GrowthStarts

Link of the day: Delighting in God

I have been contemplating “Delight” for a few weeks.  I heard recently a quote from the son of Jonathan Edwards about his father.

“My Dad not only believed in God–He delighted in God.”

Wow!  I want my kids and my family to say that about me.  I have found the longer I have followed Jesus and been in ministry, it is sometimes harder to continue delighting in God.  I am not satisfied with this.

Read more of Russ Butcher's post on delighting in God HERE.

Link of the day: Don't blame the ref

Isn't it amazing how often we look for someone to blame for our performance?  I do it.  You do it.  We all do it.

On Superbowl Weekend this is a good question to ask: "What's wrong with us?"

Does it make sense to blame the One who lets us know if we're out of bounds, and our progress will come to grinding halt unless we get back in bounds?

Read more of Mark Beeson's post HERE.

Previously @ NorthStar

What does it mean to truly forgive? I think that Joseph exemplified forgiveness better than any character in Scripture other than Jesus. After all he had gone through in his life, when he got a chance to get revenge on his brothers who had hurt him so much, he forgave! How in the world could he do this? Joseph realized that God was at work and that He used all of the events of his life (both good and bad) to get him to the place he ended up in.

It is one thing to realize that God wants us to forgive but it is a whole different deal to actually do it. However, when you forgive, it is never for the other person; it is really for you. When you forgive someone God uses that experience to grow you into the person He is designing you to be! My prayer for you is that you give up anything that's holding you back from letting go of your hurts and giving them over to God. Let's learn from "Joe" and let go and live in freedom!

Next week we begin a series called Still Standing and we will talk about God's forgiveness for us! He never expects us to do something that He does not extend our way! See you at NorthStar next week!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• In Genesis 50:20, Joseph revealed his hurt, but then he trusted God to use it for good. It's OK to admit someone has hurt you. In fact, it's better to admit it than to try and stuff it and deny it. But then trust God to use it for good, choose not to play God by not seeking revenge, and return good for evil. Remember the Max Lucado quote Mike mentioned: "Resentment is when you let your hurt become hate."
• Remember that the person who hurt you is a simple, imperfect human just like you. What kindness can you show to that person today that will help keep resentment from building in your heart?

Upcoming

• Time Change: Don't forget that Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend. That means you need to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night, November 1.
• Extraordinary Giving: We'll have opportunity to give this Sunday, November 2 to help provide Thanksgiving turkeys to people in need in Acworth.

You know me

This morning I was reading and meditating on Psalm 139. It really spoke to me and where I'm at right now. It's comforting to think that my God knows me so well and is so intimately involved in my life.

Read Psalm 139 here and then take a look at the bullets I wrote from it:

• God intimately knows everything about me (vv. 1-4).
• God is all around me and has His hand on me. He is personally involved with my life (vv. 5-6).
• I cannot flee God's presence, in life or in death (vv. 7-10).
• There is no "darkness" to God. He sees all. I can hide nothing from Him (vv. 11-12).
• God created me in the womb and has a plan for my life (vv. 13-16).
• God never stops thinking about me. His care for me is beyond my comprehension (vv. 17-18).
• God wants me to abhor that which would turn my heart from Him (vv. 19-22).
• I need to let God search my heart and reveal any offensive way or anxious thought that would keep me from enjoying His presence (vv. 23-24).

Previously @ NorthStar

How do you handle loneliness and those times when you feel cut off from life? What do you do when you begin to despair and feel isolated even while you are around a lot of other people? Those are situations that everyone has dealt with at some point and will most likely deal with again in the future. In our Everday Joe series at NorthStar, we found Joseph once again dealing with being forgotten after doing another good thing! What we learned is that God never leaves us alone and He is with us all of the time! What a great reminder of how He feels about us. And though it may be dark at the time, He is always there and will never leave our side!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• While Joseph was in the dungeon (Genesis 39:20-40:23) he battled the giant of despair by remembering that God was with him. And he battled the giant of doubt by restating his trust in God. Write out Hebrews 13:5b and memorize it this week: "God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never forget you.'" (NCV)
• Joseph battled the giant of isolation by taking steps to connect with others. Mike said: "You're a bad counselor for yourself." Get involved in a small group at NorthStar so that you will have that network of friends and you will begin to get God's Word in your heart in a more consistent way. Check out more information about Group Life at NorthStar HERE.
• Joseph's steps in connecting with others included (1) noticing the needs of others, (2) showing interest in them, and (3) offering to help. Check out www.northstarinthecommunity.com or www.northstarmissions.org to find out how you can minister to the needs of others.

