: Worship at 10 live and on Zoom. Study of 2 Peter 2-3. Prepare your hearts and minds to worship in Spirit and Truth
Note: I begin vacation after worship for the week. I most likely will be unplugged and unreachable most of the week. If you need anything reach out to Sarah. I am then on family leave and heading to Florida until Easter to be with mom and Terry (prayers appreciated!) I will be online most days and probably blogging some of the time.
Zoom Huddle and evening dinner huddle will be on spring break until after Easter.
Good Morning Listening, Waiting-on-the Lord, Preparing Visionaries! Amen! That's you right? That is a good description of your leadership team as we still ourselves in prayer, listen, receive, pray informed, plan and prepare to move with God and follow the dreams and visions He has given us to spur each other on and build His Church. Amen! Help us to seek first Your Kingdom Lord and follow You according to the gifts You've given and plans You have to prosper us and grow Your Church. Amen! We can always work at doing these things better and we need each other and to hear the things God has laid on your hearts and then to work together to make His will come alive in and through and around us. God really does have great plans that include all of us as we are, doing our parts. Then He will grow our faith and actions according to His perfect plans for each of us and as His Body. Thanks Lord! Come! Teach. prepare, grow and use us for Your glory! Your Kingdom come and will be done! Bring revival! Send us in Your perfect time! Amen!
Do you ever get rammey or schusslig? Do ever think you got to jump in and act--NOW! I can be like that and have presumed on God and His timing and ran ahead. We think our urgencies are His. And they may be but maybe as urgent as we deem. (Like Jesus waiting until Lazarus died to go there) He has a perfect plan and time for everything and He's all-knowing. We are not! Check out Our Daily Bread and how cool they use a passage we will study from 2 Peter. God is not, deaf, uncaring or slow! Amen! Sometimes we think we know what God should do or that His promises don't apply to us. They do and if Jesus said it, it's a fact and will happen. His Word is living, active and will achieve what He sent it to do! PTL! Check out the Word for Your . Have you asked Him to open His Word to you or to bring alive a promise or top direct your steps to His plans? He will when approached with faith and willingness and expectation. He will answer in His timing! Count on it! God has a vision for you and for us, His gathered and sent Body. Do you know it and your part? I pray all the time for God top bring dreams, visions and ideas to our Leadership and through all of you. Are you hearing anything you need to apply to yourself or share with us? God does have perfect and exciting plans to work all things together for good and His glory. Amen! And He invites all of us to do our parts and work together to spur each other on as we build His Church and make disciples of Jesus. Our church vision is to live sacrificially and love lavishly like Jesus as we make disciples like He did. The EC vision is to become a dynamic movement of people who have a burning passion for God and missionary zeal to reach the lost. We are moving towards these, by the grace of God, through the help of the Holy Spirit and by our unity and cooperation. We are one and we love well. Let us commit to keep at it and to working together well for His glory. he's waiting for all who will come to come. Our part is to help that along. Then when complete, He'll be back for us! Amen!
I'm looking at some Bible video studies to use nights. One is on Heaven. Heaven is real and will be awesome. It's our destination and hope for when our faith will become sight. Are you ready! Are you preparing? Are you helping others to know Christ and the assurance of heaven with Him? Are you praying for us to do our parts so all who will come, will come and learn to walk in Jesus' ways? Let us keep working at that as we grow in faith and serve and love together! Amen! I believe God has a perfect plan for you and us and I keep seeking and planning and preparing and inviting along. Join me. Let us be His vessel of love, joy and transformation! Amen! God's not being slow. he's waiting on us and all who will come because we live and love like Jesus and do our parts. Let's roll!
ODB:
God’s Timing
With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 2 Peter 3:8
Until 1967, units of time were scientifically measured by astronomical patterns: the spin of the earth and its revolution around the . But over the centuries, a problem emerged. The earth is actually slowing down in its orbit. Scientists discovered that the unit of the second is longer than it used to be. Gradual though this is, since the days of Christ, the world has “lost” a full three hours of measured time.
Of course, God created the ways we measure time: the astronomy of orbits and revolutions. Scientists’ calculations may be squishier than we’d thought, but we can stand firmly in Peter’s words: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years” (2 Peter 3:8). He is arguing against doubters who complained that Jesus hadn’t returned yet: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness” (v. 9). God works in His own time for His own purposes.
There’s more! God’s “timing” is born out of His love: “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish” (v. 9). Jesus will return, and God wants everyone to have the opportunity to come to Him. This is an expression of His love. Meanwhile, we’re to “make every effort to be found spotless” (v. 14).
Time, God, and love are linked together: In these last days God’s love is never squishy. It’s the one sure thing.
By Kenneth Petersen
REFLECT & PRAY
How does thinking of God and time affect your own life? How might you live differently in light of this?
Dear God, it’s mind-boggling when we try to figure out the concept of time, but please help me embrace that my times are in Your hands.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The apostle Peter, like other New Testament writers, was a student of the Old Testament. The book of 1 Peter contains several Old Testament quotes (see 1 Peter 1:24-25 [Isaiah 40:6-8]; 1 Peter 2:6-8 [Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14]; 1 Peter 3:10-12 [Psalm 34:12-16]; 1 Peter 4:18 [Proverbs 11:31]). And even though his second letter doesn’t quote from specific Old Testament passages, 2 Peter 3:8 is a clear allusion to Psalm 90:4: “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” This psalm contains numerous references to time, contrasting God’s eternal nature with man’s transience. Because God loves us, we can rest securely, knowing that our times are in His hands and His timing is perfect.
Arthur Jackson
TWFYT
UR: A Powerful Vision
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. - Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
In our small rural community, two churches were struggling with declining attendance and aging congregations. Rather than succumb to despair, the leaders of the churches united and crafted a shared vision to uplift Christ in our community.
Our church leaders understood the power of a shared vision. Over the next five years, through diligent prayer, meticulous planning, and unwavering perseverance, we worked to bring their vision to fruition. The journey was riddled with challenges and demanded sacrifices from both congregations. However, our faith and commitment to a unified vision propelled us forward.
, our merged church is thriving. Our new, shared building serves as a place of worship and as a hub for outreach ministries. We host sports programs, support groups, weddings, and wakes, fostering a tighter bond within our community during times of both joy and sorrow.
Throughout this transformative journey, we’ve witnessed Proverbs 29:18 in action. By adhering to our vision and following God’s guidance, we’ve built a church that is flourishing as a beacon of hope and support for our community.
's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to seek your guidance and remain united in purpose so that we may thrive and serve our communities well. Amen.
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