Pastor's Weekly Musing
Hey everyone!
Years ago, when Portia was pregnant and we were awaiting a newborn baby, I remember thinking that nine months was the absolute perfect amount of time for the baby to come. Anything longer than that (like a year, for example) would be way too long to wait. It would get frustrating. But anything shorter than that (like five months) would come way too fast and we wouldn't be ready: emotionally, psychologically, even financially. Nine months is just right: I'm excited, but I'm ready.
God always seems to know what He's doing when it comes to timing, right? He never throws too much at us at once, nor does He make us wait too long for anything to happen. He doesn't even make us repeat the same things over and over again: He mixes things up.
Take the year, for example. He gives us seasons to break up the monotony. He gives us a calendar with twelve months. Then He breaks up the months into weeks. And the weeks into days, and the days into hours, and the hours into moments.
He's the Lord over them all. Imagine if God gave you your future all at once? You'd be overwhelmed. Instead, He gives us bite-sized, 24-hour segments, and He says to us: "That's all you can handle for now, and you'll need me even for that."
I think that's what Jesus was referring to when He modeled prayer for us in saying "Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11) That line has a history: when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness for forty years, God rained down bread -- manna -- every morning. It was plenty enough to feed them all for that day. He instructed them to NOT hoard more than a day's worth of manna, but to instead trust Him for provision every day.
Sure enough, when the Israelites tried to stockpile, the bread rotted and had maggots. God was teaching them the lesson that Jesus was reaffirming years later: there's only so much we can handle, and we need to rely on Jesus every single day.
Lean on Him every day. Seek His face and His will, and ask for His grace and power to face that day. And then tomorrow, do it again. And again. His strength never runs out, His grace never dries up, and His mercies are new every morning!
Amen?
Years ago, when Portia was pregnant and we were awaiting a newborn baby, I remember thinking that nine months was the absolute perfect amount of time for the baby to come. Anything longer than that (like a year, for example) would be way too long to wait. It would get frustrating. But anything shorter than that (like five months) would come way too fast and we wouldn't be ready: emotionally, psychologically, even financially. Nine months is just right: I'm excited, but I'm ready.
God always seems to know what He's doing when it comes to timing, right? He never throws too much at us at once, nor does He make us wait too long for anything to happen. He doesn't even make us repeat the same things over and over again: He mixes things up.
Take the year, for example. He gives us seasons to break up the monotony. He gives us a calendar with twelve months. Then He breaks up the months into weeks. And the weeks into days, and the days into hours, and the hours into moments.
He's the Lord over them all. Imagine if God gave you your future all at once? You'd be overwhelmed. Instead, He gives us bite-sized, 24-hour segments, and He says to us: "That's all you can handle for now, and you'll need me even for that."
I think that's what Jesus was referring to when He modeled prayer for us in saying "Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11) That line has a history: when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness for forty years, God rained down bread -- manna -- every morning. It was plenty enough to feed them all for that day. He instructed them to NOT hoard more than a day's worth of manna, but to instead trust Him for provision every day.
Sure enough, when the Israelites tried to stockpile, the bread rotted and had maggots. God was teaching them the lesson that Jesus was reaffirming years later: there's only so much we can handle, and we need to rely on Jesus every single day.
Lean on Him every day. Seek His face and His will, and ask for His grace and power to face that day. And then tomorrow, do it again. And again. His strength never runs out, His grace never dries up, and His mercies are new every morning!
Amen?
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Saturday, March 13: Men's Breakfast
Men of all ages are invited to join the Meadows men this Saturday at 9 AM.
While we usually hold a potluck-style meal, this time we'll pre-order a safely-bagged breakfast beforehand, and enjoy it all -- and coffee! -- out in our courtyard. Then, Pastor Ron will lead a brief word and worship in the Meadows sanctuary.
In order to help us prepare, please let us know you're coming by registering HERE. You'll get an email soon after with more details on what's to come and what to expect.
