New Years Eve Online // Baggage Claim

Baggage Claim __ New Years Online Service

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

lord, carrying, god, pray, pack, year, prayer, bag, day, moment, give, hear, brittany, crazy, hearts, suitcase, put, call, spirit, luggage

Lord, I just pray that you would touch each one of our hearts and prepare each one of our hearts for the word that you want to bring today and also for this new year to come. Lord, we just pray that your light would bring faith to us and hope for this new year. And that we would be able to look at ourselves and reflect from 2023 and be able to get ready for this new year. And whatever it is that you have for us Lord, I just pray that as we go into the 21 days of prayer and fasting that it would be a continual conversation between us and you and that you would just reveal yourself in new and mighty ways in Jesus name. Amen. We are so glad that you're here with us today. And now we it today is December 31, the last day of 2023. And we just want to take a moment to say thank you so much for your faithfulness in giving throughout this past year. It's amazing to just see the impact that our churches had through what has been given. And we just want to remind you that obviously today is the last day of this year. And so if it was your desire to give something that you want receipt of for the year of 2023. Today is the day to do that. If you do that online or anything that is given that might be mailed in needs to be postmarked today. So we just encourage you to take care of that if that's something that you wanted to do as we end up this year. We also want to remind you just one quick announcement as we head into the new year that we will be Brittany already kind of referred to it that we will be having our 21 days of prayer and fasting we also will have the church open for that week of prayer beginning on the eighth and Monday through Friday. We will be open at six o'clock each evening for Prayer. And then the following weeks after that to on the Wednesday nights, we will also continue in prayer throughout that remainder of the 21 days of prayer and fasting. So we hope that you'll consider joining us for that time, we truly believe that as we head into this new season, that prayer is just going to be the priority that is going to continue to give us direction for the future. So join us make plans, put it on your calendar, hope that you can be a part of that. Well, this last year has been amazing, we've started a new podcast called going deeper. And I kind of feel like this is, this is sort of like the going deeper, going deeper podcasts a little bit. And we've had, we've had everyone of the family on the podcast, so far this year. And it's been great. Brittany and I were kind of talking about this last year, and kind of what we're taking into the new year. And we just want to have sort of discussion talking about baggage claim, we've done a little bit of traveling over the years, we've we've packed up everything we owned and put it into boxes and shipped it over to other nations. And it's just a it's an interesting deal when you're waiting at the baggage claim area. And you've got like 16 bags and boxes coming out. And you're just hoping that every single one of them make it and then at the same time to you're like why did I pack so much stuff? Why did I put so many things on here. And then when you're going into your checking in your your bags, you know, it's got to be a certain way amount, every single bag, or you have to pay a fee, like all these different aspects, and we're just really kind of discussing, you know, what are we taking in? What are we bringing into the new year? And I don't know if there's anything you wanted to speak to that? Well, Jonathan actually mentioned in worship, too, that there is a lot of stuff, we're all bringing something into the new year. And he said we give it to you. And so that's really the basis of this is what are you bringing into the new year? And what do we need to take? And what do we need to leave behind when you're packing when we're traveling? There's all these things that we pull out, I even have a process like I pull out everything I think I want. And then I have to go back through again a second time and weed out, okay, why was that out here, I really don't need that. And we have to go through that process to meet those requirements to to get the things right that we need. So because whatever it is that we pack is whatever we're going to be responsible for carrying with us, it's going to be honest, and we're going to have our hands full with it. And when your hands are full with something, you really don't have much room for something else. And so we want to make sure that we're making room for the right things, I can step back to that I happen to be the guy who I think early on, I used to, I mean, I would if I was going away, I would pack in my mind, like I started a week ahead of time, kind of. And now it's like, I'll wake if I'm leaving at eight o'clock in the morning, I'll get up just an hour earlier to pack and get the stuff in the bag. It's interesting, too, that when you when your bag is overweight, it costs you more. And no matter what airline sometimes it's more with different airlines, I know with like smaller domestic flights, sometimes if it's a short trip and you're overweight, you got to pay like $100. Versus if it's international, you might only have to pay 50 or 75, or whatever it might be it just it all, it all depends. But there's a cost for carrying too much. And I feel that so much, especially looking back at this year, and looking going from 2022 to 2023, there were things that I carried into 2023. That ended up costing me in major ways, whether it be relationally, or with with family or you know, even with with my with my wife and with my kids, if we don't