Tory Farina

I'm Back...

Things I learned through my time of Withdrawal...

•  Wayne Cordero saved my life and ministry... After reading his book “Leading on Empty” I am convinced I was headed for a breaking point at some point down the line in my life and ministry. I have and will continue to make changes necessary to leave a Lasting Legacy.
• I have more time than I thought. Cutting out extra stuff helped me realize how much time I waste.
•  My relationship with the Lord is the Source of Everything else. Yet often It gets shelved somewhere between car maintenance and shower cleaning. It does not occupy the space in my heart and mind that it should if it is the source of everything. (As a pastor this is a sad revelation.) So I am evaluating the changes that must be made to transform this unacceptable situation.
• Christian music is good but not a lot of it is GREAT!
• Facebook / Twitter are far more useful tools than they get credit for. I was shocked at how many people I felt disconnected from.
• I get grumpy when I fast Food.
•  Maintaining a Blog is exhausting. I need to figure out how to be a smarter blogger. I think I might use more video. Would you watch my short clips?
• Changing patterns takes a tremendous amount of intentionality. You cannot say... I want to change, I need to change or even I must change without making a plan and actually putting the plan into action.
•  Push email on my iphone is stupid. I cannot and will not be a slave to my email... especially when I delete most of it. My email will serve me and not the other way around.
• This will be a yearly event. I will also add into my life’s schedule times of getting out of town for times of withdrawals.
• I need a Sabbatical... Not this year but in the next few years as we round the corner to seven or ten years it is Vital the Elizabeth and I get a Sabbatical in order to gain freshness and longevity at High Point.
•  We are entering into a season of High Points Story that is really exciting. I feel encouraged, Fired Up and energized by what I feel the Lord is brewing in my heart.
•   Isolation is a Scary place to be... Withdrawal is a Non Negotiable place to visit!
•   The WELL of your Soul is what you serve others with... If it’s shallow, contaminated, or not built to last you’re in trouble. If it is Deep and Living water it will refresh people for Years to come.
• Jesus took breaks from the demands of Life and ministry often... I am still chewing on this and am incredibly challenged by it!

I have lots more to say but will leave it at this and work out more the next fe days and weeks. I just wanted to let you know I am back and FIRED UP!

Withdrawal...

Through the month of January you are not going to hear much from me. I am taking a season of withdrawal in my life. Last November, I felt that I needed to hone in the focus of my heart and mind for God to do something big in me. Last year He called me to lose 55 lbs., and I am so glad I followed through. The Lord fulfilled promises and answered prayers for both me and the church through my act of obedience. This year I feel like I need to clear out as many voices as I can that might be distracting me from clearly hearing the voice of God.

 

Jesus did this often. I always wonder why Jesus — fully God and fully man — even needed to pray, rest, and recharge. But if He did, then so do I. This has been a stressful season for me and mine. Elizabeth's pregnancy, Rapid church growth and Seven years of full time ministry has its cost. I feel like we are getting ready for something larger and greater than we have yet to experience. Jesus withdrew to rest, get stronger, hear from God, and have a fresh word for the people he was sent to lead. Moses went to the mountain top and came back luminous. Daniel prayed and fasted to break through impossible circumstances. I need more from God to live the life I am called to live and I want to withdraw to gather strength for greater things Yet to come!

 

Here is my plan...

 

• Read — I started a reading plan to go through the Gospels in 30 days. (You can do the same at www.youversion.com.) My goal is to study Jesus and His withdrawal moments — how and why He prayed.
• I am also reading “Leading On Empty” by Wayne Cordeiro- I feel like he is personally walking me through how to defragment my life. I am taking each chapter and walking through each chapter with Elizabeth and the Lord. What an AWSOME experience.
• Fast (check more out here)
• Food — This looks different for everyone some fast food totally, partially or fast a particular type of food. For me I am doing a combination of things.
• Media

-  I am cutting out as many secular non-worshipful voices as I can. Music, movies, magazines and books that do not point me to Jesus will be cut from my appetite this month. Television has been reduced to only News sources.

-  No blogs, no Facebook and NO Twitter — I am having withdrawals. This is almost painful, and I have had to break this a couple times because of Elizabeth's health crisis on Saturday, my need to get a couple numbers off of some profiles on my phone, and this blog post letting you know what’s up. It is also funny how my e-mail sends me Facebook updates and Facebook e-mails, so it’s like it will not leave me alone. I guess that means it is staying around a while.)

-  I also shut off the Push feature to my phone’s e-mail. I am now my e-mail’s master. I think that may stay longer than January.

• Schedule — I am taking certain days off over the next month, during which I will be alone and without normal distractions so I can focus on the Lord and hear his voice with clarity.
• Journal — I am keeping a daily journal of thoughts, prayers, observations, revelations, and dreams.

