Winter Retreat 2010

Winter Retreat 2010
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Monday, August 31, 2009

Ever wonder when your gonna get to do something?


Prophecy is a tough thing to get. When God would promise to Israel a Messiah, they would end up waiting at least 400 years, and then when Jesus came, they rejected Him as the true Messiah. Prophecy gives us hope, and reminds us that we are not there yet. Sometimes in Christian faith, we only see the waiting on the Lord and His return and we miss the big "metaphorical" elephant staring at us in our face. Our life was dead and without purpose before we were saved. And now with Jesus as our Chief Commander (Lord) and defender (Savior), we have a place to be and a person to be right now. The lie is "you are too young, you aren't ready, you don't know enough, you can't do it!" any of the those phrases echo in your heart when you think of doing something for God? The TRUTH is you can't. But "With God, all things are possible." The TRUTH is God can do anything with someone who wants to be used by God and is listening for His direction. In you heart, in your soul, ask God to show you where He wants you to go, what He wants you to be. Then watch as your life begins to have a clear direction and meaning. "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." - Luke 18:16. You are never too young, never incapable, never lacking when the Spirit of God is alive and living in you. John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."



I said all that to say this. This fall we have a new place for teenagers, parents, and youth workers to plug in and serve. Starting September 14, we are going to have Monday Night Visitation. With 81 members on our Sunday School role, 16 prospects in the past 3 months, we need every one's help in touching each of the families. Our care groups will be helping us make contacts, send cards, visit new prospects and minister to those in our Sunday School. Other areas of service include, volunteer work, leading worship on Wednesday nights, mentoring younger students, and many others. Don't get caught wondering when your gonna get to do something, we can start today.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

2009-2010


Now that's what I'm talking about. We had a great kick-off to the new school year and the new Sunday School Year. This Sunday we will be meeting in our new class rooms. The teachers are getting ready and we are getting set to do Sunday School Right. Truth is Sunday School is just a name, it hasn't been school in years. It actually started as a way to teach reading back in the 1600-1700's. Churches would take the Sunday morning break from working the family farms to teach people to read using the bible. That is how the name got started as Sunday School. Over the years, it has been adapted to be a time of small group fellowship and bible study.
History... I know...Who Cares?
So forget the School, but don't forget to come this Sunday morning at 9am for donuts and a time to get together and talk about the week, see your friends, and definately try to bring a friend. It will be SO worth it.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Its that time of year...

7 days and counting. Have you got your clothes, have you got your supplies, and have you got your schedule? New routines, new teachers, new friends, new desks, new lockers, and new classes can all seem fresh fun and exciting. But it can also make you worry. Well here is on small way to always be reminded of God's promises. Take a look at a dollar bill or any American money. On the coin or paper, it reads, "In God We Trust". Wonder where that phrase came from?

"Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"

Here are 7 suggestions for you to try over the next seven days:
-Try memorizing Psalm 56:4
-Try getting up 30 minutes early each day to read your bible and to memorize God's Word.
-Try sharing your testimony to yourself in the mirror to remind yourself how Awesome God has been in your life
-Find a verse in the Bible that will be your theme for this school year
-Share that verse with your BFF, your parents, your sunday school class and your youth minister
-Try to take an hour sometime this week and just be alone and silent with God. (not a nap, not with background music, not doing anything but alone with God.
-Try telling everyone what that hour was like

All these suggestions may sound a little weird and all since school hasn't started and you really aren't looking forward to homework. But God has promised us blessings, intimacy, and Joy to all who go hard after Him. Spending time with God, reading His word, memorizing scripture, and sharing with others will, I repeat, WILL make life extraordinary, not ordinary. It will be incredible, not detestible. It will be rock, not just roll.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Back to School


1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you

The popular title of the 1980's comedy starring Rodney Dangerfield was a satirical look at college life. The banner "back to school" carries with it a mighty dreadful meaning. Although we can look 0n the bright side and say, "I can't wait to see my friends, to get back into practice, to have something to do during the day". Those are really only part of what we feel when we hear those words, "back to school". There is also the internal bomb warning siren going off in our head saying, "Here comes a new dress code, new teachers (some are boring, unfair, and just like, imperfect), new school rules, new homework, another year of tests, papers, reading assignments, pop quizes, acne, cliques, freshmen, seniors, lunch room food, and that annoying bell tone played over the speakers. We all know that in school as in life, there is good and bad in every corner of life, what makes it all worth while is getting through life with something good. My something good is Jesus Christ. When something good happens, guess who gave it to me? Yep, all good gifts come from the Lord - the bible says. When bad stuff happens? Jesus said I can cast all my cares on Him and He will give me rest. He said His burdens are easy when we trust Him. Jesus is there to help me when the bad comes. So basically the way I see it, and the way scripture reads...No matter what we do, if we are breathing, we should totally and fully turn it all over to Jesus. Then we will get through this life with something good.