Lessons from the Playground

Jesus wasn't stuck in a religious box.  He would preach in his everyday life.  

Like on lakes... 

or hill sides.

Jesus used natural things to teach kingdom principles about the spiritual.

I'd like to talk about what we can learn from a playground. For example...  

The swing on the playground represents momentum. 

We need to learn how to build momentum.  

To swing, you've got to lean back and forth and kick your legs back and forth. 

It starts with motion. 

We need to use little things done consistently over time to produce results like swings. 

In Zechariah 4:10, It says,  Despise not the day of small beginnings...  

You've got to start somewhere.  

We're talking about daily practices. 

Consistently over time, you'll begin to see the results of that. 

I'm talking about things like Prayer, Bible Study, and Church attendance. 

These create momentum. 

Little things lead to big opportunities. 

When you meet with God in God's house, things start to stir in your spirit. 

Life begins to look different. 

Momentum can work for you, but it can also work against you.  

If you're making wrong choices and listening to wrong voices, you stack those things up. 

And your life can head in a wrong direction fast.

Making the right decisions will take you to new heights just like a swing.  

As a kid, you needed someone to push you, but as an adult you don't.

Spiritual maturity is learning how to build momentum on your own.  

If you feel like your stuck,do the little things consistently over time. 


Eventually, you'll see results. 

If you want to build momentum in your life, start where you are.  

Use what you have, and do what you can.  

When does it start?

Today!

If you make a small commitment, you'll begin to see big results. 

The biggest most helpful principle that I know is...  

It's not about trying. 

It's about training. 

When you are training, you are embracing practices that will enable you to do what you could never do on will power alone. 

It's like a marathon.  

You couldn't run one by trying harder, but you could if you trained.  

The same is true about your spirit. 

If you feel stuck in your spirit,

God is saying if you'll do the little things consistently over time, 

you'll begin to sense the momentum of God. 

Don't get religious. 

Religion will steal the life out of anything that you do. 

I'm not talking about laws.  

I'm talking about love. 

It's doing things not because you have to, but because you want to.

Do the things that will cultivate the love of God in your life.  

There is a big difference when it's done out of duty, or if it's done out of desire.  

Don't start comparing.  

If you do, it'll become a burden to you. 

Don't you think that the God who created you knows that you are unique.  

We connect to God differently.  

Furthermore, embrace your season of life.  

Some of us have more time and energy than others. 

God knows your season of life.  

You don't have to run to the closet to pray.  You can pray along the way.  

God can met you right where you are. 

Why don't you just invite God into whatever season that you're in?

Quit fighting the season that you're in. 

You could listen to the Bible on audio. 

Embrace the season that God has you in right now. 

You've got to keep it up. You can't count on the seasons of yesterday. 

You've got to make a fresh commitment each and every day.     

Life is also like a slide. 

To get to the top of a slide, you've got to take it one step at a time. 

Once at the top there are some things that you've got to let go of.  

The slide teaches us how to let go.  

You can't fully enjoy the slide without a word called trust.  

Trust is all about surrendering. It's all about letting go.

You can't keep holding on to what happened.

Some of you are holding on to some things, and God is saying to you.  Just let it go.  

When you release what is in your grip, then God releases what's in His grip.  

This thing called trust is a big deal.  

Do not clutch to the things of your past, but surrender your present to Him.  

Proverbs 3:5-6.(NIRV) 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 

Do not depend on your own understanding.

In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight."

Don't hold on to past hurts, 

pain,

expectations, 

bad relationships.

God is saying that you've got to let some people go.  

If you don't let go of what's now, you can't embrace of what's next.

God can't move you into your future if you're constantly holding on to your past. 

The things that we don't trust God with are the things that we worry about. 

What are the things that you're worrying about?  

Those are the things that you're holding onto.  

If you'd just let go, it'll free you up to enjoy your life. 

I dare you to enjoy your life from now to the end of the year. 

Everyone ends up somewhere, but few people end up somewhere on purpose.

Make a decision today not to hold on to what's now, but to embrace what's next.  

Release what's in your hand and give it to Him. 

Trust releases the expectation of having to know everything. 

Don't stress out if you don't have a plan. 

You can have a plan, but why don't you trust in God's purposes instead of holding on to your plan?

You can't figure your life out because God requires you to live by faith. 

The devil will use money to cause you to worry.  

God doesn't need your wallet.  

If He has your heart, money is not even an issue.  

We have on our money "In God we Trust".  

We have that on our money, but we can't trust God with our money. 

We don't need your money.  This is about you trusting God and being free!

When you trust God with your money, then you can be confident that everything that you need. He will supply. 

Give first, and then trust God with the rest. 

It's amazing that when we release what's in our hands.  God releases what's in His hands. 

What's in God's hands is always more than what you need. 

If the swing is all about momentum, and the slide is all about letting go, the monkey bars are all about hanging on. 

You've got to let go of some things, but you've got to hold on to others. 

God is saying to hold on to me. 

Hold on to my promises.  

It's about persevering.

We can count on God. We can count on His nature. We can count on His promises. 

Release those things that you have no control over. 

Some of you have been told that you're never going to make it.  But guess what... you're still here!

Part of winning is just outlasting your critics.  

God is not going to let you go.

The power of the Holy Spirit is inside of you. 

He's given you a call on your life. 

He's given you the power of His word. 

Just hold on to Him, and don't you dare let go!

Create godly habits, 

let go of your past, 

hold on to God who is your future.  

Make the change.  

It will change you... from the inside out...over time! 

Notes taken from Mike Haman, Healing Place Church.