Abundant Life Church

Doors open at 5:30pm and kick off is at 6:30pm
We'll be watching the game in the sanctuary on the BIG screen and have lots of awesome things planned and prizes to award just for showing up!
We're having a chili, nachos, and dessert cook off. Anyone can enter and there areGREAT prizes for the winners!!! Chili & Nachos need to be dropped off by 5:45pm for judging. Hotdogs and drinks provided. Bring a dish to share.
Video games and karaoke will be set up in the foyer for teens and kids. Also family games and competition. 
A Spirit Award will be given to the person who comes best decked out in their teams colors.
This will be an amazing night and time. Bring family and friends and join us for this incredible night!
Hope to see you there

I want to be famous.

I want to impress people with how great I am at leading worship.

I also want to impress God with the many things I do for him.

But today I'm reminded that God isn't concerned with what I do for him. He isn't concerned about the extra time I'm putting into this project or that video.

God is concerned with my heart.

Worship is a heart issue. There is a constant war for my attention, my affection, and my worship because of whom my worship is about.

My heart knows and believes one thing, while my head says and does another. And of course, my pride and desire for greatness do a great job of keeping me too busy to notice.

“My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”  - Luke 10:42 (NLT)

Often times I realize it's easy to find myself in Martha's shoes. I mean, hey, I'm a pastor. Every day is about doing my Father's business.

But how often do I take a few moments to sit at my Savior's feet and hear his Word?

What Christ said here is both convicting and troubling - It's easy to get caught up in doing work for Jesus and miss out on what is truly important. Christ is actually telling us that our work for Him can get in the way of our relationship with him.

But it's not just any work he's referring to -- it's work for Jesus.

Martha busied herself with housework for Jesus and his guests. Somehow she was convinced that her work for Christ was just as good as time spent with Christ. Her work was important, but she missed out on an amazing opportunity to get intimate with Jesus.

Mary sat at Jesus' feet and spent time listening to his teaching. Mary experienced a greater depth in her relationship with him that surpassed knowledge - she got intimate with her Savior.

If you want to impress God, do so with your worship of Him.

"How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their "God projects" that they didn't notice God right in front of them" - Romans 9:32 (MSG)

Don't busy yourself with work.

Don't be so consumed with productivity that you neglect the one thing that's important.

Don't seek to impress God or man with what you do.

We cannot let our work for Jesus be a substitute for time spent with Jesus.

Family Movie Night, featuring "Dolphin Tale",  is just around the corner and we'd LOVE for you to join us. This event is specifically designed with your family in mind. It's a great & inexpensive way to spend special, quality time together. The movie will be shown, January 27th at 7pm in the Sanctuary and is FREE! Concessions are available. All proceeds will benefit ALC Kids. Bring your family & friends and come hang out with us!

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  by: Marianne Williamson

The Christian life is impossible to live apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, so we must continually be filled and surrender to God’s plans for our lives. John 15:5 reminds us that "Apart from me you can do nothing." Being filled with the Spirit is something that the Spirit does to us with our permission. He empowers us and our job is simply to surrender. We give up and let the Lord take control...control of our thoughts, our desires, our dreams, and our actions. With the power of God working in us and through us there is no addiction too strong that God can not break the chains of bondage, there is no financial deficit that can not be paid in full, there is no sickness or disease that stands a chance when seek after God with every part of who we are and refuse to accept any other answer but God's Will for our lives.

 "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may recieve the promise"  (Hebrews 10:35-36)  

Fasting and prayer prepare and condition your spirit to go the distance in life's battles.  Remember, fasting is not a requirement - it is a choice.  Fasting does not guarantee your salvation and it does not make you better than anyone else.  Choosing to fast is choosing to come away from the routine and wait upon the Lord with greater intensity, seeking His face and His presence in a deeper way.  We have chosen to fast at Abundant Life for 21 days, from January 2-22.  I intive you to join us and make up your mind, make a plan, write it down, and stick to it.  I want to endure.  I want to do the will of God.  I want the promise!