Friday, December 28, 2012

Nice Clothes! 12-28-12

Hey friends of Thrive Community Church! The verse from today's One Year Bible reading that I really liked was from Revelation 19:8

"She (the church) has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.  For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people."

I find that this verse is pretty appropriate on the heels of our Christmas Eve offering of $1700 dollars to go towards community services.  There is nothing like good deeds to give a visual demonstration of God's great love and compassion.

Thrive also teamed with Harvest Time International and gave away nearly $1000 worth of gas cards to some of the people who need it most. We participated in the WESH News Channel 2 share your Christmas charity event. Did I mention the Walk for Autism? We sponsored needy students at Spruce Creek High School who could not afford the extra curricular activities fee.  Thrive also met needs of struggling families from Spruce Creek Elementary School. By the way, we did all of this in the past 2 months! 

My Prayer for Today : Lord I am so honored to be a part of a congregation that has done so much in such a short time. My Prayer is that acts of charity would be second nature - a way of life. Like the people in the book of Revelation, may we be known as a people clothed in good deeds.

Amen


--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30
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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Strength to follow: 12-27-12

Hello friends of Thrive.  I pray you had a Christmas that reminded you of how much God adores you!

  The reading from the One Year Bible that stuck out to me was from Zechariah 10:12 NLT

"By my power I will make my people strong,
and by my authority they will go wherever they wish.
I, the LORD, have spoken. "

I like how it says that our strength comes from His power.  I find it so difficult to remember that I don't have to "be strong"  and help God out.  All I have to do is surrender my will to His and follow His leading.

The next sentence of the verse ties in with the concept of being led. By His authority, we can go wherever we want. How about you? Where would you like to go? For me, it's an easy answer-wherever He leads!  Anywhere in His will is far better than everywhere outside of His will.

My Prayer for Today : Lord, may the strength you give me be used to go where you want me to go and do what you want me to do.  By your Spirit, help me to eliminate self will and self serving as I prepare my heart for the upcoming year.

Amen


--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30
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Another win for the THRIVE TEAM!!!

The numbers are in!  We had approximately 220 adult attend our Christmas Eve Service.  That is 18 more than attended on our launch Sunday!  Way to go Thrive Team in spreading the word.  Now our prayer is that those who attended who are "non-church goers"  will come back over the next few months.  Also, our christmas eve offering that is going specifically to social services in the community was $1703.

Thanks so much to all of you that made christmas eve possible.  I love you all and man, I love this church!

Don't forget about the new years eve 80's karaoke party.  No, you do not have to sing or dress up if you don't want.  It will be a great time.  If you have not replied with your RSVP yet, please do so soon so we can plan appropriately.

--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

THRIVE New Years Eve Party

Hey Friends!  Rule #4 @ Thrive - HAVE FUN!  So I am planning a New Year's Eve Karaoke party with an 80's Theme (As in 1980's). So get out those stone washed jeans and leg warmers! And yes, you get to hear me sing - bring ear plugs.   The Party begins at 7pm and will be held in the fellowship hall of Covenant United Methodist Church on Clyde Morris in Port Orange.   We are in the planning process for food, drinks & supplies, so if you want to come, please RSVP, ASAP.  By the way, the 80's was a long time ago, so I get tired pretty early.  Therefore we will watch the ball drop in Brazil rather than New York.  That would be at 10:00 pm local time.  

Just in case you were not around in the 80's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980s 

I Hope you can come!  As far as child care, I am planning to have some of our Thrive Teenager's available if you will give them a few bucks.

Let me know!
p
--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30



--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30
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Monday, December 17, 2012

Another win for the Thrive Team

Way to go Thrive Team!  3 people made decisions to put their trust in Christ this past sunday.  These 3 individuals will get a personal follow up from Pastor Ralph, some literature about next steps with the growth track,  and then he will invite them to join one of the 15 new life groups starting in January where the discipleship process can begin.  We're doing it THRIVE!  Keep up the prayers for the lost, and keep inviting.


I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to be a part of a church where I can see ministry happen, week in and week out!

Man, I love my church
p
--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30

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If I've told ya once, I've told ya a thousand times! 12-17-12

Good afternoon friends of Thrive Community Church (www.ThrivePortOrange.com).  Today's reading form the one year Bible that hit me was psalm 136:

 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
         His faithful love endures forever.

The second line of the psalm is repeated throughout the entire psalm.  When God says something once, we should probably listen. After all, He is God!  What if he says it twice? How about 3 times?  Well, the phrase "His faithful love endures forever" occurs in the psalm 26 times!!!  Do you think God is trying to get something through our thick skulls?  It reminds of the old phrase, "If I've told ya once, I've told ya a thousand times"- His faithful love endures forever.

My prayer for Today:  Lord, I think you have the phrase repeated over and over because we just have a hard time believing it.  Today, by your Spirit, speak to our hearts that we might truly believe that your love for us is never ending, eternal and unconditional.

Amen


--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Please: 12-13-12

Hey friends of Thrive Community Church!  In today's One Year Bible reading, I found this verse in Revelation 4 pretty cool. 

11 "You are worthy, O Lord our God,
      to receive glory and honor and power.
   For you created all things,
      and they exist because you created what you pleased."

God created what he pleased.  He created you and I because He wanted to.  Why? To please him!  Not that we have to please Him, but it pleased Him to make us!  

Sometimes we try so hard to please God, but he is already please.  All we have to do is be who He created us to be. 

Sometimes I think we fear our hangups displease God.  Yet, He knows us and all of our days from beginning to end and made us anyway! Why? because it pleased Him to!

