Maricopa TRICK or TREAT 2009...

Huge weekend for the COC!

Maricopa TRICK or TREAT 2009 is here - UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Our very first year (2007) - we saw over 4000+ Maricopans come out!

Last year (2008) - we saw over 8000+ Maricopans come out!

This year (2009) - we've relocated to the City Park (Pacana) and are expecting 10,000+

Please be in PRAYER for AmAzInG things to happen!

Family Focus...

Isaac's recouping from a tough "FLU" week! Over 103 degree temp for 3 days - missed his Halloween Party at school today & pretty bummed! BUT... he's feeling better and it looks like Maricopa Trick or Treat will be a GO! He'll be attempting to defend his costume contest win from last year! Watch out for the ROCKER!

Caleb's Halloween 'git-up' is lookin' SWEET! He's goin' as a HIP-HOP Artist! "Fitty-Cent" ain't got NOTHIN' on... 'LIL' PENNY!' (We'll try and get some PIX up next week!)

Charis is heading into 2009 Halloween as the most BEAUTIFUL "Little Red Riding Hood" that you've ever seen!

(Ck out this beauty...)

And GING... well - let's just say the 80's are not dead as she will raise the roof in PUNK ROCK!

(Guaranteed PIC of that next week!)

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

Last week of MOUNTAIN MOVING...

RESPONDING TO GOD'S PRESENCE!

Let's just say... IT'S A WEEK YOU DON'T WANNA MISS!

MOVING MOUNTAINS can only take place with FAITH!

FAITH is a response not only to WHAT God DOES but also to WHO God IS!!

Do you REALLY... BELIEVE that Impossibilities are POSSIBLE?

SEE YA SUNDAY!! (Oh... SATURDAY TOO! (Trick or Treat 2009))

Two-Way Communication...

Fun week - started off with a 'Round' at Francisco Grande with Pop, Gary & Tom Blevins! Fun time - as well as a GENEROUS DAY - a day where the Course truly 'GAVE BACK!' See... the course has a POND on the 16th - which usually is very 'Greedy' in taking many a golfer's donations (Golf Balls)! However... this day - the POND was rendered meek & mild - SHE WAS EMPTY - DRAINED - BARE-BONED! And when I mean DRY (since any absence of H20 in the Desert requires about 12 hours to be completely waterless) - able to be walked on! Here' what I mean by 'She was GENEROUS' - in about 20 minutes worth of searching... I was able to find 3 DOZEN Pro V-1's - those are about $4 a ball - quick math - well over $120 worth of golf balls in 20 minutes - the only thing I can say is... THANK YOU FRANCISCO GRANDE for 'Giving Back!'

Sunday Snapshot...

MOUNTAIN MOVING... (Wk4) TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION

Excited... Mat (Give/Go Pastor) is bringing it this week!

It's an HONOR to be able to speak to God!

How exactly does God speak to us?

1. The Word

2. His People

3. Holy Spirit

The best way to HEAR...

Psalm 46:10... "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!"

That means... STOP TALKING & LISTEN!!

WHEN YOU PRAY...

A week OFF for the Barrett KIDDOS! FALL Break has come to Maricopa! Both Caleb & Isaac have had a week off - and there TIME has been busy! Isaac has been VERY BUSY 'Riding Bikes' and hanging out with Nana & Papa! Caleb actually had a NIGHT 'all by himself' with Nana & Papa - and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

Last night was - what I've been told - A MUST for Phoenix 'Folks' - we frequented ORGAN STOP PIZZA in Mesa! The MUSIC - LIGHTS - BUBBLES absolutely MESMERIZED Caleb & Charis! Isaac wasn't anticipating having much fun - but it was everything we could do to get him to leave when that time came! Pretty cool place! Not a BIG FAN of the Pizza - but the ATMOSPHERE was 'PRICELESS!'

I am currently in 'Beautiful' San Diego - attending our Regional Conference's (CONVERGE SOUTHWEST) Board of Trustees Meeting! A new post I was elected into this past Spring! New adventures - gonna get to play some GOLF tomorrow AM with our District Minister - a 'PERK' that comes with the placement! Incredible WEATHER on the coast - however... I LEFT SOME PRETTY REMARKABLE WEATHER back in AZ this AM!

Sunday Snapshot...

MOUNTAIN MOVING Series / WK3- "WHEN YOU PRAY..."

LUKE 11:1... One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, on of his disciples said to him, “Lord, TEACH US TO PRAY…”

Jesus then SHARES the "WAY TO PRAY" - Matthew 6:9-13

OUR FATHER… Never forget that you are God's CHILD through Jesus Christ!

WHO ART IN HEAVEN… Remember that you are praying to THE "Mountain Mover!" Nothing is too difficult to Him! Set you eyes on His ABILITY - not your worth!

HALLOWED BE THY NAME… Don't allow your prayers to become a WISH LIST - Worship God and Praise Him when you come to Him!

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN… Submit YOUR will to GOD'S will!

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD… Lay ALL your concerns out, whether Big or Small!

FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS… Be sure YOU are NOT THE OBSTACLE for Unanswered Prayers!

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL… Pray for Protection & Victory over TEMPTATION!

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER… End your prayers with MORE WORSHIP!

AMEN… Let it be so.

In a condensed VERSION of the Lord’s Prayer – Jesus says this…

Pray REGULARLY! -Not IF you Pray... WHEN you Pray!

Pray PRIVATELY! -God is not IMPRESSED with Public Displays of Piety!

Pray SINCERELY! -God is not IMPRESSED with Formulas!

Pray SPECIFICALLY! -Recognize Him as your Heavenly Father (Daddy) and share your HEART!

At some point in time – if you desire to have an INCREDIBLE PRAYER LIFE – you need to deal with your sins – SPECIFICALLY!

Don't forget... Jesus never taught His disciples how to PREACH - but rather how to PRAY!

IN GOD'S PRESENCE...

To EVERYONE out there - Thanks for PRAYING for Ging! She still has a MOUNTAIN TO MOVE! It just so happens that God has asked her to GO THROUGH HER MOUNTAIN!

I'm praying that she has the health to go to WOMEN'S RETREAT! She is such a blessing to so many - ministering to many - MY PRAYER is that she can go and be MINISTERED TO!

SHE ROCKS & SHE IS MY HERO! Now... to only get better at communicating that to her with my actions!

Sunday Snapshot...

MOUNTAIN MOVING...

Psalm 139 (NIV) 1) Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2) You know when I sit and when I rise -
you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3) You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4) Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely oh Lord. 5) You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand up on me. 6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7) Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8) If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9) If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10) even there, your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11) If I say, “Surely the darkness will hid me and the light become night around me,” 12) even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for the darkness is as light to you. 13) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16) your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17) How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18) Were I to attempt to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. 19) If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 20) They who speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21) Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? 22) I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24) See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

When we are IN GOD'S PRESENCE - we will begin to understand His OMNISCIENCE, OMNIPRESENCE, OMNIPOTENCE, and PROVISION!

Please understand... God doesn't require our praise for to REASSURE HIM ~ He requires our praise to ENCOURAGE & INSPIRE US!

It's time that we stop spending all of our time EXPLAINING HIM and begin to just BE IN AWE OF HIM!

Do you REALLY… BELIEVE your Impossibilities POSSIBLE?

Remember what Luke 1:37 says… "FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!”