therstblog

Lord i stand before you once again

im so glad that i know you understand
i done everything i know how to do
and as usual i end up crying out to you
i tried so hard to do my best
but i dont feel like i’ll make it through this test
i cant remember feeling so much pain
and my tears keep falling like the pouring rain
i try to force myself to wear a smile but its just not there
this pain im feeling deep inside my heart seems so unfair
it really feels like i wont make it through another day
so i stand before you with a broken heart and all i can say is
precious Lord please
take my hand
(do you know what im talking about out there)
(please Lord)
help me stand (help me to stand,please help me now)

see i cant front Lord standing here today

cause i stumbled here there along the way

im praying even as i sing this song Lord
for my breakthrough i hope it wont be to long
i try to force myself to wear a smile but its just not there
this pain im feeling deep down inside my heart seem so unfair
this time i feel like i wont make it through another day
so i come before you with a broken heart and all i can say is
precious Lord ehhh….
take my hand
(would you do that,would you please do that for me)
(lead me on,lead me on
help me stand (help me to stand,help me to stand)
deep down i know you will come through
thats why im reaching,reaching out to you

cause i need to feel your loving arms again

and when i feel your loving touch thats when
i’ll be ok,i will be ok i will make it it you take my hand
take my hand (repeat 3x’s)

Lead:
lead me on lead me on Lord
i wont make it without you Jesus
i wont make it without you

Choir:
hold me (repeat 2x’s)

Lead:
hold me (please hold me)
cause im standing here and i need your touch

Choir:
take my hand (repeat 3x’s)

Lead:
i wont make it another day
cause i tried it my way
but these tears keep falling
and this pain keeps growing
hold me

Choir:
hold me (repeat)

Lead:
and if i know your holding me then i can count on this
i know my breakthrough is on the way

Choir:
breakthrough

Lead:
i can rest assure
with tears in my eyes
i can stand my ground
and i can say hold me Jesus
help me Jesus
hear it is
say it like you mean it yeah like you mean it
my situation might still be the same
but im counting on you
i know you’ll come through i know you will
gotta say yes

Choir:
yes (repeat till end)

Lead:
my flesh will say yes
my tears will say yes
my heart will say yes
my change is on the way
and your change is on the way
breakthrough,breakthrough

Fred Hammond- “Take My Hand”, *emphasis mine

OK!, you’ve asked, wondered & some have even questioned, so here it is…

The “plan” for us to make peculiarplace church a reality & more importantly the church that God is building to come along side & partner with the communities of Old Fourth Ward & Inman Park for transformation like never before!!

What we need from you, yes you: pray, review, see what, if any, role you can play, pray, spread the word, GIVE, volunteer, help us brainstorm & stay true to the vision of “making Jesus famous through the way we LIVE, LOVE, & GIVE, then PRAY that God’s perfect Will will be done in these two communities through His church!

LET’S GO!!

March-April
Enlist 9 additional core team members (25 Total)
• Possible core team friends
• Spending more time in neighborhood gathering places
• Initiating intentional conversations with neighbors
• Continue to meet on Sunday evenings
• Launch 20forone.com as a portal for people to partner w ppc in prayer & finances.
• Open ppc bank account

May
Prepare for summer activities
• Community leader development
• Promotion of events
• Finalize event venues
• Secure event material and equipment

June-July
Enlist 25 additional core team members (50 Total)
• Intentionally converse with summer event participants
• Redesign and redefine communication portals
• Introduce ministry and communication portals to participants
• Request feedback from participants
• Follow up on feedback
Facilitate Summer Events
• Manage and strategically use power plant and splash teams
• Lead teams to conduct surveys
• Lead teams to prayer walk
• Lead teams to perform clean-ups
• Lead teams to minister to nursing home residents
• Lead splash team to create a dog celebration
• Offer summer movies for community

June-August
Prepare for launch service
• Finalize use of facility for church services
• Secure all decorations for nursery
• Purchase tunnel prop for children service
• Construct a divider for the children area
• Request 75 chairs from churches
• Enlist musicians
• Secure $1000 for first month’s rent and launch service expenses
• Design materials for launch service
• Advertize launch service
• Worship rehearsals
• Conduct a preview service on August 29th

