Love From Your Other Pastor

Dear friends!
 
I hope you are growing in the Lord this week.  I am filling in for Pastor Michael while he takes much-needed vacation time to spend with his family.  I am thankful to be a part of your church family and to be able to support him in this way.  As he is away please pray for refreshment for the family and quality time together.  Pray for continued unity among our church family as well.
 
I have recently been reading in James.  This morning James 4:5 really hit me.  “Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?'”  First off, what a blessing!  God gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.  We have much to be thankful for, knowing that we were given a helper as we navigate life. 
 
What struck me though, was that God yearns over our spirit.  If we look back at the context we recognize that “friendship with the world is enmity with God.” (vs. 4)  And as James mentions earlier in his book “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire,” (1:14) we give in to sin by our own desires.  Our passion for Him brings our focus to Him instead of things that could cause us to sin. It’s also easy to fill our days with what the world tells us is good (and are good); family, friends, technology, job, etc.  There is nothing wrong with those things, but if they are what drives us and consumes our spirit, we are driven by the wrong things.  God yearns for your spirit to be passionate for Him and out of that He will bring joy to those other areas of our lives. 
 
What, or better yet WHO, does your spirit yearn for?
 
A couple of prayer request reminders.  Please continue to pray for Don Marsh who is in the hospital again.  Also, pray for George Van Leeuwen who is in a nursing home.
 
This Sunday I will be starting a mini series on parenting.  I hope you will all plan to attend even if you don’t have children living in your home.  There is much that applies to all of us.  I have been reading many books and thinking about this for awhile and am excited to share with you what Scripture teaches.  Parenting isn’t easy, and we make mistakes and learn as we go, I hope you will find challenge and encouragement from the next few weeks.  Please read Deuteronomy 6 in preparation for Sunday.  We will jump around all three weeks, but Deuteronomy 6 is the basis for the whole series. 
 
A reminder the men’s breakfast is this Saturday at 7:00 am.  Please plan to join for good food, fellowship, and time together in God’s Word.
 
Men’s Roundup is almost upon us.  If you have yet to register please do so!  There is also a sign up in the foyer to let us know if you plan to attend so we can all camp together.  Hope you can join us.
 
Have a blessed rest of the week.  See you Sunday!  With Love, -Pastor Justin