Monday Moment

It was a day of celebrating 2016 as well as looking forward for Fairview as Eddie shared the State of the Church Sunday! From surpassing a challenging, faith-based budget goal, giving to special offerings, missions giving and going, record number of baptisms and much more, it was a year that we saw God do much in and through the life of His church. 

It's always good to look back and celebrate, but it's even more exciting to look forward to what He has planned for us in this new year. As we prepare for what's ahead as a church, we are looking forward to new life groups, new and continual mission partnerships in the upstate and around the world, planting churches and helping plants, taking advantage of available technology and believing God for even better days ahead. May we walk forward together trusting that His plans for us are always for our good and His glory.  

Many thanks to Vince Dacus, our media guy, for making sure we all stay in the loop through communication means in every way. Text messaging is an easy and great way to stay in the loop and be encouraged. 

I admit it. There was great temptation to stay home Sunday night. It was raining. They were calling for torrential rain and storms. The playoff games were on. I was tired. It would've been easy to get in pjs and curl up under a blanket in my favorite chair. But easy isn't always best. And it's rarely what Jesus calls us to. So I didn't stay home. I went to our evening service we call Rise and I am SO glad I did.  Besides this Rise crowd is never scared away by rain or weariness. And I would've missed blessing after blessing. I got to hug necks I haven't seen in a while. I got to hear stories that made me happy. I got an escort from my car from one of our sweetest and most faithful volunteers who kept me from getting soaked. I got to experience some of the best worship music by some of the most talented young things on the planet that allowed me to know His presence was there and it was real. I got a great word from Nathan Brannon who didn't hold back on giving us a fresh word. He spoke of a perspective that needed to take a shift from ourselves to God. It was a reminder that when our mind is set and we get wrapped up in what we want and doing it our way with our own systems, we end up in a drought. As Deuteronomy 11:12 tells us, He is faithful from the beginning to the end. Our part is loving and serving the Lord and trusting Him to bring the rain. The dry seasons we pass through make us appreciate the rain that much more. The laborers are few people. Let's get to work loving and serving.