MIDWEEK MESSAGE #185
Hello! I know I am not the first, and most certainly will not be the last, but I’d like to wish all of you a Christ-filled Christmas and an exciting New Year (I’m guessing I’m the first to wish that part of it). ☺ Thanks for joining me in this week’s issue of the MM. It will be the last one of 2023 since I will be giving Diana and me a break next week. We (Jo, Tami and I) will be out of town for a couple of days and the week between Christmas and New Year’s is always iffy. All three of us will be in and out of the office at strange hours.
Please be praying for Michelle Lippert this week. Michelle homeschools their daughter, Marla and her husband, Geoff, is a commercial plumber. ☺
Just a quick question: did you know this Sunday is Christmas Eve? Well…just in case you didn’t let me remind you of our plan for that day.
- One service Sunday morning at 10:00. The children’s programs will be meeting as they normally do.
- A Christmas Eve service at 5:00. This will be very laid back, with singing Christmas carols, a few testimonies, a short devotion, communion and a closing song. I told someone to expect it to last about 30-45 minutes. There will be NO children’s programs that evening.
YOUTH CORNER
I haven’t had any specific names given to me of youth escapades to include this week, however, I have found out some of our young people are taking their Christmas break to another level.
- Both Sophia Kropack and Hudsyn Biggs will be having their tonsils out this Thursday. Make sure you pray for them as they go through the surgery and recovery. I understand an ice cream party is planned (as long as I’m invited). ☺
- Berkley Groomer fell and broke two bones in her wrist. She will be going through Christmas with a cast on it. That is after having just gotten rid of a cast on her forearm 3.5 weeks ago. A test is scheduled for January 3rd.
- Addison Mayle, a member of the OVHS JV basketball team, has been wearing a boot on her foot. She did a number on her ankle a few weeks ago. Quick healing, Addison!
- That’s all I have for the Youth Corner this MM. I prefer the other kind of news but keep these young people in your prayers.
I’m excited about the sermon theme for 2024: Run with the Horses. The verse behind that is Jeremiah 12:5 where God says to Jeremiah, “If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?” (NLT) Here is the schedule so far:
- January 3- Dark Horse– Jer. 12:5; I Cor. 9:24-27; Heb. 12:1-2
Sermon Series: Welcome Home…where…
- January 10- The Gospel is Preached– Col. 1:3-14
- January 17- Jesus is Honored– Col. 1:15-20
- January 24- Grace is Offered– Col. 1:21-2:5
- February 4- Lives are Changed– Col. 2:6-15
- February 11- Obedience is Encouraged– Col. 2:16-23
- February 18- Tough Choices are Suggested/Part 1– Col. 3:1-11
- February 25- Tough Choices are Suggested/Part 2– Col. 3:12-17 (Ryan preaching)
Every new year that approaches seems to be a time for everyone to reflect over the past year and to also set goals for the coming year. I know, for a fact, the Y sees an uptick of new memberships and it gets a bit more crowded…for at least the first month of the year. That same thing happens when we stop and think about our spiritual lives. We make “resolutions” that often only last for a month or less. One of those is a desire to be more committed to a daily time with God. I call mine my ENCOUNTER TIME because I want it to be more than just a Quiet Time. I pray for a daily encounter with Jesus. I don’t just read my Bible, although there is nothing wrong with that. This past year I used several helps to keep me involved, learning and reflecting. I have to admit there were times of real inspiration, but there were also times of let-down and a feeling of emptiness. Since this is the end of the year and the last MM of 2023, I thought I would be a bit proactive and give some suggestions of helps I have put in the church library. These can be checked out and used by anyone. Just please sign the card to let us know. Here are some helps with a short description for you:
- Everyday with Jesus- Greg Laurie: my go-to for 1 ½ years
- Take Heart-Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith- David Powlison
- Truth for Life- Alistair Begg: 365 days of devotions
- New Morning Mercies-Tripp: 365 Gospel-Centered Devotions
- Homespun Devotions- Vol 1 & 2- Smith: 50 in each. Downhome devotions
- One Perfect Life (Jesus): John MacArthur
- One Faithful Life (Paul): John MacArthur
- A Shelter in the Time of Storm-Tripp (52 meditations on sin and mercy)
- Whiter Than Snow- Tripp (52 meditations on God and trouble)
- 40 Days of Love/Faith/Grace/Hope-Tripp: each book is 40 devotions
- 90 Devotions of Hope/Prayer- Our Daily Bread (each book is 90 devotions)
- Daily Readings from the Life of Christ- Vol 1-2-3- MacArthur: one year each
- Good Morning, Lord…Can We Talk? Swindoll: A year’s worth of devotions
- 2 used ESV Bibles for the taking (and reading): you can keep
I have used each one over the years and would not put them here if I did not recommend them. I hope you will take a step toward growing your faith by trying one or more.
I pray your Christmas is filled with the love and joy that only Jesus can bring. I am grateful God gave me you as an extraordinary gift.
Pastor Bill