Previously @ NorthStar

Temptation is a subject we all face but one thing we sure hate to talk about. Why? Because, although it affects all of us, we feel like we have to face it alone!

Yesterday we learned from Everyday Joe and the life of Joseph how to handle temptation and what to do when you face it! What I love about Joseph's life is that he faced temptation but did not fall. Our prayer for you is that you stand strong and stay faithful to your values and your faith and finish the race of life still standing! Here is why: the enemy loves to destroy those that others have trusted in, but God loves to honor those same people one day in heaven!

I know you feel like an "everyday joe" but you are somebody really important to someone around you. So stay strong and stay true! I promise you won't regret it!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• Yesterday Mike said that the antidote to material temptation (lust for things and money) is to give; the antidote to personal temptation (lust for fame, authority, power, and control) is to serve; and the antidote to sensual temptation (lust for another person) is to run. Based on the temptations you face now, do you need to give, serve, or run? How would that look practically in your life? Are their any guardrails you need to set up to protect you from your weaknesses?
• One way Joseph resisted temptation is by maintaining his walk with God. How would you consider your relationship with God right now? Is it a weekly event? Or a daily walk? Consider starting each day with a daily appointment with God. One way to begin that daily habit is to just pick a book of the Bible (maybe John or Ephesians), read and meditate on a verse each day, write down your thoughts, and pray the verse back to God. Ask God to help you live out that verse in your life.

Previously @ NorthStar

It is really easy to slip through life and feel like an Everyday Joe. Nothing super special about us but we have dreams and visions about our lives that may not have turned out like we thought they would. When we have expectations that go unfulfilled, it is really easy to think that God has forgotten us and that we have sort of fallen off His radar! We learned Sunday at NorthStar that there is really nothing further from the truth.

The reality is that He does His best work sometimes in very dark situations where it appears that He is not present! If anyone could feel that they got the bad end of the deal, it is Joseph in Genesis 37. However, we learn in Joseph's life that "God was with him" even when it appeared that he had been forgotten!

This Sunday the heat turns up on Joseph and the lessons he learns on temptation are things that we all need to know!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• Sunday Mike gave us the definition of a vision as “a mental picture of a preferred future.” How does God’s vision for your life compare to your vision for your life?
• God is always at work, even in (especially in) the darkness. Glance through Genesis 37-42 and see how many times the phrase “and God was with Joseph” occurs. Can you look back and see how God may have used dark periods in your life? If you’re going through a dark period now, can you imagine how God is at work through it?

Previously @ NorthStar

What does it mean to be “out on the front line”? For us at NorthStar it means taking our faith and living it out in the community so they can see the faith that we have! One of the things we struggle with the longer we know Christ is that we keep our faith inward rather than living it outward! Jesus laid out pretty clearly in Matthew 25:34-40 that when we serve the people that others may not notice, we are really serving Him!

I am praying for you as you go out to the front lines and serve! Let's not play it safe. Let's live on the edge and take His hope to everyone in our community!

Next week we begin our series called Everyday Joe, talking about uncommon solutions to common problems!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• In Jesus’ day, ways to serve others included taking care of the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the shivering, the sick, and the imprisoned. In addition to those needs, what are other needs we can meet in our 21st century world?
• As you look at the projects listed at www.northstarinthecommunity.org, can you think of ways in which your family or small group can serve in your school, company, or community? What new projects can you dream up?

