God's Way of Success!

Every day people are working hard for success. From their careers and jobs, education, parenting, marriage, to achieving financial security and assets. It’s easy to get consumed in the cycle of a world’s system, believing that will lead us on the right path to success. While all these things are good and a part of God’s plan for our lives, hearing the voice of God is the most important thing. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.” The most important thing in our lives is to know the voice of God and to develop our ear to hear the voice of God. For that reason, it is so important to develop an intimate relationship with God. How do we do that? We do that by being in the Word and prayer daily. It is these two elements in our lives that are going to make the difference in hearing God’s voice. Regardless of what we may be facing in life, with every circumstance or problem, God is speaking to us…through His Word and through prayer. God is always speaking, but are we listening? Pastor Randy has always said that our ability to hear God’s voice, and then do what He says will determine our success. What a true and powerful statement that is!

Success can be determined this way…being in the will of God. We have to develop our prayer life and understanding of God’s Word in order to know His voice. In my years of ministry, there have been times when God required things out of me that were unknown, uncharted, and uncomfortable. Jesus said it best when He said, “Nevertheless, not my will but Your will be done."

What is success? Success is always being in the will of God. Study the Word of God for yourself, and become a person of prayer. It’s not hard. Hear the voice of God, obey the voice of God and you will have success...success in life, marriage, jobs, parenting, and financial matters. The Bible says in Psalms 35:27, “Let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” It is God’s desire for you to prosper in every area of your life. He takes pleasure in that.

Let me close with this. Joshua 1:8 says to “…meditate on the Word, day and night, and then you will make your way prosperous and you will have good success.”

Living Life on Purpose,
Pastor Rick

Little Gifts from God

Last Sunday at the school, I spotted this beautiful butterfly. I couldn't remember when the last time was that I saw a butterfly. I remembered them a lot when I was a child but I don't know when was the last time I stopped to just enjoy such a small thing. Thankfully, I had my camera on me and was able to capture this amazing shot of this little wonder of God's creation. I think sometimes God gives you a glimpse of special things to smile on you. It made me smile!

Then a couple days later, we were driving and a storm had just passed over when we caught sight of this. I thought is was so beautiful. It's like you expect to see Jesus peek his head around the opening in the cloud and smile down on you.

Just thought we'd share a couple of small things to make you smile! Love you all!

You must be a star!

Ok, this is a story that happened today and it's just hilarious! We went into the Cracker Barrel here in Bellevue. We were only going into the store not the restaurant. As we walked in, Rick went one direction and Ashley and I went the other. It's a small store so we could hear some talking going on between Rick and a couple of the sales women. They were restocking the store so there were a few of them on the floor. Well, Ashley and I made our way back around to near where Rick was, and as we walked up I could hear the sales ladies asking him, "Really, who are you? Are you a star?" Rick kept telling them no but they wouldn't take no for an answer. He was trying to walk away toward us and you could hear the ladies chuckling saying, "He's probably giving us a fake name because he doesn't want us to know who he really is! He wants his privacy!" Well, needless to say, Ashley and I were cracking up! They even got another woman to come out and we could see them eyeing us everywhere we went in the store. They were saying, "He looks like somebody I just can't think of the name" and then they'd say, "You must be a star!". He kept saying, "No, no, it's just me, Rick."

Then you could hear the women talking in their strong southern accents, "I see Vince Gill around all the time!" Finally, we left. Needless to say, Ashley and I, have not let him live that down yet. Autographs anyone?????

Sunday Update from Pastor Rick

Hi everyone. This is Pastor Rick speaking to you again. We just wanted to give you our Sunday update. It was a great day. It's amazing every weekend to see what God is doing in people's lives. Every weekend we have new people and the family is really beginning to gel. This is huge to us... We are just now beginning to build our volunteer base after 10 weeks. People are catching the vision and wanting to put their hands to building.

It's been incredible to see the growth even in our worship service. Many of these people have come in not even knowing how to worship or why they should worship. But they are catching on fast. Travis and the team have grown so much and are really beginning to lead people into the place of worship and people are following. For the first several weeks, we felt as if people were still "checking" us out and we weren't really at a place to lead them. Now they are here and made this there home and we're able to lead them into a new level of the presence of God.