My Prayer for Today:  Lord today, may I just be who you created me to be.  May I stop trying so hard, and just be.  

Amen



--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Another win for the Thrive Team & Partners

I just crunched some numbers.  It appears that 43% of our 1st time guests come back as second time guests.  Almost one out of 2.  To give that number some context, I was in a coaching network where we were told to pray for and work towards a 33% return rate as a goal.  We are well above that,  way to go Thrive Team & Partners!  You all are setting an atmosphere that draws people and keeps them coming back!

 I am so thankful to be a part of the amazing thing God is doing in our community. 

Man, I love this church!
p
--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30

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No More Milk: 12-12-12

Hey friends of Thrive Community Church!  The reading from today's one year Bible that I really need to take to heart is Psalm 131:

2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

A quieted soul, that is just what the doctor ordered!  I don't know about you, but I sure could use a healthy dose of calm and quiet.  The frustrating part about this verse is that it says "I have calmed and quieted myself...".  I have to do it!!! I have to let go & let God. I have to make a decision to slow my roll.  I have to decide to take a breath, slow down and smell the roses.  

But, if I do, there is a promise- I will no longer whine like a baby crying for mama's milk.  Is that really what I sound like?     

My Prayer for Today: Lord, by your Spirit, help me quit my whining.  May I quiet my soul today, acknowledging that you are God and in control (and I am not).

Amen

PS, don't forget about our 1st Christmas Eve candlelight service.  Invite your Facebook friends https://www.facebook.com/events/538479012830919/ 
--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30
FaceBook.com/ThrivePortOrange
Thriving Life Daily Devotional  
Twitter.com/PeteKeirstead
Facebook.com/pkeirstead

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Monday, December 10, 2012

Acceptance 12-10-12

Hey Friends of Thrive Community Church.  I found this verse interesting in today's One Year Bible Reading (http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com).  It's from Revelation 2: 

 

4 "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first!"

 

I am used to this verse saying "you left your first love" and it always refers to Jesus.  But here in the New Living Translation, the love we are to have does not just include Jesus, but others as well.  That's so good!  Churches are notorious for having people who say they love Jesus, but can't get along!  What if as a church, we decided at Thrive to judge our love for Jesus by how well we accept others and their issues?  After all, to quote last week's message, "...all God's children got issues...".

 

The above verse also highlights for us at Thrive our 1st two of the four Core Values, so it's a good one for us - 1) Love God & 2) Love Others.  

For inquiring minds, Core Values three & four are: 3) Do your Best 4) Have Fun!

 

My Prayer for Today:  Lord, it's so easy to say we love you, yet often so difficult to accept others in the church as they are because they can be so irritating.  Forgive me for my hypocrisy.  You accept me with all my issues and faults, ought I to do the same?  By your spirit, soften my heart today, that I might accept others for who they are, the Good with the bad.  May I maintain healthy boundaries, but never forget to give others the benefit of the doubt.

 

Amen



--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Press on: 12-7-12

 Hey friends of Thrive Community Church.  How about this verse from today's One Year Bible (http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com)?  Its Hosea 6:

3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."

The phraseology here is significant - "press on to know him".  It means to chase, or pursue.  In the figurative sense, it means as a dog might after its master.  If we will press after Him, the verse goes on to say "...He will respond..."!

Not only will He respond, God's response to our effort to chase Him is a as sure as tomorrow's sunrise! I love this verse!  So let's take some time tomorrow and press on to know him!

My Prayer for Today:  Lord, I know that for every step I take towards you, you take 2 towards me.  So now may we find you in new and surprising ways tomorrow as we seek you.

Amen


--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30

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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Way to go Thrive Team!

Hey Friends!  Just wanted to give you our facebook update that I received. Look at the total weekly reach!  Way to keep spreading the word on Facebook!  Keep talking it up!

Thrive Community Church, Port Orange

New Likes

New Check-ins

12

4

Talking About This

Weekly Total Reach

36 +20.0%

8,052 +21.2%

See All Insights · Promote Page

Man, Iove my church!

-- 

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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

It's the end of the world! :12-4-12


Hey friends of Thrive!  The following verse made me chuckle a bit and I thought I would share it with you.  It's from Daniel 12:

8 I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, "How will all this finally end, my lord?"

I chuckled because we are coming up on Dec. 21st 2012, what some are saying is the end of the world.  Daniel was asking the same question around 500 years before Christ.  It seems we are always wondering about our end.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard "The end is near." Remember Y2K?

So here is what I am going to do.  I do know life is far too short.  Whether it's 12/21 or 50 years from now, life flys by and before you know it, the kids are out of the house and you are getting the senior discount at McDonalds.  So for the next few weeks, I am going to say the things I need to say to those closest to me and do some of the things I would want to do if 12.21 was my last day.  I propose we don't wait on reaffirming our love for family & friends, having some fun and making amends where necessary.  After all, Life is too short to carry that type of baggage.

Between now and 12/21, whether it's the end of the world or not, will you join me in committing to really live fully for the next few weeks?

My Prayer for today:  Lord, I pray that over the next few weeks, I would say what really needs to be said to those I love.  By your spirit, show me what I need to let go of and what I need to forgive. Above all, remind me to have some fun!

Amen

--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30




--
Thrive is a Life-Giving church, developing families that THRIVE!
Meeting @ Spruce Creek High School. Sundays, 10:30

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Another win for the thrive team

Got this email today.  Keep it up Thrive team!!!


 ... But without a doubt we feel something that we have never experienced at THRIVE.  Every Sunday at THRIVE is an emotional expereince for me. The spirit is really present in that space....

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