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40 Days of Legacy

Introduction

“Cover me, I’m going in!” I heard that line a thousand times watching old western movies as a kid. A team of marshals unleashed a blanket of gunfire while a few brave souls advanced forward with heads down and determined to take new ground. In light of our relocation efforts, those words have a new and sobering meaning to me.

As we near the halfway point of our capital campaign and initiate a new legacy of ministry, we must expect, face, and overcome spiritual obstacles. Make no mistake, Satan and his angry legion of despicables won’t be happy about our vision. On the other hand, God will be pleased, honored, and glorified.

Our successful efforts do not happen because of our strength or resources, but only by the supernatural power of God. Zechariah shot a hole through the target when he said, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6). Nehemiah launched his own building program with prayer when he said, “for some days I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4).

You hold in your hand a devotional and prayer guide entitled, “40 Days of Legacy.” This guide is our plan to provide “cover” as we advance forward and take the high ground. It is a powerful life-changing journey into the future of Aurora First Assembly. This devotional resource examines 40 principals that King David and the children of Israel applied in building the temple and how they can relate to each one of us. I am asking you to partner with me by doing the following:

Read: Set aside five minutes of each day to read each day’s devotional thought in the morning.

Think: Allow the application questions to serve as food for thought throughout your day.

Pray: Pray about how each principal may apply to you and your family.

Act: Respond to what God places on your heart.

So please use it, pray it, and believe it! But most importantly, cover me, we’re going in!

Pastor Gene and Rhonda

The Faith of Our Fathers

In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them (Psalm 22:4, NIV).

The 1997 movie, Amistad, was based on a true story of 53 Africans who were illegally seized by the slave trade in 1839. Captured and accused of mutiny, the Africans were tried as slaves. At one point in the movie, John Quincy Adams tries to communicate to a slave named Cinque the enormity of the challenge that lay before them. Feeling a sense of destiny upon his shoulders, Cinque responds:

I will call into the past—far back to the beginning of time—and beg my ancestors to come and help me at the judgment. I will reach back and draw them into me and they must come. For at this moment, I am the whole reason that they have existed at all.

As we approach the monumental task of relocating this ministry, we should all share Cinque’s sense of responsibility and respect for the past. In the past 75 years, the faith, sacrifice, and vision of many who have called Aurora First their home have paved a way before us. Their steadfast spirit has carried this church through uncertain storms, and their humble grace has been an example to us in seasons of success.

As we approach the financial goal of $1.2 million this December, let us remember the faith of our fathers. Like Cinque, let us call into the past for strength. Let us draw close to the stuff of their spirit. For at this moment, the future is the whole reason they have existed.

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Think

Is there a person in your past whom you might consider as a role-model, someone for whom you felt great responsibility and respect? In what ways did that person give you strength to draw on?

Think of some Biblical figures whose circumstances and actions inspire you. What were their circumstances? How did they overcome adversity? What is it about their stories that inspires you and gives you strength?

Pray

Ask God what you can do today to be a role-model for future generations. Seek to learn how you might become a pillar whom others look to for strength.

Act

What steps could you take to become the kind of person to whom future generations might draw on for strength? Determine to begin those steps today.

40 Days of Legacy 3

Are You Planting Walnuts?

Earlier this year I planted a walnut tree. It’s a strange feeling, planting walnut trees. You know that you are never going to see that tree looking as a walnut tree should, old and gnarled and venerable and full of nuts. Some day, perhaps, your grandchildren or more likely some stranger’s grandchildren will look up and say, “Doesn’t that walnut tree look great,” or will curse it when the nuts get in the way of the lawnmower. They won’t thank you or curse you; they won’t even think of there being a you, someone who once consciously decided to plant that tree in that place. So why was I doing it? I won’t see it grown up; no one will thank me for it or remember me for it. I guess I planted it because it just seemed right and would seem right in the days after I was gone. It was, I must admit, a good feeling. I wondered why such an irrational act felt so good. It set me thinking.

I wondered first why so little of the rest of my life had this kind of perspective. I was, most of the time, more like a sower of annual flowers, looking for results this summer or at best a planter of shrubs which have a three-year payoff. “Thinking beyond the grave.” It’s a nice phrase. Living now so that others later can live more abundantly. Life after death, but others’ lives after your death. Perhaps that is part of what Christianity is really all about.

These are the words of British philosopher, Charles Handy. In light of our decision as a church to relocate our ministries to the property we own in the Southlands area, they have newfound meaning. That is the same philosophy King David had when he led the nation of Israel in their own building program. As we approach the financial goal of $1.2 million this December, we should be motivated by the same sense of obligation to project our faith, courage, and sacrifice into future generations. David faced the challenge of a building program as we are at Aurora First Assembly, but he looked at it more like passing down a legacy rather than building a building. So, with each dollar we give and

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each hour we pray, let’s view them as walnut seeds yielding a future harvest.

Think

Are you a sower of annual flowers, looking for immediate but short-lived results? Have you ever wished you had dedicated more time to something of greater, longer-lasting value? Now is the time to put feet to those wishes and make them a reality.

Pray

Ask God to help you see the long-term benefits of today’s hard work and sacrifice. Allow Him to move on your heart so that the things you do today will leave a legacy by projecting your faith into future generations.

Act

As you weigh the choices and sacrifices you will make, what Scriptures come to mind that help you to see the future value, whether material or spiritual, of your sacrifices? In other words, what verses help you to see the walnut tree rather than the seed? Jot some of those verses down here and refer to them for continued encouragement.

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A View from Another World

Scientists affectionately call it “The Eye of God”—a helix nebula spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble is not much bigger than a school bus, but it can observe 19 galaxies and see as far as 108 million light-years away. That has not always been the case. For thousands of years, our vision into space was somewhat limited and blurred. The earth’s atmosphere causes a blurring effect for any telescope located under the atmosphere and on the surface of the earth. That frustration was overcome in 1990 when NASA placed the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit. Without being hindered by the earth’s atmosphere, the Hubble’s resolution is ten times better than any telescope on earth. The Hubble’s position above the earth’s atmosphere is the secret to its power.

Our vision is a lot like that. In order to be effective, it has to originate from above—not from what is of this world. First Chronicles 28:12 tells us that David’s vision to build a temple came from God. His vision, like our own, came from God and not man. We can have all the money in the world with the best architects and builders, but unless our vision comes from heaven, we will not be successful. But what is a worthy vision? What is our vision for this new building?

In 1 Chronicles 28:2, David answered these questions by calling all his people together and painting a mental picture of the vision God had called them to in building the temple of God.

King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.”

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Our vision is not unlike that of David’s. Our vision is not to construct a building but to create an environment of faith for the future. This fall we will all be stretching our faith to meeting our December building fund balance of $1.2 million. Let’s remember, we’re not just building a building. We’re creating a resting place for God’s powerful presence in the Southlands area!

Think

Have you been looking at this project as though through an earthly atmosphere, hindered from seeing with heavenly vision? What steps can you take to keep your vision as though coming from above and not from this world?

Pray

Pray that God will give you a mental picture of the vision He has for Aurora First. Pray that His presence will come to the Southlands area in a new and mighty way because of the work you are doing today.

Act

What will make the new construction more than just a building, but an environment of faith? Discover what steps you can take to be a part of the spiritual construction as well as the material construction.

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God’s Presence in the Southlands

King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD , for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it” (1 Chronicles 28:2).

When King David was building the temple, he had a vision of that building serving as an intersection between God and man. We see this again in Psalm 132:7-8:

Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool—arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

The Ark of the Covenant was a rectangular box made of acacia wood about 4 by 2½ by 2½ feet and covered with gold. It was carried on poles inserted in rings at the four lower corners. The lid of the ark was called the “mercy seat” and was a gold plate with two angel-like figures with outstretched wings that faced each other from opposite ends.

The ark served several needs and became a central element of worship in Israel’s history. It was a spiritual archive, a storage place for items of spiritual significance. It was also a supernatural meeting place. God told Moses that His divine presence would rest between the angelic figures and that He would meet the spiritual leadership there to speak with them and reveal His will. The ark became the meeting place in the inner sanctuary where the Lord revealed His will to His special servants, like Moses, Aaron, and Joshua. The ark became a powerful symbol of God’s divine presence in the midst of His people.

It was at the ark where God revealed Himself, spoke, and guided His people. A few years before, David had installed the ark in a tent at Jerusalem, but David now wanted to create a more permanent home for the ark in a newly constructed temple. His desire was to locate the ark where the presence of God would be accessible. He wanted to create an intersection where God and man could meet in the temple.

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In the same way, Aurora First Assembly’s new building will become a powerful landmark where spiritual transformation, supernatural epiphanies, and changed lives occur. The building will be a living reminder of God’s past provision, direction, and anointing upon our church. It will be a meeting place where the presence of God is expected, welcomed, and rests. It will be a supernatural vortex where people find divine direction, redirection, and inspiration for life—an intersection where needy people meet a powerful God.

Just as David’s desire was to locate the ark where the presence of God would be accessible, our desire is that Aurora First Assembly will be a place where God is accessible. As we all search our lives and make new sacrifices to meet our December building fund balance of $1.2 million, lets keep in mind that we are creating a resting place for God’s presence and footstool for others to reach heaven.

Think

What makes a building a place where God’s presence can rest? What is it about a place of worship that creates an atmosphere where people will feel God’s presence?

Pray

Pray that Aurora First would become a modern-day “ark” in the Southlands—a place where spiritual transformation can take place, where people will find direction and inspiration, where they will meet God face to face.

Act

Find ways that you, personally, can be a part of turning the new building into a powerful symbol of God’s divine presence.

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Preserving Precious Values

Rodney Zeeb, inheritance expert and author of the book, Beating the Midas Curse, says that six out of ten affluent families will lose the family fortune by the end of the second generation, and nine out of ten will have depleted the family wealth by the end of the third generation.

Zeeb is not the first person to figure this out. An ancient Chinese proverb says: Wealth never survives three generations. These sobering realities raise the question: How can families push blessing into future generations and protect resources? To help families make successful transfers, some financial advisers are broadening their approach and urging families to focus on passing on values as well as valuables to successive generations.

