Since this is the case, this kind of love should be our AIM in ALL our relationships. We do not give our spouse/friend/work associate what they deserve, instead we give them what they need. What people need today is unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Jesus said in John 13:34-35closeJohn 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV) closeJohn 13:34-35closeJohn 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” It does not get anymore challenging than this! Jesus redefines love for all of us, and he clearly states, that this kind of love is a choice and action. 

So, it does not matter how a person responds, acts, or whether you get something in return. Our action is always the same…LOVE THEM. Jesus would ask every married couple who is struggling to get along… “Are you loving her?” “Are you loving him?”

How would this kind of love revolutionize our marriages, work environments, and churches?
What should you do in the next 7 days to be a more loving person?

If you would like to hear more on this subject please click to the media page of this website and listen to the message on “He said She said God says – The Heart”

One of the things I am believing God for is an increase of faith. Sometimes our plans or promises from God do not come in the timing we think they should. When this happens it is easy to get discouraged, and want to quit. I have found delay does not mean denial. It is during these times, God is trying to mold us in our faith and character.

In Genesis 16closeGenesis 16 Sarai and Hagar 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. 7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant
and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
because the Lord has listened to your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,
his hand against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” 13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (ESV) closeGenesis 16closeGenesis 16 Sarai and Hagar 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. 7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant
and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
because the Lord has listened to your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,
his hand against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” 13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (ESV) Sarai and Hagar 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. 7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant
and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
because the Lord has listened to your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,
his hand against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” 13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (ESV) we see that Abram and Sarai could not wait any longer for the promise of a child and decided to take fate in their own hands. They created a plan through Hagar to have children. This act of impatience has impacted us still today. But, through God’s grace and mercy, he reminds Abram in Chapter 17 of his covenant with him. He will be a father of multitudes, even though his wife Sarai is barren. But God is all powerful, and he can create life out of barrenness. Even in our challenging seasons, God does not give up on us or the promise he has given us. We just need to trust him through the difficulty or delay. It is through faith and patience we receive the promises of God. (Hebrews 6:12closeHebrews 6:12 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (ESV) closeHebrews 6:12closeHebrews 6:12 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (ESV) 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (ESV) )

Are you walking through a season that it seems God’s promises or plans are being delayed? Are you tempted to take matters in your own hands? Is there a promise of God that you are standing on? Keep the faith through patience!

Jesus challenges us to stay calm, when he asked his disciples to go to the other side in Mark 4:35closeMark 4:35 Jesus Calms a Storm 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” (ESV) closeMark 4:35closeMark 4:35 Jesus Calms a Storm 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” (ESV) Jesus Calms a Storm 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” (ESV) . A quick storm arose when their boat was in the middle of the sea. What was Jesus doing in the middle of this horrific storm, he was asleep.

Jesus challenges us to Be Obedient at the end of the Sermon on the Mount sermon. In this passage, Mark 7:24closeMark 7:24 The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith 24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. (ESV) closeMark 7:24closeMark 7:24 The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith 24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. (ESV) The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith 24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. (ESV) , we see Jesus tells about 2 men who made 2 different choices about a foundation. One practiced the word and built on the rock, and one did not practice the word and built his house on the sand. They found out which house was stronger when the storm came.

We discover through the story of Jonah that there are some storms that can be avoided.  We can avoid these storms by surrendering to God. God gave Jonah a command to go to Ninevah to preach the gospel, and Jonah chose not to go.  In Jonah’s disobedience, while in a boat running from God, a storm arose, and Jonah ends up in a whale. While in this whale, Jonah remembered God’s unfailing love, he sought the Lord, he praised God, and he surrendered his will to God’s will. The whale released Jonah on dry land to fulfill his destiny.

Are you walking through a storm?

You can hear more about storms by going to media and listening to my podcast on Storms.

When we go into this second lap, I am praying that our love will get louder not softer. The love of God is what people need. There is a buzz from New Heights, that I want the east valley to hear, and that is God’s love will ring much louder this next year than it did our first year.