(This is a goal and has already had to change a little. Let me first tell you that I live by the Spirit of the Law and not the Letter, meaning that even though I may say I am not going to do this or that, I may do it if I feel I need to for a good reason. I also am taking Sundays as a celebration day, meaning I am free to enjoy with my family whatever seems beneficial. This season is about reducing noise in my life and resetting my out of balance rhythm. It is not about a list of does or don’ts.)

 

I am expecting God to break through my life in tremendous ways. I am expecting Him to change me. I was not expecting how hard these first few days have been. Nor was I expecting how the enemy would try and distract me. I shouldn't have been surprised. He met Jesus in the wilderness before his ministry began.

 

My prayer is that I hear his voice like Adam and Eve did in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden, or like Samuel did when God came to him in the night as a youth, or like the disciples did in the the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit came upon them with fresh power and boldness. My prayer is that I would have new strength and insight to lead the next five+ years with a freshness and sensitivity to the Lord.

 

What is the Lord drawing you to do? What’s your next step in your faith walk? It may not look much like mine, but that's OK. Start with where you are and go one more step.

 

I look forward to letting you know how it goes in a few weeks.

 

Live Your Potential!

 

Pastor Tory

Filled with the Holy Spirit...

I was reading the Christmas story in preparation for this weeks message and came across something powerful!

Luke 1:35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary, Elizabeth and John were "Filled with the Holy Spirit". Have you ever done a phrase search on "filled with the Holy Spirit"? check it out... here. Their is Power, Direction, Boldness, gifts and Wisdom that come upon you when you are "FIlled with the Spirit of God". This is not a one time experience... again and again through your Christian life and through the NT people would call upon the Holy Spirit and be filled. When people were filled they moved in a Supernatural way that could only be attributed as God moving through them. God using their natural talents and abilities to impact the world for the Kingdom of God.

I love that when we are filled with the Spirit we can be led by the spirit.Jesus, Paul, and many other attribute their comings and goings, heeling's and miracle's to being "Led by the Spirit".

I want to challenge you to take some time over the next few days and weeks and read these passages in their entirety. Maybe even read the whole book of Acts. Ask the Holy Spirit to knock your socks off and fill you with His power in a new and profound way. Look expectantly for evidence of Gods power to reflect the evidence in scripture and when you see it walk in a renewed boldness for the Lord. Fallow the Leading of The Holy Spirit!

Prioritize your life...

This Sunday I used the Story out of Luke 10 to challenge us to make God a priority in our life. Here are a few ways to do that.

• Gather regularly for worship... Sunday morning, Amplify and even gathering your family for times of worship or prayer focuses us on God.
• Retreat weekly for restoration... Jesus Got away from the crowds to a quite place often and I am challenging you to do the same. go for a walk, run, drive or a park and do nothing but connect with God in prayer or worship.
• Divert Daily in devotion... A regular rhythm of prayer and scripture reading will inspire you like nothing else. Check out my post on S.O.A.P.
• Remove Annually... fasting is a large part of spiritual maturity and breakthrough in Gods word. I am planning on talking about it this next year as we dive deeper into the secret of the sauce of living for Jesus. Look for things that you can remove from your life in order to simplify and focus on God. Things I have fasted before... Food, coffee, media, phone, txting/twitter, music, just to name a few examples. I say annually not because i think you should only fast once a year but because I think it is healthy to plan a larger more significant fast once a year just to build in the discipline. New years is a great season to do this.

You Hold Me Now...

Worship the Lord this morning with you whole heart. Look to Heaven and think about how great our future is. No matter what you are going through the lord is available for you and will sustain you.

On that day when I see
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face
There surrounded by Your grace

All my fears swept away
In the light of your embrace
When Your love is all I need
And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold
In Your presence healed and whole
Let these songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suff'ring You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

In this life I will stand
Through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day
There's a hope that never fails

When You're name is lifted high
And forever praises rise
For the glory of Your Name
I'm believing for the day

When the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace
Let these songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suff'ring You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sickening
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

J-Term is coming...

I just got a case of the book we are using for our January series and J-Term. Stay tuned for more info soon. I am super excited!

Whats the type of Song you want to die singing?...

This challenged me.

It is easy to do what got you to where you are today. To keep producing the same work, the same creative content, to not stretch yourself and look for the Prophetic voice of this time and this space. We have to every so often stop, look, listen and let God speak to us about our life.

I remember when my Dad decided to change the way he spoke to people because he realized he was using 1980's styles. I remember watching my Uncle leave his Union job to try his hand at sales because God was leading him to something more challenging. I remember when E and I decided to pant a church before we were 26. The course we were one was fine. But God had called us to not settle for fine. He called us to fallow his lead to the next place on our journey.

If you are locked into a style, job, house, way of reading the word of God or praying, Volunteer role... Ask the Lord to show you what he wants you to spend your dying breath "singing", "Doing", "Pursuing".

Then Go DO THAT! No matter the risk!

Don't forget who you are...

I came across this in my notes last year. It is critical that we remember who we are in Christ. It will change how we live our lives.

