Weekend Hilights

What an outstanding day last Sunday.  It was the First Annual Tailgate Party and Carnival at Elevate.  Here are my thoughts on this past weekend:

1.  We had over 25 first time guests with us.  That’s incredible!

2.  What a great team of volunteers we have at Elevate.  You worked so hard to make the day successful.  Thanks for your servant’s heart.

3.  The drama team was awesome.  Way to go Lauren, Danny, Laycee, and Z.  Can’t wait to see the next one…

4.  Awesome carnival time.  Free cotton candy and popcorn is always fun.

5.  God moving in the hearts of people and in their marriages – priceless.  This is why we do what we do.  Transformation in people’s lives.

Thursday Download

1.  Great Connect Group last night.  People talking about real issues of life.  If you aren’t connected to a Connect Group, what’s holding you back? 

2.  “Sunshine, on my shoulder…”  Okay, it’s an old John Denver song but as I look out of my office I am so thankful for the sunshine.

3.  Awesome thought from The Life You Have Always Wantedby John Ortberg:  (Like Snow White) each of us has tasted the forbidden fruit.  We have all eaten the apple.  We have all fallen under the curse.  We are all, on our own, in a kind of living death.  But still the PRINCE comes, to bring freedom from the curse, life from death. 

4.  I am working, researching, looking, praying, believing for God to open the right door at the right time for Elevate to own property. 

5.  I am so pumped about the new series:  HOME TEAM The Winning Family – including drama, video, and testimonies.  It all starts this Sunday @ Elevate.

New Series Starts Sunday

 

 

The Line of Scrimmage: Where Winning Begins – Oct. 11

Audible: Marriage Communication – Oct. 18

Red Zone Defense: Standing for Your Family – Oct. 25

The Hand Off: Parenting with a Purpose (part 1) – Nov. 1

The Hand Off: Parenting with a Purpose (part 2) – Nov. 8

Red Shirt Freshman: Helping Your Kids To Mature – Nov. 15

Everyone wants to win – even in the family. Husbands and wives want to win in their marriage. Parents want to win with their kids. Kids want to win growing up. So how can we win in our family? In this series, we will explore what a winning family looks like and how we can get our families in shape for the win. In this series, you will also hear stories from family that are winning! And we’ll even follow a family drama as they get in shape at the Football Family Training Camp. It’s all new at Elevate on Sundays this fall.

Weekend Highlights

Here are some thoughts about last weekend:

1.  Destiny Grace is so fun.  She is such a beautiful baby and so wide-eyed.  I am a proud dad x 3.

2.  Audrey had her first ever, basketball game.  I had a blast coaching her team.  Those kids were amazing players.  Audrey played her heart out.

3.  Cloudy rainy weather.  It’s OK in the summer but I don’t  like it in the winter.  It usually makes people want to sleep in on Sundays.

4.  Lori is recovering well.  I am a blessed man. 

5.  This is so cool!  Last week we gave away a sofa instead of selling it on Craig’s List.  This week someone gave us a 32″ TV for our Kids Retreat room.  You can NEVER outgive God.  When you plant you always reap a harvest.

6.  God is still speaking to my heart from Sunday’s message about Living Free.  Want to know how to LIVE FREE each day?  Listen to the podcast from last Sunday.  Should be on the website on Tuesday.

7.  My Sooners lost again!  Stink!

8.  Can’t wait to have fun this Sunday at the Tailgate Party and Carnival.  Free food, fun, inflatables, Cowboys game, ect.  This is going to be a great Elevate time…Bring a friend of family!

A Growing Family

Last Thursday, we welcomed the newest addition to the Brassfield family – Destiny Grace Brassfield.  She weighed 7 lbs. and was 20 inches long.  As I held her in my arms just hours after she was born, somehow I felt a very small piece of what Joseph must have felt when he held Jesus for the first time.  “What great purpose and potential are wrapped up in this little life?”  We are so thankful that mom and baby are both doing well.  Check out these pictures.

See You At The Pole Update

So cool to see students stand for their faith today as they prayed at their school flagpole.  It takes courage to show up, stand up, and speak up.  But that’s what our teenagers did today.  I am so proud of them.

Check out what happened on my daughter’s campus.  Last year only 3 showed up for SYATP.  This year over 35.  I am so proud of Lauren. 

