When God wants you to get His message, He often sends it in various ways. We are in this series Fearless. The scriptures in my devotional time this morning spoke directly to this. The first was from Psalm 121:1-2: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Jim Coleman, one of the pastors on staff with Dr. Robert Schuler, wrote on that passage:
When we're bombarded or buried with all of our problems, challenges, financial losses, daily pressures, health concerns - the list goes on and on and on - look up! We have a big God. His love, His joy, His mercy is looming in front of you right now. Stop whatever you're doing. Take your focus off your problems. Look up to God - YOU'VE ARRIVED! Your destination, God, is with you always!
I don’t know about you, but I need reminders like that. We have a very Big, Great God. Sometime I allow the situation to blind me of God. Yet, God is always there, if I simply look up.
Then to reinforce His message to me, God sent it again in the Upper Room Scripture of Wednesday, August 18: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2) In order to do that, I have to spend time in God’s Word and Presence each day.
The challenges and fears of this world come at each of us regularly. God has given us a pattern for life that is designed to help us face these challenges. That pattern includes weekly worship with the Body of Christ, personal time in prayer and Bible study, and acts of service in Jesus name. As I worship Christ and spend time with Christ, I am able to lift my eyes to the hills in the confidence that my help does come from the Lord.
Our Children’s Ministry Team has begun a new ministry to help parents and grandparents look up. They have established a Parent’s Book Club and Discussion Blog. The Discussion Blog began this week. It is not too late to pick up a copy of George Barna’s Revolutionary Parenting. You can purchase a copy for $14.00 in the Child Enrichment Center Office or you can order on line at http://tiny.cc/revolutionaryparenting. As you read the book, go on line and join in the on-line discussion. Here is the link to the online discussion Blog: www.kidsrevolutionatgmv.blogspot.com
Some of us are presently participating in a month of prayer for the children. If you picked up a prayer card for a child or teacher, don’t forget to write the child a Prayer Note. Return the Prayer Note to the office, so they can be delivered to the children by the end of the month.
Children’s Choirs and Bible Study begin today. And it’s not too late to join in one the adult studies on Wednesday. Come on out and experience a mid-week recharge.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Bring the Children to Jesus
Every time a child is baptized in our church, these words of Jesus are read; “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:14; RSV) Jesus words remind me of the wonderful privilege and awesome responsibility that we have. The Body of Christ joins with the parents of the child to bring the child to Jesus.
Some of you know that God laid it on my heart to intentionally pray for the children connected to our Church Family. Each morning I pray for a child or two, specifically praying for that child to come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As I began this journey of prayer for the children back in May, God quickly reminded me that I needed to pray for parents as well. While the Body of Christ has a vital role in a child’s coming to faith in Jesus Christ, parents have an even larger role.
To help parents in their role, our Children’s Ministry Team has begun a new ministry. They have begun a Parent’s Book Club and Discussion Blog. The Discussion Blog will begin this coming Monday, August 16. Parent’s are encouraged to read George Barna’s Revolutionary Parenting. You can purchase a copy for $14.00 in the Child Enrichment Center Office or you can order on line at http://tiny.cc/revolutionaryparenting. Then on August 16, you can join in the on-line discussion of chapter 1. Here link to the online discussion Blog: www.kidsrevolutionatgmv.blogspot.com
Some of us are presently participating in a month of prayer for the children. If you picked up a prayer card for a child or teacher, don’t forget to write the child a Prayer Note. Return the Prayer Note to the office, so they can be delivered to the children by the end of the month. The goal was to have the Prayer Notes in the office by August 15.
I’m not sure we realize how many children we presently have the potential of influencing for Christ. We again have over 350 children registered in our Child Enrichment Center. Their classes actually begin August 16th. Some of those children are part of our church family and others are not. In addition, we have some 250 children and youth who are part of our children who will be in elementary, middle or high school. That is 600 children we are praying for this August. Thank you to all who have made the commitment to pray for the children. We do have a few cards that have not been picked up. If you have missed the opportunity to get a Prayer Card for the Children, or would be willing to take another one or two, come by the office.
