Tangled Up

Yesterday, I took my 8 year old son and 2 of his friends out to the lake here in our subdivision for a little fishing. What an experience that was! I spent most of the evening untangling lines out of trees, getting hung lures off of stumps, and even looking for a lost cell phone. Somehow in the middle of it all I did manage to catch a few fish.

After I got home I got to thinking about our trip and how tiring it was, but even though it was some work on my part my son and his friends had a great time. Then I thought that the same could be said about God, so many times we are like the little boys finding ourselves tangled up in life, loosing our way, and needing Gods help. I am so thankful that God is always there to untangle our mess, and help us to find our purpose once again. Maybe you are reading this and can relate, maybe you have lost your way, so to speak. I encourage you to cry out to Jesus, because He is our loving father and no one loves you more.

A Picture of God

Recently, we took a family outing to the dog park at Shelby Farms and what an outing it was. If you can imagine 3 small children and a bulldog at a dog park where the grass is filled with, well lets just say smelly surprises. It never fails that the Pastors dog is the dog at the park who needs obedience training, not to mention his kids. It was fun though, but Ashley and I sure took a sigh of relief as we loaded everyone back up into the car to head home.

After a few days I came across this picture that we took while we were there of the boys and the dog (Vinnie). As I was looking at the pic, God suddenly began to speak to me as He seems to always do in the strangest of moments. He said this this picture is a picture of Me. I couldn't quite figure it out until He quickened my mind to a movie I recently saw - Marley and Me - great movie - In a nutshell the movie was fundamentally about one thing, the simple things in life that bring happiness and love you the most. At the end of the movie John began to reflect on all of the great years that his family had with his dog Marley. As he reflected he came to the conclusion that a dog is one of those creatures that loves you for just you, doesn't matter how mean you are to him, how many times you lock him outside, or punish him, or how aggravated you get with him, he just continues to love you right up until the bitter end.

Then God brought me back to the picture and showed me that in that picture contained three beings that absolutely and unconditionally love me, my boys and my dog Vinnie. Even though I haven't been the perfect father by any stretch, or the perfect dog owner, each of them still choose to look beyond my flaws and see my good points. Then God said to me "Now do you get the picture?" God is the same way with us. We can all say that there are moments when we throw God out of our lives, or forget about him altogether, but when we need Him the most He is always there just waiting for us to return to Him. He always has his hands of love out in hopes that we will become the person that He has destined for us to become. He loves us just the way we are, we don't have to do any special tricks, know any special things, look or dress a certain way for God, He just accepts us all of the time, any time, and every time.

Gentlemen Start your Engines

What a great day yesterday was, as we held our first official Sunday morning service in our new location. It was a lot of hard work, and everyone pitched in to accomplish the task at hand, but I believe that it was all worth it yesterday. Ashley and I are so grateful to all of you that helped to make this possible. I know that the Lord was smiling on us yesterday as we set out to do the work that He has called us to do, for His Glory, and For His Honor.

Jake

Launching Out

We are getting excited about moving into our new location at 769 N Houston Levee Rd. Cordova, Tn. We have been working around the clock and getting things ready for the church to move in. The new building is going to be such a blessing, as it will now allow us to implement so many of the dreams and ideas that God has placed in our hearts to do as a church. If you are visiting our web-site or reading this blog, I would like to personally invite you out to our first service in the new location 2/15/09 @ 10:15 a.m. I look forward to being able to meet you. If you have small children they will have a great time in Kid Connection where they will learn about God in a fun inviting atmosphere. Also,a nursery is provided for your infants.

Hoping to see you there,

Jake

Pure and Undefiled Religion

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: To visit orphans and widows in thier time of trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

I have often said that you don't have to go to seminary to understand the majority of the Bible. God is very good at relating Himself and explaining His desires for us in practical ways. The above scripture is a great example of this. This has always been one of my favorite scriptures because it helps me to put into action the kingdom of God that is inside of me in a real world setting. Some people need to only hear the Gospel, others need to see the Gospel in action.

This Sunday morning we closed the doors of the church house and actually went out into our community and became the church by going over to an elderly widows home in our community and cleaning up her yard. This has been a dream of mine for years to have a Sunday morning when we would shed our Sunday clothes and pews for a little bit of hard work to make a difference in someones life. I was so proud of our people as everyone showed up for the event and worked extremely hard. What a blessing it was when the elderly lady came out after we were finished with tears in her eyes. I thought to myself. This morning we truly had church!

Jake

Happy New Year

Just wanted to extend my best to everyone this New Year 2009. I have been getting revelation on the fact that God is for me and not against me, and His greatest desire is to see His children succeed. After all, that is what any good father would want for his children. So I encourage all that would read this, to begin to focus on the Good things that God has in store for you this 2009. I heard a great man once say that "you become what you focus on" I am determined to focus my thoughts and efforts this year on the promises of God for my life. Because, the promises of God are yes and amen. May your new year be blessed with happiness, grace, and peace.

Jake

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours

Christmas, one of my favorite times of the year. The lights, the sounds, the colors, sitting around a fireplace on a cold winters night (Really cold in Memphis). It seems however, that to many of us Christmas takes on a whole new meaning in times like these. It gets our focus off of ourselves and causes us to be greatful and thankful for the little things in life. Like a roof over our head, food on the table, being able to pay the mortgage on time. In good times these things are often taken for granted, but I am determined that this year I am going to turn my attention on the things that really matter. My relationship with Christ, my marraige, and my children. When I think about Christmas I cannot help but think about John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. The word that stands out to me most in that very familiar passage is the word Gave. I think that this describes one of the most essential attributes of God that most of all He is a giver, even to the point that He would give His precious Son for a people (us) who were undeserving of the gift. With that said I want to challenge you this Christmas to focus not so much on getting, but on giving to those a little less fortunate than you, or maybe just lend a hand to someone who can use some help. May you and yours be richly blessed this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas,

The Claunch's