A New You Declaration

Rick Warren just posted this on his twitter and I wanted to pass it along to you. Simply a great declaration. Make it something YOU OWN today. Great approach to the NEW YEAR:

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN DECLARATION
Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering, I’ve made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word. 

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven,  I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.
Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,”  character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose driven, and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race. I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say, "However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes!  Wherever you lead and whatever the cost I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway.  Whatever it takes, Lord; whatever it takes!  I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!'"

LET'S BE DILIGENT AND TAKE 2011 BY STORM!

Tony

(found here)

FUSED (New Ministry DVD by Tony Cruz)

I am excited to announce that we just received shipment of our newest DVD: "FUSED - Releasing the Power of God in your life."

In this session, you will sit in on a dynamic message that I believe will ROCK YOU to the CORE as I bring the truth of God desiring us to fuse our lives for His glory. Is Christ as part of your life or an element? The DVD message will help you determine if you are FUSED to the world or if you are FUSED in Christ.

Believe me when I say, this is a must hear message.  We are taking orders and for a limited time we will add a free bracelet to the orders placed. Don't miss out on this life changing message.

You can download a form at: www.tonycruz.org/resources.htm and follow directions on the form.

This greatly helps our ministry. Thank you all for your support throughout the year!
Merry Christmas!

The Devil's Plan for Your Life

For the new year, I wanted to drop a few simple thoughts to encourage you.
 
The new year brings a lot of trials, discouragement BUT also the new year gives opportunity to be used by God. It's important that we understand that the only way to know God and His will for our lives is to be close to Him. There is no substitute for that however, it's beneficial to be aware of the vices that our enemy comes at us with.
 
The devil’s plan for your life:

1. Doubt - To make you question God’s word and His goodness;

2. Discouragement - To make you look at your problems rather than at God;

3. Diversion - To make the wrong things seems attractive so that you will want them more than the right things;

4. Defeat - To make you feel like a failure so that you don’t even try;

5. Delay - To make you put off doing something so that it never gets done. 





This new year, live victorious and may 2011 be the year of PROMISE and BREAK THRU!

Knowing Who's In Control

A National Geographic photographer was assigned to get photos of a huge forest fire. There was too much smoke at the scene, so he called a local airport and asked if he could hire a plane. "No problem," they said. "Come on out and we'll have one waiting for you."

When he arrived at the airport, a plane was warming up near the runway. The photographer jumped and said, "Let's go! Let's go!" The pilot swung the plane into the wind and soon they were in the air.

The photographer looked out the window and said, "Fly over the north side of the fire and make three or four low level passes."

The pilot said, "Why do you want to do that?"

The photographer said, "Because I'm going to take pictures. That's what I do -- I'm a photographer."

The pilot gulped and said, "You mean, you're not the flight instructor?"

You better know who is in control of your life! 

Meaning

“If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.”

      — C. S. Lewis

12 THINGS WE HATE ABOUT YOUTH MINISTRY

by Doug Fields & Matt McGill

Yesterday, we reflected on 12 things we love about youth ministry—it was hard to keep the list to just 12! Serving in youth ministry is great, but sometimes we allow our priorities to get mixed up and give it more than we should. When the needs of the ministry consume and devour our lives, and it results in no margin, no accountability, and no joy…it’s time to change things. Here are some of the warning signs, 12 things we hate about youth ministry:

1. Fatigue can result in poor leadership decisions. This season, get some rest!

2. The nagging feeling that we may have given up too early on that one high maintenance kid.

3. Overload leads to taking short cuts and doing what’s easy rather than doing what is best (or right).

4. Sometimes we’re tempted to skim in our spiritual lives since people really don’t know if we skip our personal devotions.

5. We can take criticism personally and use it as a club to beat our self up.

6. We believe the lie that our ministry is the most important one in the church. We become territorial and build high walls around youth ministry within the church.

7. Insecurities and fears feed one another until they’re consuming. While cocooned, we rest on our laurels, refuse to take risks, and become satisfied with the way things are.

8. Our drive to be faithful and grow the ministry can move us from honest persuasion to manipulation.

9. We feel like unsung heroes, wallow in self pity, and then feel guilty for having a need to be affirmed.

10. We get confused or indignant when other leaders seem to love the ministry as much as we do.

11. We let success feed the self-deception that says, “I did this on my own power…or…I can do this on my own power.”

12. The pressure to perform and please others distracts us from trusting God.

Christmas is a great time to step back and remember the important things in life: God’s love for us is unchanging, uncompromising, and unconditional. He loves our students more than we do and is working within to draw us closer.

Begin the NEW YEAR with a FRESH START and accept God’s invitation to a great life.