YOU ARE...

World Changers,
I am so grateful for your hearts and passion to dig deep wells relationally with each other and spiritually with Holy Spirit. These last few months have been such a community-building time for our church and nation. Let's not stop! Let's continue to be intentional through texting, skyping, calling. If you haven't connected yet, now is the time to begin as we move into this next season. Remember that the heart of the Father is found in those you choose to do life with. 

ENCOURAGEMENT

What would happen if you believed in your heart of hearts that your life (actions & prayers) influenced our culture? Imagine if you lived within that understanding? Did you know that the disciples had been identified as “lights of the world” before contributing much of who they were? Jesus says to them early on in their walk with Him: Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth (restorer & preserver of this land)...14 You are the light of the world (wake-up call that brings life to darkness).”

As time went on, the disciples' light bulbs started to turn on in hard-pressed moments--walking on water; healing the sick; witnessing and participating in miracles. They knew that gathering together was part of a larger story that God was writing and they came alive to be world changers/influencers in it.
God is just as passionate about the reformation of family, economy, education, government, arts & media, science & technology, as He is about religion (institutional church). Our mission is not simply to get people healed, delivered, and saved; it is to bring restoration to the ruined cities--creating culture. Isaiah 61:4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.

Imagine the Messiah turning to you and saying, “You will restore this land, you will awaken the darkness with great light!” God is inviting us to impact every sphere of influence, every realm of society.
If we are not careful, religion can make us all look the same, when in fact, the Father has created you and me wonderfully unique and has given us special graces to carry out certain things well. The dreams that reside in your heart are there because God desires to use you to bring revival in that particular realm of society that you are passionate about.

Declaration: I choose to prosper in all of my relationships. I am the light of the world. 

QUESTIONS / ACTIVATION

• If you could do anything, what would it be?

• Patterned after your heart, how would you like to rebuild the ruins of the city (sphere) God is calling you to?

• What do you think godly leadership would look like in the area that interests you?

• What is an activity you currently love doing with others and have favor, grace, and skill in (sport, music, social cause, art)?

Ask Holy Spirit to unpack your next assignment, and to show you something you could do this week to begin to breathe life and change that area.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me, To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners...

MORE DECLARATIONS

Jesus, You believe I can influence my culture. Jesus, Your Spirit is on me to bring good news. Jesus, you are the healer of every part of our land.

We love you and are so proud of our generous community. You are the light of the world--because the Light lives within you.
Pastor Adam & Brooke Cooke

Live Awake

A note on our current situation:

What an opportunity we have before us, as the body of Christ, to partner with peace , hope, and understanding. I am not asking you to ignore any problems that we face. 

John Chew stated, “More critical than the problem itself, is the way I see the problem! If my perspective on the problem doesn’t fill me with glistening hope, then I am believing a lie.”

In the Old Testament, the Kingdom is advanced by good actions. In the New Testament, the Kingdom is advanced by good beliefs. More is achieved by what we think about God’s goodness than by our efforts in the disciplines of the Christian faith. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t practice those disciplines but praying harder, longer, and with more desperation isn’t what God has called us to. Somehow, there is this notion that God is more attracted to my desperation than He is to my confidence (my identity) in His goodness! You and I are sons & daughters of a good King.

Romans 5:1-​2​ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Whoever has the most hope has the most influence. Be carriers of hope today, through your social media platforms and conversations. Be kind and considerate. Be intentional with serving your neighbors. Don’t wait for the institution of church to respond—you are the church. Let’s be generous and creative with our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

• Practice Joy. Practice Prayer. Practice thanksgiving. Practice generosity. (These things are rare right now in our culture.)

Plant this in your heart. One person with high beliefs and a devoted heart cannot change a nation. NOT TRUE!  / / / David killed Goliath (Fear) and Israel changed in a day! TRUE!  / / / Our nation is in need of "Davids" and I believe they're out there and that you guys are of that remnant.  "Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your day you would not believe if you were told." (Habakkuk 1:5 NASB)

• Declaration: God is advancing His kingdom in my nation; in our valley. He is doing a mighty work in my city, and I get to partner with the Father. I am a child of God and I choose to be full of hope in this new season. Therefore, I have creative ways to be light in this season of darkness.