Our building program is an opportunity for us to preserve our spiritual values and the valuable treasures of faith. David also recognized this when he was building the temple in the Old Testament. He spoke of the temple as a resting place for the Ark of the Covenant:

King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD , for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it” (1 Chronicles 28:2).

In addition to the ark’s being a meeting place between God and man, it was also a storage place for items of spiritual significance. In it were stored the stone tablets of the Law of Moses (God’s laws and precepts), the gold jar of manna that God fed the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness (representing God’s provision), and Aaron’s staff that had miraculously budded (representing God’s anointing upon His leaders).

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In a powerful sense, David saw the construction of the temple as a way to preserve spiritual treasures. It would become a resting place for the powerful reminders and trophies of faith. Likewise, we have a vision to facilitate a legacy—to pass on the important treasures, trophies, and reminders of faith. In very much the same way, our relocation project can be an archive of spiritual legacy. As we all we stretch ourselves to meet this December’s building fund balance of $1.2 million, let us remember we are also preserving those treasures of faith. With each dollar we invest in building this resting place for God’s presence, we are also preserving our doctrine and ministry values as a church.

Think

What steps are you taking today to preserve your spiritual values for the future? As you consider the monetary amount you will place toward this endeavor, also consider how you might leave a spiritual legacy for those who come after you.

Pray

Pray that God would turn Aurora First into a treasure house, full of spiritual valuables, such as faith, love, and changed lives.

Act

Make a list of reminders of how God has rewarded your faith in the past. Include times where you had to stretch your faith and felt a resulting spiritual growth in your own life. Now make a list of the treasures of faith you would like to pass on to succeeding generations.

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Fast-Forward Faith

David’s vision to build the temple was fueled by a sense of responsibility for future generations. He longed to use the faith of those who had gone before him to empower those who would follow after him. That is why he said:

“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever” (1 Chronicles 28:8).

Each one of us is standing at a strategic crossroad. Having enjoyed the fruits of the faith and the sacrifice and courage of those who have gone before us, it is now our turn to seize destiny and give the next generation opportunity.

David’s vision blessed Solomon with many things: The nation was now unified under one flag instead of 12 individual

tribes. A royal capital had been established in Jerusalem. The military force was now strong enough to be respected and to

discourage attacks from enemies. Israel’s boundaries had been expanded from 6,000 to 60,000 square

miles. Israel was now a spiritually healthy nation that survived several

attacks from within and without.

David passed on opportunity, not obligation. In the same way, we must give the next generation our sacrifice. We are blessed to be alive in one of the most strategic times of our church’s history. Most of us will never again have the opportunity to be alive during the total relocation and expansion of a ministry of this size. These kinds of opportunities come once or maybe twice in a lifetime. What will the next generation say that we passed on to them? Will they say we passed on opportunity


or obligation, faith or fear, boldness or bashfulness? Will it be courage or confidence, or perhaps poise or pessimism? What about security or self-doubt? Will they think fondly of our foresight, faith, and imagination? What will they have 20 years from now because of how we lived today? Will destiny find us ready and prepared for what could be our finest hour?

This December our church has set a goal for our building project. We are believing God to bring our building fund to a balance of $1.2 million. Let’s do it knowing we are forwarding our faith to future generations.

Think

What do you want your legacy to be? What would you like future generations of Aurora First to say about you—about what you passed on to them? Would they see you as being a man or woman of faith or of fear? Of security or of self-doubt?

Pray

If you see yourself lacking in any of the areas listed above, ask God to replace your own self-doubt with security, your fear with faith, and your bashfulness with boldness.

If you feel as though your part in this endeavor is more of an obligation than an opportunity, ask God to give you a vision of the future of Aurora First Assembly.

Act

Don’t let destiny find you lacking. Your choices today will determine whether or not this will be your finest hour. Make the best of them!


Rising Above Our Limitations

It is vital that we not allow our limitations to determine the parameters of our commitment. David’s vision for building the temple suffered the frontal assault of self-awareness. God spoke to David and said,

“You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood” (1 Chronicles 28:3).

God made David painfully aware of his limitations. In the shadow of this grand vision, God made him aware of the great “not”: You cannot because you are not.

That is one of the tremendous trials of greatness. What will we do in the shadow of “are not”? Will we choose to live in the microscopic land of “little” or march on to the continent of “the colossally grand”? When we live among a pygmy tribe, we always feel like a giant. It is not until we dream of doing something bigger than ourselves that we become painfully aware of our limitations. It is not until we dream big, think big, and act big that we feel small in the shadow of “are not.”

David’s vision encompassed a full awareness of his personal limitations, but he never allowed his disadvantages to deter him. Why? Because he sought, served, and sacrificed for a vision greater than himself or his abilities. He did not allow his limitations to downgrade his vision or paralyze his sense of responsibility. He never allowed his own limitations to suspend and postpone his sense of involvement.

That is a powerful example for us all! As our church stands in the shadow of this great vision, each one of us will need to decide if we are going to allow our personal, financial, and emotional limitations to hold us back. Living beyond our limitations is a powerful legacy to leave the next generation.

As we stand in the shadow of our December goal of seeing $1.2 million in our building fund, we may begin to hear the downward call of limitation. We may feel its gravitational pull upon our spirit. We will see its shadow pleading with us to dream smaller, think smaller, and


act smaller. Like David, we must rise above our limitations and lose ourselves in a vision undeterred by the inviting call of the pygmy tribe.

Think

Do you feel too small for the task before you? How can you, like David, keep from allowing your disadvantages to deter you?

What are the limitations that you feel are holding you back from dreaming bigger? Are they financial, spiritual, or emotional?

Pray

Ask God to use you despite your limitations. Ask Him to show you how you can do bigger things than you have ever dreamed Take a moment to think about what you might give if you had no limitations. Then believe God to accomplish the “limitless” in your life!

Act

David had to learn to die to some of his own preferences when building the temple. What desires and preferences about the new building program do you think would be hard for you to sacrifice if they were not part of God’s plan? What can you do now to prepare yourself to handle them in a mature way, like David did when he realized he would not be the one to build God’s temple?


Shaking “Should Have”

In the 1995 movie, Braveheart, William Wallace is faced with his army’s desire to retreat from battle. The sight of the enemy on the battlefield made them fearful and apprehensive of sacrifice. Wallace gallantly rides his horse across the front line and shouts:

I am William Wallace, and before me, I see a whole ARMY of my countrymen here to battle the English. Yes, fight and you may die; run and you’ll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives…but they’ll never take our FREEDOM!

This year we face a similar struggle between faith and fear. As we face the financial challenges of our building program, we may run from this vision or even look for a creative exit strategy. At least for a while. But dying in our beds many years from now, we would be willing to give everything we have for one chance, just one chance, to come back to this time in our church’s history and make our mark.

Every individual in life has a purpose for living—every one of us. The tragedy of life is when we live and die without ever finding that purpose. This Season for Legacy is just one way we can leave this earth knowing we have served not only our own generation but the next. The Apostle Paul would speak of David’s legacy centuries later:

For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers (Acts 13:36).


This December we have set a goal to have taken in $1.2 million into our building program. Let’s escape the shadow of “should have” and seize the moment!

Think

Are there moments in your past that you remember with a sense of “I wish I would have…”? What was it that held you back from taking a step of faith or boldness during those moments?

Pray

Often a deathbed is a time of realizing what truly should have held priority in life. Don’t wait until then to realize how you should have made your mark for the next generation. Ask God to give you the boldness to seize the moment and begin your own legacy now.

Act

Determine what you can do right now to keep from having another “I wish I would have” moment. If you are facing a difficult choice, why not seize the moment?


Plans from HeavenMeant for Earth

The Golden Gate Bridge was built by ten contracting companies over a period of four years. It contains 389 thousand cubic yards of concrete and over 89 thousand tons of structural steel. Its two main cables are each almost one-and-a-half miles long and are over three feet in diameter. However, all of these materials would have formed a very large and very useless pile if not for one other important resource—a plan. A plan brings meaning to resources. In very much the same way, our master plan brings meaning to the time, money, and materials involved in our own building program.

In 1 Chronicles 28:11-19, David presented his son with very detailed plans regarding the temple’s design, construction, and financing. In verse 12 of that same passage, we are told that David received the plans as divine inspiration from God. David had a strategy that was birthed in heaven and workable on earth. From Scripture we gather that David gave the next generation written, detailed plans for how to construct the temple. That is what the Bible means when it says,

“All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan” (1 Chronicles 28:19).

In the same breath that he talks about this wonderful, God-given vision, David talks about things as mundane as storerooms, lampstands, and bowls. Even though the details can be tedious, they are significant because they are important pieces of the big picture. We cannot talk about a vision from heaven without sooner or later having to address the strategy involving getting things done. That is why we have invested so many thousands of dollars developing an architectural master plan for our new church campus.


As we all strive to meet our December financial goals for the relocation project, let’s remember that the vision is supported by an equally impressive master plan. But most importantly, your stewardship is what has made this plan possible.

Think

Have you ever felt as though some of the mundane, tedious details of the building plan were interfering with the spiritual “big picture” of the project? Take a moment to reflect on the importance of such details.

Compare this to how you live your own life. Do the mundane details of work, school, or home seem to keep you from more spiritual goals? Does this make those details unimportant or unnecessary?

Pray

Ask God to help you find a good balance between everyday life and your spiritual walk. Pray that each one would enhance the other.

Act

Start looking for God in the mundane things of life. Remember that the same God who made the sun also created all the tiny air molecules that are necessary for life. What might seem small and insignificant can take on a whole new importance when you see God in it.


Is Planning Biblical?

As Spirit-filled Christians, we sometimes allow our belief in the supernatural to make us lazy. We think the hand of the Lord comes upon us when we are unprepared, unwilling, and undisciplined. However, the fact that we love God, serve God, and believe in the supernatural does not mean we can assume our own wisdom walks in tangent with God’s plan. How did God use David to build a bridge from heaven to earth in constructing the temple in the Old Testament? It was through diligent planning.

