After dozens of messages and conversations, I gotta tell you, I’m convinced. This series, Making the Most of What You’ve Got, is hitting home. Thanks for all your notes letting us know how thankful you are for practical, Biblical help getting your financial world in order. God really does want to bring us freedom in our finances…and in every area of our lives.

This past weekend was one of my favorites in a while. If you missed it for Memorial Day, watch it online or get a copy at The Source asap. You’ll be glad you did. Here are a few things that stood out…

1. God’s plan is not primarily about money…it’s primarily a plan to help us trust Him in with our money – God’s plan is all about trust.

2. What can I say? My friend Kevin didn’t exactly show good judgment when he decided to trust a sixth-grade Pete Hise swinging a hockey stick over his head. (Sorry about your eyelid, dude!) But you can always trust God. He is the only One who is always true.

3. Loved seeing the light bulb come on for so many of you as we took steps to explode the ownership myth. From the time we’re in diapers, we say Mine, Mine, Mine…but God says it’s all His, His, His!

4. Everyone in the room could relate to the image of Corey making a double-fisted fort around his french fries at McaDonald’s. He’s a lot like us…hoarding what God give us freely as a gift.

5. God is asking us to trust Him enough to simply RETURN 10 percent of what He’s given us…1 french fry for every 10. You can do this, Questers…give God back what He asks!

6.  One time in all of scripture God challenges us to put Him to the test…“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” – Malachi 3:10 (I loved seeing so many of you jump on the Three Month Tithe Challenge right away…well done!)

7. It was almost impossible to keep it together as I talked about what ministry could happen if every Quester tithed on the average Lexington income. From launching new campuses to supporting new pastors in India to freeing girls trapped in the sex trafficking industry, the ministry that could be unleashed if we just followed Him in tithing is remarkable…and convicting,

8. Sometimes this lesson doesn’t “stick” quickly. The first time I flew through the intersection in Oklahoma City and got a warning, nothing changed. I didn’t take it to heart until the same cop pulled me over just a few blocks later. This is where the rubber meets the road…you can respond NOW to what God is showing you. Don’t wait, Questers. Decide to trust Him with your finances and take your next steps today.

9. Need a simple way to start? Follow the 10-10-80 plan. First, pay God His 10%. Then save 10%. And live on the rest. Simple, huh?

10. We really wanted to make this series practical, so we’re offering three great next steps for you to dive into this weekend. Come ready to jump on the Three Month Tithe Challenge, sign up for Financial Peace University and bring your offering or new commitment to the Imagine2 Milestone Offering. I can’t wait to see us all step forward together to trust God with our resources!

Just a few random Friday thoughts…

1. Prepping for this weekend’s talk & I’m so pumped at what God’s got for us…practical handles that will make a massive difference in our lives.

2. I love it when it finally starts to feel like summer. No wonder the kids are about to jump out of their skin! Me too!

3. Make getting to church this weekend a priority…you really don’t wanna miss this! God’s got keys to unlock your financial world that you wouldn’t believe!

4. Bob Carlisle is the best artist of all time. (Just sayin’)

5. If you missed this Wednesday’s Celebration & Imagine2 Gathering, make your plans now to be here for the I2 Gathering after the 11:30 worship experience on Sunday. You’ll be blown away by what God’s doing through His people through QCC…and you can be a part of it!

p.s. If you put the practical handles I’ll be giving you from God’s Word this weekend into practice, I promise…He’ll bring you financial freedom like you wouldn’t believe. Really. Don’t miss this! (It’s worth rearranging your weekend!)

p.s. Have you taken this week’s survey yet?

Two years ago, Questers started out on a journey that would change us from the inside and pave a way for thousands (& one day millions) to come to Christ. And so began Imagine2…the Power of Everybody. If I told you all the things God has done in this journey so far, you really wouldn’t believe them. God’s generosity through real people like you and me always blows me away!