I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in the Prayer Walk at Snow Rogers School this past Sunday afternoon. I have not heard how it went at every school, but we were greeted` by our own Karen White, who is the principal there. She shared some specific requests for the start of the school year and then we covered the entire facility in prayer. I understand some of our church family made the news Sunday night as ABC 33/40 did a segment on the Prayer Walk at Gardendale High School.
This Monday, August 16, we will have a Prayer Walk before our Child Enrichment Center classes begin. You are invited to join us at 6:30 in the Children’s Dining Room (First Floor) to begin the Prayer Walk. We will finish by 6:55, so the doors can open at 7:00 for the early birds. This is another opportunity to cover children in prayer.
Today, Wednesday, August 11, kicks-off Wednesday Grow. Classes begin at 6:30. There are a variety of growth opportunities in addition to the Fearless Small Groups. Come and join in this time of fellowship and growing. It is another way we participate in building up the body of Christ.
I leave you with thought that was passed on to me by Karen Smith: GOD can turn a MESS into a MESSage, a TEST into a TESTimony, a TRIal into a TRIumph, a VICtim into a VICtory. GOD is GOOD...all the time.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Some of you know that God laid it on my heart to intentionally pray for the children connected to our Church Family. Each morning I pray for a child or two, specifically praying for that child to come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As I began this journey of prayer for the children back in May, God quickly reminded me that I needed to pray for parents as well. While the Body of Christ has a vital role in a child’s coming to faith in Jesus Christ, parents have an even larger role.
To help parents in their role, our Children’s Ministry Team has begun a new ministry. They have begun a Parent’s Book Club and Discussion Blog. The Discussion Blog will begin this coming Monday, August 16. Parent’s are encouraged to read George Barna’s Revolutionary Parenting. You can purchase a copy for $14.00 in the Child Enrichment Center Office or you can order on line at http://tiny.cc/revolutionaryparenting. Then on August 16, you can join in the on-line discussion of chapter 1. Here link to the online discussion Blog: www.kidsrevolutionatgmv.blogspot.com
Some of us are presently participating in a month of prayer for the children. If you picked up a prayer card for a child or teacher, don’t forget to write the child a Prayer Note. Return the Prayer Note to the office, so they can be delivered to the children by the end of the month. The goal was to have the Prayer Notes in the office by August 15.
I’m not sure we realize how many children we presently have the potential of influencing for Christ. We again have over 350 children registered in our Child Enrichment Center. Their classes actually begin August 16th. Some of those children are part of our church family and others are not. In addition, we have some 250 children and youth who are part of our children who will be in elementary, middle or high school. That is 600 children we are praying for this August. Thank you to all who have made the commitment to pray for the children. We do have a few cards that have not been picked up. If you have missed the opportunity to get a Prayer Card for the Children, or would be willing to take another one or two, come by the office.
I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in the Prayer Walk at Snow Rogers School this past Sunday afternoon. I have not heard how it went at every school, but we were greeted` by our own Karen White, who is the principal there. She shared some specific requests for the start of the school year and then we covered the entire facility in prayer. I understand some of our church family made the news Sunday night as ABC 33/40 did a segment on the Prayer Walk at Gardendale High School.
This Monday, August 16, we will have a Prayer Walk before our Child Enrichment Center classes begin. You are invited to join us at 6:30 in the Children’s Dining Room (First Floor) to begin the Prayer Walk. We will finish by 6:55, so the doors can open at 7:00 for the early birds. This is another opportunity to cover children in prayer.
Today, Wednesday, August 11, kicks-off Wednesday Grow. Classes begin at 6:30. There are a variety of growth opportunities in addition to the Fearless Small Groups. Come and join in this time of fellowship and growing. It is another way we participate in building up the body of Christ.
I leave you with thought that was passed on to me by Karen Smith: GOD can turn a MESS into a MESSage, a TEST into a TESTimony, a TRIal into a TRIumph, a VICtim into a VICtory. GOD is GOOD...all the time.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
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