More About the Clarion Church of God...

When visiting our church, please fill out a Friendship & Communication card that is located in back of each pew; place it in the offering plate or hand it to an Usher.
Also, for those worshiping with us for the first time... we have a gift for you. Please stop @ the Welcome Center in the Narthex by the Main Entrance to pick it up.


Sunday, September 28, 2014

Monthly Planner - October 2014

October is Pastor's Appreciation Month... 
Thank You Pastor Bruce & Judy for all you do!!

1 - Ladies Bible Study
2 - 
3 - G.A. - Play Group Family @ 5:30pm
4 - G.A.
5 - Sunday School @ 9am - Worship @ 10am - Jr.Youth @ 6pm - Sr.Youth @ 6pm - Hazlett's Ladies Bible Study @ 6pm - Young Adult Bible Study @ 7pm 
6 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Ladies Bible Study @ the Church @ 7pm - Mens Bible Study @ 7pm
7 - Play Group @ 10am
8 - Ladies Bible Study @ 7pm @ the Church
9 -
10 -
11 - Ladies Prayer Mtg. 11am - 1pm -- Young Adult Event @ 6pm
12 - Sunday School @ 9am - Worship @ 10am - Jr.Youth @ 6pm - Sr.Youth @ 6pm - Budget & Blessing Mtg. @ 6pm - Young Adult Bible Study @ 7pm 
13 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Ladies Bible Study @ 7pm - Mens Bible Study @ 7pm
14 - Play Group @ 10am
15 - Ladies Bible Study @ 7pm
16 - Growth Mtg. @ 7pm
17 - Parents Night Out 6 - 10pm
18 -
19 - Sunday School @ 9am - Worship @ 10am - Jr.Youth @ 6pm - Sr.Youth @ 6pm - Hazlett's Ladies Bible Study @ 6pm - Young Adult Bible Study @ 7pm 
20 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Ladies & Mens Bible Studies @ 7pm Joe's Gym
21 - Play Group @ 10am - Ladies Night Out @ 6pm
22 - Ladies Bible Study @ 7pm
23 -
24 -
25 - Dominican Mission Trip
26 - Sunday School @ 9am - Worship @ 10am w/Angela Mitchel preaching - Jr.Youth @ 6pm - Sr.Youth going to the Corn Maze @ 1pm - Ladies Bible Study @ 6pm - Young Adult Bible Study @ 7pm 
27 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Ladies Bible Study @ 7pm - Mens Bible Study @ 7pm
28 - Play Group @ 10am
29 - Ladies Bible Study @ 7pm
30 - Trunk or Treat @ the Church
31 - Ladies Night Out Halloween Party

Prayer Concerns - October 2014

Most Recent Concerns

10/29 - Karson Ochs (Janet Norris's granddaughter) - had surgery -  it went well, but post op found fluid on her lungs - she is now on oxygen - continue to pray for this little one & her Mom and Dad
10/28 - Haley Masnica (22 months old) - taken to Childrens Hospital for breathing difficulties - please remember her parents also
10/27 - Ann Bailey - is in alot of pain today/her blood pressure is high - please remember Mike in your prayers also
10/24 - request from Heather Preston... Jamie's cousin - Rob Pennington (age 40) died last night from blood clot in the lung 
10-24 - Tammy McClaine - Unspoken prayer for a close family friend -  please remember me too as I want to be supportive as the friend they need in this situation
10/21 -  three year old Selah - she has malaria
10/17 -  Cindy Criley (Sharon Frederick's sister) - going for another biopsy on Monday at the Butler Hospital
10/14 - Donnie Graham (Janet Norris's grandson) - Lyme's Disease - getting a spinal tap Tuesday
10/14 - Deb Ochs (Janet Norris's daughter) - liver issues  
10/14 - Karson Ochs - having  a clef palate repaired on the 29th
10/14 - Jud Graham (Janet Norris's grandson) - going to rehab Tuesday
10/14 - Raelynn Crowe (a young girl from Burnside & friends of Clyde & Trish) - has been having seizures  
9/25 - Terry Aites - came home Wednesday & is doing well - continue to pray for Terry/Deb/ Emily - praise the Lord for this gift that Terry received!!
9/25 - Shirley Aites - is expected to come home Friday - continue to pray for Shirley & her recovery
9/25 - Brad Harriger - has been transported to Clarion Hospital - this is alot closer for Maxine & other family/friends to visit him - continue to pray for Brad

