10 Curses that Block the Blessing -- Chapter 1

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

What an awesome night of fellowship we enjoyed last night, Tuesday, June 15th, 2010.  We discussed the topic from chapter 1 of the book, "The Creative Power of the Tongue".  Pastor Larry Huch made clear one of the most powerful ways curses are released into our lives: through our mouths.  The enemy has deceived many believers into thinking that words are just words, but if God says we'll give account of every idle word spoken (Matthew 12:36), that must mean He doesn't see them as just words.  As a matter of fact, He created and placed within us this creative power -- the same power He used to speak the world into existence.

Here are more scriptures to solidify this concept.  Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit".  Proverbs13:2-3 says, "A man shall eat WELL by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.  He who GUARDS his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction."  The enemy is counting on us not to take this principle seriously.  Whatever we spend the most time thinking about, those thoughts will spill over into what we say.  And whatever we're saying is being carried out either for us (blessings) or against us (curses).

Book travelers, I encourage you to get this book and allow it to line your words up with the Word of God.  I look forward to discussing it with you on this blog or in person.  Keep traveling!

The Journey to Removing Curses Begins!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Hi, Book Travelers!

Before we even get into the book, Ten Curses that Block the Blessing, we need to begin to understand what a curse is.  It can be defined as a negative spoken prediction of what someone desires to see come to pass in another's life.  An example of this can be seen in what Jesus did to the fig tree in one of the gospels.  Or it can be a situation that one walks into as a result of his or her actions.  The only example I can think of in the Bible is Judas Iscariot, when he betrayed Christ.  I don't believe that he could have done anything to erase that curse off of his life, so the only thing he could have done was take his own life in order to relieve the agony he was feeling.

Deuteronomy 28 tells of the choices of blessing and cursing that we inherit because of one word: OBEDIENCE.  Let's examine our lives and ask God to open our hearts, dealing with us in this area, so that the curses the enemy has planted to stop us from experiencing all of God can be removed.

We'll be discussing this topic for the next few weeks, so get ready...

Summer Read's Here!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Hi, Travelers!

The book we've been waiting for is finally here!  Ten Curses that Block the Blessing by Larry Huch is ready to purchase or pass around.  Our book club has three books that will be circulating among our members, so if you'd like to be one of the first to read it, please get with me this week.  Or, you can log on to Amazon.com  if you want to buy one of your own books at a reasonably low price.

Pay attention also to this important date: June 15th, 2010 at 7 pm.  This is the date of our next meeting, which will be held at the church.  We usually bring a covered dish to share as we fellowship and discuss a theme from the book (which you can participate in even if you haven't had a chance to read the book by this time).

I'm just excited that we're going to be meeting soon.  Please come -- you will be awesomely blessed.

Upcoming Book

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Hi, Book Travelers!

I just wanted to update you on what we're getting ready to do at ALM concerning the book club.  There's no time like the present to read about everything Christ purchased for us on the cross.  As a result of that, we'll be reading a book about lifting curses off of our lives and walking in the blessing that's ours as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.  Be looking out for the title and author of that book this week.

Keep reading...

Successful Movie Night

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Wow!  What an amazing time we had last night at the movie night event!  I was overjoyed to see so many people show up -- singles, couples, and just fellow believers who understand that spending time together is what creates a bond that the enemy cannot destroy.  The food was awesome, the fun phenomenal, but the fellowship: priceless.  And after the movie, we were just able to share our hearts and encourage one another with insights we wouldn't have gotten if we had decided to stay home.

Those of you who couldn't make it, I hope this motivates you to push on and come next time.  Even when we meet to discuss a book, if you haven't read it, you still have a wealth of experience and wisdom from walking and talking with God that you can share.  Please pray about becoming a part of our book club, and you'll find that there are people going through pretty much the same challenges as you.  But together, we can overcome anything.

We'll take another two weeks to finish out The Noticer so that those who haven't had a chance to read it yet can do so.  Please come up to me after church and request a copy of the book -- I have one available.  It's that important to us that you grow and be strengthened in your faith in God.  Be blessed, and thanks again to all who turned out to make last night's movie night a huge success.

Much love, Travelers...

The Noticer Chapter 5

Monday, March 1, 2010

In this chapter, wisdom is the principal thing.  According to Andy Andrews, it's the ability to see into the future and discern the consequences of our actions BEFORE making choices -- especially life-altering ones.  Many of us know to stay away from obviously evil things that have the potential to destroy us. But it's the subtle choices whose consequences are not that easy to see which require much more time. 

I think this is such an important chapter, because somewhere along the line we need to pass on to our children the fact that it's never too early to begin thinking ahead of time about what they want out of life, and teaching them to ask for God's help in making those choices.  Many people, myself included, wonder why it's so hard for people to remain committed to anything -- especially marriage.  But the author makes an awesome point: the commitment wouldn't be as hard to do if the choice made were the right one to begin with.  Anyway, I think we'll all agree that serious decisions need to be treated with more seriousness.  If I chose a hairdo that really doesn't complement me, i'd only be stuck with it for a few weeks.  But friends and potential sweethearts must be chosen very carefully, for they'll stick to you like glue that can't be washed out as easily.

Your thoughts, Book Travelers...   

Movie Night!

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Please join us on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 7 pm for a fun-filled movie night.  We will be watching the movie "Conversations With God", an inspiring film about finding success in the presence of God.  It's actually a bit like the life of Andy Andrews, the author of The Noticer, which is why I wanted the church family to witness how God can meet any of us where we are.  At our last meeting, we had a discussion of what each person envisioned success to be.  This movie answers this question very effectively -- and in such an uplifting way.

Come and be prepared to be blessed.  Bring something to snack on that you can share with someone else.  Bring a pillow and/or a blanket, or come with nothing at all.  We just want you to be 100% comfortable as we fellowship with one another.  I'll be getting back to you on whether child care will be available that night, so stay connected.

Be blessed, and don't forget to have "Conversations with God" of your own...