Big thank you. We want to say thank you to our staff / core leaders, board members, our children's teachers, our volunteers (worship team, prayer team, greeters, ushers, the list goes on...) who invest consistently (through service and generosity) every week. Your hearts are appreciated and shown in your commitment to our good Father and Awaken. Everyone of you carry something of great value and there is something that happens in the spiritual realm when we choose to serve together in creative ways. Keep running and pursuing His presence while pursuing community in these times. 

>>> We will see you online this Sunday at 10a. #weareawaken 

Brooke and I love you so much church.

Live Awake,

Adam Cooke

COVID-19 EXTREME IN HOPE

Awaken Church,

We want to care for our church family in all respects, including the physical well-being of our community. To that end, we are asking you, family, to have wisdom to keep yourself and others safe, especially in light of recent developments with the Coronavirus (COVID-19). At this point in time, there are no confirmed cases in Idaho. While we do not have any confirmed cases we want to inform you of our readiness in preventing the spread of all viruses.

Your well-being and safety are of primary importance to us. Here’s how we are committed to keeping our campus clean and safe:

• We sanitize highly touched surfaces before and after services such as doors, handles, tables, café areas, drinking fountains, check-in stations, and bathrooms.

• We will continue to thoroughly sanitize all children’s toys and play areas. This is a regular practice at our church.

• We will remain in an attitude of prayer for one another.

We encourage you to be wise and keep yourself and others safe. You can help stop the spread of viruses in the following ways:

• Stay home when you or your family members are sick. You can join the service on Sunday morning at 10am via Facebook / website Live.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• Cover your face when sneezing or coughing and get in the habit of not touching your face.

• If you are returning from a high-alert area, we urge you to consider refraining from attending church events, classes, and services for the recommended 14-day time frame.

• Strengthen your immune system (Eat More Vegetables; Herbs & Supplements; Get Your Exercise On; Get Sufficient Sleep).

• Pray often for those who have it and for our leaders (government, first responders, healthcare, etc).

  We must also remember that God has not called us to live in fear but in faith. Fear is a great motivator but a terrible leader. Let’s choose to partner with our faith.

Psalm 23:4 (TPT) Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. 

2 Timothy 1:17 For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.

We will continue to experience an incredible, Spirit-filled atmosphere at our services and we look forward to ministering together each week. In the meantime, please go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html for the most current information. 

We do not quit on the hope of glory. We persevere. Because we are convinced by a greater reality than our temporary surroundings. Let’s continue to gather together and celebrate our Savior. Nothing is impossible for our God. He is bigger than our problems and worth trusting.

Declaration: I have incredible hope. I believe God can heal our bodies. My prayers are powerful and effective.

Grateful,

Adam Cooke

Lead Pastor

JOURNAL ENTRY: Thoughts

We need to begin to see ourselves; the situation— the way God sees us; sees it, and when we do, we conform to the image of God and your mind is renewed. We need to see ourselves how He sees us. Despite your past, and your history, you have to know that when you surrendered your old life for the new, you were reborn without a history. 
> Your history is replaced with "His Story."
Why is this important? Because how you see yourself effects how you see others. Creating a culture of belief requires us to see others the way God sees others. 
Jesus sees past what you were and sees who you could become. The same culture that produced Peter (a key disciple in building the early Church) is the same culture that allowed Judas to steal. This is Jesus’ heart towards humanity— to believe in people, all people. 
> You will be empowered to see people like Jesus when you see yourself the way Jesus sees you.
If we are going to be… 
FREE / LOVED / COURAGEOUS / VICTORIOUS / HEALED / A SON / A DAUGHTER / GENEROUS / FORGIVEN / BLESSED / CHOSEN / BORN AGAIN / FULL OF FAITH...
> You have to live "from" & see yourself "in" the position of Christ.
Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

 #creatingculture #awakenus

How do you see yourself?

Grateful, Adam

I am a World Changer! 

We all need to think that again! So a man (woman) thinks, he is (Prov 23:7). Defining World: my sphere of influence, culture, cities, nations. I'm designed to reshape culture, rewrite destinies, and become a powerful love. Small thinking and living from caution, fear, and disappointment is not an option for me. Here are some empowering truths…

I am made in the image of God (Gen 1:27).

