This picture was taken in the middle of an 18 hour day, running a 5 k, and organizing an event for over 4100 in attendance. My wife would place Merci in my arms and all of a sudden time stopped. I looked in my wife's eyes, held my baby, and at that moment the Lord spoke something brief but powerful. "This is what matters." Sometimes we need reminders like this.
Here's my devotional for today. A leadership lesson for anyone who has ever felt empty.
Title: I NEED YOU- A 5 Star Order
S- Micah 4:6
“In that coming day,” says the Lord,
“I will gather together those who are lame,
those who have been exiles,
and those whom I have filled with grief.
7 Those who are weak will survive as a remnant;
those who were exiles will become a strong nation.
Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem[q]
as their king forever.”
O- The heart of the weak could scripturally be described as anyone who will find their strength in the Lord at a time in need. My mind races through men and women of strength in the bible. All who needed to be bailed out by God of Heaven. All who God needed to bail out. Daniel, Samson, Sarah, Jonah, David, Elijah, Rebekah, Isaac, and the list could run forever. They all have a common denominator. They NEEDED GOD. Men and women of strength of victory can all look back and see the places where God seemed far, distant, or maybe even invisible but called out for His “Ever-Present” appearance. He was never late, never to early. He responsed to faith, fear, fatique, and factors that were out of His assailances hands.
A- Is my need greater than my comfort? I’d like to rate the two. My comfort could be rated like a spicy dish of Thai food. Probably a four star. Life is good. God is good. I am blessed beyond measure and await the good things God has for me today. My need would be rated a little different. Rating at a 2.5 Star. A little dull at the moment. Taste like they put the mild sauce from Taco Bell on some noodles. I can identify a few areas where my need must be greater than my comfort.
1. Need of His Presence- Time in worship and focused prayer.
2. Need of Direction- Placing my ear close to Him. Crying out for His leading and purpose to unfolded.
3. Need of Fulfillment- Allowing God’s purposes to fulfill instead of trying to place empty carbs into the body of my contentment.
P- I am stirred today not by emotion but by conviction. My convictions are stronger than my commitment. My convictions give a track for my commitments. Because I have the conviction of loving my wife, I am commited to be faithful and serve her. Today, I am convicted to step out of comfort into my NEED for You. Let Your prophetic word be evident. You are my Help. I lift my eyes to You and Long for all that you are. I hunger for Your presence.. I am thirsty for Your leading and satified by all You are. Bless my bride and baby Merci today. Let UNITY reign in the Wymore household.
Joel Parker is a genius.
This Easter as our Pastor and creative team began to dream up ideas for our services, we began by looking back at our previous years and remembereed a few that stuck out:
1. Easter 07- Deal Or No Deal
2. Easter 06- Who's In Your Corner (the boxing ring was amazing)
As we continued through our creative process we felt inspired to stick with "traditional" and strive to be as creative as possible. So... one really tan pastor, 12 ballot dancers, Orchestra, and over 100 support staff later we came up with The Garden, The Cross, The Tomb.
We still can't believe the results of this past weekend.
7 Services
3 Venues
5417 in attendance
164 salvations (wow)
A new Kids Campus
and Jesus getting all the GLORY!!!
Way to go teams.
Puyallup- Luke/Emmy
Silver Creek- Heidi
Always- Generation Unleashed
Kingdom Come- Marc Wymore's Album
Here At Your Throne- Emmy Rose
How Great Is Our God- Chris Tomlin
Easter Count-Down!! 9 Days!!
Yesterday, my parents and I went to eat what seemed to be a delicious Chinese Food experience. To our surprise the food was pretty bad and the spelling was worse. I asked the kind gentleman if he had chicken "wings". To my surprise, he pointed to a orange paper on the wall and what my mother and I saw was too funny. Notice the picture. Chicken Wigs anyone?
As the Creative Arts Pastor, here are a few "key moves" that we focus on as we enter into a weekend. My team, which are probably the greatest people ever, come together on Thursdays and here are some of the focuses to make our services successful.
1. Everything is tied to a soul. From songs chosen to props, we want to point people to Jesus.
2. Plan with life-change in mind. Engage the mind. Aim for the heart. Pierce the soul.
3. Communication is key. From prebriefs to debriefs, we want EVERYONE on the same page. From Sr Pastor to parking lot team.
4. Prepare to adjust. If it doesn't work, change it.
5. UNITY. Unity equals momentum. Momentum equals souls. Souls is our #1 goal.
6. Be consistantly inconsistant. Creativity develops expectancy.
7. Burger King Theory. Have it your way. Don't be someone else. Be true to what God has spoken for you and your team.
Our team meetings are placed on these tracks to point us in the right direction as we plan and prepare to love our community.
My wife and I just went to Disneyland with my 4 nephews and neices. I thought this was funny but it took us forever to remember this "Cowgirl's" name. Here are the first 5 attempts of names:
1. Polly
2. Jasmine (Aladdin's twin?)
3. Tinker
4. Mary (Poppins?)
5. Jessica (so close)
I finally asked a 4 year little girl who looked up at me with astonishment in her face and yelled, "Her name is Jesse!!!"
I continued to walk to Indiana Jones with my head down in defeat as my "Disney Trivia" memory seemed to be broken.
S- Job 2:7
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
O- In the places of rubble and pain. In the areas that expose my weaknesses, will I hold on to my integrity. What a powerful question by Job’s wife. She obviously was looking for a different response from him but it is a piercing question when in the midst of what Job had to endure. My integrity is to be held onto even when my character, diligence, and faith are being tested.
A- I guess a good question would be what areas of integrity am I to hold onto. I know there are people who would die for their convictions but be completely wrong while thinking they are right. What is God asking me to hold onto and maybe to let go of? What are the areas of the unseen does God need to help me grasp to walk with integrity of heart.
P- My prayer today is Psalm 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,For I wait for You.
