Matthew 5: 13-16

Jubilee Celebration Sunday

Matthew 25:14-30

Exodus 36:2-7

Psalm 24:1; Deuteronomy 8:10-18

Genesis 41:15-57

We can never fully plan and prepare for what life will throw at us. We cannot predict the future. In the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, he was able to interpret a dream for the Pharaoh which allowed him the time to plan for seven years of famine. In the dream God clearly points to seven years of a plentiful harvest and seven years of famine. While we do not have the luxury of knowing the future, we know that hardships do come. How prepared are you both spiritually and physically? I’ve known people that are so concerned about the future they’ve built a bunker and have filled it with wall-to-wall emergency supplies. I’ve also known people that when the worst happen, they had no idea of where to start. Again, there is no way to be fully prepared for the future. But there are steps and actions that can be taken to insure we can rely on our faith to make it through the unknown. There are simply things we can do today that will make it so much easier on our families if the unexpected happened. We can intentionally set aside grain so that when the famine comes, we are able to more fully navigate through the darkness.

Philippians 4:10-53

Implementing disciplines is rarely easy whether it is training for a race, practicing your music daily for a concert, losing weight, getting your financial affairs in order…none of it is easy. In the long run, however, it can make all the difference.

Saying no to one thing today will allow you to say yes in the future.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

No family is perfect.

Each has its own unique quirks and differences. But when family members employ principles of faith along with determination amazing things can happen....dreams can come true, obstacles become opportunities, debts are eliminated, and people can know peace.

It is not easy, but it can happen.

Join us this Sunday as we learn more about how we can work together as one family unit to achieve great things.

There is no expiration date on our baptism. What God did in our baptism--whether we were baptized as an infant or a teen, a child or an adult--is good for all eternity.

In the waters of our baptism is a strong undertow sweeping us into God's salvation history. We are claimed as children of God, and God is constantly drawing us toward Him as He recreates us more and more into the image of Christ.

In worship on January 13, we are remembering our baptism and celebrating God's claim upon our lives. Let God's undertow lead you to worship and to the waters of your baptism.