Gilbert Thurston

Random Thoughts About Life, Ministry and Whatever Else Happens to be on my Mind

Random Thoughts on a Thursday

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  • Anyone else have trouble sleeping last night with all the high winds blowing through?
  • To put things into perspective…my mom when I was a kid could vacuum my room in the morning and I’d still be sound asleep.
  • So last night to be woken up by the winds making the house shake was rare for me.
  • Lisa and I kept moving to various rooms to find one that was quietier.
  • Finally I just put ear plugs in and went right off to sleep.
  • It’s 10:15 and she’s still in bed…don’t think she was so lucky.
  • The last few days have been great having Lamont in town to speak with us each night. 
  • He’s the real deal and we were blessed to be able to have him here.
  • He asked me to call him last night at midnight to make sure he was still awake on his drive back home.
  • He sounded alert and was within 2 hours of seeing his “mother-in-laws favorite daughter”.
  • You know how almost all famous actors want to be singers and singers want to be in the movies?  Well it’s like that sometimes for us as pastors…
  • I love Lamont’s style and quite honestly I’m jealous of it, but God keeps reminding me that He created me in a unique way and I just need to be the best Gilbert I can be…
  • So don’t expect this week as we wrap-up our Pursuit series to hear how Benaiah was big, bad, bold and brave.  Or how in the midst of our situation he is an inspiration for our continuation.
  • Actually, I’m really excited about this final message in the series…invite someone to come with you as we’ll discover what it means to say Jesus came to free the fool that lives inside of you.
  • And we’ve got a free gift for everyone this week that I think you’ll find sort of cool.
  • No this isn’t Oprah…you’re not getting a car…sorry.
  • I’m speaking at the prison tonight so please be praying for that…I’m going to share with them some of Benaiah’s story and how we can never allow what’s wrong with us to keep us from worshipping what’s right with God.
  • I got quite a few more e-mails yesterday with potential questions for the “You Asked For It” series.
  • Remember if you have a question that you’ve always wondered about and you’d like to hear me preach a message on it, send them to me at gilbert@unitedworshipexperience.org.  Or we’ll be collecting them again this week on inserts if you wish to remain anonymous.  From there we will collect the top 8 or so then have you vote on which 4 make the final cut.

    • Wow…Holy Cow…You’ve Got to Come Now

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    Last night Lamont Monford gave an awesome sermon on temptation.  The title for this post is in honor of him because like all good Baptist preachers he’s very fond of alliteration for the illustration of his communication.

    Seriously if you missed it, you missed one heck of a message.  Do whatever it takes to make sure you show up tonight through Wednesday at 7PM to hear him…you won’t regret it.

    In the meantime, here are a few notes that I took last night…these can’t possibly give you the full effect of hearing it live though…Lamont is very funny and will make you laugh as you’re getting hit right between the eyes by God’s Spirit…again do whatever it takes to come hear him.

    • Live spelled backwards is evil.  When you live you’re life backwards from God’s design it is evil.
    • In Matthew chapter 3 we read about the celebration, confirmation and affirmation of Jesus by God the Father.
    • In Matthew 4 we are told that Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the desert to be tempted by Satan.
    • This could have led to frustration because it would appear that there is collaboration between the Spirit and the devil.
    • We often feel he same things in our lives but…
    • The devil brings temptation to destroy us.  The Spirit allows temptation to develop us.  The devil bring temptation to kill you…the Spirit allows it to give you true life.  The devil brings temptation to get you to look inward….the Spirit allows so you’ll look upward.  The devil brings temptation to get you to quit…the Spirit allows to convince you to keep going.
    • The devil tempted Jesus in 3 ways by trying to get him to…be selfish, do the spectacular and to be subversive.
    • The devil doesn’t waster his bullets so he’ll shoot you in an area that he thinks will destroy you.
    • Temptation requires both desirability and availability. 
    • We get in trouble when we try to please “them” instead of “him”.
    • Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
    • You don’t have to ask for what you already own.
    • Don’t wait to fast and pray until you are in trouble.  Build up a reserve to draw from in bad times.
    • The devil constantly dangles a carrot in front of you to try to get you o ruin the real meal that God has already prepared for you.
    • The devil will always try to get you to deviate from God’s design.

    Inside Today’s Experiences

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    • As promised in today’s message, here are the Fasting Guidelines to help you in this spiritual discipline.
    • Another great day!
    • New attendance record!
    • It was great having the opportunity to briefly interview Lamont Monford at the start of each Experience.
    • Come on out each night starting tonight through Wednesday, at 7PM to hear him speak.
    • Wow…unbelivable that we had him on the “anniversary” of his mother’s murder.
    • God is doing some awesome things all around us including I know of at least 3 people that just annoucned pregnancies and a couple told me this morning that they got engaged last night!
    • Thought today was one of the better days we’ve had as far as each Experience being equally exciting.
    • Lots of days there is an obvious “better” one…but today I thought everything went great and the energy was equally high in both.
    • I know fasting is not a popular subject to talk on, but I felt good that I had delivered what God wanted people to hear…what they do with it is now between them and God.
    • I was so excited to annoucne the series that is coming up in mid-March called “You Asked For It”. 
    • In case you missed it, we are going to take your questions and develop a series around what you want to know.
    • So if you’ve ever thought, “I wonder what the Bible has to say about ___________?  Or if you’ve thought, “Is it ok for a Christian to ________?  Let us know!
    • My e-mail address is gilbert@unitedworshipexperience.org. Trust me no question is too weird or strange so let me hear from you!
    • Got to get going, we’re taking Lamont out to The Orchards for lunch…mmmmm…can’t wait.