Who do You See When You Look into a Mirror?

Have you ever really looked at yourself in a mirror?  Of course you have!  But what I mean is this;  Have you ever just stood and stared and said, "Who am I?  
You know, most of us look into a mirror everyday.... we get ready for work and we comb our hair.... brush our teeth... shave..... put on makeup..... etc.  But all of this is just superficial.  Stuff that doesn't last.... we have to continue to do it everyday.... and everyday we keep looking into that mirror.  And for a lot of people they don't like what they see when they look into a mirror.


Did you know that plastic surgery is big business these days?  So many people want to change the way they look..... "I want to get my nose fixed"......  "I want my cheek bones done."......you know the story.... so on, and so on it goes.  But I want to ask you something;  Why don't we like what we see?  Or, why DO we like what we see?

Last Sunday I preached from Philippians chapter 2..... and it says this;  

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.   ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Verse 5 says we are to have the same mindset, or attitude as Jesus.... what kind of attitude did He have?  Paul tells us.... He was an encourager; He was a comforter; He was tender and compassionate; Jesus put others above Himself;  He was interested in what was going on in the life of other people and was willing to even go to a cross for us.  Now that is an example of what we should look like!!!

So I want to challenge you with this thought. 

When you look into a mirror from now on.... don't just look at the physical.
Start asking yourself every morning.....

• "Do I have the same mindset as Christ?"  
• "Am I putting others ahead of my needs?"
• "Am I an encourager, or do I bring people down?"
• "Do I show compassion and tenderness to others, or am I mean and disrespectful?"

Next Sunday (September 4th,) I will be preaching part 2 of the message I started last week.  We're going to see more of what Jesus did from the rest of the verses in Philippians 2.  You won't want to miss the "Rest of the Story."

I would really like to see us pack the church... God says He wants His house to be full.... would you be willing to ask someone to come to Church with you this week???  Please do.... Let's get 300 people in attendance.

Have a great week.... and thank you for all your prayers over the past several months.... God has answered them... and I am finally on the upswing and feeling pretty good.   It was really good to be back in the pulpit Sunday.   God is Good!  All the Time!

In Christ's Love

Jeff

What the Manager Sees

Good Morning from the Dugout.

It's about 3:30 am and as I write this I am in the hospital at IOH in Indianapolis for the third time with complications with my foot.  I should get to go home in the morning.... or at least some time on Thursday... but we'll see. 

It seems like I've been spending most of my summer either in the hospital, or sitting at home, just waiting for this foot thing to get better.  I must say it has given me the opportunity for a lot of soul searching and reflection upon my life and ministry.

I hate nothing worse than being on the sidelines... but I have learned so much... and I have so much more to learn.  Waiting on God is a biggy... and patience has never been my strong suit.  I just keep remembering the verse that says;  those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strentgh.  Well, that's exactly what I'm doing, waiting, and renewing!

I want to say first of all.... thank you to those of you who have risen up and come out of your comfort zones to fill some void we have had in our church.  God has done a tremendous work through you.  If for no other reason to be sidelined it has been worth it just to see what God has done in your lives.  As a manager watching his players from the dugout... it has been so great to see players develop into great athletics for God. 

In the last few months God has been showing me some things about Eagle Harvest. I believe He has something great in store for His Church.  I cannot wait to see what it is.... that is why I am waiting and renewing.  So far I have been waiting.... wondering WHY?  Now I understand the Why... and I'm in the process of letting God do the re-newing.

So, with all of that said, get ready.... It's about time!!!  God is ready to do something tremendous and He wants to use ME and YOU!!!  Are you ready???

Jeff