I have dominion over the earth - not just my back yard (Gen 1:28).

I desire that all will be healed (Matt 10:8).

I have been given all authority (Matt 16:16-20).

Jesus invites me to pray, "On earth - again not just my back yard, but this wolrd - as it is in Heaven" (Matt 6:9-11).

I will (collectively with the body) do greater things than Jesus (John 14:12).

I am powerful (Acts 1:8).

Nothing is impossible for me, for He who is in me is greater (1 John 4:4).

I am more than a conqueror (Rom 8:31-39).

The Spirit of the God who does the impossible is on me (Isa 61:1).

I bring reformation and restoration to the “ruin cities” (Isa 61:4).

I have been invited to partner with Jesus and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20).
“It’s not working” is probably second only to “I can’t” in victim mindsets. This lie must be battled with the truth. Even if ‘things’ or our ‘worlds’ don’t seem to change in the short term, it is impossible for long-term transformation not to happen as we stand firm in faith. 
Let’s live in faith and by faith like never before. Jesus did it. #made4more#awakenus

Love you Church,

Adam

RELATIONSHIP SERIES: THIS IS US.

Friending. Single. Married. Dating. Married Again. Single Again. Or the dreaded “it’s complicated”. 

No matter what stage of relationship you find yourself in, with friends, family, coworkers, and significant others, it can get, well…complicated. We have complicated relationships because we as people are messy. So in all our relationships we can benefit from the hope, healing and wholeness that God’s perspective can provide. 

Join us | 8A 9:30A 11:30A | for our 4 week relationship series, “This is Us,” beginning February 2nd, where we apply Biblical wisdom and truth in our lives, no matter what stage we’re in. We will also be broadcasting & telecasting this series with another church family, Freedom Center Church in Michigan. We are believing and praying that this series marks our relationships as we move forward in 2020.

NEW YEAR SERIES: THIS IS MY AWAKENING.

Vision encompasses vast vistas outside the realm of the predictable, the safe, the expected.— Charles R. Swindoll
No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause.—Theodore Roosevelt 

Destiny is for the daring and determined who are willing to endure some discomfort, delay gratification, and go where Destiny leads.—T.D. Jakes

“I’d say when you go to sleep, would you agree that you are sleep when you’re asleep? And when you wake up, would you agree that you’re awake when you’re awake? Would you agree that those are two different states? People who don’t believe (me) are walking dead. They are asleep and this is my awakening.” — Kanye West

 I chose you, and appointed you that you would go…— Jesus (JN 15:11)

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep (TPT) for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! — Apostle Paul (ROM 13:11)

Jesus was awake. He was a risk taker. He entrusted His kingdom and all that it holds to 12 weak and frightened men. Through God’s power and vision they came alive; they changed the world; they woke up. Instead of looking at the past we must fix our eyes on God’s vision for us and boldly move forward to see His kingdom come in every situation.  Jesus was awake and He invites us to do the same. 

This is our awakening!

5 Day Challenge

Hello Awaken Family,

My family and I would like to invite you to partner with us in building connection with those around us. Beginning tonight, we will be living on purpose by practicing the challenges that are before us. Share your moments on FB & or IG #wearefamilyawaken :)

Here are the challenges: 5 DAY

He Is Always Faithful

A good reminder from Pastor Adam:

I was leaving the gym 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.

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 lined with 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…Hear me Fathers & Mothers, your presence in all circumstances is more than enough to bring comfort and peace to your children in challenging times. Be faithful. Be present in the new year.

Love You Awaken, Adam

Summer Series: The Practice

This summer will be a pivotal season of walking out our true identity as we begin our summer series "The Practice." We want to be a people who essentially "walk His talk;" that our actions would begin to line up with who God says we are. We must remember when their is a call to action that our identity doesn’t come from our activity, but our activity will confirm our identity.

He says we are His Masterpiece, created by Him to do good works and we believe this is our time to fulfill that truth and truly live what it means to be sons and daughters of the King. 

So partner with us this summer as we are sent out to live intentional.

Love you Awaken Church,

PA