FCC Etown Podcast

Day of Thanks is an exciting day at FCC. We set aside an entire morning of worship to celebrate all the wonderful things God has accomplished through FCC over the past year.

There is an illusion that somehow circumstances will produce permanent gratitude if I just have enough good things happen to me. That's fool's gold. The truth is, the root of joy is gratefulness. Joy doesn't make us grateful. Instead, gratitude makes us joyful.

During this series, we have declared: Consistency, Responsibility, Wisdom, Forgiving Spirit, Joy & Generosity. Any of these is a challenge by itself, but all six is a tall order. That’s why Stuart explained that we have to…

1. Set your mind because anything worthwhile is uphill. 
2. Surround yourself with a NO-QUIT TEAM.
3. Run for something bigger than you.

Your generosity is a matter of trust that spills all the way into eternity. When we are generous with what God is doing, we trust that He will do more with it than we thought possible. However, the second half of that trust is that we also trust that he will meet our needs, take care of what worries us, and even provide us with contentment that we haven’t been able to find on our own.

Perhaps life isn’t unfolding as you had thought it would. Maybe it’s falling apart. And you need wisdom more than you can imagine. And I promise you that God wants to give you wisdom. However, another part of it is that you are hanging around fools. And you keep asking for God’s help. And maybe God is saying. No. It’s up to you to surround yourself with the right people, walking with the wise to become wise.

Who are you blaming? You don't have the power to change that person, but you do have the power to take responsibility for your life. And it's gonna be hard, and it may take time, but I promise God will meet you there. Who are you blaming?

Where do you need to take responsibility instead of casting blame? Taking responsibility is not fun. It can hurt. But it's the only way you can move forward from "why me" to "what now?"

What's one thing you can do to be more spiritually consistent? Read your Bible every day? Pray every day? This seems very simple and very small, but small things done consistently trump big things done occasionally. You can want your life to change, and hope that it changes, or you can get intentional. 

Receive it with your ears, read it with your eyes, research it with your hands and mouth, review and remember with your mind, but don't miss the step to respond to it with your actions.

What are you going to do with this book? Is it just collecting dust in your life? Are you really using it? It’s not unreliable history, bad science, or implausible claims. The evidence is too strong.

The Bible is a miracle. Sixty-six books, written by 44 different authors over 1,500 years, yet it tells a coherent story. As amazing as the Bible is, it truly comes to life when we get to know the author.

Are you ALL IN for God right now? Not just when it’s easy. Not when it’s popular. But when it costs something. When it’s quiet, when no one else sees it, God is looking for Daniels. For people who don’t chase power or attention, but chase His presence. People who would rather stand alone with God than blend in without Him.

What do you do when God asks you to do something that doesn’t make sense?” You obey God when it doesn’t make sense. You ignore detractors and keep moving forward. Finally, you maximize opportunities while the doors are open. For 120 years, people had a chance to answer God’s call, but Genesis 7:16 tells us there came a time when God closed the door, and that was it. Learn from those folks and don’t miss your opportunity.

When you feel weak, remember that God sees a warrior in you. If your strength seems small to you right now and the odds seem stacked against you, we have a God of horns, jars, and torches. He is the God who makes walls fall. He makes armies run. He makes the Red Sea part and the sun stand still. He turns water into wine. He walks on the sea. He makes the blind see and the dead walk. That same God is for you.

What if the walls that protect your peace were crumbling, leaving you vulnerable to despair? Nehemiah, who, upon hearing about the devastated state of Jerusalem, is moved to action despite the daunting challenges ahead. He reveals the immense power of prayer, and how we can boldly trust in God, anchored by faith even when faced with adversity.