Amazing Things Happen on the Other Side of Yes
The season is a bit magical to say the least - I am so excited about these coming days and our services ahead. Our choir and band, drama team, children and dancers are all working so hard. These days are great and the the chilly nights and the rainfall make us think that winter is here - but turning on the news and seeing people buried in snow makes us realize that winter rarely comes to our area. Someone visiting here recently who was from another part of the country stated: Why are you sharing about the church heater? Where I live we don't even warm the house when it is this mild!"
This week so much is happening in and through LFC.
Free Gift Wrapping takes place, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Wal-Mart and is provided by the people of LFC to simply share the love of God with no strings attached.
Thursday Night is our LFC Christmas Eve Service Rehearsal.
Sunday am we have Two Services. (no 8:00 AM) and a Christmas Eve Service at 6:00 PM
Monday Night we have two Christmas Eve Services at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
These events are enough to warm your heart - regardless of the temperature outside. And they are enough to not only become gifts to you but those you can invite to come with you. Think of people you could bring with you this Sunday to our AM services or to our first Christmas Eve service at 7:00 PM or the two on Monday at 6:00 and 8:00 pm. I am certain God has been working on their hearts and they are probably waiting for someone to invite them. I just say someone tonight at a community function I attended and they asked me what our services were about and when they were being held. They said: "normally we get invited by friends, but this year no one invited us!" Wow. You could bring a great gift into their lives by bringing them with you and we promise to do all we can to make them feel at home with no pressure. It may be that these services become the first of many they attend. This would be a great gift to them.
But what about gifts - gifts that are beyond this season:
I began to think about the Savior and how He is the gift Gifts that last the whole year through… You could make a great list I am sure, but here are some I thought of as they pertain to those with families and those who are single as well. Our children and our youth.The Gift of love: People want to know and sense they are loved. I encourage you to ask God to help you find ways to show others you love them. God's love to us at this season is underscored in the birth of Jesus but also all year long. He is crazy about you and the people you attempt to love. Go for it - pour out some love. The Gift of respect: This goes deep - where we respect others and care for them by protecting their name and honor. The old phrase: "I got your back" is a great one and really comes to light in how we respect and protect others. The Gift of serving others: LFC is a place where people's gifts are celebrated and we desire people to use what God has given them to serve others. Gift of relationship: Our design is to create more opportunities as a church for you to build relationships with others. However, you should never wait for relationship to be announced or dependent upon program. Reach out to others you do not know. Invite someone to coffee or lunch after church with you. If you are on a ministry team, let them shadow you in your ministry. Even if their gifts don't match yours or the team you are on - they can still catch the heart behind serving and learn much from what you do.
Every time I read the following passage, it speaks afresh to my heart, what I must do in order to love others. This type of living is a gift that goes beyond Christmas and lasts all year long.
Ephesians 4:29 - 32Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)
The season is a bit magical to say the least - I am so excited about these coming days and our services ahead. Our choir and band, drama team, children and dancers are all working so hard. These days are great and the the chilly nights and the rainfall make us think that winter is here - but turning on the news and seeing people buried in snow makes us realize that winter rarely comes to our area. Someone visiting here recently who was from another part of the country stated: Why are you sharing about the church heater? Where I live we don't even warm the house when it is this mild!"
This week so much is happening in and through LFC.
Free Gift Wrapping takes place, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Wal-Mart and is provided by the people of LFC to simply share the love of God with no strings attached.
Thursday Night is our LFC Christmas Eve Service Rehearsal.
Sunday am we have Two Services. (no 8:00 AM) and a Christmas Eve Service at 6:00 PM
Monday Night we have two Christmas Eve Services at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
These events are enough to warm your heart - regardless of the temperature outside. And they are enough to not only become gifts to you but those you can invite to come with you. Think of people you could bring with you this Sunday to our AM services or to our first Christmas Eve service at 7:00 PM or the two on Monday at 6:00 and 8:00 pm. I am certain God has been working on their hearts and they are probably waiting for someone to invite them. I just say someone tonight at a community function I attended and they asked me what our services were about and when they were being held. They said: "normally we get invited by friends, but this year no one invited us!" Wow. You could bring a great gift into their lives by bringing them with you and we promise to do all we can to make them feel at home with no pressure. It may be that these services become the first of many they attend. This would be a great gift to them.
But what about gifts - gifts that are beyond this season:
I began to think about the Savior and how He is the gift Gifts that last the whole year through… You could make a great list I am sure, but here are some I thought of as they pertain to those with families and those who are single as well. Our children and our youth.The Gift of love: People want to know and sense they are loved. I encourage you to ask God to help you find ways to show others you love them. God's love to us at this season is underscored in the birth of Jesus but also all year long. He is crazy about you and the people you attempt to love. Go for it - pour out some love. The Gift of respect: This goes deep - where we respect others and care for them by protecting their name and honor. The old phrase: "I got your back" is a great one and really comes to light in how we respect and protect others. The Gift of serving others: LFC is a place where people's gifts are celebrated and we desire people to use what God has given them to serve others. Gift of relationship: Our design is to create more opportunities as a church for you to build relationships with others. However, you should never wait for relationship to be announced or dependent upon program. Reach out to others you do not know. Invite someone to coffee or lunch after church with you. If you are on a ministry team, let them shadow you in your ministry. Even if their gifts don't match yours or the team you are on - they can still catch the heart behind serving and learn much from what you do.
Every time I read the following passage, it speaks afresh to my heart, what I must do in order to love others. This type of living is a gift that goes beyond Christmas and lasts all year long.
Ephesians 4:29 - 32Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)
Gift of God's presence : God is always with us! What a gift. I know we pray and ask for His presence but I am well aware, He promises to always be with us. He is a great God.
Questions to ponder: How you can share, and serve and be better connected to others?What teams you can joinWhat ways can venture out of where you are?
Join a small group or Life Transformation Group
Begin to Journal in a Life Journal following our daily bible reading plan. Join with others and journal together.
Serve others by parking away from the church at city hall on Sunday and making room for others who need to park closer to the church or who are first time guests. Go ahead and step out - serve, give, share, pray and say to God: Go ahead and tell the Lord; Be it done to me just as you say! Ask God what He would have you do and keep saying YES to Him. Amazing things happen on the other side of YES.
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