Good Fear Bad Fear (Video/Text)

http://www.lifeconnectionchurch.org

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:18

There are two attitudes of fear. The difference is in the motivation and in the results.

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
1 John 4:17

Good fear is respect. Because of the love you don’t want to disappoint.

Bad fear is worry.

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” Gen 3:10

Fear of God’s judgment keeps us from leaping into faith and love.

We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4:19

We can love boldly because God loves us.

Bold all-in love will produce acts of love.
God will know and people will see your attitude.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. 1 John 4:20-21

Love and respect motivated obedience is joyfully sacrificial obedience.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:1-3

The inherited nature of a child of God defeats evil with faith in God through Jesus Christ.

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5

Pastor Royal Farris of Life Connection Church in Euless, TX

Get Released From The Greatest Pressure (Video and Notes)

 

Jessica and Jerod’s “We’re Debt Free” Video … http://youtu.be/E34PqvqWUjk

I believe financial pressure is the greatest source of stress for Americans. It compounds the pressure of all other stress. In order to feel peace and contentment one has to live within the financial margins and get free from debt.

Breaking Point – The point at which a person
collapses under stress.

True wisdom comes from the realization of the brevity of life and making the most of the time God allows.

LEAP – Listen – Engage – Apply – Produce

13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. Luke 16:13-14

MYTH: Our culture tells us if we raise our standard of
living we will improve our quality of life.

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Tim 6:9-10

TRUTH: You raise your quality of life with discipline.

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 1 Tim 6:11

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10

How To Release The Pressure

1) Choose Jesus over money.

You will change your lifestyle.

2) Choose what percentage to your income to live on.

80% – 10% – 10%

3) Choose to watch your money for two months.

Keep up with every penny spent.

4) Choose to cut your spending.

5) Choose to get out of debt.

Set a goal and work it.

Recommendation: The Total Money Makeover
By Dave Ramsey

Note To LCCers – Releasing The Greatest Pressure

Dear Friends and Family of LCC,

I was just watching a video by LCCers Jessica and Jerod from the day they paid off their debt. Wow. Their story is incredible. In just two years they achieved their goal of being debt free. What a commitment to God, each other, and to the lifestyle adjustments they needed to make to get the job done.

We are going to show part of their story on Sunday morning. Most of us can relate to the pressure they were under and you will be encouraged to see the emotional relief they felt when they made that last payment….

I believe that debt can be one of the greatest pressures we have in our culture. No matter what is going on in your life, good or bad, financial pressure can really take you to your breaking point.

Most people believe that if they raise their standard of living, their quality of life will improve. That is just not true. We all know people who have awesome stuff and terrible marriages.

Most people try to live on 100% or more of what they earn. That lack of margin is very stressful no matter how much money one makes.

Congratulations Jerod and Jessica on getting that huge weight off your shoulders. You have a freedom that most people don’t have. You, and not your debtors, determine what you can do with the money God has given you.

This Sunday, I am teaching part 3 of “Breaking Point – How To Stay Unbroken” . The title is “Releasing The Greatest Pressure”.

This won’t be a message on tithing. It will be a message on how to improve your quality of life by learning how to better manage your money.

Don’t miss it … 9:15 or 11:00 … Bring a friend.

I am looking forward to Sunday and I hope to see you. If you have not been to church in awhile, I promise you will be blessed.

May God Bless you more than you could ever imagine.

Royal

Your Brotha from anotha motha
RoyalNot

Note To LCC – Do You Poop Out At Parties?

Dear Friends and Family of LCC,

Have you ever had trouble with managing your time?
Do you sometimes just feel overwhelmed?
When someone asks how are you doing, do you often answer, “Busy”?
Do you catch yourself calling people and telling them you are going to be about fifteen minutes late?
Do you have trouble telling people no?
Are you a procrastinator?
Do you poop out at parties? (HaHa Lucille Ball)

I just searched amazon.com for books on time management. I got hundreds of hits.

As a counselor and a pastor I love that the answers to life’s problems are in the Bible. They really are.

This Sunday I will be teaching Part 2 of “Breaking Point”. We are going to look at one of the oldest writings in God’s Word written by a very wise man that lived a long time. The message title is “How To Best Manage My Time”.

I really think we can all learn a lesson on time management that will change our lives.

Don’t miss it … 9:15 or 11:00 … Bring a friend.

