Thought for November 2022

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. — Psalm 100

This is the month where we celebrate thankfulness. Certainly appropriate, but are we limiting ourselves? Are we too cautious? Is one day or one month of our year enough to express all of our thanks to God? I would suggest it should be a regular, moment by moment response to our God throughout each and every day that we live. Have we not come to realize that He is GOOD, His love ENDURES FOREVER, and His faithfulness CONTINUES even to our generation? I know that I have!

So in these days may we not withhold our thanks and praise from Him! Let’s shout for joy and worship with gladness as we praise His name. May we come out of our passive, reserved shell with truly expressive words and actions in the days ahead that have been given to us by our great God.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! — 2 Corinthians 9:15

Thought for October 2022

As a church we are just getting started in our Sunday morning study for the fall months in the book of 1 Peter.

This letter has been described as a “traveler’s guide for Christian pilgrims”. Written to believers that were scattered far from home, Peter reminds them that they are temporarily in the place they find themselves, strangers looking forward to a true homeland. During this time they were suffering - in fact, that key word “suffering" is used 16 times. Dr. Robert Gromacki says that Peter writes "to explain the relationship of trials to God’s purposes”.

This is a book that teaches them (and us) how to live, even when things are hard. Peter writes to give instruction as well as hope. This is what we need most in these days - an understanding on how to live and a hope that strengthens us and others!

As we seek to become better followers of Jesus, this could not be any more timely or important. I am praying that the combined study of 1 Peter on Sundays, along with the weekly devotionals highlighted by the book, “Not A Fan”, will aid us greatly in continually becoming the people that God desires us to be.

Let’s grow together!

Online Devotion September 25 - October 1, 2022

 

Online Devotion September 18-24, 2022

 

Online Devotion September 11-17, 2022

 

Thought for September 2022

Fall is a welcomed time of year. The change of season is very evident all around us through the falling temperatures and the magnificent colors of the changing leaves on the nearby hills. As well, life seems to switch back to a normalcy that can potentially be much busier than our carefree days of summer.

As a church, we are called to gather together and live lives that are connected because of the saving grace of Jesus our Savior. Our love for each other is the best evidence of a chosen, changed, and set apart life. John 13:34-35 remind us that others are watching to see if we really are the followers of Jesus that we claim to be.

Thought for August 2022

Summer is here in all of its splendor!

As our schedule is maybe a little more relaxed and we spend some of our vacation time, let’s not forget to spend some of that time in reading God’s Word. Working through this series in Proverbs remember to read one chapter a day - the chapter number that corresponds with the day of the month. Join us in reading through the book of Proverbs in August and gaining wisdom!

In this series we are learning to “develop skills for living well in God’s world”. Wisdom is taking what we know and putting it into practice. We know that we are to love one another, so let’s continue to pray for each other and encourage each other. We know that we are to love God, so let’s continue to faithfully meet with Him each day and then meet together with our church family each Sunday. We know that we are to share the Good News with those around us, so let’s pray for opportunities to speak and serve.

May we be praying for God to do His good work among our church and community in the days ahead.

Thought for July 2022

We are halfway through 2022! Six months down and six months to go! Maybe that discourages you or maybe that encourages you (Angela would say that Christmas is almost here!) However you are feeling today remember, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

As we begin the second half of 2022 would you consider this another new starting point for you? It’s not just on New Year’s Day that we make that choice, but at the start of each month, each week, each day.

Studying the book of Proverbs this summer we will be reminded of the fresh opportunities to live wisely. We can regularly make the decision to “develop skills for living well in God’s world”. So in this last part of 2022, let’s choose well and seek wisdom from God. Let’s hold tightly to God and His Word. Let’s have a proper reverence and awe of Him (the “fear of the Lord”).

Together as a church we can learn, grow, and encourage one another in wisdom. There is much that God would do in our lives, church, and community if we choose well.

PS - Keep reading a chapter from Proverbs every day. It’s a great habit!