Prayer Concerns
Burden for the Lost - Our Government & Leaders (local, state, national) -  Donna Oberlander (State Rep) - President of the U.S. - Spiritual Growth for our church family  - The Unsaved - Our Community - Other Churches in our Community - Our Military - Our College Students - Unspoken - Construction workers & Delta Contractors @ Trinity Point - Building the Trinity Point Facility

Terry Aites (kidney transplant recovery 9/18) - Arianna Evans - Phyllis Traister - DuWayne & Thelma Miller - Melissa McCloskey (cancer) - Dave & Debbie Jordan - Clarence & Shirley Evans - Jessica Henry (MS & Chemo treatments) - Don Barger - Mike Roach (cancer Pastor & Judy's brother-in-law) - Nancy Yates - Pat Radaker - Vonnie Tiley - Jean Johns - Tom Buzard (cancer/Park Hill Congregation) - Pastor Bruce's Family (loss of Mayme Wilson) - Karson Ochs - Evan Miller (MS) - Dixie Wentling - Lynne Walters - Sally Barger - Don Cloak - Brad Harriger - Shirley Aites (recovery) - Cindy Criley - Russ Reefer (cancer) - Mike Bailey

Missions and Outreach
Whitehall Camp & Conference Center  - AAA Life Services - WPA Ministries of the COG - COG Ministries Anderson, IND - Food For Friends - Koinonia (CUP campus) - Alyssa Cooper Sande (Africa) - Jessica Wilson (Dominican Republic) - Clarion Ministerium - Rebecca New-Edson (WPA COG Ministries Dir.) - Rev. Jim Lyon (Gen. Director Elect) - Leonel (Dominican) Village 51 (Dominican) - Persecuted Christians 

Nursing/Personal Care Home/Rehab Patients
Edna Burford - Golden Living Shippenville
Pearl Manross - Golden Living Shippenville
Mary McGonagel - Golden Living Shippenville
Loretta Wedekind - Golden Living Clarion
Sue Foust - Laurel Brook Brookville
Alice Ferguson - Laurel Brook Brookville

Ministries & Leaders of Our Congregation
Children & Youth Ministries - Our Boards & Committees - Sunday School - Sunday Worship Services - Pastor Bruce & Family - Church Staff - Women's Ministries

Bulletin Announcements - October 2104

If you are new to Liberty Street C.O. G. (in your mailbox is a blue sheet with needed family information). Please place these in the secretary's mailbox.  The church mailboxes are located in the Narthex & arranged alphabetically.  Please check your mailboxes for information we may have placed in there.  If you are unsure if you have a mailbox, or you do not have a mailbox & want one, call Tammy @ 814 - 226 - 8672. You are important to us & we need to keep you updated on all activities!

For all that have a computer... go to the Church Blog for your October Newsletter. You can find us @ www.clarionchurchofgod.blogspot.com.  Subscribe to the church blog, & all posts/updates will be delivered right to your email address Inbox.
Also, we have Sunday School classes for all ages.  Nursery , Preschool, K-2nd, 3rd - 5th, Jr. Youth, Sr. Youth & 3 Adult classes... check us out today!

How to go Online to see the Church Directory....
To see the Church Directory online we have to go thru the blog b/c the directory is a PDF file.  First go to www.clarionchurchofgod.blogspot.com & http://directory.instantchurchdirectory.com/73945862/churchdirectory.pdf.   then scroll down until you see the link to the Church Directory.  You will need to call the Church Office @ 226-8672 to get the password.  This is due to your privacy.  You may also load an APP for your smartphone.  In the APP's, search for instantchurchdirectory & follow the instructions to download.  If you wish to have a printed hard copy, contact Tammy in the Church Office.  This is an ongoing process as we add new families weekly.  Please let us know of any updates or corrections.



We are offering a "Live Worship Telecast" in the Fellowship Hall to help accommodate the seating needs of our growing church!  Praise the Lord!  Anyone is welcome to check it out & share in this new Worship extension.   With video recording of the service in this way, we will also be able to improve our outreach to our shut-ins by giving them our worship on DVD. Finally, if you are absent from church on Sunday & would like a copy of any of our Sunday morning sermons, please call the church office. We would be happy to send you one. 

