Is Grace Really Greater?

I’ve had quite a few discussions lately with people on the topic of grace. As a believer, striving to live a life pleasing to God, you cannot help but wonder – How great is grace? There’s an old hymn titled: Grace Greater than Our Sin. Is grace really greater?

We find fellow believers whose theological standard for grace is about as deep as a dog’s water bowl saying that if you believe in Jesus then the lifestyle you lead is almost irrelevant. Then there are those on the opposite end of the spectrum claiming that each and every sin must be repented for respectively, even after one’s conversion experience, for fear of losing security in Christ. These extremes that are taught in bible studies and church gatherings are sad and dangerous to say the least.

No matter which side of the theological dichotomy you may find yourself this truth remains: God is bigger than anything we can wrap our finite minds around and if any of us claim to have Him completely figured out we have fallen short more than we know. We are saved into new life, not for our benefit, but for His glory. He extends grace beyond measure based on our acceptance of what Christ has already done, not based on what we are able to do. We are not saved by our own works or good deeds, so that we can claim glory for our moral and spiritual uprightness, but rather our security is by His infinite mercy and grace.

When He was on the cross He spoke three words that would become the emancipation proclamation for every believer: IT IS FINISHED! He who knew no sin became sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God. The whole theology of the cross is that Christ bore the penalty of our sin so that we could be free from that penalty. His righteousness became our identity. When the Father looks at the believer, he doesn’t see your sin and wrongdoing, He sees Christ’s righteousness that He so freely offers to you. We can live with a certainty that our salvation is not in the slippery hands of a condemning God, but our eternal security was paid for at the cross with the blood of a perfect sacrifice. Nothing that you can do will ever add to your security. It is found solely in Him.

So let us live lives that bring glory and honor to the One who has given everything for us. Let us live with the understanding that our works aren’t to secure our futures in Christ but rather to point others to Him. We don’t live in fear of being let go but in a security that He will never let us go. And in this light let our prayer resound – Let my life bring YOU glory!

- JFlo

“FREE” Now Available

Finally!! The live worship album from First Family Church is available for download at: www.digstation.com/DiscoverWorship. This past weekend was the release and it was stinkin’ awesome!! We’ve received so many reports from people who have said how much this CD has blessed them already. So thankful!

Layta,

JFlo

New Site

We’ve had great feedback on the title track posted on our new site: http://www.discoverworship.org. The project is scheduled to be available at the beginning of October. Thanks to everyone for your support. We’re really excited about the doors that have opened and for what God is doing and will do with this project.

Anticipating Great Things,

-JFlo

STAND

After you’ve done all you can – you just stand! These words became the encouragement needed for so many at First Family Church this past weekend. Pastor Galen Woodward spoke to the hearts of so many people with his message on the Shield of Faith. After his message I sang Donnie McClurkin’s, “Stand” – followed by hundreds coming forward for prayer over the course of the weekend.

It immediately became evident that, besides popular belief, CHURCH PEOPLE DON’T HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER! As people prayed and cried we were all made aware of our humanity and our deep seeded need for God. From the pulpit to the pew our dependance on the Creator is a cornerstone of life that we all have to understand. On our own we are weak and powerless at best. As believers, our only hope for survival, is to put our faith in Jesus.

We face difficulty and adversity every day. We face rejection and heartache. We ask why. Why is this life so difficult. Some are often misled by the false belief that once we surrender our lives to Christ our troubles fall away. If this life were perfect we would have no need for a heaven. The hope and encouragement we have in Jesus is in knowing that He is always there. We can have faith in knowing that His strength is perfect when our strength is gone – that He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on. In the face of adversity and disappointment we can stand in full assurance that our hope is in Christ. Not in the people or in the world around us – only in Him.

So when the world is crashing in – and when you have nothing else to do – just stand. Stand firm in the hope that we have in Jesus. Stand.

