Inspire the Valley 2019

You are a generous community!

This year, our family took on a new and exciting challenge: spent the week before Easter pouring into our community with tangible acts of love. Starting in January, teams of volunteers planned the events that became Inspire the Valley 2019. With Inspire the Valley and Easter weekend now in our rearview, we wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on all that was accomplished, and thank you for the incredible support everyone showed by giving their time and resources. 

Here are just a few things that your generosity allowed to happen:

• Goal for offering was $5,000—together we raised $4,300

• 84 First Responders received thank you cards from our Awaken Kids

• 25 Families received a week's worth of groceries

• 50+ children & adults were blessed by our neighborhood block party

• 20+ people were prayed for and encountered Jesus during our Treasure Hunt

• 450+ people attended our Easter Bash

• 90+ volunteers made Inspire The Valley possible

• 17+ people responded Sunday morning to God's Mercy (salvation)

• 525 total people attended Awaken on Easter Sunday, which was a new record and the highest ever attendance in the history of the church

Even more than these stats, your investment in Inspire the Valley and our Easter events allowed us to reach our community with the Father’s love. Thank you again, Awaken Church for your generous hearts. It is an honor to serve with you.

FIRST 10

We believe that culture is created by words and actions, and I so desire to see my reality change.

Again, from the beginning, the Father used words (spoke) to create. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that “life is in the power of the tongue.”  Through declarations (intentionally speaking God’s truth aloud over ourselves, circumstances, people we love), God has given us a powerful / practical tool to renew our minds and help direct our lives with our words. Declarations have the power to increase our level of faith...“Faith comes by hearing,” (Romans 10:17). 

“We won’t have something just by saying something, but saying something is necessary to having something.” - Steve Backlund

Each morning, the challenge is to give the first 10 minutes to God’s Word over your life. Our prayer is that we would be intentional with His truth invading our belief systems.

Partner with us, beginning May 6th, as we champion God’s heart toward us by choosing to give Him our “First 10!”

DOWNLOAD THE “FIRST 10” PDF

Why do we declare?

Why do we declare?

We believe that culture is created by words and actions.

From the beginning, the Father used words (spoke) to create. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

One of the main “methods” Jesus and the apostles used (in the gospels and Acts) to bring heaven to earth was to speak to things. You will notice that they did not ask God to heal people, cast out demons, calm the storms; but they spoke to bodies, demons, the wind, etc. Jesus encouraged us to speak to mountains in Mark 11:23, “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”

Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that “life is in the power of the tongue.” Through declarations (intentionally speaking God’s truth aloud over ourselves, circumstances, people we love), God has given us a powerful / practical tool to renew our minds and help direct our lives with our words. Declarations have the power to increase our level of faith...“Faith comes by hearing,” (Romans 10:17).

We won’t have something just by saying something, but saying something is necessary to having something.

But Adam, I need to believe it, if I'm going to say it!

Actually, it can work the other way. Sometimes we need to say it before we believe it - that is faith as well. Hebrews 11:1 states Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Mark 9:23 is very interesting passage. It reads— Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Why is this interesting? Because he (the centurion) asks (rather speaks) "help my unbelief." 

There are things I don't believe yet, but it doesn't stop me from hoping I will.

Sometimes, my heart and my core values need a little speech to remind them of who God is and who I am.

Grateful,

PA

NEXT LEVEL (New Year's Resolutions)

"New Year’s resolutions are kind of like a drunk uncle. You know you shouldn’t take him too seriously … but you can’t help but laugh and play along when he comes around once a year." -unknown

It’s become popular for people to make fun of New Year’s resolutions (put your money where your mouth is) in an almost prideful way (why don’t these fake January people get out of my gym??), but few people understand why these resolutions don’t work. Recent study shows that many of the 78% who fail in their plans; their new year goals are focusing on the downside of not achieving the goal.
We believe in this next year that it will be a year of answered prayer and if we are going to encounter breakthrough we must be people who level up our faith, hope, and love. The most important question in the new year is not, "Lord, what should I do?" but it is, "Lord, what should I believe? What should I renew my mind with about you, about myself, about others and about my circumstances?" This next season of messages in January will be equipping us for a powerful season of faith, hope, love, and new year's resolutions achieved.

