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| The older I get the more simple things matter to me. I enjoy a free evening. I love going to the movie. I like a good bowl of ice cream and a slice of chocolate cake. I enjoy special time with my family. When i was younger the list was much longer, but age has helped me accomplish many of my dreams and prune some that needed to be cut away. I also celebrate my church family. My nuclear family was never large, a few relatives here and there and now most of them are with the Lord. My church family is family for me. I have watched our family grow from a small number to a mammoth number, but i love each an every member of the family. I look forward to our "Sunday reunions" when we gather for worship. I look around the church each Sunday to see who is in their seat and I get a sense of belonging and connection just seeing the family in the house. We are family. We have been through tragedies together, storms together, disappointments together, and successes together. We really are there for each other. One of my aims is to help us become an even better family. Most of my closet friends are members of the church and I do not know who I laugh with more than our family. We have been blessed of God to be a part of a great family. Jesus Christ brought us all together and we are now brothers and sisters. Truly, WE ARE FAMILY!
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| The other day I once again reminded of just how good our God is. I thought about all the times he has given me and probably you, a second chance to get things right. I know I did not deserve it, but he did it anyhow. That is what "grace" is all about. It is going doing for us what we can not do for ourselves and doing for us what we do not deserve. He sent his son Jesus, to help us see in the flesh, what grace really looks like. God should have destroyed the world,; instead, God sent his son and he became the gift of eternal life for each and everyone of us. I ask you this week and during this time of Lent, to think about the grace that has been given to you and then serve the Lord as one who knows how to say. "thank you!"
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| The other day I was thinking about just how God the Lord has been to me. Having grown up in the climate of racism and discrimination, I marvel at the doors the Lord has opened for not only me but for many of my generation. Without his mighty move some 40 years ago, our generation would have been missed for the opportunities that have come. Yet God in God's infinite wisdom, say fit to make it happen for us. When I consider that, I know I have good reason to not only serve the Lord, but to serve the Lord with gladness. I would encourage you to think about how blessed you are and then reflect upon the service you give to the work of the kingdom both in church and in the world. When you do, I guarantee you that you will "Serve the Lord with gladness!"
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| Regardless of the struggles that we face ort the challenges that are ours, this is a time of great possibilities. All around us we need the emergence of possibnilities we never imagines. Barack Obama, an African American christian, is running for Preesident and just won in Iowa. The city of baltimore has three female leaders. That's just two, but there are so many more. In both instance, the persons were faced with either letting things stay the same, or trying to seize an opportunity and turn it into a possibility. The key is our desire and our intent. We must want it and we must want to go for it. 2008 is a year of possibilty. I encourage you to think in new ways and accept new challenges. I urge you to believe God for the strength and the power to accomplish. Even if the accomplishments are small, the journey is great. Commit this year to a whole new life journey and watch the Lord do great things.
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| Well church, today we closed on our loan for the new church. We have crossed another milestone and they only word I can say is Hallelujah!!! God did something amazing for us this morning. We were able to do the entire settlement without one problem. That is almost unheard of; yet God made it happen for us. We were able to lock in an interest rate less than 6% and to lock it for eight years. Church this is one of happiest moments of my life. I have seen God do what I never imagined could be done. We pause to give Him thanks for this and to begin the process of building the new church. O yes, we have money to raise...a lot of money, but this is God's way of encouraging us for what we have to do. In the oming year I will be asking you to commit to a new goal for the project and i know we will make them. Tell everyone, It is done! God did it! We are praising his name. Email others and tell them God did for us. Members, get ready to see the mighty hand of God move in your life and projects. God is a wonder to my soul.
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