LAUNCH SUNDAY: SEPTEMBER 12

Personal Goals
• Locate less expensive place to live
• Complete assessment
• Complete basic training
• Prepare to preach weekly
• Meet financial commitments
• Stop worrying and don’t give into fear

WOW! That quietly sums up the amazing time Esther and I had this past weekend as we traveled to Fort Mill, SC for the Global Impact Celebration of First Baptist Church Fort Mill. I am still processing and unpacking all that we have seen, experienced and learned.

We made some incredible new friendships that i pray last a lifetime. Our host family, The Collins, were the most gracious host. We laughed, we ate, we cried, we shared, we received and we gave. They have two teenage boys, David and Kevin who are on FIRE for God. Two dogs who had me wrapped around their paws. They have set the bar really high for us the next time we have to serve or have anyone spending any time with us.

We also had the priviledge of sharing lunch with a pastor and soul-winner whose ministry and church is single handedly responsible for transforming Downtown, inner city-the hood, Memphis, Tenn. Over the last 23+ years they have seen over 45,000 people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. He, Pastor Ronnie, is responsible for several Gangsta Disciple leaders giving their life to Christ. We sat at the dining table of the Collins family as he shared his heart, passion and wisdom about inner city ministry and how it is our responsibility to share Christ with those who are far from God.I am truly greatful for his desire to spend time with us, and to want to impart and share with us. For that I am truly greatful!

Again, i am still unpacking all that I got from this trip. I am seeking God for direction and for our next step. But what I know and don’t have to pray about is that the Gospel transforms lives, communities and cities if shared properly!!!

The family at FBCFM were the MOST gracious and loving people we may have ever spent time with. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed with open arms. We were loved on and made to feel loved all weekend.

We were one of two church planter families there. There were also missionaries there from Brazil, Nicaragua, Africa, Asia, Indonesia and so many other places.

We made some new friends, which we pray become partners!

I just want to thank everyone involved in getting us involved in this adventure, and our new friends and family at FBCFM!! We look forward to big things in the very near future!!!

I don’t know where I’d be if were not for Him. We here this in so many different places in different languages & from different people, but what does it really mean?

For me, well it means that if it were not for an encounter with Christ I would STILL be lost, STILL on my way to plundering my future, STILL stuck in sin, STILL living for me & not Him & STILL alone.

“I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken..”, writes King David. Jesus prayed that you & I would be one with Him as He was one with THE Father. How much more could we ask for. What else should we pray for. Will you allow THIS prayer to go unanswered? We do everyday, that we do not sit, listen & bask in His presence!

Apart from God, I am NOTHING! No, not just lip service, not just guilt speaking through the lens of redemption, but I am NOTHING without Him! In other words, I encourage YOU to spend quality time IN HIS PRESENCE!!

Excuses are like ________, everybody has one. I’m sure you can fill in the blank. This may just be one of the hardest, but freeing post I’ve ever written, but here goes…

The reality is that I have fallen & am fortunate to say that I was able to get up.

I fell victim to not trusting God, I fell victim to the idea that my dreams & vision was contingent on “where” I was planting His church, I allowed the fear & excuses of others to become my own & lastly I believed that “the city” was larger than my God.

Today is a new day! I have decided that God can… It’s as simple as that & God will!! As large as my faith, He will deliver, as much trust as I put in Him He will provide!

Peculiarplace church WILL NOT be bound by the perceptions, fear or history of church planting in “the city”, nor will I make another excuse for me not trusting Him to be bigger than any city, community, any circumstance, situation or problem!

God IS! He is alive and well! He is the king of kings & the lord of lords! Period!!!

He called us to be fishers of men, not make excuses about why men weren’t accepting of the bait or why the lake was not producing a “catch”. We cannot drop our nets if we won’t even get in the boat!!!!!

September 12th of 2010 is the date set aside & asigned to the launch of peculiarplace church!! PERIOD!!

Love ya!!