To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Happy Thanksgiving: This week our brothers and sisters to the south celebrate Thanksgiving (and a few of our staff). This is a great reminder that we are to be filled with thanksgiving all of the time. How? The answer always points back to the greatness of our salvation. Take time this week to reflect on what Jesus has done for you, and when you hit the trials or heartache, fix your eyes on Jesus and be thankful! Thankfulness chases away depravity, despair, and division. If your struggling in your life, take the time to make a list of things you are thankful for...and start with Jesus and your SO GREAT SALVATION!
Take time this week to also say thank you to someone who has blessed you. I stopped as I was writing this email to you and wrote an encouragement card saying thank you, and as I finished it realized I could write a number more! Take the time to make a phone call, write a note, pursue someone who has blessed you, and say THANK YOU! When we are blessing it is hard to make room for some of the sinful things we can do with our mouths. Take time to say THANK YOU. And if you are American, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, enjoy your turkey, and feel blessed, for we are blessed to have you in our family.
Christmas Is Coming: The stores are starting to remind us that it is time to get ready for Christmas. Made my first gift, Lori asked to get the lights up (GO BEN GO) and those around me are getting ready. I invited some friends this week to our Christmas Eve service, take the time to do this, and pray for opportunities to talk about Jesus as the season approaches. Buy your tickets for our Symphony night, and be a part of helping us to be a CULTURE OF EVANGELISM. This is the season of JOY, and it is our privilege to be a part of God's plan to reach people with this joy in our every day lives. God has placed you where you are to share about Him, and glorify His name. Look for opportunities, invite people into relationship with Him, and glorify His name (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:11-12).
Hampers: One of the ways we seek to love as Jesus wants is through Christmas hampers. Please remember to bring the essentials (Toilet Paper, Pasta & Cereal) and help us to be a blessing to those in our community. If you want to help us be a bigger blessing feel free to email or ask Pastor Thomas and he will fill you in on needs we have.
Please Pray: Please join us in prayer as a church. We want you to do this in your GROWTH GROUPS, at our Wednesday morning prayer meeting, in our pastoral prayer team, and on your own. We believe that no matter how hard we try, or how excellent we pursue the programs in our church family, apart from God being at work in us and through us. PLEASE PRAY! PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER!
Pick one of our missionaries, one of our pastors, one of our elders and/or deacons, and one of our staff and pray for them this week. If you don't know who they are, find out! Pray for opportunities to represent Jesus to those in your sphere of influence!
Sunday Is Coming:
Absolute Trust: Rejoice In Suffering
Text: Romans 5:3-4
Take the time to read Romans 5:1-11 and REJOICE.
- What kinds of suffering do we face as Christians?
- How does this text help us to respond to suffering and trials?
- Why is suffering to be something we rejoice in?
- How can we as Christians display this powerful difference in how we face trials in comparison to those around us who don't know Jesus?
- How can you help someone you know who is suffering experience God's tender care?
This is one of the great texts in teaching those who follow Jesus how to have joy in our trials. If you are suffering, or will suffer (and this is all of us), this text is for you!
Privileged to pursue Jesus with you,
Pastor Rob