Divine plans become practical when we execute them with diligent study and planning. David spent years thinking, meditating, and planning about the vision he received from God. The Bible makes this unmistakably clear in 1 Chronicles 22:5 when it says, “So David made extensive preparations before his death.” That is why we have spent two years interviewing several architects, studying our needs, getting input from our leadership teams, vigorously interviewing possible builders, and creating a master design and financial plan. Four architectural firms were screened through a three-level process before making a final selection. Five capital campaign organizations were screened through a four-level process before making a final selection. Five builders were diligently screened through a five-tier process before making a final selection. Several financial institutions were consulted to help us devise a financial master plan to support our architectural counterpart. Now—after all this planning and preparation, we are pregnant with God’s vision. We are ready for action.

So as we prepare to meet our financial giving goals toward the end of the year, please remember that each dollar we give in faith assures that one more detail of the plan becomes a reality.


Think

Are you looking for God to do something miraculous in your life? Have you taken steps of faith toward that goal, or are you waiting for the supernatural? What steps do you think you should be taking?

Pray

Pray that God will guide you as you take steps of faith toward your personal goals. Pray that God will guide the members of Aurora First as we take steps toward our financial giving goals.

Act

Take a moment to jot down how you might become more prepared, more willing, and more disciplined for God to work in your life.


Blueprints that Leave Imprints

Divine plans become practical when we apply mental discipline to them. If we were to read this passage describing David’s plan for the new temple in the original Hebrew language, we would find that the word “understanding” is directly tied to the word “writing.” In other words, David was saying that the Lord “gave him understanding in writing.” God moved upon David, and David put God’s divine leading in written form. He took the time to plan and strategize, but he also put the plan on paper for future generations to use as a guide. It was most likely what we would call today a “blueprint” or “scale model” of the master plan.

“All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan” (1 Chronicles 28:19).

God’s burden and leading did not stay locked in the confines of David’s heart. He took the time to write it down, think about it, and plan accordingly. That is why we have followed David’s example and invested $75,000 and 12 months of meetings to develop a master plan. The master plan consists of detailed drawings showing all phases of construction and how future generations can make the best use of every square foot of the property. The master plan includes over 200,000 square feet with multiple buildings, parking, landscaping, traffic flow, and phasing possibilities. As our church grows and is in need of expanded facilities, we will not need to start all over again and go back to the drawing board. Future expansion projects will complement existing structures. Foot traffic, parking, and use will possess a logical and practical flow. Why? Because like David, we want to give future generations the blessing of strategic thinking and foresight in written form.

As you sacrifice and give from a spirit of faith, remember all the labor and work that has already been invested in outlining this wonderful plan.


Think

Do you believe that God works today in ways similar to how He worked in the Old Testament? Do you believe that He can give guidance for building projects to those who seek Him in prayer, much the same way that He provided plans for David?

Pray

What plans do you need for your own life situation? With David’s story as an example and an encouragement, seek God’s guiding hand as you lay out those plans. Remember that His care for each individual within the church is the same as His care for the church as a whole.

Act

Just as David put God’s plans on paper, write down the guidance you receive from God for your own plans for your life. As you see His plan for you unfold, take written notes as constant reminders of His goodness toward you.


We’re Not Building a Building!

It is important that we focus on spiritual goals and not on material tasks. Relocating our ministry is NOT a construction project; it is a deeply spiritual act of worship. David understood that when he said:

“Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD , for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it” (1 Chronicles 28:2).

We are NOT building a building. We are constructing a place of worship—a resting place for God’s presence and a spiritual footstool that will help people reach the supernatural. The minute we lose sight of that is the minute we stop becoming spiritual worshipers and start becoming building contractors.

As we strive to reach our December giving goal of $1.2 million, I pray that you will remember that you are not paying for mortar and concrete as much as you are a supernatural launching pad.


Think

Are you a building contrator or a spiritual worshiper? What are you doing to turn this construction project into a deeply spiritual act of worship?

Pray

Are you at a place in your life where you may have lost sight of the spiritual goals you once had? Ask God to restore those goals to you and to put a fire under your feet to see those goals accomplished.

Act

Your own home can become a place of worship—a spiritual footstool for God. What steps can you take to make it so?


The Will Behind Faith

Divine plans never become a reality until we possess a strong commitment to achieving them. Divine inspiration must be met with a determination on our part to execute them. Without a strong commitment, resolve, and sense of sacrifice, God’s vision never gets off the drawing board. That is why it is important for us to direct our resources toward the execution of this vision. David did this when he said:

“With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities” (1 Chronicles 29:2).

That is how God’s hand comes upon us to devise a plan that bridges heaven and earth. We get a plan born in heaven but practical enough to work on earth. For 12 months prior to 2006, we were involved in extensive preparations, meetings, study, and research. We have surrendered our own agendas and preferences and engaged in the mental discipline of placing the plan in writing and thinking through its execution. Most importantly, we have focused on the spiritual goals of facilitating God’s presence and not just on bricks and mortar.

When you make a financial contribution to our building program, you are harnessing the power of commitment. So, as we give toward our December financial goals, I pray God will enable you to say with David, “With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God.”


Think

Have you felt a personal commitment toward reaching the vision God has placed upon Aurora First? Why or why not?

Pray

Ask God what He wants you to do; how you might commit all your resources toward the working of His plan.

Act

Turn your divine inspiration into determination. Once you learn what God would have you do, take the necessary steps to achieve His goals.


Giving the Gift of Balance

Form is the shape, appearance, and look of an object; function is the purpose for which that object was created. Having a balance between the two was important to David when building the Old Testament temple, and it must be important to us. The Bible says that David gave the next generation detailed and written plans for the temple’s construction. In very much the same way, we are giving the next generation a master plan with the following characteristics:

Our master plan is spiritually functional. We are constructing a worship facility to serve as an environment of faith. It will be conducive to worship, designed for intimacy in worship (using a sloped floor with fan-shaped seating), and a launching pad for the creative use of technology. Just as each and every detail of a movie theater is strategically designed for an optimal experience, so also our new sanctuary is purposely designed for an optimal worship experience.

Our master plan is easily expandable. One of the things that has blessed our church was the foresight of one of our previous pastors, James Boulware. In 1970, he led the church in the construction of our present worship auditorium. At the time, it was huge but enabled the church to grow into it without having to build another worship auditorium for nearly 40 years. We want to give the next generation the same gift of foresight. That is why Phase One includes constructing a main auditorium that will be a large shell to seat 1,000 people but can expand to 2,600 seats. This expandable design will enable future generations to enlarge the worship auditorium by 160 percent without losing the momentum of future growth. Additional children’s, youth/student, administration, and educational buildings can be added in a way that attaches them to a large central foyer. Our master plan is functional yet flexible and able to respond to changing times and generational needs.

Our master plan is unavoidably visible. Our new building will have a powerful street presence. Our new property is located at the intersection of Southlands Parkway and Aurora Parkway adjacent to the new Southlands Mall. We must take advantage of our great


visibility. We asked our team of architects to dress the front of the building with a powerful glass light tower that resembles a lantern or modern-day steeple. This structure will be as close to the intersection as possible and offer transparent visibility into the foyer where those outside can see a church teaming with life, relationships, and activity. Our new church building will be a recognizable landmark that speaks of strength and stability.

Every time you and I make a contribution to our building program, we are making these three powerful characteristics—life, relationships, and activity—a reality. So as we stretch to reach our December giving goals, let’s remember that we are giving future generations the gift of balance.

Think

Often, the older a Christian gets, the more rigid he/she becomes. Have you remained flexible enough to adapt to changes in culture and society so that you can continue to be a relevant worker for God? In what ways have you done so? How might you improve in this area?

Pray

Pray that God would give both form and function to the Aurora building project—a form that is visible and inviting to the community, and a function of being an environment of worship, faith, and evangelism.

Act

What steps might you take to become a more visible witness to your community? How might you become a beacon of light to the lost people around you?


A Church for All Generations

In an age where many churches mistakenly micro-market specific age groups, Aurora First is and will continue to be a multigenerational church. Not only is this a sound biblical principle, but the world is seeing the value of intergenerational interaction as well.

A study by the University of Hawaii found that middle-aged and older adults can be valuable assets to younger generations because they have years of life experience and wisdom to share. In his book on retirement entitled, Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America, Marc Freedman regards older adults as America’s only increasing natural resource. On December 16, 2005, ABC News reported on one-generation day-care centers:

One Generation cares for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years and provides day-care services for elders with a range of disabilities, from minor memory loss to Parkinson’s. “It used to be where families lived together in a house, you’d see two, three, sometimes four generations,” said Kelly Bruno, vice president of One Generation. “That’s just not the case anymore. This younger generation is really missing something. And this program is giving that back to them.”

In a new study, preschoolers who had regular contact with seniors were 11 months ahead of kids in standard day care in their ability to name emotions, work cooperatively, and participate in social activities. The benefits are not one-sided. Seniors who interacted with other generations had a greater sense of hope and interaction in life.

As our church grows, we are experiencing something uniquely wonderful. New members and families continue to represent all ages and generations. This is something we are unwilling to compromise. That is why we designed a building where all generations interact in a large foyer with seating and a café at the point of the atrium. The floor plan enables people to stop and talk with each other and steers traffic flow in such a way that age groups cross paths and interact in church life.


Each generation needs to absorb the weaknesses of others and derive energy from each other’s strengths. This only happens when generations blend, overlap, and interact with each other in the life of the church. That is what our sacrificial giving is providing this fall—a multigenerational church reaching all generations!

Think

Do you (and your children) have regular interaction with other generations in your family? What benefits have been brought to your family as a result?

Pray

Pray that as Aurora First grows, the interaction between generations will continue. Pray that those who are strong will lift up those who are weak, so that God will be seen working in the lives of every generation.

Act

In what ways do you participate in providing a rich generational atmosphere at Aurora First? Do you interact with people of other generations? Look for ways to improve in this area. Make a list of the benefits you might receive from such relationships, and also of the benefits you might provide to others.