Tonight at Celebration, we’ll be hosting an Imagine2 Gathering and you’re gonna want to be here! Whether you’ve been around Quest since her earliest days or just in the past few weeks…this Celebration is for you. We’re going to spend focused time together thanking God for all He’s done through the Power of Everybody as we look ahead to the future.

I’ll see you tonight at 6:30pm!

I cannot believe the feedback we’ve gotten for this series, Making the Most of What You’ve Got. I’m so thrilled so many of you are eager to learn so that you can live in freedom. Congratulations to those of you taking me up on the challenge to be here all four weeks of this series…we’re off to a great start!

Here are some highlights from this weekend…

1. Loved the song You Don’t Know.  Lonnie and Becca, you not only sounded great, I know you’ve experienced the truth of that song in your day to day lives. Incredible isn’t it?

2. We’re surrounded by living proof of God’s miraculous work in every area of our lives – including our finances. I may not have amateur sketches, but I have hundreds of Questers who can tell you their stories of God’s faithfulness.

(I’m tellin’ you…that’s the most compelling amateur sketch of a leprechaun I’ve ever seen.)

3. This weekend we took a brand new approach – interviewing real people during the message to learn from their financial journeys. Thanks for sharing your stories with us Wallace, Lorrie, Eris, Whitney, Amy, Michelle and Tim. You are living proof that God can not only help us break free…but we can actually LIVE GENEROUS LIVES.

4. Whether you identified most with the Huffs and the emptiness that comes with living a life of materialism – with Amy and the wreckage of a life gambled away – with the Myers taking the next steps of faithful obedience – or with the Pappas and the elusive American dream that landed them $80,000 in debt, God can rescue you!

5. Experience is a great  teacher, but it doesn’t have to be your experience. Go back and listen to these stories again...let God speak to you through their experience.

6. Eris said he got into debt “trying to become one of you.” We all do. Most of us will never experience the poverty Eris grew up in, but we all find ourselves trying to become like ‘everyone else.’ (Freedom principle #2: Refuse to be defined by your stuff!)

7. A few more of my favorite quotes from the interview: “You don’t have to suffer under the weight of trying to earn happiness.” (He never meant for you to.) “I trusted Him with my life. How could I not trust Him with my lifestyle?” (We don’t have to live w/our fists clenched.) “The only antidote for materialism is giving.” (God created you to be generous.)

8. Money makes a terrible master, but a tremendous servant. So many of you are taking this to heart. I’ve loved the feedback. You’re really on our way becoming generous people and living in freedom in the area of our finances.

9. I’m in awe of Questers making their way to Nashville to provide flood relief. Nearly 25 Questers were there this weekend, paying their own way to help flood victims. Way to go living generous lives, Questers!

10. I meant it – find a way to be in church this weekend – we’re going to be looking at the key to your whole financial picture working properly. I’ll see you here!

p.s. Thrilled to announce Financial Peace University is coming to Quest…watch for details to come soon.

Last weekend we kicked off a series I’ve been wanting to bring for a long time: Making the Most of What You’ve Got, and I issued a challenge for you to come all four weeks of this series.

Take me up on the challenge. Over these weeks, we’ll get real and we’ll get practical. And we will discover why God spent more time talking about money and possessions than almost any other topic. You can take real steps that will bring you financial freedom, and you won’t believe what a difference it makes in every area of your life. Bring anyone you know who needs God’s perspective and help in their finances. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I’ll see you this weekend!

Leaders, we all know there are things that only we can do, and if we don’t do them, the Kingdom will not be multiplied through us the way God intends. Here’s one of them:

No matter who you are or what your team looks like, you’ve got to invest in the team around you…whether they are volunteers or staff. It’s essential to their growth, their connectedness to you and to each other…and to His call on their lives.

