LifePointe Church

Good Afternoon Ladies of Lifepointe! A message from Lori-

A New Message…

Lori McNeil March 1st 2023

LifePointe Church
Join Us on Sundays at 11am

What Difference Do I Make?
This has been a hectic, but great week. I have been thinking and praying about what God wanted to say through me these past couple of weeks and these words permeated my mind and heart,

” Never Forget the Difference you Make!”

I had to stop and reflect on this for a little bit. How often do we have the thought of “Do I even make a difference”, travel through our minds and hearts? If we are being honest probably more times than we would like to admit. I was reminded at Ladies Retreat about the difference I made in a young families life at LifePointe and I had no idea that I had touched their family so much. That, of course, opened my eyes to questions I had about bearing good fruit and being a kingdom builder.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”John 15:1‭-‬2‭, ‬4‭-‬5 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.15.1-5.NIV

I was always afraid that I wasn’t bearing fruit and doing what I was commanded to do, build His Kingdom and show Jesus to the world through my life and commitment to the Father.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. “1 Corinthians 3:6‭-‬8 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.3.6-8.NIV. These verses in 1 Corinthians came to me when I was thinking about all this and it reminded me that our job is to sow the seed in someone’s heart and mind. We may never see that person come to Jesus, but that is not our purpose. We are just to plant the seeds of Jesus’s words and life. God then causes these seeds to grow and soften these hearts and minds to thirst and want to know more about God. We may never see the results of our “difference” that we make in someone’s life, but God sees it and sometimes if we are searching for the difference we are making, someone may come up to you and say thank you for loving me and showing me a better life to live in Jesus.

Ray Boltz wrote a song, “Thank You” and it tells of a dream he had when he went to heaven. Here is the chorus, “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I was a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave.”

This week remember to NEVER FORGET THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE! I love you all and you all have touched my life and made a difference to my life.

Lori

encouragementfromlori

May 3, 2023

Wisdom- More Than Knowing You Also Need To Do.
I was reading a devotional and a sentence stopped me in mid sentence…, ‘If you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation’ (v.49, MSG). This is from Luke 6:45-49

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Luke 6:46‭-‬49 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.6.46-49.NIV

This was very eye opening for me. I have read it several times over the years and even sang the chorus about the wise and foolish man in Sunday School (singing it now lol). This time though it was very apparent that I was guilty of being the foolish man; just listening not hearing or doing, not praying before I committed to a ministry or small group, not following through with something I said I would, running off thinking I was prepared for this thing or that meeting, not reading scripture because I already had it, said yes to everything and the list can go on and on. I have spent many hours under many pastors, teachers and peers and heard the words of God and thought I got this Lord, I am yours, but in reality I was just giving lip service.( I was more head knowledge than heart knowledge in reality.) Don’t get me wrong I love the Lord and I had wanted more than anything to be someone He could count on, but in my heart I was half heartedly eager. I have done my share of listening to the Lord and making excuses why I could not do this or that. I even developed anxiety in large groups and had become afraid of doing. I felt I was never good enough or smart enough, all lies by the way. The Lord has been working with me recently and I am better about groups and I am slowing down before I commit to anything and I am not afraid of saying I am sorry, but I can not do this right now. This was and is so freeing and gives me the foundation I need to weather the storms of life and it gives me the stability in life that is necessary to follow Jesus. There are several times Jesus say “those who have ears let him hear”. Are we hearing, listening and then get so moved that we can’t wait to do and put it into practice and fulfill a calling God has put in our hearts. I am striving to do this. For many years I strive to get up and read my Bible early on Sundays and spend time with the Lord in the quietness of the morning. The stresses of getting family up and ready to get out the door can ruin any day let alone Sunday, the day we set aside to worship together and encourage each other. Father forgive me for not hearing and doing what You have set before me. I won’t be a dumb carpenter anymore, but I will go forward strengthening Your foundation and build a strong fortress to withstand all that goes on around me, even those that are seeking to destroy that foundation.