Still Standing,

-JFlo

Practice Planning

Ever been to an event and thought: Now this took a lot of planning and preparation! Sure ya have. When planning goes into any event or gathering it is obvious. From beginning to end you know that it wasn’t something that some guys just put together on a whim.

Why is it that Pastors and churches across the nation (I’ve been to some) just dive into their services and events with little to no thought or preparation? I’ve heard that it’s because we should rely on God to guide every moment of what takes place in our gatherings. True as it may be that we cannot function without Him, the God of the New Testament is a God of extreme order. From the organization of the church to the execution of evangelizing the world, God’s people have always had a plan.

I’ve just spent the day at a staff planning retreat with the staff from our church in Albuquerque. We’ve laid out strategic ideas and thoughts that we believe, with God’s help, will help us in our mission to evangelize our city. We believe that if we will do our part in planning all that we can in the natural, God will show up in the middle of it all and make our natural plans, supernatural!! We’ve set precise goals and know God will help us to reach them!!

Too often pastors and church lay workers hold services and special events and simply sit back and hope that something good happens…hope that someone shows up. They lack intentionality, due to their own laziness, and call it spirituality. Their stewardship of the ministry that God has placed in their hands is lacking.

God expects us to plan, to work, to do all that we are able in expanding His kingdom. And as we work…He will work. As we plan…His plans are being fulfilled. As we make Him know…He will draw all men to Himself.

Strategize! Be intentional! And watch God take your plans to another level…a supernatural level. Remember, we are stewards of His talents and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom to the lost around us!

exploring the wonder,

JFlo

Why Worship?

This past Sunday morning I started a monthly bible study with our worship teams here at First Family. As I began to think about what I wanted to talk about for our first meeting I thought I’d lay some groundwork for the future by defining why it is we do what we do. Here’s what I feel that true worship can accomplish…

First of all I believe that worship can reveal our true nature. Matthew 15 tells the story of the Pharisees who were accusing Christ’s disciples of eating food that was defiling their bodies. Jesus steps in and says, ‘It’s not what you put into your mouth that defiles you…it’s what comes out that shows your true colors.’ For the true worshiper the words of a song aren’t simply something that comes from their mouth during a worship service but is a continuation of praise that never stops bringing glory to God. And for those who worship with unclean hearts I believe that the following is true: Be sure your sins will find you out! You may worship in public for a season but as James said, ‘How can blessing and cursing proceed from the same mouth?’ Is your worship from ritualistic habit or from a heart that has been transformed?

I secondly believe that true worship restores our focus. For this reason I am a firm advocate of worship songs resonating and never conflicting with Scripture. The majority of worship songs that we do at our church derive directly from the Word of God. Many verses in the Bible, especially from Psalms, herald the greatness of God. It is impossible, when reading through scripture, to miss the imperative of God’s awesome greatness! When your worship is God-centered, as it should always be, it will bring our scattered focus back onto the One who is worthy.

And last, true worship releases our affection. In the Old Testament book of Ezra, speaking of the Israelites, it reads, ‘…and they sang responsively.’ When we worship, we are worshiping in response to all that God is, and for all that He has done. The most commonly used phrase for worship in the Bible is this, ‘For the Lord is Good! His steadfast love endures forever!’ Worship allows us to release our affection and our praise to the One who is most deserving!

Worship with the most energy and action that you can! If you will, the world around you will see and know the greatness of God.

exploring the wonder,

JFlo

Give It

I stumbled on this video today and have never before been moved by an unbeliever as I was. Take a look:

This is the statement that got my attention: “How much do you have to hate somebody, to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that?”

Wow!! This concept is so elementary but have you ever asked yourself that very question? You hold the gift that should be offered to all. This may very well need to be the statement that we plaster onto the first thing we see every morning. Can we look beyond our concerns of how we may look to the world around us and get the message out there that they can live in happiness, in freedom, and with a hope for eternity? Rather than trying to impress people for our own gain can we remember that we are bondservants of Christ and we have a calling! Not just as ministers but as believers we have been sent into the world to give the greatest gift of all – Eternal Life.