address those different areas, if we don't, you know, clean out and get rid of the stuff that's weighing too much on us, it's going to cost us whether we realize it or not. So I think our first point today is to acknowledge those things. I jotted down this quote that I have often gone to it says that we don't change from our experience, but that we changed when we reflect on our experience. And I think that it's a very natural time of year as we're, you know, heading into the new year to hopefully slow down and have some time of genuinely reflecting on the past year on your life currently. And it's through reflection that we then put ourselves in a place where we can actually acknowledge where we genuinely are. It's definitely hard process sometimes to be honest with ourselves, and to recognize the areas that need some work, need some change needs some redirection of our thought processes. is whatever that may look like. So but I think that it is the beginning point. So today, when you hear us talking about all of these things, this is kind of where it starts, that you have to be willing to actually acknowledge those things. And to take a hard look to take a reflective look. And but I think at the same time, something that just kind of jumps at me right now is that not everything is bad. And maybe there were some things this past year that were powerful influences in your life. And so starting to look at those things as well, because I think you may not be like this, but I'm I kind of Slant more towards like, Oh, I got to do better here, I got to do better there. And this was not good. And I need to change this where it's just as beneficial for me to look at the patterns that maybe I did establish, or the habits that I did put in my life that I do want to continue. And I do want to add to them. And so instead of just kind of completely having that negative slant, I guess in a sense, there's power and like, hey, this was a good practice. And I need to continue this. And I loved dad's message about merry pondering, if you want to go back and watch just an incredible message. On reflection, I would go back, check out our YouTube or our website and watch that message. But I'm gonna throw Brittany under the bus here for a second because I think this is this is kind of going off of what both of you were saying. If we wait until the last second to pack. If we if we are you know, this is throw you under the bus. Right? Today's the day. Today's the 31st? Yes, this is the last day. I mean, yeah, I mean, you gotta you gotta pack, you got to pack, you got to check what you're bringing. But you have to, I think, to taking that time to actually reflect on everything. Sometimes we think we know what's in our bag. We, we already know what we need. And we went on a cruise and we get we go through the check in checking our bags, and then we go through security. And, and the the buzzer goes off, and the officer pulls us aside or whatever. And of course, I'm thinking oh, there's a camera in my bag, you know, normally and so they're gonna check me but they ended up pulling Brittany aside. Turns out, she left a box cutter in her backpack. They're like, do you have anything else in there? I'm like, No, not that I'm aware of. And he's like, what's this? I'm like, why would you have a box cutter? First of all, he was trying to take ministry, okay. But it was just one of those funny things. To me. It was just like, I feel like she just assumed like, I know what's in this bag. Like, I know, I know, all the things. I packed the other stuff. But the carry on, you know, I already know what's and sometimes we just assume it's a perfect example of having stuff that you've just kind of distance yourselves from, but you're still carrying it still carrying it, you kind of ignore it. And then it gets cold in the carpet. And that's kind of wait isn't life yet. You're, you think you've forgiven the situation? Or you think you've gotten over the anger part. But then it just creeps up? Yeah, no, I think a lot of us, myself included, like, a lot of the times we get in that place where we've accepted Jesus, and we're saying that we're following him, but we haven't fully surrendered to Him. Like all the things that are in our bag. We haven't fully unpacked everything in our bag to give up what we need to give up so that we can accept what he has for us. And it's it's even going back to the Sunday that I shared from our series. We both it was both marionettes. We both talked about Mary. But I talked about what you just said the surrender piece. And I just I think the biggest thing that continues to radiate from that time is it's a daily thing. It's not a once and done thing. Surrender is not yes, there are going to be moments where there's a powerful moment of surrender, but it's a continuing daily choice to lay it down again, release it again. Surrender it again. Let me give me let me give a scriptural context today out of Joshua three. With today being the 31st Mar being the tonight being the first new day fresh start. You know it doesn't happen all the time. But it's it's a fresh start 2024 Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left the grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River. They were camped before crossing three days later. The Israelites officers went through the camp giving instructions to the people. When you see the little political priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God. Move out from your positions and follow them since you have never traveled this way before so none of us have traveled this way before is a new year for us. First of all, they will guide you stay about a half a mile behind In them, keeping a clear distance from you and the ark, make sure you don't come any closer than Joshua told the people in verse five, purify yourself, for tomorrow, the Lord will