Toxic Thoughts

Identify  and Reject Toxic Thoughts

Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life. Proverbs 4:23

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Yet you know me, O Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! Jeremiah 12:3

What thoughts do you struggle with: Negative? Fearful? Discontented ? Critical?

Replace Toxic Thoughts with God’s Truth

…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true… noble… right… pure… lovely… admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Philippians 4:7-8

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Know Your True ID: Who You Are in Christ

Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) Ephesians 1:4-5

New Series@ Epic: FIVE LIES OF THE DEVIL

SATAN. BEELZEBUB. LUCIFER. The red scaly guy with a tail and pitch fork. Whatever image your mind conjures up when you think about the devil, the Bible is very clear about who he is & what he does. He tempts, accuses and condemns, steals, kills and destroys – lying & manipulating to believe what he says.

But you don’t have to believe him. You can fight back. Join us at Epic for “Five Lies of the Devil,” as we learn some common untruths the devil uses and how to find the truth in every situation.

Sept. 12 – God Will Never Put More On Us Than We Can Handle

Sept. 19 – Follow Your Heart

Sept. 26 – Church Just Wants Your Money

Oct. 3 – My Faith is a Private Issue

Oct. 10 – It’s Just Sex

It’s Worth It!

If you’ve ever wondered if all your sacrifice, energy and effort for Christ is worth it. IT IS! Striving for something great is tiring, but it’s the ONLY WAY TO LIVE! I was so inspired by this quote this week from Teddy Roosevelt…\

“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. Whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause.

Who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement, and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

I’d rather DARE GREATLY in the arena, than REST COMFORTABLY in the stands!

The most worthy cause in the world is giving my all to Christ who’s given His all to me.

NewSeries@Epic: At the Movies

In this Summer teaching series you will discover the spiritual meaning behind some of Hollywood’s BIGGEST Summer Blockbusters.

Twilight: The Truth about Love – July 11

The Karate Kid: Making Wise Choices – July18

Toy Story3: Growing Through Transition – July 25

People’s Choice – August 1

CAST YOUR VOTE FOR PEOPLES CHOICE:

• Sex and the City: Sex and My Self Image
• The A-Team: Choosing Right When You’ve Been Wronged
• Despicable Me: Overcoming My Dark Side
• Grown-ups: Six Steps to Spiritual Maturity
• Inception: Dreams, Thoughts and Temptations

New Series@Epic: Unstoppable

What if instead of asking Jesus to answer our prayers, we became the answer to His? For 3 weeks, Epic will team up with over 700,000 people worldwide for One Prayer 2010. We’ll unite together and dare to become the church Christ had in mind…an unstoppable force to change the world.

• Unstoppable Faith – June 13
• Unstoppable Courage – June 20
• Unstoppable Grace – June 27
• Celebrate America! – July 4

Pause: Song of the Week #3

Tear Down the Walls – Hillsong United

What Faith is Not…

1. Faith is Not a Feeling. Feelings come and go. Sometimes you get the joy of great feelings in Christ, sometime the feelings just aren’t there. Sometimes, we get hung up on wanting certain feelings, but our hope is in Christ and his sure foundation, not the shaky foundation of feelings. Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Unbelief is. The real question is what you do with your doubts. Instead of letting your doubts drive to discouragement, let them drive you to Jesus and the new discoveries He has to deepen your faith.

2. Faith is not a Contract. Sometimes we make deals with God (maybe not not verbally or intentionally). We think if we pray, serve him, go to church, etc., He will open up doors and make things easy and wonderful for us. We’re often not asking for a lot, just one thing or two really important things that He could do for us. If He would just come through, we think we would be fine. And when it doesn’t happen when and how we want it, we feel let down by God. But God is God and we are not. If the only thing Christ gave us was forgiveness of our sins and eternity with Him, we would have enough to praise Him nonstop, 24-7 the rest of our lives.

3. Faith is Not About Us. We want God to be part of our story, but His plan is so much bigger. He wants us to be part of His story. It may seem like a subtle difference, but it’s huge. He sets the agenda and our job is to surrender all of ourselves to Him.

4. Faith is Trust. Simply put, faith is complete dependence on Christ and what He has done for you. Faith is following Him when you cannot see where He is taking you. Faith is holding on to the fact that Christ is holding on to you.

Pause: Song of the Week #2

I’ll Wait For You There – Phil Wickham

Pause: Epic Song of the Week

Each week Epic is highlighting a song to reflect on personally and reconnect to Christ spiritually.  In a world that is constantly in Fast Forward Mode, maybe what we need most is NOT to move faster…maybe we need to do most of all is PAUSE.

This Weeks Song: Lead Me to the Cross, Hillsong United.

Lyrics:

Epic Volunteers: Get Your Game On!

We celebrate YOU, the Epic Champion Volunteers!

Each one of you is a true Champion for Jesus…training for the ultimate race.  “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

To THANK you and celebrate YOU, we’ve planned an AWESOME picnic lunch and then…the CRAZY OLYMPICS. We know you like to have fun, and we know you like to compete, so get training for the Crazy Olympic Sports. Bring the WHOLE family!

Sunday May 16^th12:30- 2:30, Rochester Park Pavilion

RSVP to wendyboer@yahoo.com