So live beyond yourself – give the gift! And in the words of George Strait, “Just give it away!”  :-)

exploring the wonder,

JFlo

Work + Pray

I’ve never heard a Pastor say, “Our church is growing and I have no idea how!” Any reference ever made about a growing church is always accompanied by remarks of sweat, blood, and tears. Growth is intentional! Here at First Family we have doubled in attendance in just two years. The days have been long and the staff meetings…much longer. But hard work and perseverance have paid off – and continue to do so.

As we approach the Christmas season we are in full swing! Our schedules are packed and our energy is already waning – but we press on. We are in the process of making some updates to our facility before the Christmas rush. Next week is our annual Christmas production that draws thousands from around the state for several performances. Following the production we are holding a Christmas Bicycle Giveaway where we will be giving away over 350 bicycles to children from low income families around the city. And finally, we will be having three Christmas Eve services that will be a spectacular like none other!

Why would we plan so many activities for the month of the year that is already busy around the house and with the family? Because life is about more than focusing on ourselves. We have the amazing opportunity to capitalize on the atmosphere of the season to share the Good News of the hope and freedom that only Christ can bring. Growth is about more than luring believers from other church communities so that you can simply add to your numbers – real growth is measured by life change! Our prayer is that, through some event or special service, lives will be impacted and lives will be changed for God’s glory. We plan and we work but in the end our work is in vain without God’s blessing. So, along with our efforts, we pray.

So I encourage you, work toward growth! And pray for blessing…and for us this month :)

exploring the wonder,

JFlo

Nolan Dallas

I now am the proud uncle of a new nephew – Nolan Dallas Bonnette. He came into this world weighing in at 9.5 pounds…quite an entrance! His name derives from one of the great pitchers in baseball history – Nolan Ryan, and the absolute greatest city on the planet (subjectively) – Dallas, TX. And here he is…

A Life Half-Lived

After a life half-lived, Ryan Orlando Husted was taken from this reality and welcomed into another. At 29 years of age he had just graduated from college and celebrated his accomplishment with family and friends alike. Sometime in the night, after his joyous celebration, Ryan stopped breathing. A young life, with a future as bright as a starry Texas night, was cut in half. He was raped of his resolve to finish college, pick himself up, and make something of the many years he should have had.

For Ryan the term of a ‘life half-lived’ refers to the number of years he spent on this earth. Others may score this phrase against the amount of money one may amass over a lifetime or maybe the number of people who know your name. Perhaps you think of the difference an individual has made to better the environment or to feed the hungry. How would you describe someone who has lived a full life?

There are so many differing opinions around us. And as I sat in Ryan’s memorial service this morning I realized something – Ryan had lived a full life!

One very interesting part of a funeral is typically just before the end – the open mic. This is a time when friends and loved ones are able to come and share their fond memories of the deceased. Some are humorous while others are sad – all however, bring remembrance. You are able to tell so much about an individual by what is said during this time of sharing. In this ‘open mic’ time this morning I learned a lot about Ryan – a man I never had the opportunity to meet. In an almost full service I learned that he had many who loved him. Some were family, some were friends, some were coworkers, and some fellow students. All of whom loved him. As stories were told it became very apparent that although Ryan was not a person of great political, national or economic stature – he touched the life of everyone he came in contact with.

We heard from students and faculty of the college he attended. We heard from coworkers, supervisors and managers from his place of employment. We heard from family, immediate and extended. What we heard was a chorus of lives that have been impacted and will miss him forever.

I would say that although the number of his years were cut short – Ryan Orlando Husted lived a full life. Live your life outside of yourself. Always remember that you are not your own – you have been bought with a price. Live vicariously as the one who has paid your eternal debt. Exude love and let integrity be your legacy.

exploring the wonder,

JFlo