This past Sunday was an awesome day of challenge and response! I challenged Creekers with Isaiah 6 and what it means and looks like when we say, 'Here am I Lord. Send me!' (Isaiah 6:8)
And I can't wait to see what God is going to do as we are willing to say and live, 'Send me.'
You can check out the message by clicking here -- and the powerful video that we watched at the end is here: Thousand Questions video.
What are you going to do with your envelope? . . . And your life? Don't forget to let us know what God does at ocjourney.org --- we want to hear your 'Send Me' story!
And if you weren't there on Sunday and after listening to the message, you want to 'come up' and get an envelope, come by the church office by Friday at 4pm to get one.
This is day 59 of the Soul Journey 60/60! What has God been teaching you? Log onto 
ocjourney.org and tell us about it!
What cool contrasting styles . . . "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freeeeeeeedom!" (2 Cor 3:17)
Trevor S with the man in the jar and Lisa R with the man by the water show a great picture together of what slavery and freedom look like!
". . . Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32 
What has God been teaching you about freedom? Would love to hear about it at ocjourney.org!
These are too good to miss any . . . . last week I incorrectly identified one of the pics and missed this one which is Erin Richmond's from the week after I talked about forgiving/confessing relationships. Thanks Erin!
Is there still anyone that you need to reconcile with this week as you 60/60? Jesus said that this is how the world will know we follow Him, our love for each other.
Another week of Soul Journey and another week of great expressions of the journey by Oso Creek artists . . . These are
from the week after we talked about forgiving/confessing relationships . . . "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph 4:32
Lisa R's is the fish (she was already thinking about freedom!); Trevor' is below; and Erin R's the man by the lake.
I was struck this week by the diverse ways that God expresses Himself through us. Great job!
You can share your journey at ocjourney.org
There's some great posting going on at ocjourney this week!
What's God been doing in your life on the beeps?
I'd love to hear, especially from some of you guys, how you are journeying with Jesus!
Click here to go to ocjourney.org and let us know . . .
Wow, these are awesome (every week!)! These were painted after Week 5 of Soul Journey when I talked about How We Become Holy . . . that it is a matter of surrendering and remaining in The Vine (John 15).
Lisa R's pic is the lightning and the tree; Trevor S.'s is the vine; and Erin R.'s the climb. It's awesome to see how God speaks to each of us along the journey . . . Would love to hear how God is directing your journey at our ocjourney.org blog (click here).
A bonus second-installment of Soul Journey Art this week since I got behind!
In case your new to the blog or missed the first pics (you can check them out here, here and here) . . . We have three Oso Creek artists who are keeping a artistic diary of their Soul Journey.
These were done the week after I talked about Authentic Relationships . . . The 'root' pic is Erin Richmonds (be sure and click on them so you can see them larger); the 'cord of three strands' of Trevor Spofford; and the blossoming flower is Lisa Richersons . . .
This morning I posted the Soul Journey Art for Week 3 - Staying Connected to the Spirit - but didn't have Trevor Spofford's pic . . .
Here it is . . . Awesome Acts 2 image!
I got a week behind (so I'll post another set later this week) and I'm short one pic, but here are two of our artist's work after the second week of Soul Journey . . .
These were following the week that I talked about Staying Connected to the Spirit . . . Erin Richmond's is on the left and Lisa Richerson's on the right . . .
The imagery of fire and wind (Acts 2) are awesome - and just the idea of the power and yet the gentleness of the Holy Spirit . . . Thanks for sharing your hearts ladies!
Tonight (Tuesday) 7-9pm at the building.
We're asking God to breakthrough those things that keep us from Him. Come and worship and pray.
Depending on which 'expert' you listen to most say that it takes between 21 and 28 days to form a habit.
(One interesting analogy said: "For instance, It takes 28 days to replace the cells of a human being's epidermis completely. Women's menstrual cycle is 28 days, the lining of the stomach and intestins is new every 28 days...so on and so forth." Hmmm)
I don't think we can nail it down that easy, but one thing I am fairly certain of is that habits aren't fully formed until we can live them out through resistance. In other words, once the 'honeymoon' stage is over and the 'newness' wears off and we get a little weary - then what happens?
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)
Many of you are about 22 days into the 60/60 Experiment. As we began seeking to make God part of every moment of our lives, it was really exciting the first week. But now you're not hearing your watch beep as much - or you're not really expecting it to beep. Maybe it doesn't seem quite as 'cool' as it did on day 4 . . . maybe your life hit a rough spot and as you think about it, you've started ignoring God again . . .
Don't give up and you will reap a harvest! Now more than ever it's important to ask God to help you recognize what He's doing, where He is working!
If you aren't getting the Creek Texts every day - click here and get that reminder. Go check out ocjourney.org (click here) and be encouraged by other folks stories and then share yours to encourage someone else (Your God story might change someone else's life!)
Don't give in to giving up! "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
As I talked about on Sunday, we cannot grow as a follower of Jesus and remain isolated from others.