We need each other always to be able to help when our foundations are struggling and crumbling. We can stand with those who need help understanding and building a strong foundation. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in understanding, in finding your heart for God and in serving God. He has given us each other and not to judge, but to encourage. Thank you Father for showing me Your word and I have heard and I am doing what You have prepared for me to do. Have a blessed Holy Week this week. Remember Friday’s here, but Sundays coming. Hallelujah He is risen.

encouragementfromlori

April 5, 2023

LifePointe Church
Join Us on Sundays at 11am

Where Do I Fit
I have been thinking this week about my life and it’s meaning. Who am I in this world, does my life really matter? Well I was watching the movie “I Believe” and I found the best answer ever… “I’m not sure any of us get to see the whole picture. The God’s eye view so to speak. It’s like we’re little children sitting on the floor gazing up at the back side of the tapestry that’s being woven. To our eyes, sometimes looks ugly, the colors are a jumble and none of it makes much sense. But one day we will no longer be sitting on the floor, we will come around to the other side and the genius of God’s handiwork will become clear. At the center of it all we will see the Cross. But in that immense tapestry we will see that single, unique thread, the only one of its kind, in color, that our own life has added to the piece. The one thread that without which the whole piece would somehow be incomplete. Personally I can’t wait to see His Masterpiece.” Ephesians 2:10 “We are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Wow and double wow. God has prepared for us things to do. That blows me away right now. This phrase God’s Masterpiece has been tossed around for some time, as long as I can remember and when I have thought of being God’s masterpiece I think of one portrait in an art gallery full of portraits. In reality we are all part of God’s ultimate Masterpiece, all of us being woven into God’s Masterpiece. We never know who we have touched nor the impact we have had on these people we know and even those we just brush by in the grocery store. God knows. God knows everyone we will touch and he also knows everyone who needs us at a moment’s notice. God guides us daily and puts people in our paths for a reason. I had never really thought about being a thread in God’s Masterpiece and what that truly means. I have heard stories of people being blessed by other people and just chance meetings with those who we would never see on a regular basis. Just think for a moment of that tug on your heart when you think of someone or when you see someone on the side of the road, in the grocery store, at the stop sign needing food, when you walk in your front door and your children or spouse is waiting for you. What are our thoughts when we see these people. Are we happy, annoyed, stressed or are we thinking of a way to make their day, with a hug, a kind word, a cup of coffee or a Bible verse that popped into your head when you saw them. Then I started thinking what am I weaving into God’s tapestry? Does my day today reveal my passion for God or does it reveal my humanness. I sure hope it reveals my passion for God. This kind of goes back to my feeling about worth. My worth matters to God. My place in this world, in this life, in a Ministry matters to God. Psalm 139 talks about us being woven in our mother’s wombs and God knowing us before all of that, We matter to God. All of this is in God’s tapestry. He has designed us, he has loved us, where we are in life matters, and where he puts us is where we are to grow, show up, love, and be passionate, about where we are and Whose we are. There is a song that I have heard this week, “You Will Be Found”, by Natalie Grant and Cory Asbury. This song was written for me. Seriously the words are from my life, my thoughts it is scary to think about it. It talks about feeling alone, invisible and that no one would miss you (a bit of a paraphrase), but the chorus talks about reaching out your hand and someone will be running(catch that) running to you and they will take you home. Wow powerful song, please look it up. That is where we all start, on the ground, wondering, crying out, hoping someone will hear us. Guess what God does hear us, He sent Jesus for us and when we accept Him and take His hand we start being woven into God’s tapestry. My prayer this week is Weave me Lord into the tapestry of Your Ministry and help me be passionate for You. Have an awesome week my friends.

Lori

encouragementfromlori

Choices
As I sit here listening to the rain I have a choice, grumble and complain about the storm or get up and dance through the storm. I have done my share of complaining and I bet you have been caught up in complaining and sulking during your storms in life.

Life is full of hurts, inconvenience, disappointments, anger issues and baggage that we carry. When those days come it is so easy to complain. It starts off complaining that the kids made a mess, the traffic was unbearable, the neighbors are too loud. Then we just keep going until what is going on in your life is everyone else’s fault. I have been there and I don’t like me in that place. Storms and trials are a part of life, but sometimes we want to stand in the middle of the kitchen and look to heaven and say “come on can’t I get a break, haven’t I been through enough. I thought You loved me, Your child. Enough is enough. (Big long SIGH)” One particular day as I sat there tearing apart my life, my place in this world and why was I even here. God showed up, met me where I was and said “Are you done yet?” I was a little shocked when I realized what I was doing; I was taking my life apart and calling it bad, not worth it and I was quitting on life. God made me in His image and He loved me. Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man in our image…” Then in Psalm 139:13-14″

