Prayer Concerns - March 2015

Most Recent Concerns
3/26 -Art Thompson - is in ICU-Hospice @ Clarion Hospital - also remember his wife Lynette
3/25 - Brent Long - will be having hip replacement surgery tomorrow
3/17 - Ann Bailey - fell backward on steps & fractured a vertebrae in her neck - she is in Presby Hospital - be in prayer for Mike also

3/17 - Baby Jackson Cosby (Jess & Kris Cosby's baby) - is having some tests run at Children's Hospital today - please keep Jackson/Mommy/Daddy in your prayers

3/16 - Marty Ferguson is in UPMC in Pittsburgh - please be praying for him
3/16 -  Margaret Griffin (friend of Nancy Zacherl's) - is having surgery romorrow to remove an aneurysm in her stomach
3/12 - Barry Williams is in ICU in Seneca with congestive heart failure
3/12 - Steve Norris’ s operation went well, but they did have to go back & take lymph nodes - he'll undergo chemo & radiation - please pray for strength for Deb
3/7 - Thelma & Duane Miller - they are both very sick with upper respitory problems
3/5 - Nancy Zacherl - has an infection & is still having issues with her foot
3/3 -  Patty Miller requests for her daughter in law's Grandmother (Kaye Heeter) - she's having serious heart issues
3/2 - Jared McFetridge (friend of Roxanne Kahle's) - was diagnosed with lymphoma & is currently recovering from complications of a biopsy
2/25 -  Missy Switzer - pancreatic problems  
2/25 - Joyce Bailey (Missy's grandmother) - is having health issue with her heart
2/25 - Noah Anthony (Tammy McClaine's nephew) - he is special needs & has been dealing with very low platelets - he was just discharged from Children's Hospital again

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 - Special Unspoken (Friends w/Spiritual & Emotional Needs)

DuWayne & Thelma Miller - Evan Miller (MS) -  Dave & Debbie Jordan - Shirley Evans - Don Barger - Art & Lanette Thompson - Jud Graham - Herb Burns - Jared McFetridge - Pat Radaker - Jessica Henry (MS & Chemo Treatments) - Vonnie Tiley - Karson Ochs - Jonatha Ochs (knee replacement) - Mike Roach (cancer Pastor & Judy's brother-in-law)  - Bertie Douglas - Kathy Schnell - Eddie Moore - Joyce Sasse - Josh Zacherl - Brad Harriger - Jennifer & Les Stephens - Bev Shirey - Baby Connor Traister - Marla Mitchell (Keith's Mom) - Tom Buzard (cancer/Park Hill Congregation) - Noah Anthony - Deb Ochs (Liver Issues) - Mary Lou Roemer (Angela's Aunt) - Bob Yoho -  Arianna Evans (stroke) - Barry Williams - Mary Reed - Emily Hagberg (Children's Hospital) - Ronda Carpenter - NAncy Zacherl - Peg Seigworth - Robin Reed - Steve Norris - Chris Norris - Glenn Radaker - Marian Peltcs - Chery; Beveridge - Kaye Heeter 

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
Herb Burns - HCR Manor Care

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

Monthly Planner - March 2015

1 - Sunday School @ 9 - Worship @ 10 - Sr. Youth - Jr. Youth @ Joe's Gym
2 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Men & Ladies Spring Bible Study @ Joe's Gym @ 7pm
3 - Play Group @ 10:00 - 12:00pm - C.E. Mtng @ 6pm
4 - HIghland Oaks - Spring Bible Study @ the Church @ 7pm & @ the Jordan's in Emlenton @ 7pm
5 -
6 - Youth going to RVHS Open House @ 5pm
7 - Turn clocks ahead 1 hour
8 - Sunday School @ 9 - Worship @ 10 - Spring Bible Study - Jr. Youth @ 6pm - Sr. Youth @ 6pm - Deposit due for Youth Mission Trip 
9 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Men & Ladies Bible Study @ Joe's Gym @ 7pm
10 - Gideon's Mtng @ 6:30pm - Business Mtng @ 7pm
11 - Spring Bible Study @ 7pm
12 - Growth Mtng. rescheduled for 4/9 @ 7pm
13 -
14 -
15 - Sunday School @ 9 - Soul'd Out Quartet @ 10 - Jr. Youth @ 2pm - Solemn Assembly @ 6pm - Spring Bible Study - Sr. Youth @ 6pm
16 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Men & Ladies Bible Study @ Joe's Gym @ 7pm
17 - Play Group @ 10am -12pm  - Council Mtng @ 7pm
18 - Spring Bible Study @7pm
19 - Worship Mtng @ 6:30pm
20 - Parent's Night Out @ 6-9:30pm
21 - 360 Christian Leadership Day @ Punxsy
22 - Sunday School @ 9 - Worship @ 10 - Sunshine Club Teacher/Helper Luncheon - Youth - Spring Bible Study
23 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Men & Ladies Bible Study @ Joe's Gym @ 7pm
24 - Ladies Night Out @ 6pm
25 - Spring Bible Study @ 7pm
26 -
27 -
28 - Tea Party in Fellowship Hall
29 - Sunday School @ 9 - Worship @ 10 - Youth - Spring Bible Study @ 6pm - Jr. & Sr. Youth @ 6pm
30 - Weight Watchers @ 4:30pm - Men & Ladies Bible Study @ Joe's Gym @ 7pm
31 - C.E. All Teacher/Helper Mtng. @ 6:30pm