Investing in leaders, whether Accelerate leaders or staff, is one of the most rewarding, expensive, fruitful, Kingdom advancing things I do. As a part of that investment – no matter how heavy the work load or how intense the season – every year I take Quest’s pastors and ministry directors away to be encouraged, challenged and grown, and to knit our hearts together as we advance in ministry. We’re on our annual Staff Retreat right now and you wouldn’t believe what God is doing in these ministry staff leaders. I’m spending time with some of the greatest people I’ve known…18 servants…18 people who’ve never recovered from the cross…18 Uprising leaders who can’t believe they get to spend their one and only lives for the cause of Christ. It’s an investment with absolutely eternal returns.

We dove into Making the Most of What You’ve Got this weekend, and the response has been terrific. Who doesn’t need real, practical help in the area of their finances? Can’t wait for the freedom so many of you will find in this area over the next few weeks!

Here are my reflections on this weekend:

1. I could watch that Cave Man drama every week. A great picture of the way we tick. Thanks for helping us laugh at ourselves, guys, (and thanks for not running over me, Amber).

2. Loved the Money Medley, musicians. Thanks for setting the tone for the weekend. Can you believe we get to do this stuff in church?

3. The story of the spelunker who got stuck in the cave was devastating. But it doesn’t have to be your story. Jesus wants to free us from financial bondage, and if we follow His plan, we really can live in freedom.

4. The Joneses…a movie about something way too close to home. We live so much of our lives just wanting what the next person has. The premise is just a picture of real life…but it doesn’t have to go that way.

5. Jesus talks more about the subject of money and the pursuit of stuff more than heaven, hell, faith and prayer combined. A good reason for us to talk about it. (Plus…did you hear those stats? Not surprising since so many of us are living them!)

6. The Office Pyramid clip is fantastic. (My friends argue that The Office should be on my top five favorite tv shows, but I’m just not ready to boot one of the other ones.) Who wants to get rich quick? The temptation is always there to make up for our shortfalls with shortcuts, but it never works.

7. Follow the Freedom Principles. They will lead to freedom and life…
(1.) We aren’t meant to find happiness and fulfillment in things.
(2.) Refuse to be defined by your stuff.
(3.) Put God first in your finances.

8. Yep. I actually charged a red 280zx on a credit card. Some lessons you don’t have to learn the hard way! Our lifestyle just needs to match our income. It’s not all that complicated, but it will take work.

9. Jesus didn’t say you can’t have both God & money. He said you can’t serve both God and money. If money is first in your life, it WILL separate you from Him. (Mt. 6:24)

10. You can’t trust Him with your life yet refuse Him your wallet and expect to be free. He wants to bring us unbelievable freedom in this area of our lives, and it comes back to trust.

p.s. I loved talking to so many of you who were so excited this series is finally here. God really wants to breathe hope into you in this area of your life! Take the challenge to be here for all four weeks of this series. It could revolutionize your understanding of money and its role in our lives!

I watch people all the time goin’ thru life, tryin’ to make it through. Sometimes winning. Sometimes failing. Changing the definitions along the way.

You might think that people at the ‘top’ have it made, and maybe you’re working hard to get there. Or maybe you’re just waiting for the day when you get the new job…or have a new baby…or meet the right someone…or make enough money. Sometimes we chase after an illusion, thinking it will bring us the life we want.

Let me tell you a secret:

The only way you can live out who you’re really meant to be…whether it’s on a main stage performing before thousands or tucked away workin’ the late shift all by yourself…is as a son or daughter.

You are God’s kid, and He adores you. He has real plans & dreams for your life. (You wouldn’t believe them if He told you…) He isn’t withholding & He hasn’t given up on you because of what you’ve done. But His highest goal for your life is that you would live in His love.

So do great at your job, work at becoming a better parent or spouse, dive into life…but do it all recognizing you’re a dearly loved son or daughter of the Most High God.

p.s. Never encountered God like that? Get to Quest this weekend…we’d love to introduce you to Him.

We kicked off DTR helping men understand their wives (no…it’s not impossible!), and wrapped it up offering wives great insights into their men this weekend. Wives, I told you I wanted to give you a gift, and I loved how ready you were for it! I can’t believe how many cards, calls, emails and texts we’ve been getting about this one. Way to go! Thanks for listening with open hearts and minds. God wired us differently…and we really can bring out the best in each other. Thriving, growing marriages are really possible!