WWCH Channel 1300 on AM Broadcasting @ 11AM every Sunday...  The first Sunday of every month a pre-recorded service from Liberty Street Church of God with Pastor Bruce will be heard.  If you are unable to attend church on any Sunday morning, tune in to AM 1300.

WEATHER CANCELLATION - if we have bad weather or if it is calling for bad weather, please go to radio station WCCR 1300 AM for church cancellations.  We will also put out cancellations by email.

Group Activities:
Jr. Youth Group (4- 6th grade)... Sunday nights @ 6PM
Youth Group (7-12th grade)... Sunday night @ 6PM
Men’s Group - every Monday night @ Joe's Gym (ended April/restarts in the Fall)
Ladies Nite Out - 4th Tuesday of the month from 6-8PM
Parent's Night Out - 3rd Friday of the month from 6 - 10PM (ends in May/restarts Fall)

Fellowship Opportunities  & September Special Events 
Be sure to check your email & the Church Blog!!


Sunday School Teachers 2014 - 2015:
Age 0 - 3yrs. - Nursery... Maxine Harriger, Janet NOrris, Diane Conner
Age 4 - K  - PreSchool... Haley Jeannerat & Kaylee Ferguson
Grade 1 - 2 - Primary... Dawn Christie & Cindy Emery
Grades 3 - 4 - Middler... Bridget Thornton & Becky Johnson
Grades 5 - 6 Junior... Karen Hazlett & Tammy Lerch
Grades 7 - 12 Youth... Sam & Karla WIlson & Judy Wilson
Adult Sunday School Classes -  
Adult 1 - Prayer Room - Beth Henry & Dale Buchwitz
Adult 2 - Education Wing - Joe Ferguson & Jacqueline Marrone
Adult 3 - Kitchen Area - Mike Bailey & Dale Buchwitz
Homebuilders - Matt & Jenny Bates & Brian & Kelly Burford
New Sunday School Class...  Post High School, College, & Young Adults will meet @ 9AM @ the Parsonage.  Jess Wilson & Sam Wilson will be leading.  
Also a new Bible Study for this age group will begin Sunday night 9/14 @ 7PM.  Bring a friend!

FYI: Sunday School bells ring @ the following times... 
1st bell @ 8:55am & then again @ 9:00am - Sunday School begins @ 9:00am
2nd bell @ 9:45am & then again @ 9:50am - Worship begins @ 10:00am

General Announcements:

October is Pastor’s Appreciation Month. This is a global celebration month.   Ideas:  Prayers, Cards, Gift Cards, Food, Monetary Gifts. 

The Congregation approved Angela Mitchel for the position of Associate Pastor on Sunday, 9/14/14.  Angela joined us in October.

October 11th - Ladies Prayer Meeting @ 11AM - 1PM - If you are or would like to be a part of a Ladies Prayer Ministry, you are invited to attend.

October 12th - Annual Church Blessing & Budget Meeting

October 17th - 6-10pm -- Parents Night Out -- Sign up sheet in the Welcome Center

October 21 @ 6pm -  Ladies Night Out Halloween Party - bring a snack to share - dress in your old clothes & if you have a phone that takes pictures bring it with you.   Fun! Fun! Fun!

October 25 - 26th - Whitehall Camp for Girls Only (7-12) "Sweetly Broken Freely Loved" - $35 will need to be paid by those attending.  Registration 10/25 @ 2pm - pickup 10/26 @ 4pm.  Special Speaker, Danielle Barlett (Senior from Grove City College/World Traveler).  For more info & to register... go to www.whitehallcamp.org.  This is your own registration.  The Church Office will not be taking applications to mail in.  

October 30th - Trunk-or-Treat @ the Church - a twist on traditional Trick-or-Treat - decorate your car trunk w/a theme & have candy to give to the kids. If you cann't decorate your car & give out candy but would like too donate candy, please place it in the container in the Narthex. 

The Fruit of the Spirit Food Pantry...
It takes a village:  We can have a mission service right here in our own community!  Help! To make the Fruit of the Spirit Food Pantry happen the following needs to happen...