Sunday, March 14: SQUARE ONE
Interested in becoming a member? Square One is our membership conference, this Sunday from 2-3:30 PM, where we lay it all out there: our doctrine, our philosophy, our strategies, our personal stories, the works. It ends with the opportunity to become a member. Click HERE to register.
Wednesday, March 24: Kids Connect Night
In addition to our normnal Wednesday Night Adult Bible study, we'll be offering Kid's Connect once a month! Our first Kid's Connect Night is March 24th. All elementary-aged kids are invited for an evening of worship, games, and a Bible lesson.
Men of all ages are invited to join the Meadows men this Saturday at 9 AM.
While we usually hold a potluck-style meal, this time we'll pre-order a safely-bagged breakfast beforehand, and enjoy it all -- and coffee! -- out in our courtyard. Then, Pastor Ron will lead a brief word and worship in the Meadows sanctuary.
In order to help us prepare, please let us know you're coming by registering HERE. You'll get an email soon after with more details on what's to come and what to expect.
Sunday, March 14: SQUARE ONE
Interested in becoming a member? Square One is our membership conference, this Sunday from 2-3:30 PM, where we lay it all out there: our doctrine, our philosophy, our strategies, our personal stories, the works. It ends with the opportunity to become a member. Click HERE to register.
Wednesday, March 24: Kids Connect Night
In addition to our normnal Wednesday Night Adult Bible study, we'll be offering Kid's Connect once a month! Our first Kid's Connect Night is March 24th. All elementary-aged kids are invited for an evening of worship, games, and a Bible lesson.
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Our Project 150 clothing drive is currently underway! A large box is in our church lobby, and we're receiving all gently-used clothes, shoes, and accessories for local high school-aged students in need. Project 150 really is an awesome local non-profit group that benefits hundreds of local teens every year.
Feel free to bring your donations to any Sunday or Wednesday service. Donations will be received until March 22: perfect timing for your annual Spring cleaning!
Feel free to bring your donations to any Sunday or Wednesday service. Donations will be received until March 22: perfect timing for your annual Spring cleaning!
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EASTER SUNDAY is coming! April 4 is rapidly approaching, and it's our most highly-attended service of the year, so we'll need to game plan. We are planning on having THREE services that day: 8, 9:30, and 11 AM.
Because of capacity limits still in place, we will need everyone to register for their seats. Registration will open up next week, and a link will be provided in this musing and on our website.
We're planning on an awesome day, including an Easter egg hunt for the kids! Mark your calendars!
Because of capacity limits still in place, we will need everyone to register for their seats. Registration will open up next week, and a link will be provided in this musing and on our website.
We're planning on an awesome day, including an Easter egg hunt for the kids! Mark your calendars!
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Speaking of marking your calendars: this Sunday is SPRING FORWARD day. Don't worry: your phone will change automatically overnight, I promise. Sleep easy. But don't be late to church.
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This Sunday, we'll continue our series Q & A: Questions Jesus Asked.
We'll look closely at a fascinating passage in Mark 5, where Jesus confronts a demon-possessed man, a man who is so powerful and unruly he is ostracized and lives in a cemetery by himself.
In the middle of casting out this man's demon, Jesus stops and asks him what seems to be the most out-of-nowhere question imaginable. But, like all of Jesus' questions, He was leading him -- and us -- into something far deeper and more profound than what is immediately seen.
Join us this Sunday for Part 6 - What is your name?
Click HERE to register for this Sunday, and you can click HERE to get connected to our Sunday service online.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on the walkway and the rest of you in the YouTube comments!
Pastor Ronnie
We'll look closely at a fascinating passage in Mark 5, where Jesus confronts a demon-possessed man, a man who is so powerful and unruly he is ostracized and lives in a cemetery by himself.
In the middle of casting out this man's demon, Jesus stops and asks him what seems to be the most out-of-nowhere question imaginable. But, like all of Jesus' questions, He was leading him -- and us -- into something far deeper and more profound than what is immediately seen.
Join us this Sunday for Part 6 - What is your name?
Click HERE to register for this Sunday, and you can click HERE to get connected to our Sunday service online.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on the walkway and the rest of you in the YouTube comments!
Pastor Ronnie
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