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In the midst of a world clamoring for our attention, it's crucial to stay focused on Jesus and the unique purpose and plan God has for each of us in His grand story. We must resist the distractions and stay committed to what truly matters.
Whether we realize it or not, we all look up to someone or something in our lives. God wants us to have leaders, but it's important that these leaders reflect the heart and values of God. King David was called a man after God’s own heart. Those we follow ought to have the same heart for the things of God.
There is no greater way to get to know God, His character, His Nature, His goodness, and the life He has for you than reading His Living Word. And yet most people don’t do it. We have access to God’s Word and yet either don’t take time to do it or when we try, we don’t really understand it. That’’s why we’re taking time to get to the basics, the basics of getting closer to God through His Word.
As the summer heats up and we’re reminded to drink more water to stay hydrated, let's also consider how we're nourishing our spiritual lives. Just as our bodies need water, our souls need the living water offered by Jesus to stay refreshed and thriving.
In His loving wisdom, God bestows upon us our weaknesses just as He blesses us with our strengths. In God's grand design, where the most cherished outcome is “faith working through love,” our weaknesses become valuable assets—akin to unique talents—that we are called to nurture and develop. Sometimes, the most precious gift God has entrusted to us isn't a strength, but a weakness. To truly embrace and appreciate our weaknesses as gifts, we need to understand where Scripture illuminates this profound truth.
How do you define your hope? Hope, for believers, radiates from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our beacon in the darkest of times. In His sacrifice for our sins, we find the eternal promise of redemption and the unwavering assurance that light will always conquer darkness.
In the anticipation of Jesus' promised return, we navigate a delicate balance between living with the wisdom of readiness and potentially slipping into complacency. As we remain in this "stay tuned" period, the call to prepare ourselves spiritually resonates, urging us to stay vigilant and steadfast in our faith.
Our journey as Christians through the ups and downs of life can be as grueling as hiking a tall mountain. But when we rely on the help and support of Jesus, we know that he will carry us through ever scenario we may encounter. Over time, we too, come to realize that God is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work wihtin us. We can persevere because of him.
Have you ever been to a retreat or a training program where they had you do the trust fall? The trust fall is where you trust that when you fall backward the people behind you will catch you. It is hard to put ourselves completely into the hands of others, no matter what the situation is or who the people are. We like to be in control. But the Christian faith is fundamentally based on our reliance on another, Jesus, for our fiuture and our entire lives and our salvation.
The word love is most associated with romantic feelings, but what has to be remembered in the season of Lent when we focus on Jesus is that we are talking about agape love— sacrificial love that gives completely for another, a love that never lets go or changes. Lent becomes a time when as we draw closer to Christ and closer to one another in a love that lasts forever.
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WORSHIP GATHERINGS:
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. 835 Riverside Avenue Torrington, CT 06790 See our regathering info here PHONE (860) 482-4705 OFFICE EMAIL [email protected] |