Thinking Big About Tomorrow

Washington, D.C., is a typical capital city—full of history. In 1791, George Washington himself chose this area to be the world’s first planned capital city. As a surveyor, Washington laid out much of the city’s master plan. His strategy reflected his grand vision and optimistic feeling about the future. However, Washington faced criticism for selecting a location so far from a population center. He faced public disapproval for selecting a French architect known for impressive structures and grandiose designs. Many small-minded politicians expressed public reservation because they felt the infant government only needed a tiny city center and Washington had reserved land that would spread out for ten miles. Washington’s plan was also criticized for its grand and opulent layout of the city: wide streets, massive squares, and tree-lined roads. The layout seemed to accommodate a population a hundred times the size of the nation’s present need. Time has vindicated Washington’s discerning and optimistic vision.

Today, an aerial image of Washington, D.C., looks strikingly similar to plans found in Washington’s study after his death. At the time the capital city was constructed, the population of the United States was 3.9 million. Today it is estimated to be 298 million. A capital city designed nearly 220 years ago still serves us well today. Washington had a strategy with great foresight, planning, and vision. So must ours.

David did the same thing when he constructed the Old Testament temple. By absorbing the lion’s share of the financial burden, David gave the next generation opportunity instead of obligation. We tried to do the same thing in designing our new master plan. Several of the architects we interviewed encouraged us to take the easy route and start the master plan by building a multipurpose worship building on the lower and less viable parts of the Southlands property. This would benefit us today but burden future generations with the task of constructing the shell for the needed worship auditorium. Our board of deacons was unanimous in wanting to absorb the cost of building the shell now and letting future generations add needed buildings. This is the same philosophy Pastor James Boulware used in building our present building nearly 40 years ago. Despite all the growth Aurora


First Assembly has experienced in the last 35 years, we have never had to build an enlarged sanctuary building. Past generations blessed us by absorbing the lion’s share of the burden and enabling us to add ministry buildings as we needed them.

As we stretch out in faith this fall to meet our December giving goal of $1.2 million, it is important to remember what today’s sacrifice is providing in our tomorrow. So keep it up, Aurora First. Keep believing! Keep giving! Keep providing a powerful tomorrow by living powerfully today!

Think

Have you ever made decisions in the present due to thoughts or dreams for the future? (An example might be buying a minivan with thoughts of a growing family.)

If your answer was yes, what benefits resulted because of your decisions? Did you find that your initial sacrifices produced the expected benefits?

If your answer was no, in what ways can you incorporate futuristic thinking in your own life?

Pray

Ask God to give you a futuristic view for Aurora First. Pray that you would be given a revelation of what today’s risks will provide in the future.

Act

If you are on the cusp of making a decision, whether in your personal life or your public life, take a moment to develop a view of the future. Determine what your future might look like if you took a risk today.


Connecting Past and Present

The Biblical description of David’s plans to build a new temple reveal a powerful principal we can not ignore. One of the most powerful aspects of David’s plan is hidden behind one word. In 1 Chronicles 28: 19, we are told that David gave the “details” of the plan. The same Hebrew word for “details” is also used to describe the plan God gave Moses for the tabernacle in Exodus 25:1-40. Both lists are very similar. In a powerful sense, David is building a bridge connecting the past and present. David is represented as a second Moses, doing for the new temple in Jerusalem what Moses did for the old tabernacle in the wilderness. This identical terminology is used to show that David was ushering in a new era of worship, in many ways similar to the old one but with a fresh prophetic revelation. In very much the same way, we are building a similar bridge between past and present.

We are also connecting past and present with a bridge of familiarity. Although the temple David was constructing was something new, we find many things that were familiar when we compare it to the list from the tabernacle in Exodus 25. In the same way, our plan must preserve many of the things that are common to our worship, recognizable to our spirit, and familiar to our heritage.

We are connecting the past and present with the bridge of progress. David was to the temple what Moses was to the tabernacle. One was not better than the other. The temple was an extension of a higher plane of worship. Its construction was evidence of spiritual growth, progress, and advancement. David’s temple preserved the precepts of faith and updated applications of worship. The new temple clothed old truths in new light. In very much the same way, our new worship facility will offer a fresh expression of proven truths and launch a new era of worship for our church. As a church, we will lean forward but remain grounded in the past.

We are connecting the past and present with the bridge of the supernatural. The temple was a wonderful spiritual upgrade in a physical sense. However, all the gold and marble in the world could not replace the presence of God. In very much the same way, our new


worship center will be a launching pad for divine revelation. It will be a place where young people find God’s will for their lives and spiritual wanderers can discover new purpose. It will be a place where future missionaries and pastors will be called; divine solutions discovered; and God’s Word taught, revealed, and unleashed. Our new worship center will be a launching pad for the supernatural discovery of gifts, occupations, and problems. The illuminated cross at the main entrance of the building will serve as a symbol of our church serving as a bridge to the supernatural.

That is what your financial sacrifice is providing. A powerful bridge connecting past and present! With every dollar you give this fall, you are helping Aurora First Assembly to be a prophetic voice of healing for the confused, discouraged, and perplexed.

Think

What are the benefits of remembering the past? What are the benefits of embracing the change of the future?

In what ways have you prepared yourself or your family for the changes that have come to society over the years? In what ways might these changes have damaged the values of the past?

Pray

Ask God to help you in your own decision-making process, that the decisions you make today will help to connect the past to the present and to the future, leaving a strong spiritual legacy.

Act

How might you better prepare yourself or your family to remain rooted in the past while preparing for the future? Have a family discussion about how you might learn from the heritage of the past while preparing for the future.


Building Bridges to the Southlands

In the township of Itteringham, England, there stands a bridge whose history can be traced all the way back to 1638. According to the local historian, those early records are still legible, although faint with age. The 1638 record reports that when the community needed the bridge, the local church built it. In 1646, it was destroyed by a great flood and repaired. In 1670, it was restored again due to aging. In 1912, a flood once again destroyed the bridge, but once again the people of the church and town gathered together to repair the needed link from one side of the river to the other.

Interestingly, the most complete history of the bridge is not recorded in the halls of government but in the church registry. That is not surprising, for in times of life-changing events, people find themselves seeking the familiarity and comfort of the local church—at the place of marriages and funerals and baptisms and baby dedications; a place where tears of happiness, grief, repentance, and renewal all flow into the pool of earthly experience.

Our new worship center will be that kind of place—a bridge connecting man with the supernatural presence of God. As we draw close to the end of this year, I want to encourage you to continue being a bridge builder. If you have not made a financial contribution to our building program, I would encourage you to do so. If you have not prayed for the future of Aurora First, I would encourage you to start today. Start reaching, building, and connecting the people of the Southlands area with God!


Think

In what ways do you foresee Aurora First as becoming a bridge that connects man with God? What is Aurora First doing right now that should continue? What things should be changed?

Pray

Pray that the members of Aurora First will see the value in continued building, rebuilding, and restoration, much like the bridge of Itteringham, so that the people will find a place to share the significant events of their lives.

Act

What can you do to become a part of the bridge-building process? Determine today to discover how you might start reaching, building, and connecting the people of the Southlands area with God.


Poisoned by Fear

Tens of millions of people have been slowly poisoned. Why? The wells they are drinking from have been exposed to arsenic. A July 30, 2005, article in the New York Times reported that over 10 million new wells have been drilled in Bangladesh since the 1970s. With good intentions, aid organizations are promoting groundwater as a safer alternative to polluted stream or pond water. Prolonged exposure to the groundwater has resulted in millions of people getting sick. Unaware of the contamination, the people are now suffering from weakened immune systems, increases in cancer, and damage to the brain and nervous system. Tragically, 3,000 deaths a year have resulted from Bangladesh’s deadly wells.

Fear is a lot like that. It slowly contaminates the wells of enthusiasm, courage, and faith. In 1 Chronicles 28:1-19, David called the people to start construction of the new temple. Immediately after outlining the vision and strategy, David pleads with his people to have courage and overcome fear. David was a realist. He knew that even grand visions of a divine nature would have to overcome many obstacles. Knowing the greatness of the task would lend itself to discouragement, David called the people to protect the wells of courage.

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

These powerful words speak to us in the face of our own relocation effort. The church is no stronger than its weakest member. If we are to be strong and courageous as a church, you and I must be strong and courageous as individuals. So the next time you smell the stench of fear in the wells of your thinking, take David’s advice and focus on God’s proven history of faithfulness in your life.


Think

Can you think of times in your spiritual walk when you have let fear contaminate your enthusiasm? How did you learn to overcome that fear?

If you know that God has given you a particular vision for the future, does that make it easier to keep from succumbing to fear or doubt? Why or why not?

Pray

Ask God to give you the strength to overcome any obstacles toward this grand vision. Thank Him for His promise never to fail you or forsake you until His work is finished.

Act

Do you feel as though you are a strong link or a weak link in the church? If your answer was weak, what steps can you take to strengthen your faith? If your answer was strong, how can you use your strengths to bolster those who are weak?

What advice might you give to future generations in how to remain strong and courageous despite fear and adversity?


Being Strong

Immediately after outlining the vision and strategy to build the temple, David pleaded with his people to have courage and overcome fear. David used very powerful words to ignite courage when he said,

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

These words are not words that imply mental evaluation, reexamination, or emotional hesitation; they are words of action. David is talking about making a mental choice and setting a firm resolve to engage in the task. Before we act courageously, we have to think courageously. We have to resolve that we are going to be persistent, committed, and determined.

This relocation project will require each one of us to determine our own destiny. It will require us to possess a mental and emotional ability to endure adversity. As we approach our fall deadlines and financial giving goals, we will need to be determined not to allow negative and discouraging thoughts to take root in our lives. That is why I want to encourage you to continue praying and giving in faith instead of fear. Faith always brings out the best in us while fear brings out the worst.


Think

If David was convinced that his vision for the temple was given to him by God, why did he need to ignite courage within the people?

What courageous decisions have you made in determining your own destiny? Were there risks involved? How can you apply the lessons learned in those situations to this relocation project?

Pray

Ask God to replace your fear with courage, your indecision with decisiveness, and your hesitancy with determination in order to see this project through to the end.

