mattfry

CHANGING THE WORLD ONE CHILD AT A TIME!

I want to thank the C3 family for stepping up this year with amazing generosity. Through Angel Tree 2009 we were able to provide over 1400 Christmas gifts and essential items to those in need.  The gifts included bicycles, clothing, shoes and toys.

All of these gifts are given anonymously which means that the only one that they can thank is God.  I know so many children’s lives were blessed this Christmas and only God knows the eternal impact.  I’m just picturing us in heaven one day and we meet one of the children that we provided for and hear them share that because of our generosity they came to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!  I want to thank Tami Poland, Karen Dawkins and all of the volunteers that worked behind the scenes sorting and delivering the gifts to all of the elementary schools.

Let’s continue to reach out and serve with Jesus style ministry in 2010.  Our next big outreach is Souper Bowl Weekend, February 6/7, as we collect cans of soup and other canned goods for local food pantries on Super Bowl weekend.  So bring a friend and a bag of canned goods and let’s see what all God can do through us serving together.  Martha and I love you guys!

Check out this powerful Angel Tree highlight video.  

You Know You're Called If...#4 and #5

As we continue with our 10 keys in knowing that you’re called, let’s look at #4 & 5.

4. YOU WILL NOT BLAME OTHERS.

When you’re called you begin to take responsibility for the vision of your calling. You refuse to blame others for your problems. You resource yourself and take responsibility for your spiritual growth and leadership and are constantly evaluating the health of both. Blaming others is not an option in fact you are doing the opposite. Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building other up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

5. YOU WILL HAVE A PASSION THAT COMES FROM GOD.

This is a passion that works from the inside-out and is stronger than any pressure that comes from the outside.  This passion is stronger than any circumstances that you will come up against. This passion is a contagious passion and you will find others are drawn to you because your passion is overflowing. 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

You Know You're Called If...#2 and #3

A few weeks ago I posted a blog about how to know if you are called.  I gave you the first of ten ways to know you’re called. Scroll down to my previous post to catch up on the first point. Here are numbers 2 & 3 of “You Know You’re Called If”…

 

2. YOU WILL STAND STRONG DURING ADVERSITY.
When you know you are called by God you will stand strong amidst the challenges.  Ministry isn’t easy and it’s through the difficult times that God builds our strength.  Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” So if you are facing a season of stress and adversity take heart and know that Christ gives us strength and through the trials we will become stronger.

Adversity comes at all levels of life and ministry. The ability to stand strong in the midst of it is a choice.

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”(NIV)

God’s promise is that we will reap a harvest but in order to reap a harvest, we have to stand strong and cling to the promises of God’s Word.

2 Timothy 2:1, “You then, my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) Let’s stand strong in His grace.
 
3. YOU WILL RESIST MAKING EXCUSES.
The third thing I want to share with you is that you will resist making excuses for your mistakes or for why your ministry is not growing. First of all we need to remember that it’s not our ministry but it’s God’s and we are to be his servant leader. I learned this principle years ago as a 20 something year old Student Minister at a church in Atlanta, GA. Whenever myself or anyone on staff would try to make excuses for something he would say, “fire engines are red.” In other words, there is no room for excuses. That was important principle that I am still learning. We live in a culture, even among church leaders, that often pass the blame and don’t take ownership of a problem or situation.  When you are called by God He often reminds us that it’s all about Jesus! Let’s take responsibility, do what you’ve been called to do and leave the rest up to God.

 

Having The Talk

I had the privilege of taking my son on a Father/Son get away to the mountains this week.  This is something that we have done with all of our children as they prepare for adolescents. I have to be honest and share that I was nervous and anxious about having “the talk” with my boy.  But can I tell you it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Even though it was awkward at times we laughed a lot and talked about issues that most teenagers learn first from their friends or media.  Our curriculum was Passport to Purity by Dennis Rainey and it includes an entire kit complete with 5 cd sessions, parent guide, student guide, projects for each session and even songs to help them remember their memory verses.  As we were driving home I was reflecting on why this was such a special and powerful experience:

1. Taking your child away for one on one time provides a time for them to get your undivided attention away from distractions.
2. Discussing real life transitions away from home provides an openness that may be more difficult to have at home.
3. Sharing from my life and giving advice before they experience these changes provides a bonding with your child that is hard to explain.
4. It’s fun! We laughed like crazy, we played hard, and we experienced God’s love and grace together.

I would encourage every parent of a pre teen to take their child on an over night retreat and discuss their future as it relates to sex and dating.  I want to thank Pastor Randy Bezet from Bayside Community Church in Bradenton, FL for recommending this material and my wife Martha for taking our girls on their one on one retreat and for her encouragement.  If you want more information about Passport to Purity or would like to order it from the C3 Source bookstore you can email café@c3church.com or call 919-934-3551. You won’t regret it!

