 Dear Church Family:
What does “Spiritual Discipline” mean to a Christian today? In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12, emphasis added) On an initial reading, this passage may seem somewhat contradictory when compared against what Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9 “for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” The core of the issue is this: when a person confesses Christ, they are immediately saved (Romans 10:9-10). However, your spiritual development is a process that will continue throughout your entire life! That is why the classical spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading the scriptures, and gathering with the community of believers are so important! Right now, we are unable to practice the third discipline, but please do not let that limit the others! Until that time that we can return to our community and continuing long after, “work out your salvation” by spending your time in prayer and scripture. God bless! Pastor Jared
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 Dear Church Family:
The Father is your Number One Fan! Holly Woodbridge Romans 8 - God’s Love in Christ Jesus 31 So what should we say about this? If God is for us, then no one can defeat us. 32 God let even his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people that God has chosen? No one! God is the One who makes them right. 34 Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is on God’s right side and is begging God for us. 35 Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can troubles or problems or sufferings? If we have no food or clothes, if we are in danger, or even if death comes—can any of these things separate us from Christ’s love? 36 As it is written in the Scriptures: “For you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.” (Psalm 44:22) 37 But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us. 38-39 Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from the love God has for us. Not death, not life, not angels, not ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, or anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I played competitive volleyball for all of my high school and college experience. It was a major part of my life at that time. I enjoyed the teamwork and the year round physical challenge it provided. We were good. But, as much as I enjoyed it, I think my dad may have enjoyed it more. When I was attending Eastern Nazarene College, he would travel an hour or more one way just to see me play. I can still hear him cheering. No matter how loud the crowd got, my dad was the loudest. And I loved it. And I knew I was loved. We often hear about that cloud of witnesses that is cheering us on in Hebrews 12. What a great picture that is! What a great encouragement! But, I want you to know there is a more wonderful voice that is cheering above the rest. It is your Father, and with a thunderous roar, He exclaims. “ I AM FOR YOU!” That is the voice that keeps me going, that helps me to press on, that fills me with a power that is not my own, that brings hope from despair. My God is for me! He is for me! And He is for you, too!  Dear Church Family:
For many people this time of physical distancing brings us more opportunities to be alone with our own thoughts than we have ever experienced before. Many folks throughout history have described the mind as being like an untamed monkey. You should see how the neurons and synapses of Pastor Donny are twirling and swirling around his brain cage this morning as he merely attempts to write this devotional. Worse yet, I haven’t even turned on the coffee pot so far. Boy, are you folks in for it today- Ha! Ha! I am approaching this subject with some levity but for many people too much time alone with their own thoughts can be a bit of a scary thing. I can focus on my disappointments of all the things my family is missing out on right now. I can focus on the fears of what may be happening in our world just around the corner that I cannot see. All of a sudden my chaotic thoughts turn my mind into a dark prison and I cry, Ahhh!!! Who can deliver me from the bondage of being inside my own head! The apostle Paul recommends a different path for the people of God. He beckons us to “Take every thought captive to the knowledge of Christ”. He urges us in Romans 12:2 to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds”. He uses a word in this passage that pictures the amazing transformation a caterpillar goes through in becoming a butterfly. It is an exquisite portrayal of what happens to us spiritually when we allow God to move within our thoughts. We can begin together to have the mind of Christ. We begin to experience transformation from the inside out, we become more beautiful, and we are set free from the prison our minds can sometimes become. I encourage you to begin your day offering to God as an act of worship. I encourage you to end your day allowing God to gently walk you through the paths where your mind has taken you the past 24 hours. I encourage you throughout your day to capture moments for the scriptures or songs of praise to wash over you. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”. My prayer for you is that you will claim that as your birthright today. Amen! Pastor Donny Notice:
Cecil Wichert's funeral will be held at Wanamaker Woods on Monday at 10:00 AM. Anyone is welcome to attend as long as they practice social distancing as families. Dear Church Family:
Trust the Word! The Word is Jesus, the Son of God, who is the true living Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3) He is our true source of truth, wisdom, holiness and goodness who was, is and forever will be faithful to those who receive Him and regard Him as Savior and Lord; the Living Word. And though the words of men may fail us, may fade away, or are often foolish in nature, God’s Word, Jesus Christ; is Holy and forever true to us. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) So regardless of the world situations, let us hold true to the one who came to give us life. A life that Christ died for on the Cross, as he looked past the Cross to give you and I a place in His Kingdom; Heaven, for all eternity, if we simply believe on His name, Jesus, as our Savior and Lord. So “ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer” (2 Tim. 2:15). May God Bless you and keep you in His precious Love, Grace and Peace as we travel through this valley together to the other side. Pastor Jerry Dear Church Family:
The New Normal: I am starting to dislike that term “the New Normal.” Sometimes I don’t really know what is supposed to be normal anymore. Things seem to change minute by minute, day by day, and week to week. I sometimes long for the days that I just got up and got ready and drove to work without ever worrying about wearing a mask or worrying about going to the store or shaking hands or giving someone a hug! I miss people that I used to see every day. I miss having the freedom to just have a BBQ if I wanted to. I miss having my life group face to face. I’m tired of not knowing who to believe. Which media is telling the truth and I’m tired of Zoom and emails and texts and, and, and… I got to thinking about this and how my attitude wants to be negative all the time. I decided that only I can change my attitude and start looking at all the good things that have come from all this! I’m not sure about all that is happening in our world today, but the one thing that I am sure of is that my God is the same yesterday, today and forever. I am sure that He has a plan in all of this. I am sure that the Word of God is the truth. I am sure that His promises are new every morning; that He tells me that I can count on Him to supply all my needs. I am sure that He is the forgiver of my sins and they are as far as the east is from the west and that they are buried in the sea of forgetfulness, never to be remembered anymore, and I am sure that He gave His life for me so that I could have eternal life! I am sure that I serve a risen Lord and that He is my closest friend! I am sure that it has given me the perfect opportunity to once again talk to my loved ones about the importance of living for Christ. I am sure that it has forced me back into a routine of devotions that I was getting too busy to do. I am sure that it has given me the opportunity also to get some of my “to do” lists done! I am sure it has also slowed me down enough to once again enjoy the little things of life, like the antics of my 4 year old granddaughter and the sweet smile of my youngest grandbaby! Like the birds singing in the trees in the early morning, or the crickets and the frogs chirping at night. It’s helped me to be thankful for a new day to enjoy a time of renewed communication with my Lord as I sit on my porch in the early mornings. Sure, things aren’t like I like them right now but when put into perspective there is so much that I can be thankful for! Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; Make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; Tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who see the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders His has done, His miracles and the judgements He pronounced, O descendants of Abraham His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones, He is the Lord our God; His judgements are in all the earth. Psalm 105:1-7 How about you? Are you looking at all the things that you can’t really control or are you enjoying the things that you can control that will enrich your life and make you stronger? May we all turn our eyes upon Jesus just like the song by Lauren Daigle says: Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace Oh soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free His word shall not fail you, He promised Believe Him and all will be well Then go to a world that is dying His perfect salvation to tell Oh, turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face Oh, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace Pastor Fran |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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