APRI
At High Point we’re all about
Reaching People for Christ and Changing Lives
We invite you to gather with us at our 9 AM and 11 AM Sunday services as we experience the love, joy and power of God.
PASTORS SHAUN & AMY GUSTAFSON
OUR PURPOSE
Where God is leading us
POINT MEN’S
BREAKFAST
Saturday, August 24 @ 9 AM
NIGHT OF WORSHIP
Wednesday, Sept. 4 @ 6:30 PM
LADIES’ CONNECT
Saturday, September 7 @ 9 AM
FAMILY FUN DAY
Sunday, October 20
BABY DEDICATIONS
Sunday, October 27
APRIL OSTEEN-SIMONS
November 9 & 10
FROM THE BLOG
Insight and wisdom from High Point Leadership
Financial Unity
Most of us have met people who claim to be a self-made man or woman. They like to think they are not dependent on anyone, including God. The problem with this mindset it that God did not make people to function independent of one another. We read in Ephesians 4:14-16 about this,
…That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does it’s share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
According to this, we see each person plays a part in fulfilling a need to be met in the whole unified body of Christ. As a marriage team, we are also equipped to supply a certain part (our area of dominion) to the body of Christ as a whole. The gifts we have work directly together with our spouse’s gifts to cause growth in the church body as well as in the the body of our own household to edify each other in love.
We will use an example for this of a couple we know. They are a great illustration of how a couple who is not in full-time ministry can utilize a regular calling to create eternal vision and value. This couple has many gifts that fit together wonderfully, but we will focus on how the husband’s God-given ability in business works together with one of his wife’s God-given gifts to create eternal value. The husband is a very successful businessman and the wife has chosen to be a stay-at-home mother. The husband is gifted in leadership and finances, and the wife has the gift of giving, as talked about in Romans 12:6 and 8,
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them… he who gives, with liberality…
The wife, like few people we have seen before, has the gift of knowing when someone needs money and knowing when they are supposed to sow (give) something into someone’s life. The husband is very good at saving for their future, included college money for their children, retirement, and things of that nature, yet most importantly he is very open to being an avenue for God to work through whenever God asks them to give. They both understand that although earthly investments are important, the greatest investment someone can make is investing in God’s kingdom, where moth and rust do not destroy (see Matthew 6:19).
The wife of this couple has come to us before and said, “You know that young single mom you introduced me to at such and such a place last year, can I get her address from you? She’s been on my heart with Christmas coming up.” Another time she called and said, “Remember that one single woman you used to work with last year? She’s been on my heart lately and I feel like we are supposed to send her something. Can you find out her address?” In each of these cases, it was very timely and very much needed in the people’s lives.
In addition to being led by the Holy Spirit from day to day, they focus on consistently giving to certain ministries each month in order to build God’s kingdom, which produces long-lasting, eternal value and reward. They have been one of the most consistent givers to our ministry every month for many years without fail. Even when we were still in our preparation stages for college, as well as getting our ministry off the ground, they by faith saw our long-term vision and knew out commitment to its fulfillment. They chose to invest in our ministry vision from God, making it a part of their own ministry vision by becoming financial partners.
This couple is quite a contrast to the story of the man in the Bible who did not have a Christ-centered vision, but rather, only a temporal one. We find it in Luke 12:16-21,
The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ so he said, ‘I will do this; I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul you have many good laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Some people pass over this last sentence, thinking it is condemning people for having earthly investments. It is not. We can see from the life of Joseph in the Old Testament that God encourages saving. The key to this sentence is the phrase, “and is not rich toward God.” The only question we need to find an answer for in our checkbook ledger is: “Are we consistently rich toward God, or is our main focus earthly goods and investments?”
With love,
Pastors Shaun & Amy
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Renewed Strength
Have you ever felt like you need more strength to get through life? I’d venture to guess in work, home or family, we all feel that from time to time. Today I want to talk about how to gain supernatural strength in challenging times!
In the Bible, it tells a story of when David and his warrior men who fought with him had been away at battle. When they came back one day, they found one of their enemies had captured their wives and children! It says that David’s men were so upset that they wanted to kill him. You want to talk about a bad day! David could understand anything you or I have ever gone through! 1 Samuel 30:6 tells us, “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
How can we encourage ourselves in the Lord at hard or exhausting times like David did? There are multiple ways.