Weekend Highlights

What a great weekend!  Here are the “best of” for this past Saturday and Sunday:

1.  Nesting syndrome has hit the family as we prepare for the soon arrival of Destiny.   Can’t wait!

2.  Broke double digits again in my long run.  10.85 miles.

3.  I love watching my little girl get excited about playing basketball.

4.  I am so proud of Lauren for making the lead part in the musical Annie at school.  Curls and red hair. LOL!

5.  Great Sunday at Elevate.  We had 10 first time guests again this weekend.  God is so good to us.

6.  Feeling restrained by a relationship?  Go now and listen to the podcast of last Sunday’s message.

7.  Cool lighting set on the stage Sunday.  Thanks Tim and Tony.

8.  Gearing up for the Murphy Maize Days Outreach on Saturday.  Have you volunteered yet?  If not, join the other 50 people at Elevate who have a heart to serve this community. 

9.  Worship, Connect, Grow, Serve…that’s what we are all about!

10.  Coming soon!  Cowboys Tailgate Party and Carnival.  October 11 @ Elevate.

Wednesday Download About Prayer

Today God specifically answered an important prayer.  If you are waiting on God to answer your prayer, be patient.  Here are my thoughts on  prayer:

1.  Pray about every concern.   God is interested in the details of your life.  Prayer is the way we communicate our concerns and feelings.

2.  Prayer helps us process our emotions, thoughts, and ideas under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  Even more critical if your emotions are negative.

3.  Pray for things beyond yourself.  If all you ever do is pray for your own needs, your prayers can become selfish.  Praying for others is a refusal to feel sorry for yourself.

4.  Pray for the person who rubs you the wrong way.  “⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”  Jesus in Matt. 5:44

5.  Pray with faith in your heart.  When we pray with no faith or hope in our heart, I wonder if it sounds like we’re “complaining” to God?

6.  Pray creatively.  Silently – so you can listen to His voice .  Out loud – so you can hear your faith.  With praise and worship music.  Ect.

7.  Pray with your family.  This is one of the most important things you can do with/for your family.  We pray everyday together – morning and night.

Weekend Hilights

What a fabulous weekend.  Here are the top picks from this past weekend:

1.  Powerful worship time at Elevate.  “How high, how wide, how deep…is Your love for me…”  Awesome song.   We have the best worship team.

2.  Nursery is growing.  We have now split our nursery to make more room for new babies.  There are 8 new babies coming to Elevate in the next few months.

3.  So great to have Dennis and Shelli (Kids Pastors) and Kevin and Ashley (Ministry Coordinator) back with us.  We are excited about the new additions to your family. 

4.  Disappointment vs. Discouragement.  One is inevitable; the other optional.  Want to know how to defeat discouragement in your life?  Listen to the podcast of Detained by Discouragement.   

5.  The SOONERS dominated Idaho State.  What an incredible game.  I am also glad Michigan won but sad Ohio State and Oklahoma State lost.  I love college football.

6.  Connect Groups are coming.  I can’t wait to talk about my topic.  You need to sign up.  Don’t miss out on this Elevate Church.

7.   Coming soon… Cowboys Tailgate Party.

8.  Great time at the Mens Connect Breakfast.

Difficult Decisions

Probably one of the greatest challenges for any person is the challenge to make tough decisions.  No matter if you are a parent, supervisor, father, single mom, teacher, or ministry coordinator – you lead in some capacity.  I believe making tough decisions defines you as a leader.  Tough decisions may often seem like a step backwards.  However, after you navigate the decision – you can see that it was actually a step in the right direction.  Here are some insights to making tough decisions in the different arenas of your life:

1.  Pray and do what God says.  Sounds oversimplified but often times we skip over this step.  BTW – it’s the most important part.

2.  Think through the decision and it’s impact as much as possible.  Paint the scenarios in your mind of the implications.  How are others going to react?  How should you react?  What are the negatives and positives?    You may not be able to prepare for everything, but you can for most things.

3.  Get some buy-in.  Go to key people affected by the decision and get them on board with you as much as possible.  Shared decision-making adds synergy to your decisions.

4.  Make the decision.  Indecision is a curse.  Leaders/people often second guess everything and, therefore, live in a constant state of indecisiveness.  That causes them to live without focus and direction.

5.  Don’t over react if someone is negative towards the decision.  Often times people react negative but later realize it was the best course of action.

6.  Stand firm in your decision.  It may be a tough decision but remember #1.  Remember that you prayed and asked God for guidance.  So trust God to work out the details.  Obedience is paramount in the life of a Christian leader – no matter if you’re leading your family, co-workers, or simply yourself.