Who I Am In Christ

		I am accepted...
	John 1:12	I am God's child.
	John 15:15	As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
	Romans 5:1	I have been justified.
	1 Corinthians 6:17	I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
	1 Corinthians 6:19-20	I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
	1 Corinthians 12:27	I am a member of Christ's body.
	Ephesians 1:3-8	I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
	Colossians 1:13-14	I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
	Colossians 2:9-10	I am complete in Christ.
	Hebrews 4:14-16	I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
		I am secure...
	Romans 8:1-2	I am free from condemnation.
	Romans 8:28	I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
	Romans 8:31-39	I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
	2 Corinthians 1:21-22	I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
	Colossians 3:1-4	I am hidden with Christ in God.
	Philippians 1:6	I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
	Philippians 3:20	I am a citizen of heaven.
	2 Timothy 1:7	I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
	1 John 5:18	I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
		I am significant...
	John 15:5	I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
	John 15:16	I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
	1 Corinthians 3:16	I am God's temple.
	2 Corinthians 5:17-21	I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
	Ephesians 2:6	I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
	Ephesians 2:10	I am God's workmanship.
	Ephesians 3:12	I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
	Philippians 4:13	I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Practicing the Presence...

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)  "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

I have been messed up since I read this paraphrase of Mathew 11 by Eugene Peterson several years ago. I see the image of a God who has an undercurrent rhythm to life that will sustain us and refresh us.

It’s kind of like electricity that is always running to your house.  Your hair dryer or coffeemaker only work when they are plugged in. Electricity flows regardless of your use; it takes intention to tap into it.

God’s presence is always right under the surface of life. He is always communicating to us and always looking for ways to connect with us. Our problem is that we quickly unplug and can go a long time before we plug back in again. We then tend to blame God when in reality he is constant and we are not. When we practice His presence we find peace, joy, sustenance, and clarity. We also get the bonus of being connected to the one who knows how the story ends. Nothing is a surprise to God!

Here are several practices to try...

Set regular reminders to engage in God’s presence — to plug in. Set up a calendar reminder in Outlook. Get a watch that beeps every hour. Set up regular times during the day that you will engage. Here are a few ideas:

• Morning: Thank God for the morning and the opportunity to serve him that day.
• Mid-morning: Pray for the world and the missionaries you support. Pray for your city and the lost  people in your work place. Pray for your church and its mission.
• Lunch: Before you eat your Chipotle, take a few minutes to thank God for all He has done in your life and the ones you love.
• Ride Home: Spend time focusing on your family and their needs as you reenter their life for the  evening.
• Evening: Process your life and its mission. Thank God for the day and ask Him to use you tomorrow in new and profound ways.

Take action to become more intentional and intimate with God. Here are some recommendations:

• Fast — Give up something up as a way to get close to God: TV, food, habits, dating/relationships, music, and novels. Whatever it is for you, replace that time with something that plugs you back in to His presence.
• Retreat — Plan on getting away once a year. Jesus did it more often, but I think you should take at least one day off work and go to a park or a cabin or somewhere alone and plan on spending the entire day alone — in quiet and stillness with God. It will rock your WORLD I promise. (I just got back from one of these times on Thursday. WOW!)

Resources:

The Life You've always wanted

I became a christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt

Read.think.pray.live

Crazy Love

Remember:

This world and all of its distractions are a tool of the enemy to keep you from plugging in regularly to the source that recharges you. It is easy for us to get distracted out of habit or laziness and loose the "JOY OF OUR SALVATION." Jesus desires that we stay a part of His vine and receive all we need from Him. Plug in often and ENJOY the Journey!

Create...

I love reading and hearing about people who create great things out of nothing. Ben Arment is a good example of this type of person, read blog post here... not because he fasted football, but because he is doing what it takes to accomplish something. I love talking with guys like Paul Stewart, Matthew Keller, Rob Ketterling, and other church planters. I can’t get enough of magazines like Fast Company and am being so inspired by the biography of Walt Disney I am reading currently. These people are radicals and rebels, and they don’t take no for an answer.

It juices me up to read Genesis 1 and see that in the beginning there was nothing that we see today, but God spoke something into existence out of that nothing. I could read the creation story again and again, because it is a part of me. I love to see creation happen. Give me a show on public television about how to make glass, and I am hooked.

I believe that God desires that we follow his lead and invent, create, and dream about what isn’t and what could be or should be. So many people I meet get stuck in what is and what has to be, yet neglect the inner calling to create or be apart of something that is being built. They fear the unknown. They don't know where to start or who to connect with that has a big enough vision that aligns with their own. Part of my calling is to help people discover their God-given potential and to either be a part of their creation or to create what God has uniquely called them to create! I love talk about making it happen, and I love to see it happen. I want to do everything I can to empower people to speak into the abyss of nothing and call forth what they see!

What has God placed in your heart? What great thing is not because you haven’t created it yet? Art, writing, children, churches, and businesses all are wonderful things to create. What will it take to see it happen? What do you need to sacrifice in order to make it so?

GO! CREATE!