Monday Morning Perspective

So Jonah has probably been one of my favorite series. I love how rich and practical it is and how Eddie has brought it to life in a way we can all relate. I love how we worked the chapter readings into worship and set the tone for the message. But that's just me, I love setting a good tone =). 

Chapter 3 opens with Jonah having been spewed out onto the beach and God spoke to Jonah "a second time". 

Some great points from the sermon...

Can one person who is sold out and surrendered to God make a difference? One person can make a difference. God places us in strategic places and if we are the only believer in our place, there's purpose in it. 

The people of Ninevah had a deadline...40 days. We all have a deadline we just don't know what it is. 

We were reminded that the fish isn't the greatest miracle. The greatest miracle is the fact that an entire city, a large city, repented! Is that our prayer for our city? Are we praying that our entire city will turn to God?

We were challenged to never underestimate our value. God delights in using ordinary people. Salvation is from the Lord but He uses His people to share the message. I LOVE how Eddie went through events in the bible where God used people to share the good news when He could've used an angel or His Spirit or Jesus Himself but He gave the task to a person. Jonah didn't share directly with the King but he shared with some and word spread all the way to the palace. Our job, just share the news and leave the rest to God. Be faithful, God wants to use us. 

Random musings

It It's been a great week around here, sure hope it has been for you! Sunday is my favorite always, getting to be with the church fam and worship! I can hardly wait to get there every Sunday. This Sunday was filled with good worship and good news as we celebrate our new campus launching soon. My family humored me and agreed to some family pics. It was actually planned for inside, because it is February, but we found the greatest spot outside. Yes, it was frigid but the winds from the morn had died down in perfect timing. It was unique and fun and everyone from the oldest to the youngest cooperated and hung in there. Usually when I say let's take pics, groans begin and murmurings (there's a scripture that speaks against that btw) but all went swell! Didn't hurt that we took them next to everyone's (most everyone's) fave coffee spot so it was well with our soul! 

Monday the ice began to fall, snow would've been better, but it brought everyone under one roof for a few days so I'll take it. It was family and a few sweet girlfriends hunkered down together with no work, LOTS of comfort food, coffee, TV, card games, lots of loud laughter, and a little one that was endless entertainment. All 10 scattered around the house for the morn quiet time which was a necessity or we may not have lived in such close quarters quite so sweetly lol! Oh and the endless sound of the dishwasher running. I think we all kinda hated to see it end. To me the only purpose for winter and cold weather is to have snow, or ice, that just brings everyone and everything to a screeching halt. Super thankful we didn't lose power. I'll take one more good snow then I'll be praying hard for spring/summer temps so we can shed these coats n gloves! I'm a summer girl except for the enjoyment of snow. 

Now everything goes back to the norm. The hubby and kids back to work or class and practice. Back to getting down in sleeping bags to watch baseball games that should be played in those summer temps. Hoping we get at least one more snowed in mini vaca. But an ever present reminder, whether we are iced in or life is running at the normal pace, is that God is good. His kindness is unmatched and I'm pretty sure He enjoys seeing us relaxed rather than running at that break neck pace we call the norm filled with many things that we call "in His name" or "for Him" but really more about us. Sometimes it's just good to "be still and know"...

Pics if you care to see...

Monday Morning Perspective

What a day at Fairview! It was a frigid, blustery day outside, but people came with hearts blazing ready to worship! The coffee was brewing at Holy Grounds, our band led us with energy and excitement, scripture reading of Jonah set a powerful tone getting us ready for the Word, and Eddie brought a much needed message! Eddie presented Jonah as a castaway making a comeback. The comebacks Eddie shared from our world and the bible opened our eyes to see that no matter how bleak things may look, a comeback can always happen. We see Jonah finally prayed when he hit bottom. It's the most intimate part of the book of Jonah as he prayed recognizing the disciplining hand of God. 

I love how Eddie wrapped the message by putting out there the two lies Satan feeds us. 1. Whatever you're thinking about doing, just go ahead. No one else will suffer. God will forgive it anyway. 2. That's it, you've done it. He won't forgive this. You've gone too far. Don't buy these lies! Wherever we are on the path we can choose to stop and turn back to God. Jonah made the best decision in the worst place. He died to self and his own will and returned to God. 

We learned after church yesterday that Edgewood voted 100% to become a multi site campus of Fairview and become Fairview East! For both churches to vote unanimously to do this shows us in a powerful way that God is all over this! He's brought it all about and He will do with us and through us what He will as we continue to seek Him and follow Him! Whatever it takes to win the east side of Greenville for Jesus, let's be sold out to doing it. As the pastor there said yesterday, "let's roll"!!!

Stay safe in this winter weather. More snow please Lord than ice! Enjoy it as time slows down, read a book, eat some comfort food, relish some Jesus time as schedules get tweeked a bit.