The Bible says in Matthew 5:13-16closeMatthew 5:13-16 Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV) closeMatthew 5:13-16closeMatthew 5:13-16 Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV) Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV) “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” 2 practical instruction for Christians and The Church: We need to be effective and visual.

I want this sound of love coming from New Heights to be very specific:

1. I want us to sincerely love the east valley more.
2. I want us to passionately love our God more.
3. I want us to aggressively love our families more.
4. I want us to unapologetically love our church more.

Are you feeling your love has diminished? Maybe life has hurt or damaged you, and you need the healing of God’s grace and mercy. He is reaching out to you today. All you have to do is open your heart and receive it. He will then fill you up, so you can in return give His love away.

How can your love get louder? (With your God, Family, City, and Church)

We have designed a big part of our vision to try to tackle this issue. We call it Life Groups. Life Groups are small groups united around passion, gift, and need. Are desire is to get as many people in a life group as we can. We can go further faster if we are connected verses if we are disconnected. The enemy is doing all he can to keep people isolated, disconnected, and disengaged, but the people of God are trying to connect, engage, and unite. Jesus prayed for this kind of church, and he knew when a church knows how to relate, behave, and unite it will impact culture like never before. So he prayed…

John 17:20-21closeJohn 17:20-21 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (ESV) closeJohn 17:20-21closeJohn 17:20-21 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (ESV) 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (ESV) “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us that the world will believe you sent me.”

Are you feeling connected? Are you engaged? Are you feeling detached?

We must be connected with right people… Proverbs 13:20closeProverbs 13:20 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (ESV) closeProverbs 13:20closeProverbs 13:20 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (ESV) 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (ESV)  ”He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
You know intuitively that he who does life with wise people grows wise. If you do life with fools, a person who knows the difference between right and wrong and doesn’t care, you will eventually suffer harm.

What are you going to do about it? I hope you choose to get connected in a life group…

If you want more information about getting connected check out my messages on line on our website, www.newheightsaz.com, under media center.

The apostle Paul struggled with this, “I don’t understand myself at all, I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.” Have you felt this way, I know I have.

God gave some amazing principles to the children of Israel, before they crossed the Jordan river to capture canaan. It is found in Deuteronomy 7:24-26closeDeuteronomy 7:24-26 24 And he will give their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name perish from under heaven. No one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. 25 The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 26 And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction. (ESV) closeDeuteronomy 7:24-26closeDeuteronomy 7:24-26 24 And he will give their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name perish from under heaven. No one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. 25 The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 26 And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction. (ESV) 24 And he will give their kings into your hand, and you shall make their name perish from under heaven. No one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. 25 The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 26 And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction. (ESV) “No one will be able to stand against you, and you will destroy them all. You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you, for it is detestable to the Lord, your God. Do not bring any detestable objects into your home, for then you will be destroyed, just like them. You must utterly detest such things, for they are set apart for destruction.”

4 Possible Steps to let go of that horrible bag:

1. Hate It – Learn to hate that bag
2. Starve It – Learn to avoid that bag
3. Out Smart It – Learn to set up boundaries to avoid that bag
4. Replace It – Learn to focus on something better

Romans 12:21closeRomans 12:21 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV) closeRomans 12:21closeRomans 12:21 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Is there a bag that you need to let go of that has become difficult? If you would like more information on this subject, I would encourage you to listen to my sermon in the Baggage series.

Be blessed…Hope to see you this Sunday at 9 or 11am

All of us have been relationally wounded in some way, whether through criticism, rejection, disappointment, ridicule, or abuse. The enemy loves to paralyze us in thinking will never move forward in life, it will always hurt this bad.

There have been so many moments where I wanted to quit and give up, because of some relational set back. I have to always remind myself that the devil is doing all he can to stop me from the potential and purposes of God.

3 ways we can overcome our relational wounds:

1. Reveal the hurt

We need to learn to find someone in our life that we can talk to and have them pray with us about our wound. As long as we keep the wound inside, we will continue to curse, nurse, and rehearse the wound. The best way to win, is to reveal it. David said: Psalm 39:2closePsalm 39:2 2 I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse. (ESV) closePsalm 39:2closePsalm 39:2 2 I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse. (ESV) 2 I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse. (ESV) “But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased.”

