Last week-end

Last week-end Tara and I had the privilege of being with another church. I spoke and lead a training session about small groups. We had a great time. The pastor there is a good friend and is doing a good job. This church has an unbelievable opportunity. The city bought their existing facility for a lot of money and in turn gave them 22 acres of land in a new planned community. This church is in the process of building a new facility that is going to be outstanding. By the grace and provision of God they will be located in the heart of a new community bring hope and love. But will they?
I have noticed that people tend to take opportunities for granted. Often times when God does a supernatural thing we rejoice then forget. We find this throughout the Old Testiment. God would give His people a divine provision or rescue then on the next page they will complain about what they don't have. God has come through for this congregation in a big way but will they forget.
A new building means nothing without the supernatural movement of God's spirit in the hearts of the people who occupy the building. I pray that this congregation remembers what God has done for them and retells their story to all who will listen.
All of this brings me to the point of this writing. What has God done in, for, or through you that you have forgotten. Maybe it is time to remember and retell. The most powerful stories we share are the stories of God moving in our lives. As I write this I am starting a new church in Tallahassee. We are nine weeks old and already I have great stories of people who are finding God and His great love. I have stories of provision, of revelation, and of rescue. I love to tell the stories. I live to tell the stories. In fact I am looking all the time for new stories. Every time I tell the story I remember. When I remember I relive the emotional power of God's movement and gain energy to live for Jesus harder. Every time I retell the story it inspires others to live for Jesus. There is power in the story that comes for the heart of God. In my sharing I hope to make Jesus famous! I want to brag on Jesus!
A word of caution, when you start to share you will have folks who will try to steal the glory or discredit the account. Share anyway. Life is about the story.
I am praying for that church and her pastor. I pray that they will not forget what God has done and will share their story making Jesus famous. I pray that their story becomes so widely told that it inspires other churches to follow hard after God. I mostly pray that their story will inspire them to become the hope of the world as God intended.
Don't forget to tell the story!

new small group

We had our first small group last night! It was so much fun to build new connections and watch a bunch of folks begin the process of becoming a family. We came from Texas where we were involved with small groups. Tara and I have started around 50 groups in the last fifteen years but this one was different. These guy opened up right off the bat! Wow! It was like they were hungry for a chance to connect.
Starting a new church is a real challenge because you are not launching an organization or creating an institution, you are building a family. (Actually God is building the family, I am just helping.) Most folks don't think of church that way. They see the church as a place not a people but it is not. It is a family under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think the reason these folks connected was a common thread of belonging to Jesus. In Psalms God's word say "He puts the fatherless into family". That's why God started the church He wants us in His family and He wants that family to be the hope of the world. Church is not what I belong to, it is too whom I belong and with whom I belong for the purposes of God.
I can't wait to see what God does in, for, and through my new small group. I can't wait to see who he adds to the group. This morning I realized that I now have a new group of folks who will follow me as I follow Christ. I now want to be a better man because of them! This is so much fun! If you are not connected into a biblical small group, what are you doing? What should you be doing?

Dealing with Me

My wife teaches prekindergarten. She is a great teacher and loves kids. One of the many ways she helps kids do what they should is by asking two simple questions. She will ask "What are you doing? What should you be doing?" The amazing thing is that young children have enough self awareness to answer the questions. Even if they are confused about what they should or should not do the questions give them a self correction point. What makes this so effective is that she has outlined clear behavioral expectations so when she asks the questions the children can reference back to the expectations and then adjust. If they don't know the answer to the questions then they become a launching point for teaching. I love the questions, she uses them on me!
I have discovered that I cause most of my relationship problems and if I will get into the habit of asking myself these questions then I might be better at loving and living with people. Where I struggle is that I want to blame other people for my emotional responses. These questions hit at the root of the problem, me. When I sober up to the fact that I choose my reactions then I can take responsibility for my actions. I can only control myself. I can't control my wife, my kids, or even my dog. In fact the work of God's spirit in me will produce self control. God has given me the power to do the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons and His expectations are clearly outlined in His word. I need to yield to God, hide His word in my heart, adjust to His expectations, and then I will have self control. Sounds easy, it's not! Remember, I cause most of my problems. So ask yourself the questions and adjust if needed. This is called the art of self leadership.
Another thought, try asking these questions to the people in your life. You might be amazed by the response.

Relationships make life rich

Welcome to my blog site. In the days ahead I will be sharing with you the various things I have been learning as I lead the new church in Tallahassee, Florida. As a pastor and leader I have learned that it is relationships that make life rich. The measure of our lives will not be what we have gathered then left but who we have love and lived life with. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4 "follow me as I follow Christ". Life by God's design is all about relationships, connecting with Him through Jesus Christ, loving your family and friends, and connecting with others as expressed in the church. Over the next few days I will share more regarding these truths.

Scott's dog Jed

I have been a very blessed

Welcome

Welcome to Pastor Scott Weatherford's blog.