April 9 - Growth Mtng @ 7pm

Bulletin Announcements - March 2015

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 March 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 @ 6:00 - 7:30PM

Youth Group (7-12th grade)... Sunday night @ 6:00 - 8:00PM

Men’s Group - every Monday night @ Joe's Gym @ 7pm (ends in April/restarts Fall)

Ladies Nite Out - 4th Tuesday of the month from 6-8PM

Parent's Night Out - 3rd Friday of the month from 6 - 9:30PM (ends in May/restarts Fall)

Fellowship Opportunities  & March Special Events 

Be sure to check your email & the Church Blog!!

General Announcements:

If Clarion School District is cancelled due to weather, we will be cancelling church activities for that day.  Go to exploreclarion.com for school closings.

3/6 - Youth - Redbank Calley Bible Club Open House - Meet @ the Church @ 5pm - Bring money for pizza
Youth Parents: please sign up in the Welcome Center to make candy.  We are making peanut butter & fudge nut eggs, & chocolate lollipop tp sell for the Mission Trip.  

Mid-March our Youth will be selling Easter eggs & chocolate lollipops.  We need you to help support our young people!

3/8 - Youth Kentucky Mission Trip - your deposit of $50.00 is due by this date
3/8 - Jr. Youth - Lesson & games @ 6 - 7:30pm
Good Friday - the Youth have 15 tickets to go to the Passion Play in Brookville.  See Angela if you are interested.

3/15 - @ 10AM @ LSCOG -- Soul'd Out Quartet - Invite your family & friends!  A 

Love Offering will be taken.  In May 2004, in answer to God's call on his l ife, Matt Rankin of Georgetown, OH started a journey to find men of kindred spirits and equal yoking to partner with him in a mission to fulfill that calling by evangelizing God's word through song.  Now, in 2013, Matt's calling and dream have been realized in the Soul'd Out Quartet.  Soul'd Out Quartet, is comprised of Dusty  Barrett (tenor), Bryan Hutson (lead), Matt Rankin (baritone), Ian Owens (bass), and Michael Howard (pianist).

3/15 - Jr. Youth - 2 - 4pm -- Sled Riding & Bon Fire @ JOe's Pavillion

3/15 - Solemn Assembly at the Brookville Church of God @ 6:30 pm.  A Baptismal Service is being planned. Let Pastor Bruce know if you are interested.

3/20 - Parents Night Out from 6:00-9:30 pm ---  Sign up sheet in the Welcome Center

3/21 - 360 Christian Leadership Day in Punxsutawney -  360 minutes that will bring your leaders for training that will inspire and equip.  We have intentionally created learning tracks that will benefit a broad range of people in every congregation including: 
Mediation & Conflict Resolution
Developing Recovering Ministries
Creating a Recovery Ministry for your Church
Risk Management and Legal Protection in your Congregation 
Ministering Disabilities
Discovering Who You Are and How You Work W/Others
So You Think You Are Called to Ministry (back again by popular demand)

3/22 - Youth Progressive Dinner - Meet @ the Church @ 5:15pm

3/22 - Jr. Youth - Lesson & Craft @ 6 - 7:30pm
3/29 - Jr. Youth - Lesson & Games @ 6 - 7:30pm

3/31 - Christian Education News - Sunday School Teacher & Helpers meeting (all levels) @ 6:30 pm.

A special Thank You to Hayley Jeannerat for serving as our Children’s Church director for the past several years.  Our new director is Jennifer Morgan.  We have new Teachers to introduce– Matt & Tasha Snedden, Shawn Morgan & Keith Mitchell

Church Emails - If you are not receiving emails from the Church Office, please let Tammy know.  We may not have your email address in our system. 
Tithing Envelopes - If you are in need of tithing envelopes please see Diane Gross or call the Church Office @ 814-226-8672.