Collection of the following items:
Cannned meats-tuna, chicken, salmon, stew, chili, etc.
Canned soups, ravioli, spaghetti
Canned fruits, and vegtables
Peanut butter and jelly
Pastas to include macaroni and cheese, hamburger helper, rice dishes
Pasta sauce
Bisquick and other mixes
Healthy cereals and instant oatmeal
Non food items: deodorant, soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes
Monetary donations to be used for food vouchers at Comet

Drop off items in the church garage.  Prayers are appreciated.  We want to show the community that we serve with the fruits of the spirit.  The pantry will be available to anyone in the community anytime the office is open.  We would like to staff the pantry with volunteers on Sunday evenings from 6-8 pmand Mondays from 10-2pm so the community  has contact with children of God! Anyone wanting to decorate the garage with the fruits of the spirit is welcome. It is currently being cleaned out and set up.  If you are called to give, a suggestion would be to place an item or items each week on your own grocery list or donate monetarily a set amount in your budget (even if it is a dollar...there is a box for this either in the office or at the welcome table).
Please forward this e-mail to any family or friends you feel would want to serve as well.This does not have to just be a church mission, but a community one!!!!!  A big special thank you already to those that have helped get to this point: The Council, Pastor, Laura, Jenna, Clyde,  Kay, Comet Warehouse, and God!

Comet will be monitoring the vouchers and reporting any misuse.
Thank you in advance. May God bless this ministry if it is His will.
Please address questions to Tracy Miller - tmhm72@yahoo.com

A card was sent  thanking the church for the beautiful throw from: The Family of Mayme Wilson...  Frank, Wanda & Bruce
Our hearts were heavy, our faces sad, as we walked into her room.  We were astonished by the glow on her face, and the peace in her voice as she spoke.  I’ve had a wonderful life,” she said. “I’m ready to go home, you’ll be sad for a little while, but be happy and do not fret.  Love each other—enjoy your lives.  We’ll all be together again.”


Tithing Envelopes If you are in need of tithing envelopes please see Diane Gross or call the Church Office @ 814-226-8672.

Employment Exposure
We are adding a space to our church blog to include:
· Employment needed
· Job opportunities
Or making your current employment known to the church family
This is an opportunity to help our church family members in need & to provide them with an opportunity to use companies & services where they know a familiar face/name & a Christian connection.  This is for attendees/members of the church.

If you are interested in posting on the blog, please e-mail your information to Tracy Miller at: tmhm72@yahoo.com

The Library has a lot if duplicate books.  If you would like to check the book truck in the Library to see if there are any you want, please help yourself.  More will be put out over the winter.

If you are interested in being in a Women's Prayer Group, there is a sign-up sheet in the Welcome Center.


Are you looking for a Ministry to be involved in?? - We are in need of men & women that would be interested in transporting elderly to appointments occassionally.  Sometimes they may need to go to Pittsburgh.  Please let the Church Office know if you would consider being on a list of names for us to call when the need arises.

Attention: Teachers, Nursery Workers & Volunteers -  If you have received your Child Abuse Clearance in the mail, please bring it to the church office ASAP.

Watch fort updates & events on the Church's or Youth Group's Facebook page http:www.facebook.com/groups/173856376044348 -- Liberty Street Church of God Youth Group.

We are in need of additional:

1) Nursery Workers - We are so blessed with lots of babies that we need more adult help.  Please see Michelle Aites if you are interested in helping w/Sunday School Nursery or Worship Nursery.

2) SonShine Club Workers - We are being blessed with more children in our Sonshine Club Ministry!  We are asking that anyone willing to come out of retirement (teaching Sonshine Club) or looking for a new ministry (teaching Sonshine Club) , please see Hayley Jeannerat. You can call her @ 764-5390 or the church office @ 226-8672 or email her @ hayleydj@windstream.net.  
If you are already on the schedule, Hayley will need to know your intentions for the upcoming year.
There are 2 groups - Younger (3yr. - Kind.) & Older (1st - 3rd gr.).  Because of age, helpers are placed with the younger group.  No need to worry about preparing a lengthy lesson.  Hayley makes a 6 month rotation schedule & currently teachers are teaching every 5 - 6 wks., but if there were more volunteers you would teach less often.  What a blessing to see children learn of our wonderful Savior. 
God Bless you all for your help and we look forward to adding  additional teachers to our schedule.  (New Teacher on board: Kalee Ferguson- Thanks Kalee for your servanthood.)

3) Welcome Center Volunteers - Please see Tammy Lerch or call 226-9680 if you are interested.

4) Volunteers for Mowing... anyone interested in helping mow @ the Trinity Point property, please contact Clyde Bish @ 226 - 7702 or 229 - 0664.