Let me give you a word of encouragement. Regardless of what you may be facing or dealing with right now, the Bible says in Isaiah that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise up a standard against him. This is where we have to put our faith and trust in the Word. We have to put our eyes on the Word. The Spirit of God is raising up a standard for your life right now. He's raising up a standard for your family, your future. God has a great life for you. Stay strong in the Word and stay strong in prayer. Be determined to outlast the enemy and experience the great life God has for you!

We love and miss you all.

Living Life On Purpose,
Pastor Rick

Happy Birthday Cindy!

Today is a special day for a special person! Happy Birthday Cindy. We love you and miss you. Treat her good Mike!

Classes are underway!

We just completed our second week of classes. Everyone is still so excited! We attended the first meeting, which I've posted photos of below. Terry and Lori are doing the classes but we wanted to be there for the first meeting just to give a little about our background and show support for everyone being there. The first night was an orientation night where we gave them the guidelines for the class and distributed their class binders. So, last night was the actual first meeting where they brought back their completed homework. It's so great to see everyone getting in the Word and learning so much.















The really cool thing, is this...Rick stopped in to a place of business here in town where three people work who also all attend the church. The husband of one of the girls was there too so he began talking to them. They were so excited because they had started reading their Bibles together and studying. Now, this is a young couple in their 20's with a couple of kids. The first day he came to the church service, he was very quiet. Later we found out that he had never even wanted to go to church before. Well, he came that day and loved it. He's been here every week since, which is about seven or eight weeks straight. Last week he told his wife he wanted to buy a Bible for himself. He bought one and now, he and his wife are already reading and studying together. That is PAYOFF for us, right there! Just seeing the growth in them already. Now, he talks to everyone, getting to know everyone, and is wanting to start serving in the parking lot and he's excited about it! It's so great to see the change.

So, again, thank you for your prayers. There's still MUCH to be done but we've got a great start with the people God has brought so far.

We love you all and miss you so much...think of you often!

When did this happen?????

Ok, when did I blink? How did we already get to Bridal Shows and weddings? I can't believe this....I don't know if I'm ready? Well, ready or not, here we are!

Last week, we went to a Bridal Show in Franklin. We had such a great time. I just can't believe I'm doing this already. Even though Ashley and Travis haven't set a date yet we are already looking and getting ideas.



































Isn't she just
so cute?
My little girl is
all grown up now!

Sunday Update....

What another great day we've had! Our services went so well. We had more new people again today. God is steadily adding to the church. It's just so wonderful how He is bringing new people in. The halls of the school were bustling with activity before service more today than they ever have before. The church family is getting in and beginning to help greet, usher, and take equipment down afterwards. People are getting busy with vision and that just makes us so happy to see that.

We were also blessed today to have some familiar faces from California! Dan and Kellerie Aldape arrived in Nashville for a worship conference and they came to be in service with us this morning.














For those of you who may not know, Dan and Kellerie were a part of Celebration probably around ten years ago. In fact, Kellerie is the daughter of Ed and Vangie Murphy who have been at Celebration for years. She's also the sister of Stephen Murphy, who just completed his first year in the G4:2 School of Ministry. So, needless to say, we go way back with them. It was so exciting to have them with us and it was great to see them again. Thanks for being with us Dan & Kellerie (now...about those little ones! ;>)

Thanks again for your prayers. We love you all!

Quick Update....

Hello everyone! We wanted to just say a quick hello. Sorry we haven't posted in a few days but things this week have been so extremely busy. That's a good thing though! We are looking forward to a great day tomorrow and we are in expectation for the service.

We started our Starting Point Classes on Wednesday. We can't tell you the excitement that was brewing in that place among the people. We attended the first class orientation just so we could share a little bit with everyone and welcome them. When we left there, we both were just amazed at how excited everyone was and how they are getting so engaged in the vision. After the class, people were already asking, "Ok, what's next? We're in these classes but what can we do now?" And it wasn't just one or two! It was everyone's attention captivated (and this was during coffee and fellowship afterwards) just listening at how they can get involved NOW! It is so great to see the growth in some of those who are new believers and the excitement in those who are familiar with church life.

Well, we'll be back tomorrow evening with our Sunday update so check back. We love and miss everyone!

Impacting others 2,000 miles away!

