be GENEROUS

My college pastor told me that it is a good idea. He even went one step further and said that it was a Biblical command. I responded: ‘I don’t have anything to give.’ His response was transformational – “Michael, learn how to be generous and your giving will not be impacted by what you have or don’t have.” Perplexed, I mulled over his words and realized that giving is not always tied into being a generous person. Anyone can give, but I didn’t want to be just anyone, I wanted to grow and mature into being a generous person.

How about you? Would you use generosity as an adjective to describe your character? Like me, you might answer by saying you don’t have anything to give. But I want to encourage you to consider that giving and being generous are not always married together. Simply stated, not everyone who gives is generous, but people who are generous will always be found giving. The question is not which one are you, but which one would you like to be?

The Men and women of GENESIS seek to reflect the character of God to a world that is in desperate need of knowing that God not only exists, but that He cares. How does God show that He cares? He is generous beyond compare. As I’ve studied the Scriptures, I continue to see that God’s generosity is without end:

• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…”

• Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

How might we reflect the generosity of God to those around us? We ALL need to grow in the grace of giving; that we would learn how to be a generous people. The Apostle Paul made clear, the root of generosity is joy; and joy stems from the gospel at work in each of us. Grasped by the grace of God joy can be seen in our generosity.

The churches in Macedonia were facing severe trials from extreme poverty and persecution, but their joy in the gospel was evident by their generosity. They had nothing to give, but generous people are not bound by circumstances.

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.”

Let it be said of GENESIS that we give beyond our ability. As GENESIS moves forward into God’s call to church plant, you will have the opportunity like the Macedonian churches to be generous. On Sunday, June 7th, we will make a financial pledge of how we will support what God is doing within GENESIS.

Over the next two weeks, I would ask that you seek the Lord as to how He would have you use the resources that He has entrusted to you to support the work of His church.

The needs of GENESIS will be many, but generous people have a way of meeting needs.

Please don’t let your giving be done with an attitude of ‘I have to do this’. Rather be joyful knowing your generosity towards God’s work reflects to the WORLD the very character of God.

Has Christian America Come to an End?

A great article written by Mark Driscoll that was just posted on FoxNews.com. To read the article, go to - FoxNews

Who Knows?

One day GENESIS will launch out of its current location and begin a new journey in a new location. I've often wondered what that initial gathering might look like. I came across this video and thought, well that might be a bit much, but better a bit much, then not much at all. Enjoy!

I Do, I Don't.

Take a few minutes to read through Mark 10:1-12. These are just some reflections from that text. To listen to the full message that was preached on this text, go to www.genesisthejourney.com/media - message title - I Do, I Don’t.

Some thoughts on Marriage…
1. Marriage is God’s Idea – not man’s (Genesis 2:20-24)
2. Marriage is NOT the GOAL in life – (Mark 12:28-31) The Great Commandment is not to get married, rather its to LOVE God & Love people.
3. Marriage is a GIFT, not a curse – (Ecclesiastes 9:9)
4. Marriage is a GIFT to the generations that will follow you. The greatest gift to be passed along to your children (and their children) will not be $, toys, and vacations, but it will be a HEALTHY, Christ honoring marriage.
5. Marriage is a PICTURE of the relationship that Jesus has with the church – (Ephesians 5:32). Marriage will serve as an INCREDIBLE witness to those around you of what God can do!
6. Marriage & the Marriage BED is to be HONORED – (Hebrews 13:4)

God has a DESIGN, a PLAN for marriage and its outlined in Genesis 2:20-24.
1. RECEIVE – Adam received Eve as a gift from God. Continually receiving your spouse as a gift from God is essential to the health of your marriage.
2. LEAVE – Dependent no longer on parents for physical, emotional, relational needs, but fully committed to depending on your spouse in this way.
3. CLEAVE – Literally to stick to, or follow (pursue) closely. Never stop pursuing your spouse!
4. ONE – Oneness speaks to the physical, emotional, spiritual and relational. When there is TRUE oneness, the husband and wife will be NAKED and have no shame.

ONENESS KILLERS
1. Sexual Impurity – porn, thought life {lust}, inappropriate relationships w/people from the opposite sex.
2. Un-forgiveness – anger leads to bitterness; bitterness leads to hard-heartedness; and hard-heartedness leads to death in the marriage. Learning to forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)
3. Lack of Communication – learning to be a listener as well as a talker.
4. Lack of Intimacy – Intimacy has to do with knowledge. Knowledge of ALL not just parts of your spouse.
5. Lack of Time – LOVE can be spelled TIME. Make the relationship a priority. Take time to cultivate the relationship. There will be SEASONS where things are more CHAOTIC then others, but don’t let the SEASON your in dictate the health of your marriage, let the health of your marriage dictate how you walk through each season.
6. Spiritual Disconnect – Husbands who fail to spiritually lead.
7. Neglecting the ONE - GOD is your number ONE, and your spouse is your number TWO.