If I could share just one thing with you…

What would it be?
Lots of choice, the Gospel is obvious but lets say we’ve covered that.

Just one thing?
Really?

So if I choose one, that means I can’t tell you about:

My faith and how important that is to me.
My wife and how much our marriage thrills me.
My kids and the (good) pride I gush with when I think of them.
My family and how much I love them.
Our church, how I know after just one visit you would be hooked on it, like me.
Our leadership team how year upon year they give themselves to a cause bigger than themselves.
Our church family who serve and give and love without ceasing.
My friends who help to keep it all real.

If I could share just one thing with you…
Just one thing?
REALLY???

I guess it would have to be:

” will you visit our church with me over Christmas?”

Because if you did that…

You would hear the gospel shared for sure.
You would meet my wife and understand why I’m so thrilled to be married to her.
You would see our kids, I would see yours and we’d both “get it.”
Family: ditto
My obsession would become our obsession.
Our leadership team, our church family would blow you away by serving you and loving you tirelessly.
You would never be quite the same again.

So, will you? Would you?

By the way if you think you are too far away, think again. Wherever you are, we aren’t far away.

Someone said it this way: ” come with us! We will do you good.” ( his name was Joshua)

So we got there, I managed it, you can share plenty by simply sharing just one thing.

Go for it!

CD
destiny-church.com

The Gift

What is the best gift you ever received?

Ever?

Maybe it’s something that is long lost to you these days.
Maybe you have a pain attached to it as you remember the day it got damaged in some way.
Maybe you still have it.
Maybe it’s in your attic, still in original packaging, to precious to mess with.
Maybe it’s even more special these days because the person who gave it to you isn’t around anymore to appreciate it with you.
What is it?
Maybe you can’t think of one, ok, what is your most precious memory?
Is it associated with Christmas or some other time?
Are you reliving it right now?

Every good thing you ever received or can remember … Was a gift.

I don’t know if you know it or not.
If you appreciate it or not.
If you accepted it or not.

God has given you a gift.

” She will give birth to a son. You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

God offers the free gift of salvation and forgiveness and relationship and meaning and purpose to anyone who will accept it.

Even if it’s long lost to you.
Even if there is a pain attached to it as you had it before but it got damaged in some way.
Even if you think you have it.
Even if it’s too precious to mess with.

God has given you a gift.
What will you do with it?

My advice? Take it, thank him for it, then open it. Read the instructions and steer your life by it.

Enjoy.

CD

destiny-church.com

The Invitation

Most believers would say their journey towards trusting God was inspired by an invitation.

- an invitation to listen to someone’s experience
- an invitation to pray with someone
- an invitation to read a book or watch a movie
- an invitation to attend church or a christian event
- an invitation to discuss things further
- an invitation to read the Bible

This morning I watched a little Facebook clip of a party I was invited to recently.
It’s a strange world, I found myself wondering about the people who will watch it but were not invited.

- usually because of space restrictions
- or financial limitations on hospitality
- and ok, maybe no one thought to invite them

Jesus invited people to be a part of his world in varied ways. Here is just one:

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Did you notice that wonderful little word? The fourth one in: all.

- not the top 40
- not the best behaved
- not the select few

All.

If you are a follower of Christ, no need to think who does he want me to pass the invitation to? All.

Simple.

My Facebook friends? All.
My work colleagues? All.
My neighbours? All.
Strangers? All.

This Christmas your church will likely do something special for those they hope you invite.
Will they be there?

Depends if they are invited or not.
But Jesus will be there, ready to meet with them all.

See you there – and whoever you were. Thanks for the invite.

CD
destiny-church.com

Go and let it out!

I read a quote from Catherine Booth a few years ago from her book ” aggressive Christianity”
Catherine was wife of salvation army founder William Booth.

Here’s the quote: ” have you no concern for the lost? Then get filled with the Holy spirit, and Go! And let it out!”

I love that, and just so you know. At Christmas there are plenty of ways to be filled, and let it out.

You bringing / inviting people to church this Christmas? That’s letting it out.

You been filling, packing and delivering hampers to those in need? That’s letting it out.

You thinking of turning your spare space into a night shelter for homeless people to protect them from the cold? That’s letting it out.

You hosting someone for Christmas dinner who isn’t part of your immediate family?
Giving a toy to a kid who might not get one?
Offering lifts to those with no transport?
Raising money for those who don’t have any?
Serving while others have a holiday?
Visiting the isolated in hospital or home bound?
Bringing clothes for those who have very little?
Sending Christmas letters to those spending Christmas in rehab centres or prison?
Putting little tracts in the cards for your unsaved friends?

That is letting it out!

This Christmas, don’t get bogged down by what doesn’t matter. Rather be filled with the Holy Spirit then go, and let it out!

Thanks Catherine, great sermon.

@pastorcraiddc

Sooner or later…

It’s 00:24.
I cant sleep – that’s not unusual.
What is unusual is why: it’s this thought, I can’t get past it, not tonight (this morning) anyway.

Sooner or later: everyone looks for God.
Sooner or later: everyone wonders. Is God looking for me?

Appetites: unquenchable cravings

When we look for God, I noticed something. Sometimes (most times) we don’t know it’s God we are looking for.

Like my colour blind brain, I see blue but think purple. I see green but say brown.
I can see it, but can’t interpret it.

That craving that won’t go away. Its your heart seeking God but your brain thinking:

Bagel ( yes, that’s mine, i know what time it is) OR chocolate OR intimacy OR approval OR more money OR drugs, gambling, partying, designer fashions, best seats in the house, nice house, nicer car, bigger holiday ( add yours here_____________) not all of these are bad.

You were born to crave God, but we don’t always it’s God we are looking for.

So we assume it’s one of the above and a short temporary satisfaction is induced…and then abandons us once more to the craving.

So next time, before you scoff, spend or jet off, remember these words from Jesus:

” he who comes to me need not hunger, those who come to me need not thirst”

Anyone thirsty?

Let me introduce you to someone who can help you with that.

And now it’s 00:49.
I’ll doze off praying for you.

He loves you more than I ever could.

CD

The God Besotted?

Hey,

Post a comment if you can tell us what film this short quote is taken from:

“What’s your dream? Everybody who comes to Holly wood has a dream! Some dreams come true, some don’t, but everybody has a dream – what’s your dream?”

I’ll kick off this blog experiment off by telling you a little of the dream that follows me around: that won’t go away.

Soon, if you come back, you will be able to read about how I got to the place where I was dreaming this kind of dream, what it might mean for you but be warned, dreams are contagious!

Expose yourself to this and you might just get infected.

We have a growing conviction in our heart that the church is about to emerge as the most radiant beautiful organism on the planet – just as she is viewed from heavens perspective.

For this to happen, a whole army of sold out people will emerge from within her ranks.

A Noble class of people who take no time or thought about living their lives as some would say “beyond the call of duty”.

Some will be or aspire to be fulltime in ministry, others will be in the workplace, the place of learning, the home and office raising finance and being agents of change in all arenas.

It’s time to take the call of God to reach our city and be the best we can be seriously.

We owe the world a church that is thriving, growing, moving supernaturally, well equipped highly organised and in full view!

Are you ready to play your part as a world class Christian in this spectacular move of God’s grace?

I am calling those who say yes – The God besotted – a people whose hearts resonate with heaven that the church is more than a weekend event – it is a lifestyle of bringing God’s kingdom rule into every sphere of life.

What do the God besotted Look like?

More soon,

CD