Act

Take steps today to think courageously in order to prepare yourself to act courageously. Make a specific decision today that will stretch your courage.


Quitters, Campers, and Climbers

What does it take to succeed in life? Why do some people face adversity and soar to new heights while others give up? According to author Paul Stoltz, it comes down to a person’s AQ or “adversity quotient.” In his book, Adversity Quotient, Stoltz says that a person’s adversity quotient has a greater influence on his success than his intelligence, education, or social skills. After a lifetime of study, Stoltz says there are three kinds of people in life: quitters, campers, and climbers.

Quitters see a mountain and give up. These are people who face life’s adversity and opt out, cop out, back out, and drop out. They see the mountain and abandon the climb. They abandon their dreams and take the easier path. Quitters use the language of limitation—words like “can’t,” “won’t,” and “impossible” and phrases like “We’ve always done it that way,” “It’s not fair,” “That will not work,” and “I’m too young, old, fat, skinny, tall, short, weak, male, or female.”

Campers see a mountain and settle down. These people start the climb but become weary and look for a smooth, comfortable plateau on which to avoid adversity. They focus their energy on filling their tents with material goods and settle into a convenient and comfortable lifestyle. They usually have decent jobs with good pay and benefits; however, their days of excitement, learning, growth, and creativity are long gone. By waiting out the storm, they wait out life and succumb to the gravitational pull of the campground.

Climbers see a mountain and grab their gear. Regardless of their background, disadvantages, or misfortune, these people continue the ascent. They refuse to allow age, gender, race, physical or mental disability, or any kind of obstacle to get in their way. To climbers, the campground is a base camp; to campers it is home. Climbers use language like “do right,” “do your best,” “let’s see it happen,” and “how.” They speak of possibility, challenge, and things as they can be.


When David says be strong, he is not talking about physical strength but about being “a climber” in life. He is talking about having durable determination, persevering patience, rugged resolution, and tough tenacity.

This December we are believing God to help us reach a building fund balance of $1.2 million. When it comes to the family of God here at Aurora First, I want to encourage you to be a climber in the Kingdom of God! Keep pushing through fear and climb the mountain of destiny. Be strong and courageous, and do the work (1 Chronicles 28:20).

Think

What is your adversity quotient? Do you see yourself as a quitter, a camper, or a climber?

Can you point to a time or event in your past where you stopped being a climber and became a quitter or a camper? What happened? How might you regain the “climber” spirit?

Pray

Ask God to give the members of Aurora First a “climber’s” attitude—to remove the tendency to give up or settle in, and to fill each person with a “let’s see it happen” spirit.

Act

If you are a quitter or a camper, the good news is, you don’t have to stay that way! How might you begin to make the transformation into becoming a climber? Start with small steps, but don’t hesitate. Begin now!


What is Courage?

The existence of danger, risk, and the potential of failure does not mean God is not in control or that we have missed His will. The very fact that God expects us to be courageous also means that His plan involves a confrontation with fear. That is why, after charging the next generation to build the temple, King David said,


Courage is not the absence of fear; it is what we do in spite of it. That is how God grows and stretches our faith.

Moses had to find a faith in God that helped him overcome his fear of the Egyptians. Joshua had to put his foot into the water before the Jordan parted. Deborah and Barak had to march into battle before God provided a miracle that resulted in their victory. David had to defeat a lion and a bear before his faith was strong enough to defeat Goliath. In the same way, God will use the challenges of this relocation project to grow and stretch our faith.

Mike Gill and Shela Paterson are leadership consultants who have spent a considerable amount of time studying the relationship between fear, risk, and success. They studied a wide range of successful men and women to determine how one’s response to fear and risk contributes to success. They engaged in a study of race car drivers designed to determine if any one quality of driving could predict winners. The results were unexpected. The study found that while all drivers experienced bodily signs such as increased heart rate, perspiration, and anxiety when approaching particularly tricky corners, the losers downshifted to reduce their speed and ease tension while the successful drivers stepped up the speed.


It is not the absence of fear that determines our success but what we do in spite of it. So as we near our December faith-giving goals for our building program, don’t downshift to the lower gears of fear. Accelerate into tomorrow’s turns!

Think

When you face tricky situations, do you tend to downshift and pull back, or do you accelerate and charge forward? Have the results been positive or negative? Looking back at some tricky situations in your life, do you wish you would have acted with more faith, or are you glad you were hesitant?

Pray

Pray that God will instill courage within the hearts of the people so that they can accomplish His work, and so that they will boldly face their Goliaths and defeat them, in His strength.

Act

If you’ve been feeling hesitant about pressing forward in faith in order to see this project to completion, find the courage within your heart to step up the speed and accelerate into this turn toward the future. Take the necessary steps to stretch your faith and defeat the Goliath of fear.


Just Do It!

After years of trailing their archrival Reebok, the shoe manufacturer Nike experienced explosive growth with the 1988 introduction of their new advertising slogan: Just do it! The ad captured the Western philosophy of grit, determination, and passion. I think that is exactly what King David was trying to say in his short charge to the people building the temple when he said,


But Nike was not the first to harness the power of resolve. Leonardo da Vinci understood this when he said, “Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind” (“The Archetype of Human Potential” from The Republic). Walt Disney once said the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Even the little green Jedi Master Yoda understood this powerful principal in the movie Star Wars, when he rebuked a hesitant Luke Skywalker, saying, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

If we are to be successful in meeting this December’s faith-giving goals for our building program, we must possess the same resolve that David had when he built the temple. Let’s seize the moment and just do it!


Think

Can you name some points in your life where inactivity has sapped your vigor? Looking back, what do you wish you would have done differently?

Pray

Ask God to give you the spirit of David, who encouraged others to “do the work.” Ask Him to raise up encouragers within the church—people who will spur others on toward action, until the task is accomplished.

Act

In what ways might you encourage others to “quit talking and begin doing”? Determine today to be an encourager of others, helping them to find their full potential—to be doers rather than talkers.


Facing Our Fears

David was not a shallow Pollyanna; he was a determined realist. He knew there would be obstacles in building the temple and told Solomon to expect them. That is why he said:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

David tells the people of Israel to face their fears head-on by being prepared to deal with them. It is not how we handle success that determines greatness but how we handle obstacles. When David said, do not be afraid, he was not talking about ignoring fear and sweeping it under the carpet. Courage is not the absence of fear but what we do in spite of it.

At some point in time during this relocation project, each one of us will need to face fear in some form or another. Fear usually starts to manifest itself in the form of unanswered questions that can give birth to destructive apprehension and pause. Some of these may be a fear of unforeseen challenges, rising construction costs, strain upon our financial situation, and delays in progress. But let’s remember to be people of faith and not fear. As we all make the necessary sacrifices to meet our December faith-giving goals, let’s be mature enough to recognize the existence of unanswered questions but big enough to trust God in spite of them.


Think

Can you remember a time when you’ve had unanswered questions and yet trusted God in spite of them? What lessons did you learn?

Pray

If this time of moving forward has brought fears to your heart, ask God to help you overcome those fears. Express your trust in Him, and ask Him what He would have you do as you step out in faith.

Act

Find ways in which you might be a help and an example to others who are experiencing fears or doubts.


The Wedge of Discouragement

One day the devil was having a sale, hawking his many diabolical tools of the trade. Each of the devil’s tools was on display with its price tag attached—tools such as the arrow of jealousy, the hammer of anger, and the dagger of worry. His tools also included the slingshot of doubt and the axe of hatred, along with numerous others.

But one tool was displayed prominently on a pedestal high above the others. It was dented and worn with use. A curious shopper inquired about the price and why such an old and worn tool was displayed so visibly.

“Ah, yes,” said the devil, “THAT’S THE WEDGE OF DISCOURAGEMENT. It is my favorite tool of all. It’s so easy to use and hardly takes any effort. All I have to do is get the very tip of the wedge into my victim and the rest is easy. Once the wedge is in, I just tap it ever so slightly and it slides in deeper and deeper. Sometimes I don’t have to do anything—my victims drive the wedge in all by themselves! A small opening soon becomes a gaping crack, making room for the rest of my tools. Before you know it, my wedge has completely split a person’s dreams, hopes, and aspirations in two. That’s why the wedge of discouragement commands such a high price—because it’s my most effective tool. It has opened more doors for me than all my other tools combined.”

The moral of this fable is obvious and true. David recognized the need to overcome discouragement when he was building the temple. That is why he said,

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you” (1 Chronicles 28:20).


The smallest bit of discouragement can destroy the grandest of dreams. We have set a goal to have received $1.2 million in our building fund by December 31. As we get closer and closer to our deadline, let’s be sure to recognize the devil’s wedge of discouragement. It may show its face in the form of a long city-approval process, delays in the building process, and increasing costs. Discouragement can take the form of negative, difficult, and pessimistic people. It can manifest itself on the heals of fear, burnout, and fatigue.

David’s mention of the possibility of discouragement tells us that we will bump into things that challenge our sense of confidence and faith. We must be strong and courageous. We must expect, assume, and accept the fact that obstacles are inevitable, but at the same time know that our God is incredible.

Think

Has discouragement ever kept you from seeing your dreams become reality? Could you have taken steps to overcome the discouragement and keep dreaming? What do you think might have happened if you had?

Pray

Pray that God will not allow you to succumb to discouragement, but that He would fill you will faith so that you will not lose the vision.

Act

Do you currently feel discouragement about any part of this relocation process? If so, write down the things that discourage you. Then pray about each one. As you do, try to look at the process through God’s eyes, through eyes of vision toward the future


Back to the Future

The past can be a great source of faith. Remembering God’s divine provision and miracles in the past can give us faith for the future. That is why we must learn to expect God’s help through this relocation effort. That is what David was talking about when he said:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

When David says, the LORD God, my God, he is referring possessively of God in reference to personal testimony. He is reminding future generations that God’s faithfulness has not reached its expiration date. David looked at challenges in light of his past history with God. God was faithful in leading the prophet Samuel to see potential in him while he was an unimpressive shepherd boy. God was faithful in giving him the strength to overcome a lion and a bear. God was faithful in allowing him to defeat the region’s most powerful gladiator, Goliath. God was faithful in protecting him from the evil intentions of a powerful and corrupt leader like King Saul. God was faithful in sustaining him through insubordination and the disloyalty of his family, friends, and advisors. God was faithful in recovering the Ark of the Covenant that was lost in battle and returning it to the Holy City. God was faithful in forgiving and restoring him after moral and political scandal. God was faithful in healing his broken heart over a rebellious and backslidden son (Absalom). God was faithful in maintaining his kingdom despite the constant attacks, plans, and schemes of neighboring nations and rulers. David knew there was no reason to doubt God, and so must we.

