Last week at Discovery Church we had great service. The music was great, both spirit led and filled. We had 9 people professing faith in Christ being baptized and one very special baby dedication. I had prepared a message spending numerous hours on this message, knowing the church would be full because of the crowds which always accompany these sort of events. I wanted make a good showing for Discovery Church. But God had other plans. The sermon I had prepared was wadded up and for the next half hour I shared from 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

I had grown weary of witnessing many believers acting in a manner that mirrored their old nature, not the new nature Christ promises is ours if we believe His promise. Sooner or latter this sort of thing happens to everyone, myself included. The previous weeks had been challenging for me and I slowly began to unearth that buried old man. Up until last Sunday I had never completely thrown out a prepared sermon and spoken without notes. Thankfully I am supported by an awesome Tech Team on Sunday mornings who  can "go with the flow". 

I needed to remind myself that I am a new creation in Christ. My position in the world had changed. I was no longer an enemy of God but was given a place in the Kingdom of God by Christ himself. Those old things had passed away and it was the father of all lies that kept whispering to me "you don't need Jesus, you are more than able to be a church leader, pastor, teacher, administrator, writer, father, grandfather and husband without Him". While those words were not my exact thoughts, my actions mirrored those words. Truth is truth, no matter whether I or anyone else believes that truth. Our belief or disbelief doesn't change the truth. 2 plus 2 will always equal 4 no matter how much I want to believe the total is 5. 

We are new creatures set free from our past actions and thought patterns, PERIOD! Settle that fact and those new things come to us by living and thinking His way, not ours. 

This past weekend we spent preparing for a funeral for one of our church family. It seems no matter how long I am in the ministry, I never get used to them. I wonder if this isn't God's plan all along? We know that death is a part of life. It is something that sooner or latter touches everyone, whether it be a friend acquaintance or family member. But I somehow don't think God wishes us to accept death as a status quo option.
There's a song which has the words "I don't want to go through the motions, I don't want to go one more day, Without Your all consuming passion inside of me, I don't want to spend my whole life asking, What if I had given everything, Instead of going through the motions"? by Matthew West.
By His grace we can live a life that leaves a cross shaped mark on the world. Our lives don't have to be lived in quite desperation asking what else is there? Rebel against death by asking for His life and giving Him ours! He said He would by His Grace!

I can't believe I actually published a book! Below is the link where it can be purchased. All profits will go to Discovery Church.
It all started when I understood God's Amazing Grace! I knew that Jesus died for me and that by his death and resurrection I was made right with God, but the whole idea of living in that grace had escaped me! I wonder how many believers share that story? We know that Jesus gave Himself for us on the cross, but living in His resurrection power seems to be just out of reach. That was my experience. Hopefully this book will begin to explain His grace, but it's not the final authority by any means. If you get the book, please check out the scriptures found there for yourself, in your bible. His word is and always will the final authority. God Bless and Grow in His grace!
http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=grace+changes+everything+Kevin+Derby

Finally done!