Coming Up…

November 1 (Saturday 9am - 4pm) - KNOX LADIES SEMINAR - registration forms are on the Welcome Center Table
9:00 am -4:00 pm - Becoming Spiritually Beautiful In Christ w/Sharon Jaynes  & Sherri Danae
To register go to:  www.knoxladiesseminar.us/registration.html
Early registration before Sept. 9th    $30
Regualar registration 9/9– 10/16      $35
Late registration after 10/16               $40


November 16th - Thanksgiving Dinner @ the Limestone Fire Hall Watch for more info regarding this event along with signup sheets.

Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child will be coming soon.  Start filling shoeboxes early!  We are once again a distribution center & will be collecting boxes November 17 - 22.

December 5th & 6th - Live Nativity @ the Clarion Memorial Park across from the Court House.  Watch for more info regarding this event along with signup sheets.

Pastor's Message - October 2014

Dear Friends,

As of the writing of this Newsletter Article, it has been two weeks ago today that my Mother passed on to the hope that we all have, to spend all eternity with Jesus Christ. At about 3:55am on September 10 Judy and I watched as she breathed her last breath in this life. Our lives have been kind of a whirlwind since then. On Monday the 22nd, my Brother, Sister and Judy started to go through her things in her house. My Mother lived in that house for almost 70 years. You can only imagine the accumulation of things and memories. It really seems strange to not have parents, it really seems strange to not be able to call. Now Judy and I are both without parents. I knew this day would come, but there is a hole in my heart, at least for right now.

I want to thank all of you who sent cards, expressed condolences, came to Connellsville to the funeral home, and prayed. I can’t tell you how much your love and support means to us. I am reminded that the Scripture says, Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psa 116:15 I really believe that today and draw comfort from that great promise. 

I want to express to you our excitement about having a new Associate Pastor. We look forward to Angela and her family coming to Clarion. She and her son Joshua will be here by the first of October and then Keith and Matthew will be here sometime the end of October or the first of November. This is another new beginning in the life of the Liberty Street Church of God.

A few weeks ago I preached on Psalms 24 and realized how much there is in those few verses. One verse I am interested in is Psa 24:3 “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?” Matthew Henry’s Commentary says this about that question in verse 3. “What shall I do to rise to that high place, that hill, where the Lord dwells and manifests himself, that I may be acquainted with him, and to abide in that happy holy place where he meets his people and makes them holy and happy? What shall I do that I may be of those whom God owns for his peculiar people and who are his in another manner than the earth is his and its fullness?” I really wonder, and ponder the thought,  with regard to our society and the lack of moral integrity, the sin that so abounds, the permissiveness that is experienced by so many that call themselves Christians, do we really see that many people that hunger for more of God? That really wants to ascend to that high place, spiritually? That high place is to be in God’s presence, to be filled with the fullness of the Creator of the universe!

There are several references in Scripture that refer to Zion, God’s Holy Hill, the Mountain of the Lord, God’s Tent, God’s Tabernacle and all these terms refers to God’s manifest Presence and His Glory and that is how verse 3 applies to us today. The key and the hunger is to be in God’s presence and that can be experienced through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Who has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Those who have “clean hands and a pure heart.” That would be those who have been born-again, those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, those who have been redeemed, and those who have experienced a change of heart and have been made a new creation because of the redeeming work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I am so grateful that many of you are raising your children in the life of the church. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that one of the greatest gifts my mother gave me was experiencing life growing up in the church. I knew what it meant to have a Savior, I’m glad that in those early years I learned the songs like, “Jesus love me this I know.” Even though I had those years of disobedience to the Lord, I always was convicted and knew that the place to be was in church. However, there is only one way to experience true life in the church and that is through Jesus Christ. The Word says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Rom 10:9

Please keep Christ in your heart and the center of your lives and you and I can have the confidence to know that when it is our time to cross of to life everlasting, we will indeed be with Jesus.