We ALL need to draw nearer to others in our life who will help us to draw nearer to Jesus. As we do so - we break through different barriers of vulnerability.
If we are intentional we quickly move past what I call the weather/sports mode (OK, probably be different subjects for some of you - but same idea) . . . where it's just all surface. And we begin to move into authenticity.
As we make these breaks into deeper authenticity there is a barrier that Bill Hybels calls: The Last 10%.
Have you ever gone away from a conversation thinking, 'Man, I wish I had just had the courage to say _____________!' That's the last 10%.
It refers to whatever it is that you're holding back in the conversation. What is it that you need to share but you're afraid to? It may be something we need to confess or an area where we need to ask for help. Or it may be that last 10% of encouragement or truth that we need to speak to the other person.
Paul spoke about the last 10%: "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephes. 4:15
The truth in love. I know. I've had people tell me that last 10%. The part that no one else had the courage to challenge me with.
When we share the last 10% we not only take our relationship to new levels --- but it also leads us into deeper places of knowing God!
Don't hold it back . . . Let go of the last 10%!
To this point we've had 15 entries on our Soul Journey blog and we're sending out 72 texts/emails a day through our Creek Texting . . .
What is God doing in your life as you 60/60? We'd all love to hear about it . . . Click here to go to the Soul Journey blog
Or, click here to join us in getting the daily texts that help us stay plugged into the Word . . .
Keep the river flowing!
I know that there are many of you who read Forward Motion who are former Creekers (I was gonna say 'ex-Creekers' but you're never an ex-Creeker - once a Creeker always a Creeker!) -- or friends/relatives of Creekers . . . . . I just wanted to encourage you today - Why not do the 60/60 Experiment with us??
It's not too late to get a watch that beeps every hour and to use that beep to remind you to quit ignoring God. I've been encouraging us just to stop and ask God: What He's doing? Where He's working? How we can join Him?
You can also listen to the messages every week where I am talking about different aspects of the journey (click here for messages) --- sign up for the daily text messages that is a short passage to encourage you that day (sign up for texts by clicking here) . . . . AND we would be OSo encouraged to hear your story of what God is doing on the ocjourney blog (click here for blog).
So, Why not you too? Come and journey deeper with us!
And Creekers, be bold in forwarding this blog to someone who might want/need to be on the journey with us!
In case you missed it last Sunday -- three of our artists are creating an artistic journal each week as we go through Soul Journey.
The are creating a painting that captures the heart of what we are talking about and how it collides with their own personal journey. These pictures capture the first week of our 60/60 Experiment after I talked about God's Here- Ness and how God desires to do this journey with us.
The top picture is Erin Richmonds (click on them to see them better)
The middle is Lisa Richersons
And the bottom one is Trevor Spoffords (I apologize for my bad photography - especially on Trevors - for now on I'm getting a real photographer to take them!)
It's awesome 
to see their individual personalities and hearts come out on canvas!
Here's my question for you . . . What's your journey saying and how are you recording it?
Would you share some of it with us (it's meant to be lived in community!) on ocjourney.org? Click here and check it out and see what God is doing in other's lives!
Remember it's not about perfection, but progress!
How's it going this week Plugging In and staying connected to the Spirit?
I've had my ups and downs like you . . . but I do find myself much more aware of God's presence and that's awesome! And I do find myself reading the Bible more purposefully and intensely, that's really awesome!
As I said on Sunday it's the Spirit of God using the Word of God that changes our lives. I can remember when I first began to understand that the Holy Spirit uses God's Words to guide me in decisions and give me peace when I'm feeling frustrated . . .
I remember when I first started memorizing Scripture and then the Holy Spirit would call that scripture back to my mind . . . and now daily as I'm staying connected to God's Spirit and dwelling in God's Word my ears are so much more responsive to God's voice.
As I've said before the Holy Spirit is not magic -- He takes the Living Truth and reminds us of it and applies it to our lives in ways that change us . . .
Keep beeping . . . and listening!!!
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Eccl 4:12
There's no need for us to stand alone as we 60/60 together . . . .
I want to encourage you to go to ocjourney.org and share your journey - and be encouraged as you see how God has been working in others.
Specifically:
1) What's been the biggest struggle . . . Or,
2) Where have you seen God work in a new or exciting way . . . Or,
3) How have you seen other lives impacted when you've listened to God
Journey On!!!
It's awesome that the first day of our 60/60 Experiment is on MLK day!
King gave his life (and gave up his life) for freedom.
As we seek Jesus moment by moment - giving up our will for His - we will begin to live out real freedom!
Don't forget that you can sign up for a daily text message that will give you Scripture to dwell on during day. Click here to sign up.
Also, don't be selfish! Share what God is doing on your journey. Jason has set up an awesome place for us to blog about our journey to help encourage others. Check it out at ocjourney.org.
Don't try it half way or you'll end up with a frustrated soul and skint face . . . go Full Open!
