11 AM at The Place

Overthrown Dance invites you to come experience the message of the gospel through the arts. Dance, drama, music and more with special guests JayeMillenium and Preston 2.0

Devotional Tuesdays: Captivity Reading: Exodus 16:1-16 Did you know that it is entirely possible to be in captivity and not even know it? Or even to know that you are in captivity, but to be so uncomfortable with freedom that you are tempted to go back where you came from? Yesterday in church, when Pastor was talking about deliverance and if anyone needed delivered from anything, it was sort of a knee-jerk reflex "nope, I'm good." Like the only way that you can be held captive is if you have a problem with addiction or some other type of sin. But the thing that God showed me yesterday, and something I'm learning as I go through the Breaking Free Bible study, is that captivity is anything that interferes with the abundant life God created you to live. So captivity doesn't have to even be a sin. It just has to be something that keeps you from experiencing the abundant life that Jesus said He came to bring us. Look at Exodus 16:1-16. The Israelites have been delivered from their captivity in Egypt, but by verse 3 they are grumbling. Saying things like "Maybe we should've just stayed in Egypt. Better to die there than to die from hunger." They had just experienced an incredible, miraculous deliverance that came straight from the hand of God. And yet they are barely across the border when they want to go back. They didn't want to go back because they liked captivity. They wanted to go back because it was comfortable. it was what they knew. There was no question if they would have food to eat or water to drink. As long as they were in captivity, the enemy could bribe them into staying put. But it didn't cross their minds that the God who delivered them could also provide for them in their freedom. Aren't we ever like that? I know I am. Let me give you an example. During this whole Breaking Free study, Beth Moore challenges us to ask God to reveal areas that are holding us captive. And so I prayed and asked God to do that. And what was revealed to me is that I was being held captive by the accusations of the enemy. When I would go to write a devotion, or talk to anyone about God, it would come into my mind that I wasn't worthy. I wasn't perfect. I say the wrong things. I do the wrong things. I've probably already killed my witness so why even try. And I thought during all of this that it was my fault, and if I just did better then I wouldn't have to worry about it. But what God showed to me is that I was in captivity, allowing the accuser of the brethren to come into my thoughts and affect my purpose. The abundant life that Jesus called me to does not involve hearing negative thoughts about myself day in and day out. So if the thoughts aren't from the enemy then who are they from? These are fiery darts aimed right at my mind to derail the purpose that God has for me. But the shield of faith can extinguish fiery darts every time. So now I know that I have to bathe my mind in scriptures that tell me my identity in Christ. Then the enemy doesn't have a leg to stand on. So what about you? What are you comfortable with? What captivity has hold of you that maybe you tolerate as normal? What are you looking to go back to because it's comfortable and you know what to expect? Ask God to reveal it to you. And He will for you just like He did for me. And then He will set you free so that you can complete the work He has for you. Just ask Him. And don't look back. The enemy's provision might look more reliable, but the provision of God will build your faith and give you a freedom you never knew could exist. Try it and see. Manna tastes better than anything you could ever get at the enemy's table. --Amanda

Hey guys I am excited about family fun night tonight if anyone happens to have a @ the place T-shirt can you please wear it maybe we can get a good picture of our family at the place

Devotional Tuesday’s: Stand in the Jordan Reading: Joshua 3:1-23 The Jordan River was a very significant place in the Bible. It flowed from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea, over 150 miles long. It was in between Jordan and Syria on one side and Israel on the other. It represented some good things, and some not so good. Lot chose the Jordan Valley for his portion of land, because the river made that area lush and green, showing us Lot’s selfishness. It represented an obstacle for the Israelite people. Moses was only allowed to see across the Jordan River to the Promised Land, but he wasn’t allowed to cross over and enter it. The next generation of Israelites would have to cross over the Jordan River to get to the Promised Land, and it was at flood level during the time they were to cross over. It also represented some good things. It was a strategic place for war in Judges 7:24-25. It was a place of healing for Naaman the Syrian when he had leprosy in 2 Kings 5:10– a place where he could be restored and washed clean. It was a place of provision in 2 Kings 6:1-6 when the servant dropped a borrowed axe head and God caused it to float back up to the top. In the New Testament, the Jordan River was the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus and the dove descended from heaven. So knowing all that, take a look at Joshua 3. Joshua has just sent some spies over the Jordan River to the Promised Land to see what the Israelite people were up against. God gave the command and it was time for the people to go. But the Jordan was their obstacle. So what God told them to do was to wait for the Priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant (which would represent the presence of God) and when they reached the Jordan River they were to stand in it. Verse 4 says that the people were not to stand too near to the Ark, but to make sure they could see it “because you’ve never traveled this way before.” When the people followed the priests, and the priests carried the Ark into the river, the water stood still and rose up on both sides to make a way for the people to get through. And the entire nation of Israel was able to cross over because of the leadership and obedience of these priests carrying the presence of God ahead of them. For these priests, it was not about overcoming their own obstacles for the sake of themselves. They were carrying the presence of God for the sake of the people of their nation. Sometimes you face an obstacle that seems insurmountable and it’s all that stands between you and the Promised Land. Those priests were part of the nation of Israel who wanted to cross over. But rather than making this all about the Priests and what they wanted for themselves, I think He is showing us that it’s not all about us. This story was about the deliverance of a whole nation. The way that nation was delivered was that a small group of people were willing to face their obstacle— the Jordan River, in the middle of a flood season, and were obedient to God. They went and stood in the middle of this place that represented selfishness, their obstacle. And people were delivered. Because sometimes that obstacle can turn out to be a place of healing. Of restoration. Of provision. Of baptism. Of the very presence of God descending and validating you, saying He is well pleased. And your obedience to face whatever you are facing could result in the deliverance of countless others. There are a lot of scary things going on in the world. Some of you might be facing obstacles that I can’t even imagine. But keep your eye on the presence of God since you’ve never traveled that way before. Stand in the Jordan. God is waiting to show you what He can do. —Amanda

