Walking Down a Dark Hallway

The other day I was home alone and was heading down the hallway to go into another room,  and it was so dark that I couldn't see ANYTHING!!! I noticed that my gut reaction was to continue walking even though I couldn't see a thing!!! I kept walking, because by experience... I knew that if I continued down the hall, I'd walk into the bathroom and would be able to "hit the light switch". For a split second, I slowed down for fear of miscalculating, hitting the doorway and hurting myself. But my mind reminded me that if I stayed in the middle of the hallway, I'd enter the middle of the doorway. It was so dark; nevertheless, I pressed on. The walk seemed like forever...

As I walked, I was thinking about certain life circumstances we find ourselves in that seem dark, bleak and hopeless... It is as though the darkness wraps around us and we cannot see which way to go. It seems like every decision only leaves us further enveloped by the darkness, but there's a light switch at the end of the hallway!  In addition, you must remember past experiences with God so that are your testimony will trigger that gut instinct to keep on keeping on!

You'd be surprised that great preparation can take place while we're in darkness, but it takes faith to believe that the light will soon come. One of my favorite scriptures is Mark 1:35:

Very early in the morning

while it was STILL dark

Jesus got up

left the house and went off to a solitary place

where he prayed.

Action can take place in the dark, if you know that prayer can change your whole situation!  Jesus had no fear of the darkness, but actually took advantage of if before the light fully came on and the day got going.  Listen, this is just a season... but you need to be ready when "It's Your Time to Shine"!

I continued to walk down the hallway in the dark, because I had a plan to pick something up when I reached the room where the light was.  Couldn't see a thang...but I kept it moving!!!  When I walked through the bathroom door, I confidently flipped the switch and grabbed the item I came to pick up!  What are you going to do?  Are you focused on the dark hallway, or the task you will complete when the light does come on?  

This "A Date With God" is so exciting because God is commissioning the light to come on IN YOU!  You have to "Burst Through the Darkness" if you really want to accomplish the task at the end of the dark hallway.  Ruined relationships, lack of finances, job loss and more can usher in the darkness, but don't let the presence of failure steal your next moment, opportunity or season of life. Get up now, because we're here to tell you... "It's Your Time to Shine!"  Check out this verse, God has called you to show off His brilliance in your perseverance!

Matthew 5:14-16 (Message Bible)
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be LIGHT, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 

If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? 

I'm putting you on a light stand. 

Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—SHINE! 

Keep open house; be generous with your lives. 

By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, 

this generous Father in heaven.

Want to get your Shine on???

Join us on A Date With God!

Get your ticket on Southwest so you can land right on the beach!

Gotta get away & Golf???

No Room for Excuses Core Groups

A Date With God likes to ensure that YOU get the specialized attention you so deserve on your date.  Core Groups are small sessions with qualified facilitators that specialize on specific topics that meet your needs.  Prior to attending the retreat, you will be sent a questionnaire asking questions that will assist leaders in placing you in the right group.  The core groups for the men will be larger as they will be run differently than the women's core groups.  This year's small core groups for women and workshops for men will be based upon the book, No Room for Excuses. We will tackle excuses such as: gender, age, false contentment and anger. Are you an Excuse Driven Junkie? Check out the video link as you prepare for the August core groups!

If you find Excuses are a great way to free yourself from responsibility or life advancement, share with us what Excuse you use the most.

Gotta Get Away???

I remember feeling anxious... life was swallowing me up in the day to day affairs. I needed a break. When I was young, my life was full of surgeries and doctor visits. One of the few comforts I had was a week long summer camp in Lake Arrowhead, CA. As a child, this retreat calmed me down and made me feel hopeful and close to God more than anything. As I continued to reflect on my childhood memories, I suddenly found myself throwing clothes in a small suitcase and jumping in my car heading to the mountains to revisit this childhood haven. Driving full of turmoil I whispered to the Lord, "how about you and me on a weekend date?"

Checking into my hotel room, I pulled out my Bible and a journal...and set out on a relaxing walk. Strollinging across the green grass, breathing in the unpolluted air... I exhaled... "Lord, I'm all ears, what do you need to tell me?"

Well, this one on one Date With God did my soul some good! I drove home more confident and peaceful. The only thing I could think was ... more people need to go on A Date With God! The organizer in me got to work, I called some friends, and as typical as it sounds... the rest is history! This was over 10 years ago, but we never fail to need that weekend when we give our souls a chance to catch up with our bodies.

I've learned that my relationship with the Lord, the Creator of the Universe, stabilizes all my other relationships! So it's ever necessary! If we wait for the perfect conditions to pull away and spend time with Him, we just may be waiting forever as our Blackberry's and checkbooks search out a free moment on our calendars. Basically, we need to make time!

Are you overwhelmed? Are you stressed over money? Are you worried about your marriage or lack thereof? Do you just need to dig your toes in the sand and watch the ripples on the water to process all you're undertaking? I know I do! Actually I found the Marriott Bay Point as a result of feeling just like this! I had moved to Atlanta, started a new career, and felt the squeeze of decisions pressing in pretty intensely. So I jumped in my car and drove to the coolest Marriott property I could find. For 3 days and 2 nights I just walked around asking God a million and one life questions (this picture is actually from the resort). No cell phone ringing or email checking, just me & HIM! This was so cool, another successful Date With God! When I checked out of my room and began to pull off, I slammed on the brakes and ran back inside to grab a brochure! I needed to bring some friends back to this resort, so we could all "Date" together!

Well, timing is perfect... can you believe that the only reason why I didn't try to schedule this before was the lack of an affordable airport near the resort. But God is so intense about dating you, that a new airport is scheduled to open May 2010 just in time for our August 2010 rendezvous! Now, I've heard of a lot of cool dates before, but I've never known someone to build an airport just to have you meet them at a resort! How cool is that!

More later, T. Ordell

SCRIPTURE TIME:

Psalm 31:15 (NIV)
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.