Dinner Huddle--Pizza and Ice Cream party and last Jesus Shaped Life Study. (Spring Break after this until April)
*Note: Pastor Don will be on vacation -22. (Probably no blogs this week?) He will then be on family leave in Florida with his mom and Terry until at least (Probably some blogs during his stay)
Worship at 10 Live and on Zoom. We will finish up our study of 2 Peter. (read 2 Peter 2 and 3 in preparation)
Clothing Closet 9-12 (We now have a door person! Thanks Ramon! If anyone else would like to help with the doors let Amber or Sarah know)
Good Morning Faithful Followers of Jesus AND His Ways! Remind yourself of that! Worship God for creating you, calling you to faith in Jesus, saving you, gifting you, growing your faith and using you for such a time as this. We talked about how Peter (2Peter 1) knew his time was short and was thinking about the legacy he would leave behind as he wrote to his church. (and us) He was a humbled servant of God and in his letter he was pouring into his teammates last minute instructions, just like Jesus did before His death and resurrection and before the ascension. We discussed doing what we can with what we have and have been given. We are unique with unique purposes in God's Kingdom and He knows us and His plans for us and our gifts and circumstances. All He expects is for us to do our part and do what we can with what we've been given. That's being the best stewards of all His blessings! He created us for such a time as this with purposes unique to us and gifts to be used to spur each other on and top build His Church. Contemplate that with God as you still yourself, listen, seek and receive His directions just for you and maybe even some insights for how to continue to grow in faith AND GROW HIS CHURCH. We are also good at beating ourselves up por under-selling what God will do in and through us. STOP! You are God's masterpiece. he knows and loves and is with you always working all things together for good and He will give you all you need to accomplish His plans for you. PTL! So, Proverbs 3:5-6 comes to mind --Don't lean on your own understanding...acknowledge and trust God in all you do and He will lead you to His perfect plans. Yoke yourself to Jesus and He will help you plow at His pace as you pray and serve, And allow the Holy Spirit to inform your thinking and prayers and activate your gifts for His purposes and your good. Amen! That's a lot to contemplate and disgust . Be still for a bit, open your Bibles and devotionals (below) as you seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and you will have all you need to go and produce great and lasting fruit for God--just as you are! And remember the growing faith part we discussed . You are always welcome and will be used as you are by God. However, He also wants to grow you and helps and cheers you on in growing faith. Will you let Him? We are all on a faith journey that leads us to grow towards our fuller potential in Christ and to become more like Him and God has gathered us to help each other in that journey and to go produce new disciples in His name. Who are your teammates? Who is God bringing to mind that He might have for you to disciple or share the Good News. Ask Him and follow well. He's given you all you need, faithful followers! Amen!
Our Daily Bread
True Satisfaction in God
Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years. Genesis 25:8
Thirty years ago, I participated in an activity at an unemployment workshop that I still remember . My fellow laid-off coworkers and I were asked to write our retirement speeches. Huh? We were looking for work and far from retirement age. But the facilitator revealed the purpose of the activity by saying, “Your speech will probably have little to do with your work.” She explained to us that a job really isn’t the center of our lives. And while we may be grieving the loss of a job, our lives mean much more than being employed.
The details about the end of Abraham’s life remind me of this lesson. He died at a “ripe old age” and had lived a “long and satisfying life” (Genesis 25:8 nlt). Throughout Scripture, we read about Abraham’s faithfulness in following God’s instructions, but we don’t read much about his work. The faith the patriarch displayed (15:6) reminds me of the Teacher’s conclusion in Ecclesiastes: “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness” (2:26). The Teacher said this after considering the meaning of life and how one can find enjoyment in the midst of work or toil (vv. 24-25).
Even during times of loss and anxiety brought by unemployment, it’s helpful to reflect on Abraham’s example and the Teacher’s words—pointing us to true satisfaction found only in God.
By Katara Patton
REFLECT & PRAY
What do you believe you’ll be known for? How does focusing on your legacy help you live ?
Dear God, please remind me to live faithfully as I walk with You—experiencing satisfaction in Your presence.
Abraham’s faith journey began when he was seventy-five years old: “Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran” (Genesis 12:4). He took his last breath one hundred years later: “Abraham lived for 175 years, and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death” (25:7-8 nlt). What a beautiful end-of-life scene! Yet, while Abraham’s dying “at a ripe old age” or “full of years” (niv) was an accomplishment, he’s most known for being “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:21). One doesn’t have to be full of years to be full of faith. , as we experience times of loss and hardship, our true quality of life and satisfaction comes from faith in the living God, who has revealed Himself in Jesus.
Arthur Jackson
Upper Room: Path's of Faith
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
As a young cadet at West Point, I struggled with land navigation — using a map and compass to move from one position to another. To make the drills even more challenging, they placed us in heavily wooded areas at nighttime. I couldn’t see where to step or what was around me, and often I ended up bewildered in the brush. To find the right direction, I had to rely on the faint glow of the needle in my glow-in-the-dark compass.
Recently I read Proverbs 3:5-6 and meditated on how often I can’t see the paths to take in life. I used to become frustrated when a path didn’t lead me where I wanted to go. And I was envious of others when I saw that their paths led them toward what I wanted to achieve. However, as my faith continues to evolve, I trust and obey God’s often subtle direction. I wholeheartedly believe that the steps I take with God are leading me precisely where I need to go, and I will enjoy the journey.
Dear God, thank you for your steadfast guidance as we journey through life. May we trust and obey you with confidence that your light will show us the way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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