I have found when someone is going through a very fierce challenge in life, sometimes they won’t even acknowledge anything good God has done in their past because they are so focused on the negative of today. We have to guard ourselves from getting in an ungrateful mindset no matter how bad it is at the moment.
I once heard someone say that if a big group of people could all throw their own problems in the middle of the floor and take anyone else’s problems back instead, most people would choose their own problems back after seeing how challenging everyone else has it too.
One key in hard times to renew your strength is to stay focused on anything you can thank God for. Take time each morning before even getting out of bed to thank Him for three to five things.
A second idea is to stop and think about victories God has given you in the past, whether small or large, and thank God for those past victories as well.
A third idea, is to listen to encouraging ministers or speakers on a podcast or teaching online.
A fourth idea, is to take a few minutes to surround yourself each day with tranquility. Maybe go for a walk, sit by a lake or garden, or even get a water fountain for a room in your home that you can go have a few minutes of quiet time daily. Another idea for tranquility is to sit and close your eyes while listening to peaceful instrumental music.
A fifth idea to renew your strength, and one of my favorite ways, is by reading encouraging Scripture. I’ll share a few with you of my personal favorites that I have highlighted in my Bible.
Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says,“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 44:3 NKJV For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.
Isaiah 54:11-13 NKJV O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate. I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli. I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones. I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
Isaiah 54:17 AMP “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.
Isaiah 51:11 AMP So the redeemed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion; Everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Anytime you are discouraged in life, remember what author John Mason once said, “Happiness is a direction, not a destination.” You can’t get to where you want to be overnight, but the key is in pointing your vehicle in the right direction! If you make sure that each day, you start your day in the right direction — seeking God, reading His Word, speaking life and blessing over yourself and your family, praying for God’s direction, being thankful, listening to something encouraging, looking at your written goals; these are all things that help point your day and steer your ship in the right direction!
As Robert Schueller once said, “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do!” Remember to read the Scriptures I shared with you over and over whenever you need more strength! And remember David when he strengthened himself in the Lord, then went against great opposition and won the victory! God’s Word will help get you through whatever situation you may face!
God bless you with His peace and joy!
Pastors Shaun & Amy
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We Stand Tallest on Our Knees!
What do you do when you are facing an impossible situation? What do you do when worry is trying to keep you up at night? What do you do when you know you are supposed to be gaining ground in life but it seems like instead you’re standing still or moving backward?
The greatest thing we can do in life is humble ourselves before God on our knees and ask for His help. We will always stand tallest in life when we get on our knees. I once heard someone say, “Anything worth worrying about is worth praying about.”
Just like there are many different types of sports, such as baseball, volleyball, football, tennis, and soccer, there are also many types of prayer:
- There is fellowship prayer, such as “Good morning, Father!” It’s having conversation with Him.
- Another is thanksgiving prayer, which is one of my favorite! This is when you thank God for all He has done in your life and praise Him in advance for all you are confidently trusting He is yet to do because He is a good God.
- Intercession prayer is when you pray God’s promises from the Bible over someone else’s difficult situation with a heart of compassion.
- There is also the prayer of petition, when you pray for God’s help over your own life’s situations. One of my favorite prayers of petition is in 1 Chronicles 4:10 from a man named Jabez. This was his prayer, and in my mind’s eye, I picture him praying it earnestly on his knees. “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.” Wow! That’s a great ending to the story – to hear God granted him what he requested.
These are just four ways you can pray. The most important thing to remember is that your Father God is LONGING to be with you every day because HE LOVES YOU! He even encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer adds so many benefits to your life! Here are a few of them:
- Prayer brings you God’s wisdom (James 1:5).
- Prayer brings peace (Phil. 4:6-7).
- Prayer reveals God’s answers (Luke 11:9-10).
- Prayer heals the sick (James 5:13-15).
- Prayer defeats the enemy (Matt. 18:18).
- Prayer improves natural situations (James 5:17-18).
- Prayer restores what has been lost (Job 42:10).
- Prayer overcomes the impossible (Matt. 21:21-22).
God loves to connect with you! No matter what your past or even your present, He is waiting for you with open arms!
-Pastors Shaun & Amy
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Want To Call High Point “Home”?
Our 2-Part Connection Point (New Members) class is held every quarter.
Join us Sunday, May 19 and May 26.
During the 11 AM Service, upstairs
Be sure to check out our event calendar for future class dates.