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

God created us and in Genesis He saw His creation and it was good. I started feeling guilty; I always put myself down and eventually it was not just me I was putting down and criticizing, but everywhere I went, work, Church, school, home, nothing was sacred. God began by showing me His love for me. I started seeing myself in His eyes and whenever those thoughts came up, He taught me to seek Him in scriptures and prayer. This prayer leaked into my daily walk and I started to pray for people, my church, ministries, my bosses, company, employees and anything I usually complained about, but decided to be positive about. Wow is all I can say, my Storms would rage within me, but would not consume me. I was able to withstand my storm. In Psalm 1:3 “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.NIV ” Trees are strong and tall and they can withstand a storm. What happens when trees are not watered, fed or properly cared for? Do the roots start dying? Are they still able to withstand the storms? Maybe by luck or maybe someone comes alongside and nurtures it…Just like Jesus does for us. Then I thought of birds and how strong they are. Have you been out on a windy day and watch the birds? They are holding on to that reed or limb and swaying with it. Do I let myself sway when I am in a storm? I strive to. Being in prayer and the Word has given me the roots to dig deep and stand tall so I am not toppled over at the first sight of trouble and have the ability to sway with wind and keep my place. God has given me so much, I strive to not complain and when I feel it coming into thought, I pray, read scripture or quote it from memory. I was/am done being a “negative Nancy” and strive to build up, come along side and learn from God how to find the rainbows in the storms of life and dance away. We all can have stuff happen; how are we going to react to it? I choose to be positive and give whatever is bothering me and my circumstance to God in prayer. Then I go one step further…I come up along side those I see struggling, and hurting to help them find peace and be able to dance in their storm. I hope you all are having a great week and if a storm comes through DANCE.

Lori

encouragementfromlori

March 14, 2023

Shepherd Moments
I am sure most of us remember Sunday School times, memorizing scripture and singing the choruses. One of the first ones I memorized was Psalm 23. As a kid I loved the first part being led by quiet streams and restoration. The next part was a little scary, walking through the valley of the shadow of death. That always painted a desert valley place with high looming mountains and walking in the shadows and scary things around me. I almost missed the next part as I was scared, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me. The next part made no sense, You prepare a table before me in the Presence of my enemies, my cup overflows. Why would I be put on display for those who wanted nothing to do with me and then be happy (cup running over) about it? My second favorite part is surely Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the House of the Lord FOREVER. Thank goodness I have matured and grown in my faith and knowledge of this scripture. This Psalm has been in my thoughts for sometime now and I will explain why. This past year has been a rollercoaster with lots of twist and turns that would cause anyone to get some gray hair and wrinkles. I have heard wonderful testimonies of God’s provision, help, strength and care. I have even experienced that myself, but this year a lot has been going on especially with covid, for the past 3 years and surgery looming with some health issues I did not see coming. Depression and wanting to throw in the towel kept going through my mind, but Psalm 23 kept creeping in and giving me peace. The first verse “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. As a child the word want was high in my vocabulary. It seemed I always wanted something. Another version said, I lack nothing. I started to look at myself and my life and started writing down my wants and started to pray about them and lay them at His feet. These wants/needs melted to peace. I knew it would be really tight financially and I would have some physical limitations for a short time and just started being honest with God. I gave Him the specifics and I can say I lacked nothing. People showed up to help with things I could not do and helped Dreama take care of me. Bills were paid and I had all the essentials and necessities. Praise the Lord. He gave me that rest in verse 2 and the quiet stillness that restored me, my soul and my health. I was healing well and making great strides toward keeping my health going the right direction. His peace and strength was there and I could feel it daily. There were days of feeling like I was in the valley, when I had pain and could not put any weight on my foot, but God was there and His rod and staff comforted me and helped me not give up. I was so elated. God did prepare a table before me in the Presence of my enemies…worry, depression, guilt, fear and “death”; my cup was full and was overflowing. God was and is so true to His word and I had months leading up to my health issues and 3 months of being still, waiting and pouring over the word. I grew not only as a person, but as a Child of God. I am so grateful for God’s provision and guidance during this time and amid the stress of the unknown needs were met, victories were won and the scriptures made sense and carried me through day by day. I can not Praise Him ENOUGH. Some thoughts I want to leave you with this week…