do great wonders among you. In the morning, Joshua said to the priests lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river. And so they started out and went ahead of the people. For seven, the Lord told Joshua, today, I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of the Israelites, they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses, give the command of the priests to carry the ark, when you reach the bank, the other Jordan take a few steps into the river and stop there. So the premise or the clarity is they had to purify themselves before they were to advance. What is this? What was it? It was get up early? What was the next one? Get an early, follow the presence follow the presence, purify yourself pure things, few steps, take a few steps. And I think that that all comes down to intentionality. And intentionally looking at our lives, and assessing and really taking a moment and going okay, where are the where are the pain points? Where are the heavier things that need to drop? And it all comes back to that self evaluation. But again, it has to be intentional. What are some other ways that we can assess as we go into 2024? I think it's paying attention. Because I think that anytime we have an emotional response of any kind to good or bad to something, there's something there to be learned if we choose to dig into that moment. So if I responded in a moment, like with jealousy, or if I responded in a moment with anger, or if I responded in a moment where I was so easily offended, or my feelings were hurt, like if we could stop in that moment and have again, that moment of reflection at some point of why did I react that way? Why did I respond that way? Because our emotions can often let us know what is happening deeper inside of us. And so I think that that can be a really valuable tool to even take to God. Like God helped me see what what is it here in this moment that I experienced things in this way? Show me what is underneath of that, that I need to work on? There's obviously something that I'm carrying, that I shouldn't be carrying. And this is why I'm reacting the way that I am. So help me to see that go into that root problem. Yes. Yeah. Well, the other day, Brittany was telling me that she was having a conversation with Ali. And it was kind of it was kind of funny, because Ali's, our eldest of the four, and you could probably tell him better than I can. But basically, she was just having a moment of like, going off being by herself. And she was telling Brittany, he's like, I don't, I feel like I'm so mean to my brothers and sisters, brother and sister. Like, I don't want to act this way. But it just happens. And I don't want to, I don't want to do these things. But but it just comes out. And of course, it's it's such a like a it's kind of a proud mommy moment, or proud dad moment of like, wow, my kid is self aware. You know, but it's like, it's you have to be self aware. You have you have to take those moments and really go man, I'm acting this way. Cuz you're not just going to change, you know, without actually reflecting. Well, the thing is, I've written this down. Many of us want a magic answer. We want to we want to rub the probably shouldn't say quite like this, we want to we want to rub the genies bottle and have everything fixed, but it's not it's going to take forever in prayer. It's going to it's not the blue light special. There's no shortcuts to this. There's no shortcuts. And so it's it's self awareness. That's why just practically, if you're taking notes today, practically, write some stuff down. You're asking God The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much according to Scripture, and so write the things down that you want to address, write the things down that you need to give up, right the box cutters that need to come out of the bag. This next 21 days of prayer and fasting, write some things down be self aware. I often say I said 1000 times don't forget when you point the finger at someone you got three pointing back at your yourselves and but be aware of that. Take that as a blessing from the Lord to say, Holy Spirit. Evaluate my heart Holy Spirits speak to me. Give me clarity of mind. reveal truth in this moment. That's a prayer for 2024 Holy Spirit prayed every morning Holy Spirit revealed truth in my life in situations I think when you're in the process of packing and unpacking things like realizing that there's different seasons as well. For things do when we you know are going as a family to the mountains I'm in the springtime I'm going to pack too. differently than, you know, when we go to the beach or when we go to Thailand or you know, there's all different types of scenarios in which you pack and seasons for which you pack. And you take different things when you're packing for those trips. And so I think, realizing that 2023 had what you need needed, and you packed what she needed. And now 2024 is a as another season, and God has new things for us. And realizing that we have to kind of assess the things in that suitcase for a new season as well, as part of that self reflection. Yeah, that's so good. I feel like to really, the what I keep hearing is, in that assessment, it's prayer. I think that's going to be the game changer, going into this year, for full life. And for for the people that are serving the Lord, it's going to be getting back to real prayer, and that conversation with the Lord. It's not it's not a I talk, and God, you just listen to all my problems. But it's Lord, I'm, I'm sharing, I'm speaking, I'm praying, but then I'm listening. And that and that's, that's how we can really identify and assess our own hearts and lives is allow God to speak into our lives and point out those different things, you know, and, again, he knows what we need for this year, just like Britney is talking about. And so if we