The most important question in the new year is not, "Lord, what should I do?" but it is, "Lord, what should I believe?

Remember this: Be a person who doesn’t give up! Let me write that again: Be a person who doesn’t give up. Thomas Edison is one of the most significant innovators and inventors in American history. Edison is perhaps best known for inventing the first long-lasting light bulb. Edison’s 10,000 attempts to create the light bulb must be remembered. If you are not failing, you are not trying!

When you find yourself failing; making a poor decision; saying the wrong thing; remind yourself after the event to NOT GIVE UP! Remember, you have the ability to innovate, to think differently about a situation. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying. 

2 Cor 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Cor 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Love you church. Look forward to “Next Level” beliefs that will transform our realities beginning January 6, 10a.

PA

Grateful, Always.

1 Thess 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I love this scripture because many of us are in continual search for the “Will of God” when it is simple. And I believe if we could just grasp these three things our inner world and the world around us would look different.

There are two things we can pull from this verse: 

1. The will of God is not merely focused on whether we become a doctor, teacher, business owner or whether we’re suppose to have pbj or pf changs for dinner. It is focused on what we do to position our heart in relationship to God at all times, in all circumstances.

2. Rejoicing, praying, and thanksgiving are all acts of our will that require faith, especially in times of difficulty. 

Did you know that the things we practice as a lifestyle equip us for difficulties and blessings?

A thankful heart agrees with heaven by acknowledging the truth that our lives are a gift from God, and that He is sovereign over all. AND when we agree with truth, then the truth sets us free to see and manifest the greatness that He has put in us, who are made in His image.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, (‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭1-5‬ NASB).

Just a reminder that your attitude of gratitude changes the world in you and around you. :)

Grateful, PA

Loved, Not Employed.

Think with me for a moment: Many Christians view God as a task master, yelling orders and overlooking our performance with a big club. Hear me, this perception of God only reduces our connection with Him to that of an employee, a laborer. God is not like a cold and disinterested task master, scrutinizing your every move. He is not abusive, forceful, or controlling. Nor is He emotionless and relationally disconnected from us. God actually sent His son so we could become a part of the communion and intimacy of the trinity. God desires us to be as up-close and personal with him as he is with himself - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This next statement has been wrecking me today…
Seated with Him. Seated with Him. Seated with Him. (Eph 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...)
He will not be satisfied with anything less than a relationship with you in which you do not work for Him but rather work with Him. He sent His only Son to die on the cross - not to gather employees, but to establish a love relationship. And from that identity, we would serve.

We don't work for the kingdom, we work from the kingdom.

Grateful,

PA

#awakenus

It's Ok If I Am Weak

How many of you have spent your life avoiding weakness?

Father's process of growth in our lives will involve weakness. Isn't it interesting that God uses words like rejoice, delight, and joy when we are faced with trials or hardships?

• Rom 5:3-5 we rejoice in our sufferings...

• James 1:2-4 consider it pure joy whenever you face trials...

• 2 Cor 12:10 I delight in weakness, in difficulties, in persecutions...

Don't run from hardships. Faith is proven in them. Hope is proven in them. Love is proven in them. His grace is proven in them.

2 Cor 12:9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

Let God perfect His strength in your weakness. His power works best in your weakness. Find joy! Find Delight! You are powerful because of the one who lives within you.

-PA

Faithful

I was leaving the gym one early Saturday morning and on my way home I pulled over to watch the sunrise over the mountains. It was stellar. It was just incredible. It painted the sky with pinks, oranges, and yellows. The mountains became dark silhouettes, and you could see every jagged cut of each mountain top. Yeah…stellar.
Anyway, as I was watching this incredible moment I heard the Father say to me, “I Am faithful like the sun.” Then He said it again, “I Am faithful like the sun.”
Did you know that the sun rises every morning? Not once a week or even 5 days a week. Every morning it has been rising for centuries all around the world. Not one place or person on the planet can say, “There is no sun. It hasn’t risen. It won’t rise.” Now, I understand that there are places that have cloud cover most of the year; there are cities that only see sunshine every once in awhile; there are places that are cooler because of the lack of sunshine…but no one can say that the sun doesn’t rise. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it hasn’t risen. Hear me, just because you can’t see the faithfulness of God in this season, doesn’t mean He isn’t faithful.

