More Than Bread

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We've all felt the emotion of urgency, right? That sense that smthng needs to be done right now. Somethings gotta change. Can't wait. It's urgent. Sometimes we get confused about the difference between what's important and what's urgent. We often hear people say, something like this, "Sometimes we get so wrapped up in  what's urgent that we have no time for what's important." But what that really means is that we have mislabeled what's important. The dictionary defines urgency as something of importance requiring swift action. In other words, urgency is a subset of what's important. It can't be urgent, if it's not important.

Any number of issues in our world today could cause a sense of urgency. But I think Jesus is suggesting in this episode that nothing is more important or urgent than love. So let's love urgently!

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In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a story about a rippled of generosity that travels all the way to His heart. You might think that it would take a really big act of kindness to ripple that far. But actually, it's pretty doable, it's a small act with a massive impact. Because when you do it, you are doing it for Jesus. In fact, that person in need, that person living in the margins of life, may be the only Jesus you see today!

And whatever you do, this Lent Season, don't miss Jesus!

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Our eyes are often drawn to what we think are the great events of our day.  We imagine that God only manages his world through the great events. But when we read His story, we can't help bu see that His plans often begin with a baby. When the gospel needs to go out; when a country needs to be liberated; when a song needs to be song; or a book needs to be written; or a medical breaththrough needs to occur; God sends a baby to do it. Is it any wonder that when the world needed to be saved, God came as a baby. 

But like a rock dropped in water, that baby started a ripple of generosity and kindness, a ripple of grace and power, a ripple of heaven on earth that changed the world. And if we let Jesus start a ripple in our lives, it will become a ripple that changes those around us.

Let's start a ripple of Jesus!

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In today's scripture we are going to listen to some incredibly amazing, generosity promises. Promises like: whoever sows generously will reap generously; and God loves a cheerful giver; and God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work; and you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. Great promises, but again the question is do we trust God? Do we trust God’s words? I'm going to give you a couple of great stories of the trust that leads to generosity, but I'll simply say this,

I hope after listening to this episode, there is a stirring in your heart to be outrageously generous!

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You know I look around in central PA, and it’s not just here, I hear of stirrings in other places as well. I think Jesus is getting ready to bring his church into a new season; a season of seeing His Kingdom come in new ways; a season of making a serious difference in the world around us. It won’t happen without prayer and breakthrough prayer is almost always connected to fasting. But Isaiah 58 reminds us that fasting and prayer isn’t enough. In fact, Isaiah reminds us that while we won't make a difference if we don't pray, our prayers won't even be heard if we don't care about the people around us. 

But if we care, then a new day will come and you can barely imagine a life like the one Isaiah 58 says is coming!

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Here is a good Lent question, "Does God really care?" Do we matter to God? I think many of us today struggle to believe that God is father who loves to bless his kids. It’s the issue of trust right? Can I trust Jesus? Can I trust God? Or do I need something to hold over him, so that he will respond to me? Do my prayers matter to God? I think one of the reasons we pray is because we care. Right? I mean how many of us spend a lot of time praying for stuff we don't care about? 

But I think the fact that I care will not sustain my prayers. I need to know that He cares. Because if God doesn't care, prayer doesn't matter. Right? So we ask the question in this episode, "Does God really care?" And if he does, what does he care about?

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In Mark 4:1-20, Jesus is telling a story of growth and harvest. Actually it is a story of uncommon growth and harvest.  In those days, maybe a 10 fold yield was common. Jesus goes all the way to a 100 fold yield. And then he turns his story into a parable about life. A story about letting God's Word take root in our hearts for a great life breakthrough. Because in the Kingdom of "something more" there is something more to you than you see. But here's the deal, it's not ultimately about seeing it. It's actually more about hearing it. In Mark 4, Jesus may be giving us the foundational quality of those who engage life and find a 100x return. They listen. They have ears to hear and hearts that pursue the words of Christ. 

Who wants a 100x return on life?

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The apostle Paul knew a bit about causing suffering and going through suffering, and 2 Corinthians 4 contains one of his most encouraging words. He begins and ends with the words, "So don't lose heart." I know, in those times when it feels like we're fighting for every breath; looking at the darkness around us, maybe even in us, we might wonder is there any good news? Should I even keep going? Paul says, Yes. Don't lose heart." Because listen something is happening deeper than you can imagine. God's at work shaping a glory in you that will cause all of creation to stand and cheer. He's actually drawing closer than you can fully experience. In the battle, in the mess, in the hard, that's when you start to see his fingerprints all over your life. 

So don't lose heart! Don't quit. Don't give up. The best is yet to come. Don't lose heart!

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Perhaps more than anything Lent is a season to get hungry for the presence of Jesus. Fasting is giving up something that matters for someone who matters more. Can you hear his whisper, come, come to me. I wonder how many of us hold out on God bcse we’re afraid we’ll miss out on life? But here’s the truth. If don't come to Jesus, we’ll miss all the good stuff. So regardless of where you find yourself today, this is my prayer for you, 

"God would make our hearts sit down long enough to hear your invitation." That’s what I hope happens to each of us during this season of Lent, that we hear and respond to his very, very good invitation!

The goal isn’t to manipulate God into action but to walk in step with Him. Jesus didn’t fast and pray because He had to—He did it because He longed to be with the Father and to align His heart with the Father’s will. As we follow J

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The story of Jonah inspires me to believe that we're living in days of expectancy and it's time to call urgently on God.  How urgent do you feel about making space for God? Is it, more of a "well that would be nice." Or is it more like air? "Without it, I ain't gonna make it?" With fasting and prayer, Nineveh urgently called upon God. And we find later in Jonah's story that, filled with compassion and grace; God  responded with a city-wide fast and one of the greatest revivals in history took place in one of the most wicked cities in history. 

What's the big deal about fasting? Fasting is a way of saying, "I'm taking this  serious.  This isn't a game. I'm coming with intensity and urgency and humility.  I'm coming in repentance.  I'm coming with desperation. I'm asking you to break my heart for the things that break your heart. I'm urgently asking for a move of your Spirit in our region!