If you missed part 1, the video and notes are here .. Breaking Point Pt 1

I am looking forward to Sunday and I hope to see you. If you have not been to church in awhile, I promise you will be blessed.

May God Bless you more than you could ever imagine.
Your Brotha from anotha motha
Royal

How To Stay Away From The Edge of Your Breaking Point (Video/Notes)

Four part series: Breaking Point – How To Stay Unbroken
http://www.lifeconnectionchurch.org
“
So don’t worry (stress) about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matt 6:31-33

God knows it is our nature to fear and not trust.

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matt 26:41
Breaking Point – The point at which a person
collapses under stress.

Margin – space between mental, physical, relational
And spiritual health and the edge of your
Breaking point.

If you live on the edge, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness will break you. There is no room for error or unexpected bumps in the road.

God Built Margin Into The Rules

1) Faith is living within the margins and trusting God for the results.

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. Pro 29:25

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. 1 Pet 4:19

2) God put Rest is in the rules.

They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. Exo 16:9

3) Live on less than you make.

You can give to God.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Mal 3:10

You can help others.

“When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do. Deut 24:19

4) Put God and His will first.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matt 6:33

Royal Farris

10 Ways To Lose Your Joy and How To Get It Back

http://www.lifeconnectionchurch.org
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Luke 2:10-11

Joy is a condition of the heart that is the result of accepting Christ as Savior, relying on the leading of the Holy Spirit, trusting God in all situations.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:3

Ten Ways to Lose Your Joy?

1. Believe I can earn God’s favor.
2. Believe life should be fair…
3. Believe I can’t change.
4. Believe “If I just had _____” I would be happy.
5. Believe there are reasons for not forgiving.
6. Believe if I pray hard enough “it” will happen.
7. Believe if I just have enough faith “it” will happen
8. Believe people should love me unconditionally.
9. Believe another person should make me happy.
10. Believe I am in control.

Bonus: Believe it’s all about me.

How To Be Joy-Full

1. Be brand new in Christ.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. Rom 5:18-19

2. Stay close to Christ. (Abide)
Spiritually, Mentally, Physically

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. John 15:4-6

3. Mature in faith and wisdom through obedience.

The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. Luke 8:13

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:10-12
4. Finish … Finish … Finish well

Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4

Royal Farris at LIfe Connection Chruch

Why I Love My Mr Coffee

I really enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning.  Actually, when I have the time and I am working at home, I love a full pot of coffee in the morning, throughout the morning, and sometimes into the afternoon.

So I love my “Mr Coffee” 10 cup coffeemaker with a thermal carafe.  I love waking up in the morning to the sound and the smell of it brewing.

I have worn out two of them over the years.  Coming into the Christmas season my latest coffeemaker was on its last leg so when the kids asked me what I wanted for Christmas … Well you know.  I got what I asked for and  I awoke this morning to the smell and sound of coffee brewing in my one week old Mr Coffee.

I have received gifts over the years that I never did use very much.  Some … never.  Some of them I thought I wanted but found out after receiving them … not really.

You don’t get much out of a gift when you don’t use it.  The value of a gift is what you get out of it.

The greatest gift I ever received was from God.  Although, at first I didn’t realize.

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

God gave us eternal life.  I received that gift, at least I thought I had, when I was in seventh grade.  It’s easy to tell I did not put much value in it because I didn’t use it.  Well, maybe I used it a little, but not like I use my coffeemaker.

I went for years barely taking my eternal life gift out of the closet.  I never really learned how to use it.  To me the value of the eternal life would come at the end of this life.  I found out later.  Boy was I wrong.

Eternal life starts now.  It’s a new life.  But you have to use it to understand it and you have to receive it to use it.

Something clicked in my Spirit when i was in my mid-twenties.  I got it, and I started using my eternal life gift every day.

I soon realized that the eternal life I thought was for after this life actually makes this life so much better.  When the eternal life gift is received and used now, your current life becomes;

• A meaningful life
• A valuable life
• A loving life
• A joyful life
• A full life
• A content life
• A patient life
• A kind life
• A faithful life
• A life of self-control
• A guilt free life

The more I use my eternal life gift, the more valuable it becomes to me.

And it never gets old and worn out.  The more you use it, the better it gets.

How about you?  Have you received the gift?  Do you keep it in the closet most the time or do you use it every day?

We just started a new year.  What a great day it is to start a new life.