"just because you can’t see the faithfulness of God in this season, doesn’t mean He isn’t faithful."

Then I heard the Father say, “It is my nature to be faithful.” He said it one more time, “It is my nature to be faithful.”
Did you know that the sun can’t one day choose to not be the sun? Its nature, its purpose is to shine…is to release energy. It won’t and can’t choose to be something it is not. The Father’s DNA is faithfulness. He won’t choose to be something He is not.
You may be experiencing some extended cloud cover, and hoping that you see some sort of sunshine. I want to encourage you to trust that the sun has risen and it is making its way through your cloudy circumstances. It is making its way through challenging relationships. It is even making its way through our inability to find answers for our trial that we may be experiencing. Our Father is a faithful one. He will always be. He will show up to every game. He will be present in every painful circumstance. He will always understand our good and bad decisions. He will not run out on you. He is with you. It is His nature to be faithful.

That thought alone brought so much peace and comfort.

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” – 2 Timothy 2:13

“I Am faithful like the sun.” You don’t have to have the answers or solutions to every problem…His presence in all circumstances is more than enough to bring comfort and peace in challenging times. Be faithful.

- PA

INSIDE / OUT

Statistics say about 50% (1 in 2) of the marriages that start will not make it. And of those 50% or so that do make it, the vast majority of them report being miserable, lacking intimacy, and are sticking together for the sake of the kids, or provision. So the odds are really stacked against us if we do what everyone else does. I understand that some of us have been so wounded in relationships, and we come to a place and ask the question "Is a good marriage even possible?” Emphatically the answer is yes, it is possible. A great marriage is possible, but honestly it's not likely and not probable, if you do what everybody else is doing. Listen, you will by nature always reproduce the environment that is in you - your internal position will always become your external position. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” You cannot change the culture around you without first changing the culture within you. Ask these questions: Why is my relationship the same? Why hasn’t my circumstance changed?

As we get ready for the next school season, we recognize that if we want to see our realities shift we must first begin within our homes--our inward realities. Beginning September 9th, our church will be focusing on Marriage: "Inside / Out." We simply believe that when we choose to invest in our inward circumstance, then and only then, will our outward circumstances change.

Recently my wife Brooke, made this observation: So, we just had new carpet installed throughout most of our house. Our house has been in construction-mode since we moved in a month ago, lots of dirt & dust everywhere. I decided to start deep cleaning now that the carpet is down & I started with our master bathroom/bedroom. As I was cleaning I thought how this is the room that people “see” the least. However, most of my life stems from what takes place in this room. We spend most of our time cleaning the rooms that friends can “see.” What if we spent more time cleaning” and “valuing” the most intimate rooms of our house & our inner world? What if we cared more about the “spaces” that no one will ever see and less on the “spaces” that everyone sees?

So with that, I want to challenge single people and married couples to make Sundays a priority this September as we unpack what it means to be transformed from the inside out!

Do Not Give Up

I remind my children often that true failure isn't making the mistake, but rather giving up!

Be a person who doesn’t give up! Let me write that again: Be a person who doesn’t give up.

Thomas Edison is one of the most significant innovators and inventors in American history. Edison is perhaps best known for inventing the first long-lasting light bulb. Edison’s 10,000 attempts to create the light bulb must be remembered.

If you’re not failing, you’re not trying.

He was a leader of many other breakthroughs, including the first phonograph (sound) and the motion picture camera (video), and he was influential in developing the first economically viable way of distributing light, heat, and power from a central station.

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing. – Denis Waitley

When you find yourself failing; making a poor decision; saying the wrong thing; remind yourself after the event to NOT GIVE UP! Remember, you have the ability to innovate, to think differently about a situation. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying.

2 Cor 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

You got this, PA