Remember

Did I? I can't tell you how many times I have headed away from the house and then had the thought....did I unplug the curling iron? Why do I struggle with remembering whether or not I did it? It's because I use it day in and day out, and 99.9% of the time always remember to unplug it. But there's always the thought that one day I might forget, burn our house down, catch the neighbor's house on fire, and suddenly the houses on our side of the street are gone, and we are featured on the 6 o'clock news. And oh, by the way, no one in the neighborhood ever speaks to me again.

We do many of those things each day as just a part of our daily life. Do you actually remember putting the key in the ignition and starting your car, saying goodbye when you hung up the phone, or putting toothpaste on your toothbrush? Rarely. But it happens because it is part of living. It is just NORMAL.

We should live the Christian life in much the same way, not having to think, "Did I live for Jesus today? Did I seek to glorify Him by my thoughts, words and actions?" It should be a part of who we are and how we live each and every day. And it is vitally important.... forgetting not only endangers our spiritual walk, but that of others around us. God never forgets about us for a second, and we should follow His example in return, in all our ways, letting Him direct our paths.

Never Alone

When I was in elementary school, I was the last one to leave the house. My parents went to work, my sister caught the bus to her school, but I walked to my school located just two blocks from our home.

The school did not open to students until thirty minutes before school began, which meant I spent roughly fifteen minutes in my house alone. In those fifteen minutes, my mind conjured up every possible disaster that could occur, usually focusing on an escaped prisoner breaking into our home to kidnap any children waiting to go to school. I'm not sure why an escaped prisoner would choose my house, but in my third grade mind, it made perfect sense. Those fifteen minutes would seem like fifteen hours.

No one likes to be alone, especially in times of distress. Jesus knew that his disciples would face many difficult days. He also knew that they would not face them alone.

Neither do we. In Christ, we share the same promise found in John 14:16-18. This Sunday, discover the reality that even in your darkest moments you are not alone!

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Definition

I was never very good at vocabulary tests. My teacher found so many words I did not know, I believed I should be getting foreign language credit for my English class. For some reason I struggled with remembering all the words and their meaning. My teacher suggested that I kept the definitions as simple as possible. I kept it really simple - I didn't know any of them.

In Philippians 3:10-11, Paul defines the Christian life. Join us this Sunday as we realize the high calling we all share in Jesus.

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Treasure Hunt

NASA is planning to send a mission to an asteroid worth an estimated $10,000 quadrillion. That's $10,000 with fifteen more zeros. Scientists believe the asteroid, roughly the size of Massachusetts, is made completely of metal, perhaps formed from the core of a former planet that blew apart sometime in the past. The metal, primarily iron and nickel, is estimated to be worth this enormous fortune. Just one problem - we currently have no way to get the metal back to Earth. Details, details.....

Paul knew a thing or two about treasure. He came to understand the value of what he had in Christ, a truth that transformed his life, and will transform ours (Philippians 3:7-8).

Join us this Sunday for a treasure hunt like no other!

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Happy

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” - Abraham Lincoln

"The banjo is such a happy instrument--you can't play a sad song on the banjo - it always comes out so cheerful." - Steve Martin

"Because I'm happy." - Pharrell Williams, from the song Happy

"Don't worry; be happy." - Bobby McFerrin from the song of the same name

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family . . . in another city.” - George Burns

Apparently, there are many opinions on where to find happiness, even on what happiness is. Fortunately, the Bible identifies where true joy is found in Philippians 3:1. Join us this Sunday to discover where you can find real happiness.

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Christmas Continues

All the decorations are down, there's no more Christmas music, and the stores are full of Valentine and Easter merchandise. By all appearances, Christmas is over. But is it? No.

The Christmas season is over, according to the man-made calendar, but we can (and should) continue all year to rejoice in the fact of what we celebrate. There is STILL Joy to the world, scriptures tell us to rejoice in numerous verses, and we STILL need to go tell it on the (mountain). Let's remember that Emmanuel (meaning God is with us) is true not just in the Christmas season, but every second of every day, all year. What a wonderful truth.

Lemonade, Anyone?

We've all seen the poster - "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." The poster includes a drawing of a man being hit in the head with an avalanche of lemons, but lemonade is pouring out of his nose which is shaped like a faucet.

I get the message, but if it's alright with you, I'm not drinking that lemonade.

Paul's message in Philippians 2:17-18 fortunately makes more sense than turning the difficulties of life into nostril juice. Paul faced his share of challenges in life, but learned the secret of finding joy even in the midst of discouragement.

We can, too. Join us this Sunday to learn this vital truth (I promise, we won't serve lemonade).

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