David is not the only one who could brag about a history of God’s faithfulness. In 1933, God was faithful to a man named C. N. Bishop, who started a new church in Aurora, Colorado, and gave it the name Aurora First Assembly. In 1937, the church was meeting in temporary locations until God moved upon the city of Aurora to donate two lots at the corner of 17th and Alton. In 1953, God’s miraculous provision


enabled the church to build a building debt free on Boston Street. God’s faithfulness continued to sustain the church through the construction of a new sanctuary, educational space, and a youth center at the Boston Street location. Again God was faithful in enabling the church to relocate to a new 12-acre lot on the edge of town at 11001 East Alameda Avenue. God’s faithfulness would again prove unfailing as a sanctuary, two gymnasiums, and school and day-care facilities were added to the Alameda location. The same God who has been faithful to our church in the past 74 years will provide and protect us in the future. So as we approach our December giving goals for our building fund, let’s look at the future through the lens of the past. Our goal of $1.2 million may seem like a charging giant. But remember that God has never let you down, and He is not about to start now!

Think

Think of times when God became real to you in a very personal way. How long has it been since you have felt this way? If you are thinking, “too long,” perhaps it’s time to make a change in direction so you don’t lose sight of His constant and real presence.

Pray

Let God know that you expect His help in this project. Like David, trust that He will not fail you or forsake you. Express your thankfulness for His unending provision.

Act

How might you leave a legacy of faith for future generations of Aurora First? What testimonies might you give of God’s provision for you?

How might you demonstrate to future generations that God has become real to you in a personal way? How might you reveal that God has become your God?


The Divine Grip

In May 1995, Randy Reid, a 34-year-old construction worker, was welding on top of a nearly completed water tower outside Chicago. Reid unhooked his safety gear to reach for some pipes. The metal cage slipped and bumped the scaffolding he was standing on. Reid lost his balance and fell 110 feet, landing face down on a pile of dirt. When paramedics arrived, they found Reid conscious, moving, and complaining of a sore back. They decided to take him in just to make sure nothing was wrong. As they were carrying him to the ambulance, Reid had one request: “Don’t drop me!” Doctors later said Reid came away from the accident with just a bruised lung.

Sometimes we resemble that construction worker. God protects us from harm in a 110-foot fall, but we are still nervous about 3-foot heights. King David reminded his own people about God’s divine grip in their own building program when he said,

“…for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

The Hebrew word for “fail” in this verse is literally “to drop.” David is telling them to press forward and believe that God will not lose His grip on them or drop them in the process. But we can say the same thing! We can say with David’s confidence that God is with us. He will not fail or forsake us. He will not drop us in this effort. There will be times when it looks like we will fall. There will definitely be times when we will need Him, but in those times, we must expect Him to help. He will see us through to the end…to completion…to the day the building is open and we are singing and declaring His praise. As we approach our December faith-giving goal for our building program, let’s remember that! Let’s act in faith because we trust in the Divine Grip!


Think

Often we feel more comfortable taking large requests to God and not bothering Him with the small things. What are some reasons why we do this? Does it show a lack of trust in God to help us with the small things? Why or why not?

Pray

In your own life, are there times when you are afraid you might fail? Remember that God is with you all the way through to the end. Trust in Him to guide you safely there. Thank Him for His constant presence.

Act

Sometimes a large project is begun in faith, but the inherent dangers of the small things along the way can make us afraid we might fall. When you feel those fears start to creep in, take a moment to remember God’s help in the big things. Jot down some examples of God’s help as reminders that will bolster your faith.


Contagious Participation

Participation breeds courage. That is why we need each and every person to be part of the financial miracle for our building program. King David knew that great things happen when everyone pulls together and shares the burden. That is why he encouraged Solomon when he said, in 1 Chronicles 28:21:

“The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”

After giving the next generation a challenge to be courageous, David assured them that they would be encouraged, energized, and refreshed by everyone’s participation.

When we fail to participate in the corporate life of faith, we are robbing the body of Christ of a source of courage. When we choose to become spectators, we are sapping strength and energy from others. But how can we participate in a way that makes it easier for others to have courage? David tells us how to do our part.

We must participate by bringing a positive attitude. Look at the three words used to describe everyone’s attitude of participation: eagerness, willingness, and obedience. They had an eagerness to participate, a willingness to sacrifice, and a team spirit.

We must participate by bringing a comprehensive determination. It is amazing how many times the word “all” or its likeness is used in verse 21. It shows how a comprehensive determination is needed to duplicate courage: ready for all the work, will help you in all the work, and will obey your every [all] command.

We must participate by bringing equal sacrifice. Notice how the word “all” is again used to describe the involvement level of the people. All kinds of people are mentioned: priests, Levites, “every” willing man, “every” skilled man, “any” craft, officials, and “all” the people.


As we face this relocation project, be strong and courageous, and do the work! We must decide our destiny, face our fears, and learn to lean on God. But most of all, we must plan to participate! Your participation this December could very well start an avalanche of faith!

Think

In what ways has the participation of others encouraged you? In what ways might your participation encourage others?

Do you know people who are spectators—sapping strength and energy from the project? How might you encourage them to become participators?

Pray

Ask God to move among the congregation, finding those whose hearts need encouragement and lifting them up. Ask Him to strengthen the hands of those who are weak, so that all may pull together and share the burden.

Act

Discover the steps you should take in order to bring: a positive attitude, a comprehensive determination, and an equal sacrifice.

Decide to begin taking those steps today!


The Spirit of Hayam Solomon

His name does not appear on the Declaration of Independence, but without him, the American Revolution would have run out of money. His name was Hayam Solomon. When the Continental Congress was broke and George Washington’s army was dying of starvation at Valley Forge, his financial sacrifice kept the embers of freedom burning. Born in Poland as the Jewish son of a rabbi, Solomon came to New York in 1772. As one of the colony’s most successful merchants and bankers, he accumulated a huge fortune that was secretly funneled to the freedom fighters during the American Revolution.

Records reveal that he lent the United States government about $800,000. Solomon’s generosity was motivated by his commitment to the American concept of freedom and his belief that the infant nation would one day be a world power. He gave because he was able to look beyond what was and remain committed to a vision of what could be. Every vision needs a Jefferson to dream, a Washington to fight, and a Solomon to give. In light of our relocation project, we need the vision of people like Hayam Solomon who are able to see potential in the future of Aurora First Assembly.

David knew he would need people like Hayam Solomon when he was building the temple. In 1 Chronicles 29:1-10, he charged the people to join him in making a financial commitment to the temple construction. In that passage, David closes his discourse with a call to sacrifice when he says in verse 5:

“Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?”

The words consecrate himself mean to set aside, devote, dedicate, and reserve oneself for a spiritual purpose. It is a special term used in Exodus 28:41 of a newly ordained priest when he offered his first sacrifice. As a new priest accepted his spiritual duties, he and his offering became consecrated for service to God. When David asked the people to contribute toward the construction of the temple, he borrowed this spiritual metaphor by asking the people to dedicate themselves to completing the task. The success of the community would be


dependent upon the individual. This consecration was something that was done individually as well as initiated individually.

In very much the same way, our success is dependent upon something only we can do as individuals and something only we can initiate. We must consecrate ourselves. We have set a giving goal to have received $1.2 million in our building fund by the end of this December. Would you seriously and reverently consider consecrating yourself to this noble task? Would you give yourself and the resources God has blessed you with to build the Lord’s tabernacle? Why? Because like the children of Israel, our success as a community is dependent upon the participation of the individual.

Think

Have you consecrated yourself toward the spiritual purpose of this relocation project? Have you taken it upon yourself, as an individual, to uphold the needs of the community? If not, why not?

Even though David knew that God would see the building project through to the end, why do you think he asked the people to consecrate themselves to the task?

Pray

As you seek God in prayer today, consecrate yourself to His service. Let Him know that you have set yourself aside so that He can work out His will through you. Ask Him to show you, specifically, what it is that He wants you to do and to give.

Act

Take a prayerful moment right now to decide what you are willing to do as an individual to help the church community find success.


We’re All In This Together

When King David asked the people to join him in building the temple, he called everyone together to address the whole assembly. When the Bible is telling the story, it starts with the line,

Then King David said to the whole assembly (1 Chronicles 29:1).

David did this because he wanted the people to recommit themselves to a sense of ownership and community. David knew that success was totally dependent upon the people having a strong bond of brotherhood, dedication, and togetherness.

As we face our relocation project, we must also consecrate our commitment to community. Each person is asked to do something practical to achieve something supernatural. Why is community so important? Community is important because together we are stronger than when we are apart. Just as David needed everyone to contribute to the project, we need everyone to commit themselves to this relocation project. As we face our December giving goal of $1.2 million, don’t forget that the focus is on equal sacrifice, NOT equal giving.


Think

Why is it so important that everyone gets involved? What would be the harm if just a few people remain on the sidelines?

How does the doing of the practical achieve something supernatural?

Pray

Ask God to bring the people together in their hearts through a bond of brotherhood and dedication, that all will determine in their hearts to make an equal sacrifice.

Act

If you have not yet made a commitment toward this relocation project, why not do so now? Don’t stand alone—be a practical part of supernatural whole.


What Will We Leave Our Children?

According to a May 6, 2003, CBS story, Tinker the British cat inherited an estate of over $900,000. Thanks to his late owner, a wealthy widow, the former stray now lives among Britain’s upper crust. The cat has his own house valued at $560,000 and dines on fish bought from his $160,000 trust fund. The will of Margaret Layne, who died at age 89, named Tinker as the beneficiary of a large chunk of her estate, including her house in Harrow, London. Margaret Layne, who had no children, died and left this earth without empowering anyone outside of a stray cat named Tinker.

