Adventurous Living - The Meadow Springs Community Church Podcast

Psalm 51 recounts the desperate condition of David's heart after his sin with Bathsheba. "Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins." vs. 1

David is crying out to God, confessing all his shame and regret. Because he knows God intimately, he also knows God hears him and forgives him. Do you know God like this? Trust Him like this? The world's perspective is that we are essentially 'good', but if you have looked in the mirror or sat alone with your own thoughts for even a minute, you know that to be untrue. So what is your 'starting point' for your journey to become who God wants you to be?

God had a good plan (an amazing plan, actually). He spoke into being the heavens, the sea & the sky, the land and all the animals. It was filled with beautiful and wondrous things. Of all this beauty, you and I are his pièce de résistance. Even though the world he created has changed, He hasn't. How are you pursuing and cultivating your relationship with God? Are you intentionally seeking growth in your understanding and worship of Him?

'Dear friends', 'those who are worthy of high honor' and 'brothers and sisters in Christ.' Paul greets these men and women in a way that is unmistakable. Their commitment to him, his ministry and to spreading the good news of Jesus is evident and he expresses his love and admiration for them. Can you relate to Paul? Are there people who faithfully walk beside you in life and in faith?

The term 'family' can evoke all sort of feelings. The good news is that the family of God can (and should) function differently. Better, even - meeting together, encouraging one another, sharing joys & burdens with one another. A true and present sense of family leads to a true feeling of belonging.

"… For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care." It's such a short verse, but can't you just feel all the promise? God sees each of us as belonging to him and assures that the best place for us is near him and under his protection. The question is then, is that where you are? And if not, what's holding you back?

Adam's descendants are listed in 1 Chronicles 1-9 from Seth to Noah all the way through to Abraham and Isaac; to Judah and David and then to Benjamin and finally the lineage of King Saul. Why spend so much time outlining what would be a 'skip this page' moment for most? It tells us who & what... who is connected to whom and what they were a part of. All those connections lead us to a time and place that is pivotal in Israel's history. Maybe it IS important to be a part of something... to be connected.

Each of us is on a journey to find belonging in a world that is not our home, to become all that God intends us to be and along the way, be a blessing to those we encounter by showing them the love of Jesus. Embark on this journey with us… 2024 will be an adventure!

"For nothing is impossible with God." That verse is straight out of Luke's foretelling the birth of Jesus, but can it's context be broader? Like, a lot? The God of heaven and earth, Creator of all things, can do anything at any time and in any place. In a society that is filled with pessimism about this and skepticism about that and fear of all the things, can we not look at this verse and be wholly encouraged?

"And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang, 'Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.'" AMEN. That's our eternal future… He shall reign forevermore!

John doubles down on his previous words. "We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:3

He addresses so many things; loving one another (he covers it twice… it must be important), discerning false prophets and living in light of the truth of Jesus. Finally, he assures that "For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory." 1 John 5:4 That is not an invitation anyone should decline!