To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
On this day in history (July 13), in 1968, Wycliffe missionary Henry F. Blood died in captivity, in Vietnamese hands. Cause of death, Pneumonia and malnutrition, his passion to serve God, his passion for the lost leading to his captivity and death. What is remarkable about this man's story to me, is how in his captivity, his response to pain because of his relationship with Jesus shone through and fellow captive, Mike Benge through the testimony of Henry, in the midst of terrible circumstances came to trust in Jesus as His LORD and Saviour. In horrific, deadly circumstances he glorified God!
Every day we are given opportunities in the disguise of crisis, to show how great our God is through our trust in Jesus and the character we have through Him. How we act is an overflow of our hearts, and when crisis hits, what overflows can change eternity! Let us be encouraged today, no matter what we are going through to let His light and love shine through us! Let us be 1 Peter 2:11-12 people! When we are squeezed, what is inside comes out, let us make sure we are His, inside out, and that how we act seeks to always show how awesome our God is!
I loved the story I heard this week from someone who has been in our church for two years. They shared the the greatest part of moving to the lower mainland has been finding our church family. Then shared that the first Sunday that they were here, many greeted them, they felt overwhelmed with our love, and someone came up to them that first Sunday and said, "we are having a barbecue for newcomers at our place on Friday, and would love to have you there". I love stories like this as they show who we are, and challenge us to more and more pursue this as it marks who we want to be. Keep on loving and seeking out new (and old) people to love each Sunday and more and more stories like this will get out and God's love through us will be what we are most known for! This family is now in our church serving faithfully and reaching out to others with God's LOVE. KEEP IT UP!
We have been working through the acrostic, A.L.I.V.E., as a way to continue to grow in our relationship with God, and become those who show how great He is by our lives.
A: All Out For God; L: Longing To Know God's Word; I: Inviting God Into All Of Life; V: Very Committed To God's People;
E: Enthusiastic About The Gospel
Sunday, we saw, through a reflection on Mark 15 that we are to orient our entire lives around the Gospel. It shouts the good news of how we can have a relationship with God, and does so much more! In the Fall we are going to have a series that reflects on the impact the Gospel should have on us, and although far from exhaustive, here are some key areas that will be impacted if we live with Gospel Oriented Lives:
1. Freedom From Condemnation: Romans 8:1
2. Passionate About Serving Jesus In All Of Life: 2 Corinthians 5:14; Romans 12:1-2
3. Loving Others As Imitators Of God's Love For Us: Ephesians 5:1-2
4. Forgiving Others From The Heart: Ephesians 4:32
5. Confident In Our Identity In Him: 2 Corinthians 5:21
6. Humble & Others Centred: Matthew 5:3
7. Fully Devoted: 1 Corinthians 6:20
We should become a people that learn to preach to ourselves (Psalm 42:5), and our sermons should focus on the cross and all that this means to our lives! The more we orient our lives around the Gospel the richer and more fruitful our lives will be! Sin will be chased out and replaced by an "inexpressible and glorious joy". Oh that we would never forget the richness of what Jesus has done for us, and would this reality drive and define us in all we say and do!
This is the last week before Soccer Camp. Please be in prayer for this ministry as we seek to impact our community through ministry to children and their families. It is exciting to be able to see the Gospel shared with so many that don't know Him! Your prayers matter for this ministry!
Sunday Is Coming: Prepare Your Hearts To Have Christ Formed In You (Galatians 4:19)
Title: The Throne Of Grace
Text: Hebrews 4:14-16
Why do you think that prayer is so important in God's Word and for us as God's people today?
Why do you think so few of us pray as we should? In N.A. fewer and fewer churches have prayer meetings and those that do have found attendance shrinking, why do you think that is?
Can you think of stories in the Bible where PRAYER made all the difference?
How can you improve your prayer life?
How does Jesus being our great High Priest help you understand the way to the throne?
If we are not praying as we should what does this display about our faith? About our view of God and ourselves?
Looking forward to another great Sunday and great week!
Remember...PRAYER MEETINGS ON TUESDAY NIGHT @ 7 - 8. All are welcome. As our prayer goes so will go our church, so encourage you to join us in a time of prayer on Tuesday nights for the glory of our God, and strength to accomplish His mission together!
There is much going on in our church, community, nation and world, and our prayer times are an opportunity for us to join in the struggle of Christians all over the world even as we seek God's best for our own lives and ministry. If you have a heart for God, prayer, and want to be a part of peoples struggles in our world, this is a time for you to join us as we seek to be faithful to God's call to be Great Command Christians, through our prayers.
It is a joy to be God's Servant for your conformity to Jesus,
Pastor Rob