That is why David spoke of God’s faithfulness in the past and his duty to the next generation when asking the people to help him build the temple. David was asking the community to grasp a sense of legacy. He was helping them understand that one generation can use its resources to compensate for the weakness or minimum factor of another.

At this point in our church’s history, we have a lot in common with David and the people of Israel during the construction of the temple. Most of us will never again have the opportunity to be alive during the total relocation and expansion of a ministry of this size. These kinds of opportunities come once or maybe twice in a lifetime. What will the next generation say that we have passed on to them? Will we leave them opportunity or obligation, faith or fear, boldness or lethargy? Will they think fondly of our foresight, faith, and imagination? What will they have twenty years from now because of how we lived today? As we approach our December faith-giving goals for the building program, you have an opportunity to provide a positive answer to these questions.


Think

What lessons can you learn from the story of Tinker the cat? How does a sense of legacy factor into this story?

Pray

Pray that God would place in your heart a sense of duty toward the next generation. Ask that He would move upon the hearts of everyone in the church community, that all would grasp a sense of legacy in this vast undertaking.

Act

What kind of legacy do you want to leave at Aurora First? What steps can you take to achieve this?


Possessing a God-Sized Perspective

In 2002, a government study estimated that more than 150 million Americans use corrective eyewear and spend over $15 billion dollars a year supporting the optical industry. But what price are we willing to pay for spiritual vision? What kind of sacrifice are we willing to make to bring God’s vision into sharp focus in our lives? That is what our capital campaign is all about: mobilizing our resources to bring God’s vision into sharp focus.

Each one of us has a perspective or lens that contributes to our sense of sacrifice. We all look at opportunities through our personal mindset, outlook, or viewpoint. These perspectives often determine the parameters of our stewardship and generosity. If we are going to be successful, our perspectives must be set apart and consecrated to God. Some people have a hard time doing that. They look at life through their own preferences by evaluating opportunities based on their desires and personal preferences.

When King David challenged the people to be involved in building the temple, he told them they would need a God-sized perspective. In 1 Chronicles 29:1, he says our perspective should be defined by God, not by our preferences. In other words, we consecrate our perspective by embracing a God-sized vision that is bigger than we are. We must consecrate our perspective because what we are giving and working toward is not for us but for God.

That is why David encourages the people to adopt a grand perspective instead of a petty plan when he told the people,

The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God (1 Chronicles 29:1).

So think about the lens that you use to view sacrifice and opportunity. Identify your preferences, desires, partialities, and inclinations, and then offer them to God as a sacrifice of love. Meeting our December faith-giving goal is an easy task if we have a “God-sized perspective.” Won’t you check your vision?


Think

Time for a vision check. Would you say that your spiritual vision is far-sighted or near-sighted? Why? If God’s vision is not in clear focus in your life, what steps can you take to bring it into sharper focus?

Pray

Ask God to be the author and definer of your perspective. Express your willingness to change your viewpoint and see things through His eyes. Ask Him to give you a vision that is bigger than you are so that you might bring His will into sharp focus in your life.

Act

How would you describe the lens through which you view sacrifice? Are you evaluating opportunities based on your own desires and personal preferences? What adjustments do you think you should make?


Planned Generosity

Sometimes it is easy to speak of intention—to give lip service or platitudes to the great things we hope to do for God. David, however, did not just give an optimistic spin to his intentions; he also made it a point to plan how he would give toward building the temple. The construction of the temple was so important that it would require David to be strategic in his giving. Greatness is never found on the heels of an unthinking sacrifice, impulsive giving, or careless contribution.

David did not give out of emotion or impulse. He believed the cause to be so great that it deserved his advance planning and sacrifice. That is why David told Solomon,

“With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities” (1 Chronicles 29:2).

When David said he “provided” for the temple of God, he was talking about planning. The resources required were so great they would demand advanced planning, focus, and activation. 1 Chronicles 22:5 tells us that David took the time to come up with a plan for prolonged giving and sacrifice:

David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.

In the same way, our relocation project will require advanced planning and financial strategy in our personal lives. That is why the church has made free professional and legal counsel available to those interested in following David’s example. As we approach our December financial


goal of having $1.2 million in our building fund, why not follow David’s example by sharpening your pencil, engaging your creativity, and planning for your generosity.

Think

What specific plans have you set in place so that you can be a part of the provision for this project? What steps have you taken to put that plan into action?

In what ways have you seen God’s blessing as a result of your planned giving?

Pray

Ask God to reveal to you the resources you can tap into in order to begin a process of strategic giving. Trust Him to bless you in accordance with your generosity.

Act

If you have not yet made specific plans toward providing for this building project, do so today. Work out a strategic plan for your giving. Seek the help of financial advisors, if necessary.


Over-and-Above Faith

I am told that the icebergs floating in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic can be seen moving in opposite directions. The explanation of this phenomenon is that surface winds are driving the small icebergs, while the huge ones are controlled by deep ocean currents. Our generosity is a lot like that. We are driven by two countervailing forces. The shallow waters push us by the surface winds of obligation and duty. The deeper currents pull us toward love, faith, and gratefulness.

In today’s culture many people refer to an offering as everything that takes place in church. However, in Biblical times an offering was something given above and beyond the tithe. It was what someone gave beyond any kind of requirement or tithe. This is how King David asked the people to give when they were building the temple. David did not levy a tax to finance the construction of the temple, nor did he finance the construction with the normal tithes and offerings that were used to operate the temple. That is why David focuses on the great willingness of the people when he says in 1 Chronicles 29:3:

Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple.

David was talking about giving above and beyond his normal giving and contribution to the temple. That is why it is important for each of us to develop a plan or strategy behind our contribution. Each of us must make sacrifices in our lifestyles to accommodate God’s vision for our church. Our giving to the building program should not be taken from our tithe or missions giving. It should be what David called “over and above” giving.

The wonderful thing about “over and above” giving is that it results in “over and above” blessing. That is what Jesus meant when He said in Luke 6:38,


“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

As we approach our December giving goals, would you check to make sure you are current on your pledge? Let’s be driven by the right current and launch “over and above” faith.

Think

Have you ever participated in “over and above” giving? What blessings did you experience as a result? How might your testimony provide an example and encouragement to others?

Pray

Ask God to instill you with the faith required for “over and above” giving. Trust that He will provide you with “over and above” blessing, as He promised. You can hold God to His word!

Act

Do you sometimes feel as though you are driven by the surface winds of obligation and duty? What steps can you take to overcome this? What changes do you need to make in your life that will help you to flow along the deeper currents of love, faith, and gratefulness?


The King’s Treasure

One of Portugal’s most wealthy kings was John V. He had inherited great wealth from his family. Unlike other kings, John used the Royal Treasury to develop Portugal’s weakened economy, and the nation learned to invest its wealth in more meaningful ventures. King David went one step further when he set out to build the temple. In addition to the national treasury, he surrendered his own treasures. That is why he liquidated some of his capital wealth to contribute to the construction when he said:

“Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple” (1 Chronicles 29:3).

David was speaking about the personal wealth he had saved, not the national treasury. This savings account was very valuable to a king during this time of history. The reserve served as insurance in the event of a political coup and a savings account to care for the entire royal family. David’s treasure was a reserve to secure the future of his heirs, a stockpile to absorb political misfortunes, and a safeguard for natural calamities. This treasure was a valuable resource to enable the kingdom’s power base to become mobile in the event of a military invasion. David was taking a great risk in donating this treasure for the construction of the temple.

In other words, David and the people of Israel gave from their wealth, not their wallet. Our wallet is what we have in our checking account or in our possession. Our wealth is the total of God’s blessing upon our lives. Our wealth is the capital God has enabled us to store up in life. It includes our checking, savings, or whole-life insurance accounts; our retirement accounts; the equity in our homes or our weekend or rental properties; our furniture, jewelry, art, or collectibles; our cars, boats, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles; and certainly our stocks, bonds, and other investments.


David’s example of generous giving and surrendering to God things stored for personal security became a catalyst. Other leaders and the people followed his example, resulting in an avalanche of faith. As we approach our December giving goal, what can you do to follow David’s example? Are there treasures you can liquidate and release to accomplish this divine task of building God’s house?

Think

What risks are involved in giving from your wealth—from those things that you deem as personal security? When you weigh those risks against eternal rewards, what is the result?

Pray

As you consider the risks David took in donating his personal treasure toward the construction of the temple, ask God to remove your fear of risk and give you the courage of David.

Act

Search through your own personal wealth, such as investments, equity, insurance policies, and other assets. Then search your heart to see if you are willing to follow David’s example, thus becoming an example yourself to others within the church. Take the necessary steps to start an avalanche of faith within Aurora First!


The Power of Precious Stones

After seeing King David’s example of liquidating his personal treasures to finance the construction of the temple, the leaders and people willingly followed. The leaders of larger regions and tribes also gave from their capital wealth to finance the construction. The Bible records this when it says,

Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron (1 Chronicles 29:6-7).

The “daric” was a Persian gold coin bearing the image of a Persian king. It was a regional currency that people often used to preserve their wealth. The weight of gold contributed by David’s leaders was equivalent to about 190 tons and about 375 tons of silver. But the wave of generosity did not stop there. The Bible tells us that the people followed the example of the leadership community when it says,

Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite (1 Chronicles 29:8).

The storage of precious stones spoken of in this verse is a direct reference to a different kind of wealth that was needed. It was not a pocket wealth but a capital wealth. When you wanted to save money during this time, you could not go to the bank or open a retirement account. You exchanged your money for precious stones to preserve the wealth for a rainy day. It was a significant wealth that was stored, saved, and invested.

The people gave from their wealth, but what kind of application is that for us? What are examples of our “precious stones”? Our precious


stones are our assets. They are things like vacation property, recreational vehicles, or land. Our precious stones can be things like art, jewelry, or valuable collections, such as coins, stamps, and baseball cards. It can be things like investment securities, such as appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investments.

