managing, giving and sharing what I have...

Today's Proverb...
21:13 "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard."

There are many reasons why a person would harden their heart to the point of ignoring the cries of the poor and each of them are easier traps to fall into than we might think:
1. THE NEEDS OF OTHERS ISN'T MY BUSINESS OR RESPONSIBILITY!
2. THE POOR ARE LAZY AND DESERVE TO GO WITHOUT!
3. IF I GIVE AND HELP I WON'T HAVE ENOUGH!
4. SOMEONE ELSE WILL MEET THEIR NEED!
5. IT WON'T IMPACT ME AND MY HOME NEGATIVELY TO SIMPLY IGNORE THE NEEDS OF THE POOR!
6. MY MONEY AND RESOURCES ARE MINE!

and the list goes on...

I completely admit after years of working with the poor that my heart at times has become callused and unmoved by their cries. If you haven't noticed, the cry from the poor is getting louder and more numerous than ever before. Over six million people in America have lost their jobs. Just in my city alone there have been over 200,000 recently unemployed. It is impossible to read God's Word and walk away not realizing that the poor are authentically on God's heart. Biblically, much is required of those who have been blessed with an income and resources. Resources are to be wisely utilized, then given and shared with those in need. This natural flow of income and outgo is divinely designed.
I recently picked up a personal evaluation tool that requires me to keep tabs on each of these disciplines in my life involving my income and resources.
- What am I doing with the blessings of the Lord? (my income, my home, my time, etc)
- Budgeting is key to making the disciplines of personal financial management, spending, giving and sharing with those in need. Without it one or more of these disciplines falls through the cracks and we begin to make excuses.
The facts....
All that I have comes from my Heavenly Father! He is my provider.
All that I have is enough! Not only for me and my household, but also enough to give and share in a way that helps the poor around me.
Consider these things today and start brand new managing, giving and sharing as God directs.

Food for thought,
PV

Online Giving

evangelism is every believers business...

If you hang around here at New Heights Church it is inevitable that you will hear a continual echo of leadership encouraging you to allow what God is doing in you to flow through you to everyone around you! But I am fully aware how awkward it can feel at times to share your faith with others. We would never encourage you to get involved in personal evangelism without teaching you tools that are easily implemented to walk easily into any open opportunity daily to share with family, friends, co-workers and perfect strangers. There is no greater joy as a disciple of Jesus Christ than to feel an active part in advancing His Kingdom through natural ways and means in your community.

Every Sunday night in January 2010 (five of them), I will be offering another "Get B.I.T" series with a focus on Personal Evangelism. Go to the link below and register to join us for this fun and practical teaching series. Begin the new year getting equipped to witness effectively and see results. Each session on Sunday nights will be at 6:30pm (child care provided) at Center Pointe Event Center on the corner of Washington and Sinto. It is vital that we prepare enough material's and tools (free of charge to you). SO REGISTER NOW!!!!
LET'S STOP TALKING ABOUT THE LOST AND START TALKING TO THE LOST... LET'S ENGAGE!!!!

Go to I WANT TO GET BIT and register!

you are what you eat...

Since the day we were born one of the most important skills we all had to learn was how to EAT! Without it, we couldn't live. The same goes for our spiritual lives. Once a person takes the important step of choosing to follow Jesus Christ, they instantly need to learn how to EAT the spiritual food which God has provided for us. This includes the personal responsibility to read, study and apply the Bible in our lives. This should be as high of a priority and necessity as physical food is to our bodies. Like when we are physically born, someone has to feed us. It can't be just anyone. It is a huge responsibility to take on the ongoing consistent and quality feeding of a newborn. The spiritual equivalent is called discipleship. At first someone knowledgeable and responsible needs to feed us and eventually teach us to feed ourselves. This happens every Sunday as we are taught Biblical truth, swallow it and apply it in every facet of our lives. It also takes place as we intentionally plug into small groups and one on one fellowship with other believers throughout the week in what we call here at New Heights, Connecting Groups. But eventually every believer needs to feed themselves and help new believers learn to EAT and feed themselves. When this is neglected a persons faith can die, just like a newborn. A great tool for personal daily Bible study is THE LIFE JOURNAL. I recommend everyone utilize this tool to feed themselves spiritually along with a regular habit of church attendance and small group involvement. So, how is your spiritual diet lately? Are you hungry for a deeper walk with God and a greater understanding of His Word? Get started today by clicking on the link above and enjoy becoming completely responsible for your own spiritual growth, then teach someone else how to do the same. A regular diet of God's Word, prayer and fellowship will make you the strong person of genuine faith that you were meant to be. Those of us at New Heights Church are here for you if you need help getting off the bottle and ready to down some solid food and mature in your spiritual walk.

launching a new teaching series today....

I love cold, brisk, fall Sundays. They make for a great learning and unlearning environment.
This morning I kick off a new teaching series I've prayerfully called, "Planned Resistance." Our main textual focus will be in Ephesians 6:10-17, the true meaning and process of winning the spiritual battle within and without by way of putting on Christ, representative by the armor of God on a daily basis. Clothed in righteousness there is no for of evil that can not surrender and flee from such resistance from the child of God. Sin is not the issue for the believer, it was taken care of on the Cross. The lack of organized and realized resistance is the issue in a nutshell.
I need this Word from the Lord as much as anybody. Too many have fallen in the trap to wake up every day and attempt just to survive spiritually. God has not called us to survive, but to LIVE! We don't have to settle for less. Moving the troops on into promised victory. Pray for us here at New Heights that lives experience a genuine breakthrough as they learn to put on Christ daily.
Messages available for download weekly at www.NewHeightsOnline.com