Is This For Real?

It's been awhile. Again. So here goes the random information/updates/commentary.

I don't know about you but I've been so blessed by the happenings at TurningPoint. Daily, weekly, monthly. I, personally, have found my sweet spot for serving. And love it! I'm being challenged to develop a personal growth plan for leadership through our leadership meetings. I'm meeting new, and very sweet and dear friends that surprise you for your birthday. Two ARE better together. I am loving getting to hear the kids come out from Kidzpoint after service simply raving about how much fun they had in Elementary/Junior. I'm enjoying learning from the leaders around me as well.

God is teaching me through His word, His leaders, through required scripture memorization and educational reading, through the example of those I serve with and those that are in leadership positions, through my husband, through meeting new people and expanding my comfort zone. I can honestly say I've had genuine and awesome worship by myself on my way to work, and on Sunday morning at our service. I say all of this to say that, for sure, church isn't boring!

Our connect group has been growing/changing/growing through the Snow, Pit, Lion book we've been reading. I talked about it a bit on my personal blog, as it's challenged me to a life change. People are finally admitting their secret dreams/passions out loud. People are sharing their faith with family members. People are loving on other people. People are becoming better, and pursuing the best for themselves, as they know that God's way is way better than anything they've done themselves or could do on their own. There is nothing better than seeing God working in people's lives!

At our last leadership meeting, we got to hear the numbers:

Average weekly attendance: 177 (200 people last week, 45 in the kids ministry)

Average weekly giving: over $4000

If everybody who comes in one month all came to one service, we wouldn't be able to fit everyone in the auditorium. A regular attender, at this stage in a church life, is someone who comes twice a month. In other words, we have way more people that are regular attenders than you see on one Sunday morning. God is so good and it's so fun to be a part of His work.

This Sunday may prove to be the "biggest Sunday ever" at TurningPoint Church, if you've accepted the invitation/joined the group on Facebook. Tshirts to the first 200 people. A surprise of some sort as well. I'm sure if we've got big things planned, God's will definitely one-up ours. I'm excited to be there for the excitement!

As always, make the ask. I'm in awe of the people who wouldn't come before, but are coming to church now. Family members, especially. Sons, cousins, and parents. I. Love. It.

Catching Up

A little bid behind on the posting here. My apologies. Hope everyone had a happy Easter. It was a bit eventful in the kids ministry at church & I wasn't in service, so I don't really know what all went on. I do know from watching on the TV in the family room, and the communications afterwards, that it must have been awesome. Last week 30 people committed their lives to Christ. AMEN - sure helps you remember why we do what we do over in the kids ministry, particularly with the tiny ones. We've had people making decisions to committ their lives to Christ each week at TurningPoint since the launch. God is good and man, are we excited to be a part of it!

Today was probably the biggest Sunday since the launch. I almost had to have an usher find me a seat in the auditorium when I went in late after doing Check In at Kidzpoint. Our new series, called Baggage, has provided a real gut check so far. Our pastors have gotten quite honest through their messages and that's opening doors for others to just get real about what they're dealing with in their personal lives. I mean, let's all be honest here: we all have quirks and issues that we deal with daily, and now we're asking you to TALK ABOUT IT! Hard but good.

The message this morning was about addiction, and mentioned all the "big ones" like alcohol, money, and pornography. But underneath it all is often approval addiction, which we all struggle with to some extent. Loved the response method today that provided scripture verses to be taped to your mirror telling you who God says you are in His word. I've learned over the past couple of years that if you don't fill your mind with what God says, it will be filled by that awful little voice in your head and Satan's lies. Believing the lies will prevent you from realizing your potential in who God created you to be and you'll be missing out!

Next week we will be talking about depression during the message. I can say I'm interested to hear this because about a month or 2 ago I struggle with some sort of funk and started wondering about depression. My struggles were more with anxiety than depression, more to do with the devil than a mood altering event or situation. I know others who are going through that right now, and again I just reiterate reading what God's word says about you and who you are. After all, you were worth Christ dying - that's a lot.

We will be meeting with our connect group this week. Details to come via email/text/blog. Happy Sunday and come to Next Steps tonight at 6pm at church!

Sunday's Coming

My boss introduced me to this video a couple years ago. And every year I like to watch it. Well, listening to it is even better. Love this man's voice, full of passion, conviction...and joy.

"Enjoy" your Good Friday - because Sunday's coming. And we are going to celebrate!

Upcoming Events:

EASTER Sunday - 10am TurningPoint Church

We're starting the new series "Baggage: Live Free. Travel Light"

NO Next Steps on Easter Sunday night

Next Connect Group - we're trying to find a day next week to just get together to hang out/eat & it may be on a different day. Stay tuned to your emails!

NEXT Sunday 4/15/12 starts the next rotation of Next Steps classes

Next Steps 101 is the membership class

It IS Personal

Another awesome challenge from The Skit Guys for Easter. What does Easter mean to you? To others? To the world?

Does it seem like another holiday? Like just a day to go to church? Is it about somebody else or what it means to you?

Is it personal? Is your relationship with Jesus personal? Have you accepted the grace, mercy and forgiveness He offers for free in turn for you to admit you are a sinner, confess your sin and turn from it and believe that He is the one and only thus making Him master of your life. 

Make Easter personal this year - personally invite someone, personally read the accounts of "on the way to the cross" in scripture, personally thank God for sending His son to die so that we may live eternally.