Coming Up

• New Series Everyday Joe Begins: This Sunday, October 5.
• Membership Class: This Sunday, October 5 at 9:30-11 a.m. in Center Court in the Compass Centre. Find out what it means to be a member of NorthStar with a no-pressure opportunity to join the church. Register HERE.

Previously @ NorthStar

I have found in my journey that the closer I get to God the further I realize that I have to go to be like Him! Sunday at NorthStar, we learned that greatness in the Kingdom of God is not found in position or authority; rather, it is found in being a servant. A servant is one who will do any task. And God's ultimate goal for our lives is that we serve Him and serve others. It’s really not about us, but it’s about understanding that the more I grow, the more I serve! And the more I serve, the more I grow! We have to go to the back of the line and put others in front!

We talked about tangible ways that we can do this in our lives. Due to the incredible crowds on Sunday mornings, we need to create more space for people to attend! Beginning in January, we will add an identical service on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. for many of our NorthStar family to attend! The goal of this service is to have 500 of our Sunday morning crowd move to Sunday evenings. I am so pumped about this new opportunity!

Will you and your family beginning praying about giving up your seat on Sunday mornings and coming on Sunday evening? I can't wait to see all of the incredible things that are in store!

I look forward to seeing you next week for the last part of The Kingdom series!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• Sunday we looked at Matthew 20:20-28 and we said that greatness in God’s Kingdom cannot be found through (1) politics or playing favorites, (2) prideful ambition, (3) power or position, or (4) popularity or personality. We said that to be truly great in God’s Kingdom, we need to go to the back of the line and serve others. In what ways can you live this out? (Examples: parking farther away so that others can have closer parking spaces; volunteering to serve others in our community; volunteering to occasionally fill in for your child’s teacher when they’re out of town on Sunday; etc.)
• Jesus says we can become great in His eyes by being a servant. Check out our Volunteering page to see how you can step up and serve at NorthStar!
• Pray about your family committing to the new Sunday evening service to make more room on Sunday mornings for those who need to hear!

Next Week @ NorthStar

• The Kingdom Series Concludes with part 4, “Out on the Front Line,” this Sunday, September 28.
• Newcomers: This Sunday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the home of Mike & Anne Linch. Learn more about NorthStar, meet Mike and some of the staff, and here about how NorthStar is impacting lives for Christ. Register HERE.
• Baptism: This Sunday, September 28 at 6 p.m. at the home of Mike & Anne Linch. Take that first step of obedience and show the world you’re a Christian. Register HERE.

If you'd like to receive "Previously @ NorthStar" in your inbox at the beginning of each week, send me an email requesting it at randy.elster@northstarchurch.org.

Previously @ NorthStar

The kingdom of God is like finding a treasure that is beyond words and is more valuable than anything you may possess or own! Week two of The Kingdom series found us looking at Matthew 13 and the stories that Jesus told about finding this incredible treasure. Without a doubt, it was one of the most powerful services that I have ever attended at NorthStar or anywhere else. I was blown away by the power of the morning! At the close of the service, I know of 43 people who came empty-handed and accepted Christ and found the treasure that is beyond words! To hear the roar of our crowd for them made everything we do at NorthStar so worthwhile!

I pray that you will continue to invite your friends to be with us as we continue our journey through The Kingdom!

Have an awesome week!

Mike Linch

Next Steps

• To find our place in the kingdom of God, we have to discover the treasure of God’s rule in our lives and come to Him empty-handed. Did you make that decision yesterday to become part of His kingdom? If so and you did not fill out a Response Card, please fill out this online Response Card and let us celebrate with you! If you are ready to take that next step, check out our next Newcomers (September 28), Membership Class (October 5), or Baptism (September 28).
• Although we come to God empty-handed—spiritually bankrupt and at the end of ourselves—we receive so much from God. God gives us: grace (forgiving all our sins), peace (with God and with others), joy (in spite of our circumstances), and power (to change our lives). Thank God right now that He has given us everything we need. Recommit to live in that grace, peace, joy, and power.
• Who can you invite to NorthStar this Sunday as we continue The Kingdom?