What a great day we had yesterday. We began the day meeting with a woman that started coming to the church two weeks ago. She wants to make Gateway her home church but she wanted to hear more about our vision and just more information about us. She's a sweet lady who just has a passion for the things of God....she's a business owner though so she's not going to pull any punches or waste time. She knows what she's looking for.

She was actually referred to our church by Pastor Danny Chambers of Oasis Worship Centre, which is where we attended until we started the church. He and Rick had met for coffee and Rick was able to share the vision of what we're doing in Bellevue. Pastor Danny agreed that Bellevue was ripe for harvest and so in need of a life-giving Spirit filled church. She used to attend their church when they were here in Bellevue but when they moved across town she couldn't go with them because the drive was too far. So she's been waiting and praying for a Spirit-filled church to come to this area. She still sees Pastor Danny and Jillian because she owns the salon where they have their hair done which happens to be in Bellevue. So, Pastor Danny told her about us starting the church and she was so excited. She's been at service two weeks in a row and has decided to make this her home church. In fact, she's jumping right in and starting our classes tonight.

It's so amazing again, how God is moving in this area. We have such an expectancy for what He's going to do here. Not so man can be glorified but so that He is glorified.

It's funny, because we shared with her, as she was telling us how long she had been praying for a church like this to come to the area, that there were people in California praying for her before she even knew we were here and whom she doesn't even know. That just ministered to her so much to know that we have loved ones, friends and family who are praying for people here who they don't even know. So, just know this, you are impacting people's lives 2,000 miles away!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

A Greeting from Rick...

Hi this is Rick again. I know we usually give our Sunday update but I just wanted to share a few words with you all. Words can't really express how we are feeling right now. The goodness of God goes so far past our understanding. When I stand back and see just what God is doing here, it almost doesn't seem real. Every week we are experiencing more of God personally and as a church. That doesn't mean we don't have our moments when things feel like you're in the pressure cooker of life, but even when we are, there is such a peace in our hearts. We are truly seeing the hand of God on this journey. Every week we are seeing new people that are becoming a part of Gateway Life Church, we are seeing all these different people becoming a church family. I'm not talking about a cute little church club, these people are taking ownership of a vision for this region. They are becoming one people, living their lives with purpose. It is wild to see them begin to activate God's Word in their lives like they never have before.

Sheri and I have experienced the goodness of God so much in our lives. We would not be where we are today if it had not been for having great leaders in our lives like Pastors Randy and Cherie. There are certain moments in life that you just never forget. After finding some old pictures recently, I've been thinking back to a Sunday morning on September 13, 1998, when Pastor Randy laid hands on me in a special Ordination Service...it was there he ordained me for ministry and I know an impartation took place. That moment forever changed my life and I'll never forget it. They taught us many great things as leaders. One of those things was to stay faithful to God and be sensitive to His voice. That's always been my desire and something I always strive to do is to hear God's voice above all others.

So now as I sit here and think about that time to where I am now, I know God has had his hand upon us all through these years, in preparation for the great undertaking He's called us to now. We've been trained and prepared by the best so we feel that with that on our side and God in our corner, there's nothing but greatness ahead!

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support. Just know that you are helping to reach a people here in the Bellevue area of Nashville. We are seeing first hand, lives being changed and people engaging in kingdom business.

We love you and miss you all!

Rick

Get Ready for the Longest Post Ever!

Did you think we left blogland for good? Sorry it's been so long since we've posted. Things have been kind of busy the past few days. But we did want to post before the weekend!

We didn't get a chance to post our pictures from the fourth yet. We had a great day. We went to Clarksville to spend the day with Rick's parents. But first, we had to take a stroll down memory lane of Rick's childhood home places....every little detail, from the trees he fell out of, to the tree he had to climb when a dog chased him, to the ditch he rode his bike into, and on and on.... It was fun. And oh my Lord, the fireworks in Tennessee!!! These people are serious about their Fourth of July celebrations! I have never seen such huge Fireworks "stands" or circus tents is more like it....








And here's the Army base at Fort Campbell Kentucky....Home of the 101st Airborne Division's Screamin' Eagles! (I sound like I really know what I'm talking about don't I???)







And here's the state line coming in from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.