 

Dino @ C3

Join us for First Wednesday this week at C3 Church! We will have Pastor Dino Rizzo from Healing Place Church. I have the privilege of serving with Dino on the Association of Related Churches (ARC) Lead Team. Dino and his wife DeLynn started Healing Place Church in 1993 and it has grown to 18 campuses with over 7200 attending each weekend. Mark your calendar, get here early and come with an expectant heart, it's going to be an awesome night!

 

Praying the Sermon on the Mount

Last night we started three days of fasting and praying as we prepare for Miracle Offering Weekend.  God's Word tells us that there are certain things we can only know through prayer and fasting.

You may or may not be able to fast with us, but we do ask you to join us in praying.  We are praying and believing God for the Vision He has given us for 2010 at C3.  Martha and I are also praying with many of you who need miracles in your life, whether they be relational, health, financial...we know God is able to do exceedingly more that we could ask or imagine as we seek Him whole-heartedly.  

Each day during the fast we are reading the Sermon on the Mount together.  Today, we are reading Matthew 5, tomorrow we'll read Matthew 6 and Wednesday we'll conclude with Matthew 7.

Wednesday night at 20/20 Night we will end the fast with a Night of Prayer at 7:00pm, as we come together as a church body to pray and worship together. 

 

3 Days of Praying and Fasting

This weekend is Commitment Weekend and I am so fired up to see what God is going to do through C3 the next two weekends!  As we prepare to bring our commitments this weekend, I wanted to invite you to join us in three days of praying and fasting, starting Sunday evening, November 15.  We will conclude the fast at 20/20 Night on Wednesday, November 18 with a Night of Prayer at 7:00pm.  

We are praying and fasting as we seek God for what He wants us to do the following weekend for Miracle Offering Weekend on November 21 and 22.  

If this is your first time fasting, here is some information, and you can find more resources on c3church.com or in the Source.

What is Fasting?

The fast is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. As a church, we are fasting to prepare our hearts for what God is going to do, and to stretch our faith to believe Him for big miracles. The best way to do this is to redirect our food source. This is accomplished through substituting our regular food intake with Bible reading, praying, and journaling. The overall goal is to experience a genuine hunger for spending time with God and to grow our faith in what God can do!

Normally, fasting means to abstain from food or drink for a certain period of time as a religious practice. However, it may extend to anything that may be a source of pleasure, satisfaction, or personal gratification. 

Purposes of Fasting:

A) To express love and surrender toward God through an act of sacrifice personal to ourselves.
B) To express distress, grief, or repentance.
C) To prepare for a time of spiritual struggle, decision making, or service.
D) To declare our willingness to put aside things in this life that may hinder our spiritual growth or relationship to God.
E) To remind ourselves that the physical world, and the life we live in it, is temporary, partial, and fading…and that the spiritual world is real, complete, and eternal.
F) To help us find balance in our lives between the physical and the spiritual.
G) To express discipline over our physical lives.

Two Big Weekends

As we conclude our UpRising series, we have two big weekends coming up at C3.  The first is Commitment Weekend, which is this weekend, and Miracle Offering Weekend on November 21 and 22.  

 As we get ready for these weekends, remember to...

Pray - We are challenging each of you to join us a for three days of praying and fasting November 15-18 as we pray and believe for God to do the impossible.  Then on 20/20 Night (November 18), we are going to come together as a church body for a night of prayer. 

Commit - This weekend (November 14 and 15) we are going to be turning in our Commitment Cards during each of our four services.  

Give - On November 21 and 22 we will celebrate through giving at our Miracle Offering Weekend.  Begin praying about what God would have you give that weekend.   

Martha and I love sharing the 2010 Vision with each of you and made a video to share from our hearts about all we are praying and believing God wants C3 to do in 2010.  The best is yet to come!

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Do You Need A Miracle?

I’ve had several conversations over the past several days with friends and I’ve heard the following…

I need a miracle

I need a breakthrough

I’m trusting God for the impossible

I’ve also shared the same with others! I am so thankful that God still DOES the impossible. He never runs out of power or strength. I believe that if we want to see a miracle in our life we need to focus on the God of miracles not ourselves. When I rely on myself I get what I can do, but when I rely on God I see what God can do!

Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who come to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

I also see God work in my life when I get my eyes off myself and give to someone who is hurting or needs hope. Tonight at Vision Night we will have an opportunity to focus on the God of miracles. Join us for a powerful time of worship and prayer. I can’t wait to share with you the vision for 2010! If you live outside the area you can join us live at www.c3church.com/livefeed I am praying for you to see God do a miracle in your life!

 

UPRISING CONTINUES...MARRIAGE & FAMILY

I am so excited to share that this weekend Martha and I will be team teaching on family and diving into Ephesians 5. This message is not only for married couples.  It’s for singles, single again, and our next generation. Our family is where our ministry begins and in today’s world when the family unit is attacked from every angle we need to be sure we have God as our center. This weekend Martha and I will give insight to how we have kept God first place in our marriage and in our family. I can’t wait to see you this weekend. Check out this video of Martha and I teaching together.