As we near the conclusion of our second year of the capital campaign, why not follow the example of God’s people and release the power of precious stones?

Think

Make a list of your own “precious stones.” As you consider the items on the list, let God speak to your heart about what He wants you to give.

Pray

If you find it difficult to part with any of your “precious stones,” search your heart to try to understand why you feel that way. Ask God to help you place your trust in Him instead of in material wealth.

Act

Determine today to prove your faith by your actions. Let the example left by the Israelites spur you toward a similar pattern of giving.


Seeing the Future

In our Western culture of “gotta have more,” the mere mention of financial sacrifice often cramps our spirits, raises our anxiety level, and turns our knuckles white as we clench our wallets. To some the reaction of the people of Israel to the temple’s construction can seem quite impulsive, illogical, and extreme. What would make someone want to reach into his hard-earned wealth to give toward a dream? A clear vision for potential! People do it all the time, usually in the context of business or career decisions.

Ask Julie Clark. Julie was a high school English and art teacher with no business experience who created a multimillion-dollar company. Julie and her husband were in their early 30s and took $15,000 from their savings. At the time, Julie was not working and her parents thought she was crazy. She launched The Baby Einstein Company in 1997 and shot the first video in the basement of her Atlanta home using her daughter Aspen’s most prized stuffed animals as props. Manning the borrowed camera was her husband Bill. The Baby Einstein video was followed by Baby Mozart, Baby Shakespeare, Baby Van Gogh, and more. The company grossed $100,000 in sales its first year, skyrocketed to $1 million the second, $5 million the third, and over $20 million in the fifth year. Julie and Bill Clark were a 30-something couple who saw potential and used their wealth to turn a dream into reality. What they did in their business, David and the people of Israel did for God.

That is the most challenging thing about where God has brought us as a church. We have to decide if we really believe that everything we own is His. From a spiritual standpoint, that is one of the greatest things our building program is causing us to do…to see the future and make sacrifices today.

In order to stay on course with our building program, we will need to have received $1.2 million in our building fund by the end of this December. Can you do what Julie Clark did for her business in a spiritual sense? Will you join others in seeing the future today?


Think

As you consider giving more toward our capital campaign, do you do so reluctantly? If so, take a moment to consider the blessings you might be missing out on.

Pray

God has promised to return your investment a hundredfold. Put His promise to the test. Commit yourself to Him by showing your faith through your deeds, trusting that He will reward your sacrifices.

Act

Do you truly believe that everything you own belongs to God? What do you need to do in order to prove your faith by your actions? Put feet to your faith—be willing to sacrifice today in order to receive the blessings of tomorrow.


Attitude and Gratitude

It is the most-used personality test in the nation of Israel, and 80 percent of large French and Swiss companies rely on its results. For those applying for a job at Boeing or Kodak in the United States, the results of this test would weigh heavily in any decision to hire. It is not a drug test or a skills review but a handwriting analysis by certified specialists. Why? Because our handwriting is as unique as our fingerprints. According to experts, it is a reliable indicator of our personality and behavior. With a simple stroke of our pen, we can reveal to the experts our motives, level of drive, and even how materialistic we are.

But God does not have to look at our handwriting to know exactly what we are like and how we think. He knows before we ever sign our check and place it in the offering exactly what our real motives are. That is why our attitude is so important in giving to our building program. That is why, like David, we have to consecrate our attitude as well. We have to give with the right attitude or it does not matter. David and the people of Israel gave with the right motivation when they were building the temple. The Bible shows us that they understood that their efforts were for God and not themselves when it says,

Then King David said to the whole assembly…“The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God” (1 Chronicles 29:1).

We find a second illustration of this when the Bible says,

The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD (1 Chronicles 29:9).

A third example of them giving with the right spirit is mentioned when the Bible says,


Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly (1 Chronicles 29:6).

As we approach our December faith-giving goal of $1.2 million for our building fund, I would encourage you to give with an attitude that glorifies God. Like David and the people of God, let’s give freely, wholeheartedly, and willingly. Why? Because “this structure is not for man but for the LORD God” (1 Chronicles 29:1).

Think

If a handwriting analysis can reveal how materialistic a person is, what do you think the test would reveal about you? What would you like it to say about you?

Pray

Since God knows your thoughts and motives without the use of a handwriting test, what do you think He knows about you? What would you like Him to think about you? Ask Him to reveal the true motives of your heart. Allow Him to work in your spirit, giving you an attitude of wholehearted devotion toward this project.

Act

Do you give with reluctance or with rejoicing? What changes should you make in order to glorify God through your giving?


Destiny’s DNA

The state of North Carolina is often referred to as the Mecca of NASCAR auto racing. Not because it hosts so many races, but because it has three families with three generations of champions: the Pettys, the Jarretts and the Earnhardts. These racing dynasties cannot help but win. Winning is in their DNA. It is part of the family culture. It is part of who they are. In very much the same way, aggressive and adventuresome faith is part of our DNA as a church. Sacrifice, adventure, and faith are not strange concepts to our members. We have destiny’s DNA running through our veins.

Our church was founded on the spirit of adventure 74 years ago. Miracles are part of our history. Expansion has always been part of who we are. Bold vision has always led us to step out into new territory. Complacency has never settled into our spirit. Durability has made us who we are. Having enjoyed the fruits of the faith, sacrifice, and courage of those who have gone before us, it is now our turn to seize destiny.

Nehemiah and his workers had the same sense of destiny. There were four things that made up their DNA that we can learn from in our own building program.

They were flexible and open-minded. A close study of Nehemiah chapter 3 reveals a powerful principal. The eastern portion of the wall was totally destroyed, and Nehemiah quickly realized that it was not possible to follow the line of the old wall down the slope of the Kidron Valley. There was too much rubble and not enough time. So he set a new course and built a new wall. He was flexible in achieving the vision.

They were passionate and enthusiastic. There are some people whose passion in building the wall stands out like a mighty tower. Scripture tells us that a man named Baruch “zealously repaired another section” (Nehemiah 3:20). The word zealously means “hot with passion.” Some of us can do more than others, but let’s all do the most we can!

They were selfless in their sacrifice. Remember the long lists of people and work teams, including those from other geographic areas, who showed up to help Nehemiah build the wall. The interesting


thing about them is that there were some groups who had nothing to gain by fortifying the walls of Jerusalem. The cities of Jericho, Tekoa, and Gebian already had walls that were fortified. Yet they lost themselves in a cause greater than themselves and their little corner of the world.

They were dependable. There is a phrase that is mentioned over and over in the story about rebuilding the wall. The phrase reads, “Then they set its doors in place.” It means they added the finishing touches and finished the job. We need more of that spirit of completion in the church.

As we approach the halfway mark of our capital campaign this coming week, will you join me on the wall? Will you pledge with me your time, treasures, and talents in embracing the dawning of destiny? There is no reason why you can’t. After all, you have destiny’s DNA flowing through your veins!

Think

Have you demonstrated the following characteristics in your own attitude toward this project? In what ways?

Flexibility Open-mindedness Passion Enthusiasm Selflessness Dependability

Pray

Pray that the spirit of adventure on which this church was founded will continue to thrive in today’s members.

Act

Decide today to make a pledge of your time, treasures, and talents. Be a part of destiny!


The Tipping Point

The tipping point is the critical point in a situation that leads to a new and irreversible future. As we end this 40 Days of Legacy, I would like to think about what the tipping point means for our church. Even as you read this, we are facing a time when a small amount of faith can make a huge impact on eternity. We find a classic example of the tipping point of destiny in the Old Testament book of Esther, chapter 4, when Mordecai told Esther:

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).

As we come upon the end of this year, we face our own tipping point. To stay on track with our relocation efforts, our building program needs to have taken in $1.2 million before December 31. Mordecai wanted Esther to understand four things that are also important to us.

Inactivity is disastrous. Like Esther, we must engage if we want to see our lives enriched, our faith expanded, and the kingdom blessed.

Opportunity is passing. Esther needed to understand that she lived in a unique time and window of opportunity. Opportunity has an expiration date. We must act in God’s timing.

Destiny demands action. Like Esther, we must avoid the temptation of silent inactivity, dormancy, and procrastination. Ours is an uncommon opportunity that demands ambitious faith.

Providence is calling. Mordecai closed his charge to Esther with a question. Not just any question, but the “what if” question. I want you to think about how that question applies to you today. What if the Bible is right? What if God has orchestrated the events of history for you and I to be right here, right now, at this crossroads of destiny? What if all of our lives are intertwined together to achieve this one grand task? What if our histories, lives, giftings, wealth, and possessions have been strategically aligned for “such a time as this”?


There are many seasons of life. However, there are some seasons of time that are so symbolic, so strategic, and so significant that they need to be recognized. These windows of opportunity are called “leverage” or “tipping points,” and you need to be able to identify them. Leverage is the point where the smallest efforts can make the biggest differences. That is where we stand today as a church. As we come to the close of this 40 Days of Legacy, what can you do at “such a time as this” to seize God’s moment? Right now, destiny is tapping you on the shoulder. The only question is, will you be prepared for what could be your finest hour?

Think

Mordecai told Esther that if she did not act, God would bring deliverance through another means but she and her whole family would not survive. At this point in our church’s history, if you do not act, God will work out His will regardless. However, you will miss out on His blessings. If you feel hesitant to take a step of faith toward reaching this goal, consider the “tipping point” that you now face, personally. What new and irreversible future might you be giving up if you do not act?

Pray

Ask God to give you the spirit of Esther, who did not succumb to silence but boldly stepped forward despite the risk. Ask Him to help you see the “what if’s” of the future. As you stand at the crossroads, seek His guidance as to what path you should take.

Act

What is unique about this time in which you live and this opportunity that lies before you? Having been presented with this unique time and opportunity, what do you think God wants you to do? Will you shirk from His calling, or will you step boldly toward it, as Esther did?


Documents

THE HISTORY OF AURORA FIRST ASSEMBLY - AG …agwebservices.org/Content/RSSResources/Roncone 40 Days of... · Web viewOne of the most powerful aspects of David’s plan is hidden behind