Ok, they have actual fireworks stores here. Now to those of you who have lived outside of California, that's probably no big deal. But to a bunch of California born and breds, this was unbelievable. Actually stacks of packages of Roman Candles! And Michael found his dream package of fireworks...actually bigger than he is!







This is Rick's childhood home. His parents lived here before he was born and they moved after he had left home so his entire childhood was spent right here! This is a view from the side. We couldn't get the front because of so many trees hiding it.




This is the other side of the home. If you look through the trees, you can see how far the house goes back and down into the lower levels. Much bigger than it appears. That window peeking out from the between the bushes used to be Rick's bedroom when he was a kid.




This was Rick's "backyard" when he was growing up. The trees are all grown now and some of them weren't even here when he was young. Their grandparents lived on their property also just to the left of this picture.




This is the driveway that leads to the house where his grandparents lived when he was growing up. They had a walking path through the field where he and his sister would walk from their house to his grandparents.




And....this was his elementary school. Yes, it's old!!! His mom went there for goodness sake! They even had some of the same teachers. Yikes!


He then took us by this little church. This was a church he used to play drums in a lot.

And these are some of the sweetest people you could ever meet. This is Bobby and Mary Alice. These are Rick's parents best friends that they've known for years...they were in their wedding. So they've known Rick his entire life. We just happened to be driving by and there they were sitting out on their front porch and Rick said, "I've got to stop and say hi." They were so happy to see everyone and so welcoming.


They just make you feel so at home. She walked over to the car because she wanted to meet Mike and Ang and Travis....she just started pulling everyone out of the car. They would do anything for you...just genuine dear friends.


This is their home. Just a cute modest home but they've lived here almost their entire married life, raised their daughter there and have many good memories there. They actually could live anywhere they wanted but they choose to live here where it's home to them.

This is the property behind their home. It is such a beautiful place, so peaceful and serene.


Ok, then after the stop for some southern hospitality :>), we went on down the road to this little country church. This is the church where Rick received salvation. Now, this is also the church where his Dad got saved and his mom and Dad got married. This was the church they attended until he was a teenager.


Then we arrived at Rick's parents house for dinner.

Now, this folks, is what they in the south call "BBQ". No it's not on the grill outside (that confused me for the longest time, that's grillin'!). This is BBQ sandwiches and they are huge here in the south. It's cooked for hours (usually overnight) and it's yummy! Especially with a little Louisiana hotsauce sprinkled on top and a nice juicy tomater to boot! (Somebody stop me!!!)



Ashley just relaxing and enjoying coffee after dinner. We were waiting for it to get dark so we could start the fireworks.

I think Angela was enjoying her relaxing afternoon with the girls!


And then there's me, doing what I ALWAYS do!
There's always a picture to be taken, a memory to preserve, something to capture to use as blackmail later ;>)


Ok, let the fireworks BEGIN!


I don't know who was more excited. Alex or these three!


And here are the two lovebirds! I just love these two kids! They are such a blessing.


I had picked up these flags for Alex just because I thought they were a cute addition for Fourth of July celebration and he just loved them! He wanted to hold on to them everywhere he went. Then at the end of the night, he forgot them and said, "Oh I need my flags...do I get to take these home with me?" Of course, Aunt Re Re said!




Michael was trying to light these firecrackers and get them to explode mid air so he would hold them extra long. It was hilarious because he would get nervous and then throw it real fast. (I know, Mom, I tried to tell him for you but he wouldn't listen!)


Travis was lighting these big fireworks that shoot up in the air and they have a really long fuse. So, everytime he would try to light it, Mike would light one of those firecrackers and throw it in his direction. It was hilarious watching Travis jumping around avoiding those firecrackers!



And here's me and my girl! Oooh, somebody powder our nose! It was kind of humid out this evening!

Ok, is this not the most adorable picture of Alex. He was waiting so patiently for the fireworks to start. But he was being careful not to get to close....probably a good idea considering those three big boys were playing with them first!


Aww, Michael doing his little tutu dance! Mom, doesn't he just make you so proud! :>)
































California fireworks!



Tennessee fireworks!









Alex was so proud of his tattoo he got from the fireworks store.





And then it was lights out on the way home! Way too much play for one day!

Well, I hope we haven't bored you too much with all these photos. Now you know why it took so long to post! I had to edit all 350, yes 350, photos from the Fourth of July! Thanks for looking! Love you all.