To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Happy New Year!
We are entering a new year and a new decade, and what a great opportunity for us to prepare better for eternity. I have been challenged to write my eulogy at different times in my life. What do I want to be remembered for if I die before Jesus returns. This is a great questions that every memorial service requires me to ask of myself, and one that I think is helpful for all of us as we begin a New Year. We are becoming who we will be, so today we must choose who we will be tomorrow. What do you want those around you who know you best to remember you for?
For me, there are four things I want to be known for (way above being a broken hearted Cowboys fan):
1. An All Consuming Devotion To God. Someone who has experienced His love and grace so richly that I live my life with Him as my first love. I want to be remembered as someone who loved God and it showed in every area of my life all of the time. I want to be a Daniel, so much so that if you studied every detail of my life you would reflect that the only way to trap me has to do with my love and devotion to God. Loyal to Him in big and small things and all of my life. Philippians 1:21
2. A Self Sacrificial Love For My Family. There are those who I love who have made a tremendous impact for God who did not lead their families well. I want to be someone whose family reflects well on my life, whose boys see a man of integrity always and whose wife experiences Ephesians 5 sacrificial Christ centred love. I want my love for God to overflow into my family first, and to be careful not to make an idol out of ministry, but to serve with joy and passion. Ephesians 5:25-26
3. Someone Who SERVED the bride of Christ by serving the local church. I want to love the local church like Jesus does, and serve her with all my might. To know that she is so much more than an institution but literally the plan of God to do His mission in the world. I want the bride of Jesus on earth, to know I love her, and exist to serve her and build her into conformity to Jesus and release her onto mission in this world for His glory. I long for rewards in heaven for how I served His people here on earth, and built His church for His glory. Ephesians 4:11-16
4. A LOYAL friend. I want those around me to know they are a friend with someone who will stick with them through thick and thin, and will be there when times are good and bad. I want to be someone who NEVER abandons his friends but always brings them closer to Jesus, and helps them pursue holiness and health through conviction and courage.
How about you? What do you want to be remembered for?
What do you need to do in the next year to take steps to becoming that for God's glory?
How can you get there? For me, there are four steps that I constantly try to take, and maybe a good reminder for you as we begin this New Year together for God's glory...
A: All In Devotion To God as an overflow of His grace: Romans 12:1-2
B: Bold choices in small and big things. Set goals that reflect that you belong to God, and have the potential to experience His power. Make sure that you don't coast your way to sin as David did with Bathsheba, but make the right small choices and win in the big ones. Daniel 6
C: Call Out To God in prayer knowing that you can't do it alone: Luke 18:1-2 We long to be a people of PRAYER always, who cry out to God for ourselves and others. Ken has made this passion a goal for our entire church, that we would be a praying church that is ever more on our knees. I LOVE THIS, and long for my own life, and the life of all who attend CBC to reflect this! Proverbs 18:24
D: Delight In God making Him your greatest treasure and satisfaction. Not only should we commit our lives to God, we should enjoy or pursuit of Him! Take the time to reflect on the beauty of who He is and what He means to you, and delight your heart in Him. Psalm 16:8, 11.
Remember we are starting our New Year with A BANG...prayer and praise week...please make this a PRIORITY with us!
Please join us Sunday Night for prayer 6:30 - 7:30 night.
Covet your prayers for me as I teach the book of James to Millar students in Sunnybrae. Safe travels, Spirit filled life transformation for all, JOY! I leave Sunday after morning service, and return on Friday.
Sunday Is Coming:
Text: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Title: The Priority Of Prayer For 2020
We long to be a prayer filled church, and know this is the only way that 2020 will be a GREAT year for us the way that God defines GREAT!
Reflect on Exodus 17:8-17
- Why do you think that this story is significant and one we should never forget?
- From our passage, why should we as God's people pray?
- What should we pray?
- Why is following God's Word in prayer helpful in making sure our prayers are ones that honour God?
- What are some of your favourite Spirit inspired prayers?
May God bless you as you take the next step with us into 2020. I am excited about what is coming, and should the LORD choose not to return before the end of the year, what He will do in us and through us!
We will begin our New Year as always with a Communion service. Please prepare your hearts as we seek to be so Gospel Centred that our lives reflect our Saviour as we PROCLAIM HIS DEATH UNTIL HE RETURNS.
God's Blessings,
A fellow follower of the KING,
Pastor Rob