don't listen, we're not going to know what to pack. It's like, it's like it'd be it'd be like, you know, saying, Hey, let's go on a trip. And it was like, What are we going? I don't know, what you tried to do. I didn't do that was like, do I pack a swimsuit? Or do I pack a sweatshirt, you know, do any shorts or pants like, but if we don't actually, listen, we're not going to know what we need to get into this hacking. If you do that in the overpacking. Yeah, let's get There's a scripture to that has frustrated me sometimes. And I'm not going to quote it perfectly right now. But more or less like that he knows what we need before we already ask. And sometimes that would really frustrate me like, I'm like, seriously, you already know. So why do I have to pray? Why do I have to bring these things to you. But I think that God has showed me some things about that verse in a new way, in 2023, that hopefully, I'll take more so into 20 for that, because he already knows, I should probably be asking him like, hey, what do you say that I need? Because you know, the things that I mean, as much as we want to be reflective. And as much as we want to assess. Sometimes there are just things that we have buried so deep, that it's really hard for us on our own. And that's the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to come in and lovingly and with his kindness lead us to that place of repentance, but to show us and to simply ask that question, you know, Okay, God, what do you say that I need? In my suitcase right now? What is it that you are saying that I need for this season? that lies ahead? And I think that prayer also really reveals? are we carrying the stuff that God has for us? Or the stuff that we've allowed? Let's get no and I think something cool that we can do we both in reading this book that kind of addresses this. But having the conversation with the Lord almost like almost like with Moses and God, where God kind of, on a few occasions as Moses, what do you think about this? Like, and sometimes we think, does God talk like that? Like, does God say what do I What do you mean, what do I think? But if we would have those conversations with the Lord, like God, what do you think about what I'm doing here? Or what do you what do you think about my attitude? And like, what do you think about the emotions that I'm having, like, God, am I Am I justified in this, like, actually having those conversations with God is just is so important in prayer. And because I think sometimes in prayer, we get, like, overly reverent, which is not it's not bad, to be Reverend to the Lord, like He's holy, he's mighty, we worship and we pray to Him in that way. But if we can't have those conversations with him, we're walling ourselves off from seeing change in our lives. You know, there's when runners, runners train, they tried to, they run with very thin garments, next to nothing, just so there's nothing holding them back. When we've gone on trips to Ecuador, and we've hiked into the jungle. I'm the guy who actually brought a battery powered fan to stay, they stay cool at night, but it's kind of like that I really need to carry that, you know, you make choices. And a few years ago, I was in the Sacramento airport and there'll be a picture up here in a second. And there's there's they have luggage like stacked to The ceiling. And I always, always picture that thinking even even the the set behind us of what are we actually carrying? And what can we put to the side? Not that there's some things that that I'm, it's purposeful that we have, but it's not purposeful that we carry, yeah. And that we would have the strength to pursue. And that's, that's, again, just a reminder where we are today, December 31, what a great opportunity to reflect, to jump into a new year, even as I read the Scripture earlier, they had to take the step. And so we're taking a step to move forward, we're taking a step into the new year, we're taking a step at as families as individuals, where could we be, if we would just lean in oppression in here, Hebrews 12, one set tells us to strip off all that hinders us so that we can run the race that God tells us to because we have a mission, he He has called us to do certain things and, and I think to a piece in this, that can sometimes hinder us is comparison, and that he has a different purpose and plan what you need in your suitcase might not be what I needed my suitcase. And but yet, he has called both of us. And he's using both of us. He's gifted, he's gifted all of us with certain things that he has a plan and a purpose for. But we need to also be careful in the midst of it, that we don't look at other people and say, Well, you shouldn't be you shouldn't have that thing. When you don't know what it is that God has, is using in that situation. I want to say this to kind of go off of what, what mom is saying, like, we have these, we kind of have these holy resets, and we and we like to put them around dates, oftentimes. But it doesn't have to, we don't have to put so much pressure on it. It can be something that's done daily. And it's the same thing too. I mean, you said this earlier, but going off of the judging what's in someone else's bag, versus our own. We're in completely different seasons, where we may be in different stages, and unbelieving to that maybe even people watching this, you know of someone in your life. That's that's far from God. And the way that you pray, the way that you have your, you know, baggage claim moment is going to look different than someone else's, but you can still be there for them. Like you can still help them in those conversations and bring them back to the Lord. I think one of the verses that we had in our notes was was in job and just talking about, I think it was Yeah, job 2223. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. And I think that there's a even a call to return back to God in certain areas of our lives. And maybe there's some, maybe there's a bag that you need to reclaim. Like don't talk about Sacramento, there's all the all the bags and stuff boxed up, maybe there's a dream, maybe there's a calling, maybe there's an area of your life that you need to go back and get it. You've got the you got the ticket stub, you've got you got the friend, the family member that's far from the Lord and this is the year to go in that go back to baggage claim and pick up that suitcase, reclaim, retool, re establish, renew, reinvest, regain, repurpose, retread, restart, redesign school, how about this release? Come on. So that brings us actually back to our third point, which is address. So when you find out what's actually in your luggage and what you have and what you're going through, then you have the choice of what are you going to do with that luggage? And I know when we were packing for Thailand in the process of selling everything and packing, I think we packed probably 1000 times. Because we'd go through and look at it all and be like, Okay, this is still a lot of stuff like, what else can we get rid of what else do we you know, it really helps you redefine need versus want. What do I when you know you're going to be carrying it and you're going to be stuck with it. It's like what do I actually need versus what I want and your definition changes a little bit when you realize you have to carry all of that. We packed we repack I think to in the process of just even with our Thailand move. You may I don't know why this is just stirring in my heart but you may come into this year and you're carrying you're carrying on an extra bag. And there's the Lord is going to strengthen you to carry it because it's something that you need to carry. But then at the same time, there's other stuff like Britney's talking about that you need to let go of and it all comes back to that having that that acknowledgment that self awareness and taking the moment to assess what the Lord God, what are you doing, and then we address them we make the changes that we need to make as we as we step into this new year as we purify ourselves. But I just I feel I feel this so strongly that that dreams are going to be carried into this new year that we had left at baggage claim that the we had thought was never going to come out we that we thought was never going to be it. But I'm believing that we're going to be dropping stuff. And we're going to be picking stuff up that God wants us to pick up well to your fulfillment. Yeah, 2020 for your fulfillment. Speaking to the crazy moments, the crazy crazy times, Noah had a crazy woman from God built an ark. Sarah shopping for maternity clothes at 90. This is crazy. David slingshot this giant Shadrach Meshach and Abednego stand up for me in a fire and I'll I'll join you in a few. But nya chase a lion in a pit on a snowy day Wiseman following his star, this is crazy. Peter getting out of the boat in the middle of the night on the Sea of Galilee. And then Jesus hanging on a cross for you. And for me, I just want to catapult and kind of wrap land a plane this morning. As Nick talked about dreams this upcoming year. Obviously, as the we lead with the Scripture, of purifying ourselves, getting ready taking the steps and hearing from the Lord, this year would be a year that we hear that we see that we receive back to the re we retool we reevaluate moments. And as we enter into 2024, that it could be and will be one of the most incredible years. We've not been this way before. But as we lean in, as we hear, as we get our directives from our King of Kings and Lord of lords, that he would direct us want to pray with you this morning, as we sign off here in a moment. Whatever's going on wherever you find yourself today, your loved Gods crazy about you. And He hears He sees. But don't, don't enter this year of just thinking, you know, let me just let me just do the same thing. Hey, what do they say the definition of insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different results. Press in, lean in, write down, get on your knees, turn the turn social media off, turn the television off, listen and hear. And let's watch how God will bless our families. God will bless the things we put our hands to the steps that we take and how we'll just hear from him. There'll be dreams in the night and vision of the day. And if you receive that today, let me pray for you if you feel comfortable, where you are in your home, even right now to lift your lift your hands. And let's pray God's blessing Father, I pray for every man and woman Lord that's watching today. I pray for an incredible end of the year and an incredible new year of 2024 We pray, Lord, that You would make your face shine upon us and be gracious to us. I pray Lord God lead us and guide us and use us. The Lord Your word says that you will do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or even think and so Lord, we we receive that we embrace that bus our children and our children's children. We pray, Lord God for great first steps as we enter into this new year. We pray, Lord God that you would visit us Lord God and we would be your hands we will be your feet. Lord, we pray for divine moments. We pray for your favor. We pray Lord for discontinued Lord direction from you. Thank you, Lord, for these days ahead. Thank you, Lord, for meeting us. Thank you, Lord God for knocking our socks off, Lord, as we submit to you and we look to you in this new year. We pray this in the mighty holy name of Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. I say all the time, you are loved. And God is crazy about you. Enjoy the rest of this day with family friends, maybe call somebody. Maybe start on the evaluation of the luggage that needs to be claimed or unclaimed. today. God bless