Sunday Was Such A Blessing!
I know almost every Sunday is a blessing, but this Sunday was so special to see the results of so much prayer, work, and sacrificial giving. What a blessing to take part together in something bigger than ourselves and imagine what is to come as we seek to reach people for the glory of our King!
Like the Israelites, who arrived at the promised land after a long journey, we have arrived and have much to praise God for! Please take the time to do this with all your heart, for God delights in the praises of His people. Also like the Israelites, we have much work to do as we seek to minister effectively to the people in our new building and in our longing to conform to the image of Jesus, in our reaching of the world around us with the Gospel, and in our worship of the KING! As we celebrate, lets commit to be a part of the ministry teams that now seek to use this amazing facility for the glory of God moving forward.
Jericho was a huge success, Ai, a huge struggle. Please take the time to purify your lives, so that none of us follow the path of Achan as we seek God's glory together. Seek with me to be pure, God centred people who battle together in loyalty to God and one another on His mission.
We opened the first service with Spurgeon's first words on the opening of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, where he preached so powerfully the word of God for many years, "I would propose that the subject of the ministry in this house, as long as this platform shall stand, and as long as this house shall be frequented by worshippers, shall be the person of Christ..."
May that be so here at Cloverdale Baptist Church. Now the work continues!
I Love Moving Day...most of the time. But for us as a staff and church I think we could call this moving month. Moving is hard as I go through old boxes filled with memories. Stumbled across a course I taught 15 years ago at a Bible College in Alberta, and a binder with notes on training leadership in Houston. They are now going to the garbage and a part of me wonders why I didn't throw them away years ago? Another part knows that I love collecting things, and so moving brings memories, and gives me that opportunity to throw away things that I should have gotten rid of 20 years ago.
I wonder if sometimes our lives are like that? We keep thoughts and feelings from our pasts and bring them around once in a while and treasure them. This is good for the heart. We store up things that are good, or bad, but not valuable for what God would have for us today. Moving is not easy, and brings all sorts of memories, and transition pains, but it is amazing in that we have the promise of new ministry now moving forward. Still lots of work to do just to get comfortable in this new building...so..
Please be patient with us as we move, it will take time to get used to the new area, get our phones hooked up, and feel like this is home...it will also take time to plan and decorate and discover all that God has planned for us here...so, lets be thankful to God, bless one another, and live with the wonderful knowledge that there is amazing things in our future as we trust in Him!
Sunday felt full, but I noticed there is still room, so continue to invite your friends and family to church, and continue to welcome new people. Now that we are together again as a family, join us for coffee times, find people you don't know and lets continue to move towards being a people where the love of Jesus is shared clearly and joyfully!
Sunday is coming...
The first series for the new building will be on WHO GOD IS, a study on the attributes of God.
Sermon Title: HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD
Text: Exodus 33-34
Why is our view of God so important?
How does your view of God shape how you live and interact with life?
What does the, Glory of God, look like?
How does God choose to display His glory?
How does 1 Corinthians 10:31 help us understand our role in this?
What are you doing right now in your life to shape your view of God Biblically?
How are you bringing glory to God?
I had a great week, last week, full of ups and downs, but Sunday was such a joy! Please continue to pray, and be thankful, and help us accomplish together what God wants!
See you Sunday...with JOY!
A Fellow Worshipper,
Pastor Rob