Psalm 33, Isaiah 43:14-28

Pastor Kyle prayed for our church, for our future and for our growth.  He reminded us that God is living and is active today and He is doing a “new thing”.  It is right that we should remember what He has done for us in the past, we thank Him for it, but He is still working today.  He has a plan for us and a mission to be accomplished.

After some brief words by Pastor Tim we spent time thanking our brother Kyle for his service, for his character, for his friendship and for sharing his gifts with us.  He has impacted our church for Christ, encouraged us, helped to teach our kids, and challenged us along the way.  The Douglass family has been an integral part of our fellowship, they are precious to us, and they will be dearly missed.

God has a great future ahead of each of us if we will only take hold of it.  He knows us, He loves us, and He is shaping us into His image.  It can hurt at times as He molds our sharp edges and stretches us to His will … but there is joy ahead, there is wonder and mercy, and there is hope.  We hold fast to Your promises Lord.

Thank you for our time of fellowship and thank you for Your plans for our future!

 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

If we are open to His leading and looking for His guidance God will redirect and reorient us to His will and show us the way through the wilderness.  We are not yet in the ‘promised land’, we want signs but they are not always provided in our timing or in the way we anticipate.  But God has provided all that we need to follow Him.  We must make the choice to follow Jesus each day, to listen with an open heart and then to act according to the Spirit’s leading.  He offers true life, will you take it?

Genesis 1:1-3

God spoke everything into existence and His creation continues inside us.  God gives us vision and imagination to drive our lives.  He gives us ‘living water’ welling up within us toward eternal life.  We long for and desire meaning and purpose and the things of this world just do not fully satisfy us.  Our savior offers life and hope and a future.  What if we open ourselves up to the Spirit and we receive, believe and accept His vision for us?

Proverbs 16:28, Ephesians 4:29-32, Matthew 18:15-17, Romans 16:17-18, Galatians 5:15-16

Like feathers released from a feather pillow so are words of gossip and slander when they are spread.  It is impossible to undo the harm they cause and return things to their original condition.  Repentance is the path towards growth and health and reconciliation to God.

Honor those who have been put in authority over you for in this way you honor God.  Be accountable to each other and pursue holiness.  Allow the spirit of God to move you into His will and to soften your heart.  God desires that we love one another.

Amos 5:1-15

As Amos told the people we too must have clear eyes about the results of sin.  “Pursue good and not evil so that you may live” and perhaps God will be gracious and save you.  The results of sin are serious and our authentic and committed love, submission and repentance is needed.  Remember who you are looking for.

Genesis 1:3-4

There’s a big difference between walking through the darkness and living in the darkness.  Jesus is the “light of the world” and the “light of life” and we are meant to have His light shining through us.

Luke 5:15-16, Mark 1:35, Genesis 32:22-32, Hebrews 13:15-16

Only when we see God do we see ourselves clearly.  It is both wonderful and terrifying to meet with God.  Our God is interested in not only our happiness but also our holiness.  God is interested in our absolute purity.  What do you need to hear?  What do you need to repent from?  What does God want from you today?  Choose to pray, listen to God and seek His face in the midst of your trial.

Matthew 8:23-27

For the followers of Jesus each event and change can be a sunrise.  The beginning of a new phase bringing hope and renewal.  Often life can seem disorienting and we can become disillusioned as we struggle to see where our path leads.  But Jesus tells us to have faith, He calms the storm, and He brings peace out of the darkness.  Look at Jesus, focus on Him, and put the rest of your plans and expectations in perspective.  The race is now before you … Will you run?  Will you falter?  Will you grow weary and fall away?

The Son is waiting at the edge of the darkness and He is ready to carry you through.

Matthew 16:1-12

When we look at a stormy sky we can anticipate a storm is coming, but when we do not correctly interpret the times we live in we can miss what God is doing.  Do you trust God even when you can’t see how he could use your difficulty or disappointment for future blessing?

Like the pharisees did we can demand signs and clear writing in the sky and miss the grand design he is weaving in our lives.  If what we see doesn’t line up with what we hope for we can choose to ignore the spirit’s leading.  We can let our insecurity get in the way and choose our physical well-being over the narrow road He’s set before us.

Don’t make the mistake of choosing your way over God’s, He’s got an special plan for you and a better way to live!

Luke 12:13-21

In facing his mortality Fritz made a decision and a commitment to study the bible.  That commitment allowed him to finish his race well.  Instead of self-centeredness and dispair this allowed him to exhibit hope and to live with faith.

Godspeed as you join the great cloud of witnesses brother, you will most certainly be missed!