God bless you all,
Pastor Bruce 




Birthdays & Anniversaries - October 2014

Birthdays 
October  1 - Trish Bish   
October  7 - Steve Bowser, Dan Conner & Christian Bakewell  
October 11 - Alesia Barger
October 12 - Ty Burford
October 13 - Rhonda McCall
October 15 - Ethan Ferguson
October 19 - Tedra Craig, Maxine Harriger & Connie Minich
October 21 - Mindy Bish & David Girardi 
October 22 - Kalee Ferguson
October 24 - Hope Hazlett
October 27 - Tammy Cloak
October 28 - Wendy Ferguson
October 30 - Kelly Burford
October 31 -  Matti Thornton

Anniversaries

October  1 - Ray & Renee Bakewell
October  5 - Marty & Sandy Ferguson and Ken & Sue Jeannerat
October  7 - Dan & Jamie Emings
October 11 - Bryan & Bonnie Collier
October 15 - Dave & Leatha McClaine
October 22 - Dave & Debbie Martin
October 23 - Jason & Tiffiny Edmonds
October 24 - Brian & Kelly Burford
October 27 - Mike & Sharon Frederick


Friday, September 5, 2014

Before They Go to School ... Have This Conversation -- September 2014

Before They Go to School ... Have This Conversation
LYSA TERKEURST
"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
I look around the dinner table and feel that desperate ache not uncommon to women who deeply love.
Whether it's my own family or those who just feel like family, I want so much for them. These young people who are so full of possibility and dreams and bright futures ... they have my heart.
Yet my heart feels fragile in the hands of these young people. They are smart. They are grounded. But they are young.
It takes me back to me at that age.
And that scares me.
I remember feeling so grown up and crazy excited at the chance to be in charge of my own life. Ready for independence. Ready for love. Ready for the next chapter of my life.
Chasing what felt good and thrilling, I quickly learned the wind blows in dangerous directions sometimes. Going with the flow led me places I didn't intend to go. And I woke up one morning ashamed of my choices, wondering how in the world I got to this place.
How?
I cringe thinking back on it. And I cry. Because I don't want that experience for these people I desperately love.
So, in the midst of the laughter and casual banter, I turn the conversation at the dinner table to a word I want them to know and live.
Pre-decide.
Decide today who you want to be. In this moment of togetherness, surrounded by family, and saturated in love — decide.
Decide what your answer will be when the talk turns ugly and the laughter turns mean against that girl who desperately needs you to be her friend.
Decide what your answer will be when someone invites you to the cool party full of drinks and drugs.
Decide what your answer will be when the boy says it's no big deal to stay the night.
Decide what your answer will be when "friends" laugh at your Christian views and challenge you to lighten up.
Pre-decide.
Decide today who you are going to turn to if you do get into trouble. Remember the people at this table. Remember who truly has your best interests at heart. Remember who you are.
Pre-decide.
Decide today to turn around any mistakes from your past by asking for God's forgiveness and walking in His grace.
Decide today to ignore the enemy who wants to trick you and trip you and take you out.
Pre-decide. And only say yes to the decisions that lead you in the direction of becoming more like Christ. This is the Best Yes.
Yes, pre-decide.
And then we go around the table and tell what we are pre-deciding this year. And my heart feels less of that ache.
I'm not so foolish to think this will act as a bad choice immunization. We are all susceptible. But it is a way to infuse their heart with a memory of a pre-decision.
And with that the plates are cleared, the cookies are nothing more than crumbs, and it's time to go.
Here are some great Bible verses to pray for our kids as they head off to school this year:
• Galatians 1:10
"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." (NIV)
• Romans 12:2
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)
• Joshua 24:15
"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (NIV)
• Proverbs 29:25
"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." (NIV)
So, along with these Scripture verses, I whisper a few last words that are a "best yes" for them as they pack up to go ...
Go where wisdom gathers, not where wisdom scatters.
Make decisions today that will still be good tomorrow.
And (insert voice cracking and tears welling up), remember how much I love you.
Dear Lord, You are so good. Thank you for entrusting these people to me. I pray You'll guide my family in Your way as we enter a new school year. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
1 Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Be further equipped to have these kinds of discussions with your kids, your spouse, your coworkers, your fellow ministry leaders, etc. with Lysa's new book, The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless DemandsClick here to purchase your copy.
Every decision points us in the direction we are about to travel. So we've got to get good at chasing down our decisions. We need to look ahead to see where they will take us — and make sure that's really where we want to go. Click here to download Lysa's free "Chase Down That Decision" Tool from her new book The Best Yes to help you or your kids practically think through a decision that needs to be made.
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Which of the above Scripture verses will you pray for your child? Write it down on an index card and personalize it using your child's name. Then, put the index card where you will see it often during the day as a reminder to pray.
© 2014 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
630 Team Rd., Suite 100
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org