

I love you guys. I love hanging out with a bunch of bushes who might just become trees.

By Grace... For Glory,
Mark

Jesus is amazing. He actually says, in Matthew 13.31 - 32, that our lives might have a shot at growing into a mustard tree. Given that a mustard tree is actually a relatively small bush, it's really not that impressive. It's definitely not indicative of the oak tree that is on the image above. It's a bush. So, Jesus says that we get a shot at becoming a bush!

You know, I'm not sure that I've nailed this or that I know exactly what He was saying. But, it's pretty amazing to think that, when planted in Christ, we might actually become someone and do some things that are utterly impossible apart from Him. He actually says that a bush (a mustard tree) might actually become a place that is a feeding ground and a resting place for those that pass by. He actually says that a 'bush' might actually become the largest of trees.

Jesus uses the foolish to confound the wise. He uses the lowly... the humble.... the simple.....the meek.... the desperate. He uses the weak to shame the strong. (1 Cor 1.26)

I don't mind being a bush. A simple person who really doesn't have a shot at eternal impact apart from Christ, when planted in Him can live, move and have being immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine! A bush that becomes a tree is impossible. A bush that becomes a tree that feeds others is confounding. A bush that becomes a tree that feeds others boasts solely in the field in which He is planted.

Let him who boasts boast in the living God. Let him boast in Jesus alone. I boast loudly in Christ. I want to live in such a way that my life is inexplicable! It just doesn't make sense. I want people to actually say, 'how in the heck did that bush just do THAT!'

The cry of the bush, "Jesus! It's Jesus Christ!! I boast in Jesus!! I just did THAT, because I am planted in Jesus!!!"

So, I'm not so audacious as to wake up today and to fail to realize that I have to converse with Christ. I am not audacious enough to fail to recognize that I desperately need His Word. I can do nothing apart from Him... His life.... His passion... His focus.... Him, living and flowing through me. I would be a bush apart from Him. But, in Him.......

It's Christ in you, your hope of glory! (Col 1.27) Oh, Happy Day!

By Grace... For Glory,

Mark

This past week has been interesting. I have shared much life with a friend. Our families have had kids together... watched them grow up.... enjoyed hanging out in small group and sharing Christ-life for 8+ years.... and, for the past 2 years, enjoyed advancing this incredible message of Christ in the life of Emmanuel as staff teammates. Carrie has orchestrated our worship encounters for the past two years and the word 'amazing' doesn't suffice in describing the encounters that she has intiated in order that we might engage God. To receive her phone call and to have her share that she is entering a significant battle with cancer was rattling. I love working with Carrie! I love dreaming church. I love that our kids are sharing life. I love Jeff (her hubby). I love them. So, what in the heck do you do when you hear news like that. For me, I got a little dizzy for a few seconds. Then, I prayed. Then, I gathered our team of leaders at EBC and we sat in a room together in silence. Followed by a few prayerful utterances. Then silence. I think that God knew our heart in the midst of the silence. You know, my dad is smart. He also loves God. He gave a great piece of advice when he said, 'let's assault heaven on Carrie's behalf.' That's what we are doing and will do. If you are reading this, then why not pull out your journal and jot Carrie's name in a prominent spot and pray for her. She leads people to worship. She loves her husband. She has three amazing kids. We want to keep her around for quite awhile.

The day after the news, our staff team was scheduled to head to ATL for the Catalyst Conference. We went. It was right. I don't think that I will even attempt to type what the time meant to me and to our team. A few random thoughts might be enough..... it is so fresh to hang out with people that you do ministry with. I love that I love our team. It is utterly amazing to sit with 12,000 leaders of this movement called the Kingdom of God and to rend our hearts toward heaven.... it's good to fill our minds and our hearts with anticipatory longing for His church called Emmanuel.... it's good to meet a guy named Chuck and get to spend two days worshipping with him and to hear his heart for families... it's good to laugh, cry, be challenged, and to, ultimately, worship Jesus Christ! Catalyst was good. The EBC family sends their staff team to this event every year. I love that you guys love us. I love that you support your staff team as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Then, we rolled back home and had an incredible weekend at Emmanuel. Incredible. The Worship was charged. The challenge, from Luke 12, was intense. Really, I want to use all that God has given me as a stewardship of His. All that I have is His. I want people to see my life and KNOW that God, and not possessions, are my joy and my sustenance. In the land of 'more', may people see in us that Christ is ENOUGH!!

The end of the service was the kicker. Rick felt compelled by God, in response to Carrie's diagnosis and the plethora of hurts around EBC, to sing Tomlin's revision of Amazing Grace. It was beautiful and God took much glory in that moment. Settle your heart in the refrain: My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, My Savior has rescued me. And like a flood, His mercy rains. Unending love, Amazing grace.

It was in interesting week. Here's what I know: God is faithful and I trust Him. He is good. Here's what I don't know: Why some things happen and what the outcome might be. I just know that I want to assault heaven for the sake of knowing Him and being well known by Him, and watching as He transforms life, mind, heart, and the circumstances of those around me.

I love God! If a small portion of my life can be catalytic in drawing others toward Him, I think that will be good.

Feel free to add a comment by clicking below.

By Grace... For Glory,
Mark

Fresh... that is what I felt as I walked out of Encounter yesterday. It was fresh. You know, having our students lead me straight toward Christ is ripe. It is right on! Our student band simply went off yesterday. They went off over Christ... they went off in leading us toward Him... they went off in leading me to fall in more in love with Him. Yep, it was good! I think that I wanted to lay everything out before Christ and to say to Him, I am Yours. I mean, totally and absolutely, I am Yours. You, Jesus Christ, are the solution. You alone. Yet, I know the solution and I want to be the hands and feet of Christ to lead others straight toward that solution. As we ended all three services yesterday, my heart was bending in that direction. God, be the solution. God, if you don't mind, I would love to be in the mix as You offer Your fame and Your character all over this earth. Please, let me have some small role in elevating Christ.

Perhaps the most amazing moment yesterday happened in the middle (9:50)Encounter. I was sitting on the front row and Lexi rolled up beside me. Lexi is in elementary school and she was recently baptized as a Christ-follower. I was feeling really good about standing with her and I leaned down and asked her, 'did you come to hang out with me?' I LOVE her answer! She said, 'nope, I came to watch the band.' This was poignant because... Lexi has never come to hang out with me up front... I actually used a poster board in the service that Lexi gave me that thanked me for baptizing her.... She didn't know that I was going to use that poster. It was one of those beautifully God-orchestrated moments. So, here I am talking about making space for more kids and leading them toward Christ. Here's Lexi, who has embraced Christ this year, rolling down front to watch our students lead her toward Him. It's almost one of those 'you had to be there' moments. But, as you read about it, it's still sweet! 3 generations... me, the old one... our student band... and Lexi.... all discovering more of God; leading each other after God; and displaying what it means when one generation tells the next generation about the wonder of God.

As Luke 12.21 challenges me, I want to 'store' much of that in my life and in the life of Emmanuel. May we be well known as a fellowship who stores much of Christ and gives much of Him away. That will be good.

Feel free to comment.

For the Glory,

Mark