Labor Day

Labor Day is around the corner. That used to mean the end of summer vacation. Now it means that school has been in session for several weeks - we are ready for a break! Use this Labor Day as an opportunity to celebrate the opportunities we have to serve the Lord. It is a privilege and a joy we so often miss because we are not watching for the opportunities we have each day.

Psalm 100:2

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Colossians 3:23–24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Brand New

New crayons, a full bottle of glue, a blank composition notebook, brand new folders, and everything loaded into a new backpack! A new teacher, new classmates, a new grade, and sometimes a new school.  Our backpack giveaway was last night, and it was so much fun to see the excitement of the kids as they picked the new backpack of their choosing, and then looked like Christmas, as they unpacked their bag of supplies custom packed for them, according to their teachers' specific requests.

The Bible has something to say about new beginnings, too:

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Isaiah 43:19 -  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Lamentations 3:22-23 - Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

The new school supplies will get used and wear out. However, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He gives life-changing gifts of freedom to anyone who follows him as Lord and Savior. Unlike our worldly gifts, what He offers is the ultimate gift, the greatest gift of all!

125th Anniversary Reflections

One hundred and twenty five years. That seems like a lot. Many people have passed through the doors of our church in those years. Many have found salvation in Christ, seen their lives and families transformed by His grace, worshiped the Savior, and served the Lord through all those years. Celebrating our anniversary July 27 was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and give thanks for all the ways that God has worked in and through the congregation of our church.

God has exciting days ahead for us. People all around NHBC and our world need to know the love of Christ. That's our focus. That's our call. That's our vision - to Love God, Love People, and Grow Together.

I can't wait to see what God is going to do in year 126!

Different, yet same

What a wonderful two weeks of VBS we had. It's hard to believe they are both already over. Since we have one at church, and one at an apartment complex, they are VERY different. Tons of kids and workers vs. a handful of workers and a few kids; rooms all over the church, decorated and in use compared to one room for all; three hours for five days instead of two hours for three days--just to name a few. However, the message is the same for both...the message of Jesus--a real man who loved us and died for us, and the redemption that can be ours. And the kids are ultimately the same....just like us, in need of a Savior. It doesn't matter if they've heard of Him, have a church home, or what their family life is like.

Just as these two VBS weeks differ, everywhere we look in the world, we see change and inconsistences. What a blessing to know that Jesus NEVER changes. "Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows" (James 1:17)." "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Big church, small church, blended family, raised in church or not, young, old, male, female....it just doesn't matter. We've all sinned. We're all condemned on our own. But the wonderful news is...He died for all, and desires that no one perishes. It truly is the good news of the gospel!!!!

On Mission

In their publication Assisting You and Your Church to be Totally His, the International Mission Board offers suggestions on ways that everyone can be involved in sharing the Gospel of Christ with our world. Those suggestions include:

Embracing People Groups - of the 11,000 people groups identified in the world, the IMB estimates that 6405 of them have less than 2 percent of their population who are evangelical Christians. Approximately 3100 of these groups have no evangelical presence at all. Embracing one of these people groups means partnering with the IMB to develop strategies to reach them for Christ. You can find out more at www.call2embrace.org.

Prayer - pray specifically for people groups and those seeking to reach them. You can learn more by using the CompassionNet App available for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

Give to Make a Difference - giving generously through the Cooperative Program, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the Annie Armstrong Mission Offering, and other mission giving opportunities allows missionaries to focus their energies on sharing Christ with those who do not know Him. You can find out more at www.imb.org/main/give.

Meet Human Needs - Through caring for physical as well as spiritual needs, we follow the example of Jesus. You can find out ways to help at www.worldhunger.imb.org.

Join the Journey - multiple opportunities exist for both short term and long term mission endeavors. Watch for opportunities here at NHBC, such as the GCBA Guadalajara Mission Trip each July, the Taiwan Mission Trip in the Summer of 2016, and local missions through our partnerships with Lifebuilders Ministries and Fremont School. You can also discover opportunities at www.imb.org/lead.

Find your place to be On Mission with Christ!

Showers of Blessing

I love the short, easy rains we’ve been having lately.

The sun shines brightly on the flowers and leaves, making them sparkle like diamonds, and must’ve inspired the writer of “My Favorite Things” (raindrops on roses…..)

The humidity lifts and oftentimes a cool breeze blows in.

Bright rainbows shine in the sky, reminding us that God keeps His promises.

The grass seems to turn greener right before our eyes.

You want to stay out in it, and your thoughts turn to yet another song, “Just Singin’ in the Rain.”

What a blessing God has given us, yet it is so easy to take for granted. Job 5:10 (NIV) "He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside.” Maybe I need to find some puddles to jump in….makes me smile, just thinking about it!

Consider the Lilies

Shortly after my mother died, it was time to cut back the lilies, which were no longer blooming. God spoke to me about how though currently unseen, my mother still lived, and I would see her again, just like the lilies.

Recently, the lily greenery started poking through the soil, and has filled in quite nicely. Each day, I look expectantly, waiting to see the blooms show up, and the various colors make their appearances, but there's nothing yet.

One day while looking out, God spoke to me, asking if I was looking for Him just as anxiously and expectantly. Sometimes our prayers are like that, too. We look each day, but it appears as nothing is happening. We grow weary with anticipation, and begin to wonder if we'll ever see the answer. But
Hebrews 10:23 tells us: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

God must've known our impatient hearts, and tells us repeatedly to 'hold on.'

Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

 

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.

 

Conversely.....I must ask myself......Is God waiting on me?.......