The Fruit of the Spirit Food Pantry... Needs Your Donations!!!
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: (**in need of )

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 in the evening, 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 info 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

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. Coming Up… 4/2 - Maundy-Thursday Service.  Seder Meal @ 6:30pm.  Footwashing & Communion to follow @ 7:30pm 4/5 - Easter Sunrise Service - 7am @ the Trinity Point site.  Easter Service @ 10am @ the Liberty Street site. Two Worship Services on Sunday Morning - we are offering 2 Worship Services beginning April 12th.  Worship @ 8:30am & 10:00am with Sunday SChool continuing @ 9:00am Whitehall Youth Camps.... 4/17-18 -Youth 30 Hour of Famine -  (new date) - The money raised from this event will be given to the Appalachain Ministires, where we are going for our Mission Trip this summer  4/19 - Jr. Youth - BOWLING @ Mt. Joy Knox Bowling Arena 1:00-3:30 pm... you won't want to miss this! 7/6 - 7/11 --- Vacation Bible School - July 6-11.  We would love to see your kids @ VBS.

Pastor Bruce's Message - March 2015

Hi Folks,

Recently I have been spending a fair amount of time pondering our and my worship of God. I have been reading things that have been challenging me and forcing me to have a better understanding of our   worship of God. He is indeed worthy of our worship, the only One who is worthy. I want to share with you what I read recently in a Devotional that I am using. I hope it will be a challenge to you and your thinking about worshiping God and will give you some things to ponder as well.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26

“The notion that anyone can worship without the Holy Spirit is not only wrong, but dangerous. The notion that we can crowd the Holy Spirit into a corner and ignore Him, quench Him, resist Him and yet worship God acceptably is a great heresy, which we need to correct. Only the Holy Spirit knows how to worship God acceptably.

We have worship leaders trying to replace the Holy Spirit. I think this is reprehensible. The one who stands before an assembly and leads the worship should be the one who has submitted himself to a fresh work of the Holy Spirit. The best preparation for worship is not rehearsal, but surrender.

Some of our best hymns came from men and women so utterly broken before God that only God mattered.

The Apostle Paul says that it is impossible to pray without the Holy Spirit, and the most powerful prayers are those in the Spirit. Likewise, we cannot worship without the Holy Spirit. I think that it is time that the church of Christ should rethink this whole matter of the place of the Holy Spirit in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Come blessed, holy, heavenly Dove, Spirit of light and life and love, revive our souls we pray! Come with the power of Pentecost, come as the sevenfold Holy Ghost, and fill our hearts today. (A.B. Simson 1843 -1919)

Heavenly Father, whatever it takes, I pray Thee, bring me to the place where only Thou matter, I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.” [A. W. Tozer/My Daily Pursuit pg. 34]

I listen to a song called, “I Can’t Even Walk without You Holding My Hand” written by Colbert and Joyce Croft. The story behind the song is that; sometimes real bad things happen to real good people. It happened to the Croft’s. Sometimes you and I haft to have the test to have the testimony. One night in the privacy of their home they went as far as they could go. They were beaten down so from the weight of this world they felt like they could go on no farther. And everywhere they looked, out of every window all they saw was the storms of life crashing in on them and their family. They felt like there was no way out, and nothing else to do.

That night they fell on their knees in the privacy of their living room and they tried to cry out to God. Their hearts were so broken and they were so discouraged that they didn’t know how to pray anymore. When Colbert bowed his head and tried to pray that he couldn’t pray, all he could do was to weep and all he could say was Lord help me! God would You please make a way? When everybody else said there is no way, God will You make a way? Will You help me? That’s all they could pray.

That night, when they got through praying, they got up and Miss Joyce went over and sat down, they had an old upright piano in the living room, and about 1 o’clock in the morning Colbert came over and flipped the lamp on and sat down beside Miss Joyce. And that night as they sat there, feeling like they didn’t have a friend left in the world, and feeling like they couldn’t take another step, at 1 o’clock in the morning God visited that little house where they were, and in the midst of their storm  at 1 o’clock in the morning, God come walking on the water to Colbert and Joyce Croft, and that night, as they sat there, he picked up a pen and paper, and when he felt like he couldn’t go on anymore,  God began to give Colbert some words to a song:

     Well I thought number one would surely be me,

     I thought I could be what I wanted to be.