3/17/2018 @ 5pm see you there

Devotional Tuesdays- Who you are, and who you’re not Reading: Proverbs 31:10-31, John 1: 19-23 Have you ever read Proverbs 31:10-31? Where the perfect Biblical woman is described? Now, I’m sure that this is in the Bible for a reason. Everything in here is in here for a reason. But can I just be honest and say that sometimes I feel like the reason this part is in here is to tick me off?? I mean, look at the list of what it means to be a virtuous woman: she works with willing hands. She gets up early in the morning and makes food for her family. She is wise with her money. She is strong. She helps the poor and needy. She speaks with wisdom. She’s never idle. This woman is a beast! She can literally do everything! And while I realize that God is there to support us and help us to be what He has called us to be, I’ll admit that more often than not, He’s got His Work cut out for Himself with me. I identify more with John the Baptist. Look at John 1:19-23. In this passage, the Priests are asking him “Who are you?”. And and he told them “I’m not the Messiah.” So they ask him “Are you Elijah?” And he says no. They ask him if he’s the Prophet. Again he says no. And they say “Well who are you then?”, and at this point they are somewhat exasperated when they say it. He answered “I am the voice of one calling out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord— just as Isaiah the prophet said.” See, John knew who he was, and he knew who he wasn’t. He didn’t care if he fit neatly into the box that the priests wanted him to fit into. He just wanted to be faithful in doing what he was called to do. I feel the same way. I look at what is expected of me by the standards of society— wife, mother, employee, daughter, granddaughter, niece, taxi driver, house cleaner, chef, and on and on, and I feel overwhelmed. Then I read Proverbs 31 and see that basically a Godly woman is all of these things. And I feel so inferior. Like there is no way I can ever measure up. Yet I still have this desire to try and be who He wants me to be. I look at the testimony of John— “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness”— and somehow I feel like that fits me better. Because whatever I do, I’m loud about it. Right or wrong, loved it hated, I am unabashedly the voice of one crying out. The thing is, I don’t think that God loves that perfect and put together Proverbs 31 woman any more than he loved John the Baptist. There are times when we as women get it all right— we are excellent at loving our husbands or children, we work and provide. We make time for our friends and our house is clean and there’s no drama in sight. But there are other times when we are Mary Magdalene or the woman at the well looking for love in all the wrong places. There are times we are like Sarah the wife of Abraham dealing with unbelief. There are times when we are like Esther, trying to decide if it’s worth it to risk our necks to save the people we love. We are John the Baptist—Misunderstood. Loud. Not conformed to society. Offending people right and left. And you know what? That’s ok. God loved them both. And He loves us too. He knows what we are made of and He remembers that we are dust (Psalms 103:14). Don’t measure yourself by the lists of what you do right and what you do wrong and what other people say about you. You don’t have to figure it all out today. He loves you anyway. Clothed in strength and dignity, or eating locusts and wild honey in the wilderness. Today take a minute not to evaluate yourself and what you think you should be, but just know that God created you to be you. He doesn’t want you to live in condemnation, but invites you to rest in the knowledge that there is a God in Heaven who loves you. Wild locusts and all. Proverbs 31 women don’t get there overnight. They get there through a lifetime of submitting to the will of God. And He loves us from the beginning of that journey all the way to our destination. —Amanda

Fun filled night of fellowship and games. Come join us for a time of getting to know one another, with games, refreshments and more.