CREW
Prayer
"Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful." - Colossians 4:2. Have you ever become tired of praying for something? Devoting oneself to prayer means to be persistant and faithful that God will answer. The answer may come slowly, but know that God is always present, listening, and answering, in ways that he knows are best. -Pastor Mike
Nothing
""For nothing is impossible with God." - Luke 1:37. I'm a "take-charge" kind of guy. I plan things out, work hard at them, and then expect them to happen. Many times (all the time, if I am being honest) I need to slow down and talk to God before I get ahead of his timing. God is sovereign. he has a plan and times it out just perfectly. -Pastor Mike
Praise
"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel." - Psalm 22:3. It is impossible to praise or thank God too much. While it may be easy to praise God when we are richly blessed, we must also praise him when adversity strikes. This shows that we trust in God's sovereignty and will help us to live in the intimacy of his presence. - Pastor Mike
Old Yeast
"Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."-1 Corinthians 5:7. Since Jesus delivered us from the slavery of sin, we should have nothing to do with our sins of the past ("old yeast"). Don't revisit sin. Spend time in prayer and God's Word instead. - Pastor Mike
Shepherd
Isaiah 40:10-11 states that God is powerful, yet gentle and caring. He is called "Shepherd". A shepherd cares for the most defenseless members of society: children and those who are the caregivers of children. Today, thank a public school teacher, Sunday school teacher, youth-worker, day-care worker, or others who daily touch the lives of children. -Pastor Mike
Abode
"Abide in me, and I in you." -John 15:4. Jesus told us that because personal salvation is not an occasional rendezvouus with God, but is a permanent bonding with our Father in heaven. We can be secure, realize that we are loved, and know that we belong to Christ when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. - Pastor Mike
Relax
Remember the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10? Martha was worried about how her place looked and how the food was to be prepared. Jesus told her that serving can degenerate into mere busywork that is no longer full of devotion to God. Don't be so busy doing things for Jesus that you neglect time spent with Jesus! - Pastor Mike
Job
Job was a man that lost his wealth, children, and possessions and then was covered in sores all over his body. His friends told him that suffering was the result of sin or that God was humbling Job. Actually, God is beyond our comprehension and we simply have to remain faithful and develop a deeper relationship with Him, knowing that He alone is all we need. -Pastor Mike
Away
I am going away for a couple of days, picking up our son from college in NYC. I don't like to be away from home because it disrupts my daily routine of "accomplishing". I need to focus more on looking at times like this as Sabbath, a time to break with routine, not worrying about getting things done, and spending more time with God and and those that I love. -Pastor Mike
Deed
Words can carry much weight or be nearly worthless. I myself prefer to see people reach others through their actions. 1 John 3:18 says, "Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." To all the moms and other women who have had an effect on us during our lives thus far, "Happy Mother's Day" and thanks for what you do so well! -Pastor Mike