     I thought I could build on life's sinking sand,

     But I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

     Lord I can't even walk, without You holding my hand.
     The mountain's too high and the valley's too wide.
     Down on my knees, is where I learned to stay.
     And I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

Through this story, I think we can see that in the midst of the times we are at our lowest, God will intervene, even though we might not think so, or that we might not be able to sense His presence, or when He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we asked Him to. His promise is that He will never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes it takes brokenness for us to see God. 

“…..Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalms 30:5

The devotional I shared with you helps us to know the significance of our worship of God, when there is nowhere else to turn, He waits for us to turn to Him. It seems hard for us to learn to turn to Him first, but I am thankful He is patient and always willing to be there. No matter what life has to bring, God is there in our midst and in our hearts.

Friend, if you are going through a difficult time and you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, I promise you that God will see you through. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4 

Switching gears now, I want to mention that on February 17 there was a meeting here at the church with 38 people from our Boards and Committees along with our contractor to discuss where we are with the Trinity Point construction and the logistics of the move. I wanted to give you an idea of what all there is to do, and this list is not an exhaustive list by any means.

Sale of existing facility and marketing plan.

Sale of the parsonage.

Purchase of another parsonage.

Manage and maintain utilities spending and operation.

Maintenance inside.

Maintenance outside.

Purchasing of all furnishings for the new facility.

   Chairs and tables (Decorating Committee?)

   TV’s

   Cabinets

   sound/media/lighting

   platform furniture

   office furniture

   Blinds and draperies (Decorating Committee?)

Keys/key box

Classroom locations?

Video TV Locations and needs

Selection of room colors (Decorating Comm.)

   Suggestion: College and HS art students to paint murals?

Cabinetry in classrooms

Locking rooms and/or cabinets

Whiteboards

Promotion of new facility and opening.

Assimilation

Moving

Security (Don Cloak)

Inventory

Open House

Platform concerns

Baptistery

Where things are being placed on platform i.e. musicians/praise team/instrumentalists

Equipment needs/monitors/mics

Communication from platform to sound booth

Dedication

Building lighting…interior/exterior

Flooring & Trim

Bathrooms

Exterior finishes

Projected finish date

Pave parking vs. tar & chip

New Building Fund Campaign

Finalization of bank documents

 As you can see there is much to think about. WE are looking to be in our new facility no later than the end of March 2016 and there is a possibility that it can be sooner. It is important that all of us, keep on praying, keep on giving financially, and keep on staying the course. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

Please remember, God has us in the people business! That is the reason for all the sacrifices we make, and all the labor for the Kingdom that we do. I believe that we will be able to do more than we could ever do before and I think this project is a great witness in our community.

God bless you all,

Pastor Bruce 

Pastor Angela's Message - March 2015

“Pursue Love”

Pursue: verb a.to follow and try to catch or capture, for usually a long distance or time; b.to be involved in; c.to try to get or do something over a long period of time

I Corinthians 14:1a tells us to “Pursue Love”. According to the dictionary if we are to pursue something it is going after it over a long extended time.  It is being involved in whatever we are pursuing. 

In the chapter before these words Love is defined as being patient, kind; not jealous, it is not proud, nor self-seeking or rude, it is not easily  angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth.  Love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. While these are familiar words to most of us, how much time do we spend pursuing these characteristics?  

 

What do you pursue in life?  What do you go after more than anything else?  Where is most of your time and energy spent?  Is it in your schooling and getting great grades?  Is it in your work, being on top in the workplace?  Is most of your time and energy spent in your children and their activities?  Do you place your spouse above all else?  Do you spend your energy online or in front of the TV?   Or do you Pursue Love?

 

If we are honest, most of us don’t pursue Love.  Most of us pursue a plethora of other activities but not love.  How our Savior’s heart must break when we waste so much time and energy on the fleeting things of this world.  In I John 4:8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  God = love Are you pursuing God as passionately as you pursue other events in this life? A little later in I John 4 it states, that real love is not that we love God but that he loved us by giving His life for us.  Because of this amazing love we are called to love one another the same way. 

I challenge you to Pursue Love today.  Pursue God.  Make Him your passion in life.  Make him what you are involved in in life.  As we give God our energies rather than the things the world throws at us we will be amazed.

Natalie Grant sings the song, Perfect People.  The words to this beautiful song say:

“There’s no such thing as perfect people

There’s no such thing as a perfect life

So come as you are, broken and scared

Lift up your heart and be amazed                                                                 

And be changed by a perfect God

Suddenly it’s like a weight has been lifted

When you hear the words you are Loved. . .                                    

So look up and see love

Let grace be enough”

Pursue Love today.  Stop pursing the ways of the world.  Stop pursuing perfection.  Let the weight be lifted.  Pursue Him alone.

Pastor Angela