. 10 am worship in Fellowship Hall with communion followed by brunch at 11:30. Come as you are, fellowship, worship and bring some friends along.
Next week nights refire with our Rita's gathering at 6 (wear your St. Matts shirts) . Evening dinner Huddle will restart from 6-7:30 in the Fellowship Hall. We kick off with a pizza/ice cream party night.
(Note: Clothing Closet is on summer break until Sept.)
Good Morning Abiding Worshipers! Amen. Well that's my plan for this week as I transition back to active duty with a spiritual retreat week. God is always speaking to us ands wanting to lead us to His perfect plans. My week will be focused on abiding, seeking first His Kingdom, praying, praising, listening and repenting and preparing to follow Him into the rest of the summer and fall seasons for Sundays and . evenings. I continue to praise God for this time where I was able to use up my saved vacations that were set aside to move mom home and be there as Terry passed. God took care of those things for my sisters and I. Thanks Lord! He allowed me to use up these saved weeks to tackle some major house projects which for me is a source of peace now that they are almost complete and they are an act of worship as I have alone time and use my gifts and abilities to actually accomplish some things. We are almost ready for our big family picnic here. PTL! I have a few more things to complete and of course lots of gardening, weeding, mowing and sprucing up. It's hard to explain but God allows me to stop focusing on these to do lists as things are completed and draws me close as I am now able to abide more fully focused. Thanks Lord! He also allowed us to save money as I am able to do things we don't have to hire someone to do. That's also good stewardship. He's also allowed me time to mourn and to take care of mom's affairs (I'm executor). I am almost ready to refire up refreshed, focused and connected to God more fully. I'm more fully able to seek, listen, watch and join Him as I leave things behind and focus on Him. Thanks Lord! The hard part is the thinking about how I am closing in on retirement. I don't ever want to stop ministering! And His call on me to St. Matts. is still active and alive. But it is nice to have some me time along the way. Resting and abiding is biblical and taking a sabbath is a command. God knows what we need and leads us to it if we allow. This is the first I have ever been able to fully do that--let go and let God as I still myself and stop the busyness and turn off the noise. Thanks Lord! And He's not finished with me yet! He's not finished with you or St. Matts either! PTL! He has great plans for us yet to come and good fruit is budding and ripening. PTL! Let us keep focused on Him and following His commands and leadings. Amen!
Thank you all for your prayers, cards, encouragements and patience. Thanks to Sarah and Mike and all of you for allowing this break to happen. It has been very profitable for me and should flow into future blessings for us all. Please Lord! Please keep praying and preparing yourself for service too. I'm almost ready to roll into the rest of the year. I will be offline until as I abide and refresh. (My body needs healing too from all the labors during this break). There will probably not be any more blogs until next week. But God! You know sometimes He has other ideas. Afterall His ways are not our ways! PTL for that! Check out this songs below. These have been songs I have been constantly singing and praising with. I have felt your prayers and God has heard and is responding. Keep praying, seeking first His Kingdom, surrendering, and preparing for where He is leading us to be His Living Water! Someone needs prayer, love and refreshing. Someone you know needs God! And sometimes we have to turn off the noise and leave the junk behind! I can't wait to get back at it with you and God! May His Kingdom come and will be done! Amen! Until then, may we all know His loving presence and peace! Shalom shalom=perfect peace! And just abide and worship as you prepare and go! Amen!