2. Release the people involved

Sometimes we just refuse to release it, because we feel entitled to hold something against them. But if we don’t release our offender we will begin to resemble our offender. Peter asked Jesus how many times should we have to release someone, and he said…”…not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” In my mind, you keep releasing someone as many times necessary until you are whole.

3. Refocus on God’s plan for your life

Don’t let your wound stop you from God’s purpose for your life. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but he did not let it turn into bitterness. He realized later in his life his brothers intended to harm him, but God turned it to good. When we our wounded, we should not focus on the wound, but on God’s divine guidance through the situation. He will give you a fresh new plan for your life, that will bring abundance.

Do you have a relational wound you need to let go of? Today is the day….Let Go

Yesterday I spoke about the labels that bind us. This morning when I woke up, I still had this message running through my mind, and I wanted to share it. I know as people we are so hard on ourselves, at least I know I am with me. We analyze everything we say or do, and we question are value and our ability to change. Thank the Lord, we do not have to do this alone, and we are not on this journey alone. God is so patient with us, and he never gives up on us.

One of the points I mentioned in yesterdays message, was God wants to give us a new name. With this new name, he will give us a new purpose and future.

When Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter in Matthew 16:17-18closeMatthew 16:17-18 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV) closeMatthew 16:17-18closeMatthew 16:17-18 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV) 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV) , it changed him. Simon means undependable and wish-washy, and Peter means Rock. But the big question in my mind this morning, that I feel so deeply in my heart. Did Peter always live like a ROCK from that moment on? The answer is NO. It took time for Peter to grow into that new name, but through time he did. He ended up preaching an amazing sermon, that reached 3000 people for Christ. He also died a martyrs death upside down on a cross. He was not born a rock, but he died a rock.

I want to encourage you to receive that new identity through Christ, and get your new name in Him. But, be patient with yourself, you will grow into that name in time. Don’t give up…you are not who Satan or others say you are, you are who Christ says you are.

Hope to see you this Sunday Morning @ 9 or 11am @ New Heights Church. Helping people breakthrough to next level.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17close1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, (ESV) close1 Thessalonians 5:16-17close1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, (ESV) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, (ESV) “Always be joyful. Never stop praying.”

Pray continually, this seems impossible, but yet the heart of the verse is
to always be willing to bring God into your situation. Smith Wiggelsworth
(Amazing Man of Faith and Miracles in late 1800′s and early 1900′s) said it
like this, “I never pray more than 20 minutes and never go more than 20
minutes without praying.” This will revolutionize your prayer life, instead
of praying long periods of time (Although this is good when you can) learn
to pray in spurts. Learn to have consistent conversation with God, and
share with God what is going on in your life.

I love the parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge found in Luke
18. This parable illustrates how we should never give up praying about a
circumstance or situation in our life. This widow continually went back to
this unjust judge week after week, and because of her persistence the judge
ended up giving her the verdict she wanted. We need to learn to keep going
to God until we see something change, either in us or in the situation. A
great acronym to this idea is through the word PUSH…Pray Until Something
Happens; either in us or in the situation.

If you missed my latest message on “Talking with God“, check out May 20th’s
message.

I hope you will make plans to join us this Sunday 9 or 11am as we continue
the series “Talking with God”

I have found that if you can start a day right, you have have better chance of ending right. God wants all our days to prosper, but we do need to learn to cooperate with Him. We are only a few tiny choices away, to seeing our day go better.

Present your self to God: When you begin your day, communicate to the Lord, that you belong to Him. Your heart is to find out what he desires and do that. The Bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Present your heart to God: The best way to present your heart to God, is by reading His word. Find a Bible reading plan, and go for it. I love the One Year Bible plan, and if you want I encourage getting the “you version” app on your smart phone or computer.

Present your day to God: The best way to do this is through prayer. Prayer is simply communicating to God. Don’t over-complicate it. Just start each day by praying over every appointment, activity, and encounters you might have for the day. Just learn to talk and listen to God.

Learning to give our mornings to God, will launch you in the right direction. Have fun, and have an amazing day.

Hope to see you this Sunday at either 9 or 11am.