Here’s some of what stood out to me this weekend…

1. If you weren’t there Saturday night, sorry you missed the most memorable moment of the weekend. (I don’t think I’ve ever been that embarrassed on stage before!) And NO. That wasn’t on purpose. I’m just sayin’.

2. The drama and the throw back love songs were great (thanks guys!). Sorry I didn’t have my “accompaniment track” with me to cue the sound guy to follow up that set-up…you could have relived our wedding reception!

3. Women, you may have learned more than you ever wanted to know about men in Justin vs. Relationships. Sorry! Guys, hope you enjoyed it. (Btw – that kid w/the afro is just that cool!)

4. Loved this list from 1000s of interviews by Shaunti Felhahn: 10 Things Guys Wish Their Wives Knew About Men

10. Men want their wives to know how much they love them.
9. Men care about their wife’s appearance.
8. Men enjoy romance, but doubt their skills to be romantic.
7. Men struggle with visual temptation.
6. Sex means more than sex.
5. Men want more sex.
4. Men feel the burden of being the provider for their family.
3. Men are insecure.
2. A man’s anger is often a response to feeling disrespected by his wife.
1. Men would rather feel unloved than inadequate and disrespected.

5. Man Fact #1 – God made men to need respect. The survey got it right…the bottom line is that men would rather be unloved than be disrespected. It hurts every single time respect is withheld or disrespect is given. The way you talk about him and to him matters more than anyone else in his life. He needs to know you’re proud of him! Remember…respect is a condition of the heart. You don’t have to agree with him to respect him.

6. Loved walking through Ephesians 5 together. Men…your role is to love your wives selflessly and sacrificially, and make sure she knows it. And women…your role is to respect your man, and make sure he knows it and feels your respect.

7. Man Fact #2 – God made men to need to be needed. The very first thing God did after He made Adam was give him a job to do. (The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. – Genesis 2:15) Remember…in his heart, he’s working for you!

8. Man Fact #3 – God made men to need YOU, wives. The way you care for him really does matter to him! From the little ways you take care of him physically, to the ways you take care of him sexually and cheer him on spiritually, your role is singular in his life.

9. Become the woman God created you to be, so he can be the man God created him to be. Put down your roots deep in Christ. Let Jesus fill the role only He can fill in your life.

10. Wives, you can bring out the best in him! Risk it. You play the biggest role in helping determine who your man will become. Here are three great questions you can ask yourself as you dive into what we learned this week:

1. What can I do to honor & respect my husband? (let him feel your respect in the ways you talk to him and about him)
2. How can I show him I’m proud of him? (let him know you’d choose him all over again)
3. Am I taking care of him? (you have a singular role…physically, sexually, spiritually)

p.s. Grab a CD or DVD of this talk to re-listen. This is quickly becoming one of our most popular CDs in recent memory.

Last night two of my friends got a call that their mom was in the hospital. She’s in a long, slow battle with Alzheimer’s, and her body and mind are struggling. They’re grappling with a painful new reality, leaning into Jesus, and grieving as they try to figure out next steps. This is a path they’ve never walked before, and it’s heartbreaking for their whole family.

As I was praying for them, I also spent time praying for you. I don’t know what path you’re on these days…if it’s everything you expected it to be or if you’ve ended up in uncharted territory with surprise detours along the way, but God wants to be your guide, your comforter, your leader, and your strong support.

This is what He says to those who will press into Him:

“Your own ears will hear Him.
Right behind you a Voice will say,
‘This is the way you should go,’
whether to the right or to the left.”
– Isaiah 30:21

He knows just where you find yourself on your journey, and He promises to walk with you and lead you every step of the way if you’ll let Him.

I’m so proud of my friends for leaning into Jesus. You can lean into Him, too.