When in need pray and be specific. I had unexpected expenses/needs come up and I just let God know and He met my need everytime.
Never give up. Open God’s word and just BE with God and soak in this intimate time with Him. It can be the same scripture that He brings you to, embrace it and claim it.
Find your Core people/person and tell them, confess your needs, struggles whatever you need and have them pray for you, with you and over you. James 5:7-16 are good verses to help us in this area. Surround yourself with people who love you and will lift you up. God is so good and He will help you through it and give you rest, restoration and renewal. Have a great week and a restful one too.
This is the version I memorized. I love the language here. Blessings to you all.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:1‭-‬6 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.23.1-6.KJV

encouragementfromlori

March 8, 2023

Our identity in Jesus
Identity is a great thing. We all want to be known by those around us, our community, our work, Church, anywhere really, we want recognition and the sense of being known. In junior high school I was asked by a classmate if I was a Christian. I was a little embarrassed, but said yes. This made an impact on me, I had never been asked that question before and I was a little embarrassed and shy about it but it made me think how did they know I was a Christian? Do we have some type of aura or presence about us that we did not know about? Is there a difference in our facial expressions or the way we carry ourselves? How do people know that we love Jesus and we’re Christians just by looking at us? Celebrate Recovery has a great way of introducing themselves to people, “hi I’m Lori and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ.” This is an awesome way to introduce ourselves, but in my life at work it can be a bit awkward. It got me to thinking about a movie that I love, “Overcomer.” In this movie there are two characters, coach John and Thomas that develope a friendship. John meets Thomas by accident while he’s visiting a church member in the hospital. As John is leaving the room he tells Thomas he will pray for him. On another visit they are talking and John is frustrated with coaching a one person cross country track team and feels his life as a coach is falling apart. During the conversation Thomas asks John who he is. John named off the obvious I’m a husband, a father, a coach. Then Thomas asked him well what if those were taken away from you, who are you? He ended up saying well I’m a Christian. Thomas asked him what does it mean to be a Christian, John replied I’m a follower of Christ. Thomas then asked him why he didn’t start off with being a Christian. Thomas then said, “you said you’d pray for me, did you pray for me? Embarrassed John told him no and you see how that affected John, he went to his car and started praying. This scene hit me between the eyes. How am I seen at work? At home? At the grocery store? I once said something at work and was called out by an employee. She said “I thought you were a Christian”, that hit me hard and made me feel very uncomfortable. This also caused me to look at myself and wonder how people saw me. Do I try to fit in with people I hang around? Do I act like them, laughing at crude or inappropriate things? I am a people pleaser and often hid behind a mask. I don’t wear my Christianity on my sleeve, but shouldn’t I? I have not always been open about my faith. It was easy in college, I went to a Christian College so everyone there was really open and it was easy to share your faith. Not so easy in the world I live in now, as we come up against persecution and ridicule and bullying for being a Christian. What does Scripture say, John 13:35 “by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Then also in Matthew 7:15-16a “watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them.” This opened my eyes. I had to examine my life to see what people saw. Where was that innocent 13-year-old that people saw me and knew I was a Christian? I am now on a path to strengthen my identity in Jesus and open up more to this hurting world. In past years, i have struggled with my identity in Jesus. For over 20 years I was working with kids as a choir director, VBS director, Sunday school teacher, you name it I was doing it. As I look back my identity was not in Jesus, it was in the work I was doing. Wow that’s hard to say out loud let alone read. God has been working on this in me and I am now comfortable identifying as a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, not in my job in the church or title to my name, but I am a believer in Jesus. I am in awe of the ppen doirs and the ways i have been used by being grateful and open to God’s leading. I guess I say all this to say don’t get lost in the work you do or your title, but get lost in Jesus and who He is and how He can use you. He loves you more than you know. I want people to know I follow Christ, I am His child and He is my friend and Saviour. I want to make a difference in people’s lives by introducing them to Jesus, the only one who can change them and give them true hope. This week let’s look to Jesus to find our identity and become comfortable in our identity in Jesus. I don’t want to hide anymore or and forget who I am in Him. We may be surprised like I was to find a brand new vision and a brand new me. Thank you Lord for finding me and using me today. Ephesians 2:10 “for we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Have a great week my friends.

Lori McNeil March 1st 2023