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Showing posts from September, 2014

Small Things Big Difference - Week Four: Habits Is As Habits Does

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This week we are concluding the sermon series that we've been working on for the past several weeks--a sermon series entitled, "Small Things Big Difference." At the core of this series is a very simple, yet very profound idea:   It's often the small things that no none sees that result in the big things everyone wants. What do you think it will take to have the life that you've always wanted--to have a full, abundant life ?  Do you see people who have it all together and wonder how they do it?  Maybe you have a friend who has an incredible marriage, and yours doesn't measure up.  Perhaps you know someone who has the faith that can move mountains--and you sometimes wonder if God is even aware of you at all.  Or maybe you have a co-worker who just seems to find unbelievable joy in his work, and you don't. Sometimes in the face of these kinds of comparisons it is easy to get discouraged and to believe that it will take far more than you have to offer

Small Thing Big Difference: Week Three - "Words Get In The Way"

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This week we're continuing the sermon series that we started a few weeks ago entitled, "Small Things Big Difference."  And the central idea that we've been lifting up each week is simply this:   It's often the small things that no one sees that result in the big things everyone wants. We all want abundant life .  We want to find joy in our work.  We want solid, life-giving marriages and relationships.  We want financial freedom.  We want a strong faith that will withstand the difficult trials of life...  And sometimes it seems that it will take more than we are able to give in order to change what we need to change so that we can live the life we want to live. The past few weeks we have learned that it doesn't take much to begin life-changing transformation--just a few small steps in the right direction.  In fact, I gave you all homework to begin those small steps.  I asked that you begin by shaping your thoughts with your one word---a word that you

Small Things Big Difference: Week Two - "Fix Your Thoughts"

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This week we we are continuing the sermon series, "Small Things Big Difference," and we're focusing on a very simple yet very important truth:   It's often the small things that no one sees that result in the big things that everyone wants. Sometimes is might feel like it's going to take far too much energy, talent, time, effort to change the things in our lives that we know need changing. You might feel overwhelmed by a dead-end career, a marriage that isn't going well, poor health, struggles with faith... However, what we learned last week is that it doesn't take much to begin the transformations that we long for in life--especially when we feel stuck. I challenged everyone last week to find their one word--the one word that might be speaking into their life.  How many of you did that?  How many of you by show of hands found your one word this week?  For those of you who didn't raise your hand, I have your one word for you:  Procrastination!

Small Things Big Difference - Week One: "Your One Word"

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This week we are beginning a brand new sermon series entitled "Small Things Big Difference."  It's been a long time since I was this excited about a sermon series--at least since the last sermon series! Before we begin, though, I have a question:  Have you ever felt a little stuck?  Like you're in a rut of some kind, and can't seem to find your way out of it?  And maybe you're stuck to the point where you think it's going to take far too much effort to get out of your rut--more effort than you are willing to give. Maybe you've felt stuck when it comes to your health. You know you should lose weight, eat better, get more exercise---but you think about what it will take to get you to where you want to be, and you feel overwhelmed. So you go to Donut King and get that maple bacon donut instead... Yeah, that was a bit close to home.  Perhaps you feel like you are trapped in a dead end job--or you are stuck in a career that leaves you unfulfilled.