From the Country - So much to be thankful for!

     Whew!  What a week we are having up in the country.  It’s March and we are covered with ice and snow.  What an experience, seeing lightning and hearing the booming sound of thunder all the while watching the ice and snow fall from the sky.  One phrase I haven’t heard in the news lately is “Global Warming.”  Spring cannot arrive too early for me.  I have no issue with the weather.  God has everything under control.  He knows what He’s doing.

     At the Enola Church of Christ, we have so much to be thankful for.  Every Sunday, Sunday evening, and Wednesday we meet for Bible study, fellowship, and worship.  The women of the congregation have a special ladies Bible study every Monday at 6:30 in the Annex Building adjacent to the main auditorium.  The men of the church meet for Men’s Fellowship on the third Thursday each month hosted by one of the brothers.  Our ladies meet for a Ladies’ Fellowship on the second Thursday each month hosted by one of the sisters.  SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING:  We will have a 5^th Sunday Fellowship Feast this month on March 30^th immediately following our morning worship hour.  We will meet for Bible study and worship like we normally do, then walk over to the annex for a “pot-luck” lunch together.  After lunch we will meet back in the main building for an early afternoon service.  Plans are to have a Sunday like this every 5^th Sunday in the year.  I checked the calendar.  We’ll have a 5^th Sunday Fellowship in March (this month), then in June, August, and November.  So mark your calendar for these very special activities.  Elders, deacons, and ministers:  We will have a business meeting every 5^th Sunday as well, right after the afternoon service.  I hope you will be ready to offer your vision for the particular areas of your ministry along with your goals and action plans.  The church of Christ at Enola is growing and we want to keep the fires of edification, benevolence, and evangelism burning brightly.  To God be glory in all that we think, say, and do.

     Our Sunday morning sermon series continues this Sunday – “Where is the Love?”  We introduced this series, then looked at the myths we often believe about love.  Last Sunday we looked at what it means to open our hearts to God.  He certainly opens His heart to us and He does so in ways that can be clearly seen.  He asks us to show our love for Him in ways that can be seen too.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  When He looks back to see His follows (Christians), what does He see?  Does He see some wandering off to the right, thinking and saying that everything is sinful and that nothing is ever right?  Does He see some wandering off to the left, thinking and saying that nothing is sinful and that everything is always right?  Does He see some straggling behind, grumbling and complaining that the Shepherd is moving too fast or maybe going where they don’t want to go?  Does He see some running ahead, thinking that they know more than the Shepherd and that He is simply moving too slowly for them, that the way of the Shepherd is not very entertaining, even boring?  Or does He see His disciples, Christians following closely, patiently, excitedly, lovingly, completely trusting in His leadership to lead them all the way to green pastures, still waters, and eventually heaven, and Home Sweet Home?  I want to be in this group.  I am in this group.  And I plan on staying right here, walking when Jesus walks, running when He does, resting with Him, fighting with Him, living with Him and dying with Him so that I will one day live with Him forever.  How about you?  This Sunday, Lord willing, we will consider lesson three in this series and renew our commitment to following Jesus wherever He might lead us.

     Our evening service last Sunday was cut short due to the ice storm.  We are studying the series “Expecting the Impossible.”  Think about it.  Is it possible to have growth without diligence?  What about diligence without love?  Love is the greatest motive in the world.  Just like Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13.  “Now abides faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”  This coming Sunday (9^th) we will consider the fact that love is not only the great motive in life, but also the greatest weapon against our enemy, the devil and all that follows and goes along with him.  In Jesus Parable of the Sower, Seed, and Soil, He talks about the devil coming into our lives just before the word of God settles in our hearts to steal the word away.  He talks about the temptations of life as stones that often leave the seed of God’s word without proper nutrition.  He also talks about riches, pleasures, and the cares of life as thorns that choke out the word of God in our hearts.  Love is a powerful weapon against each of these negatives in life.  Love is a powerful weapon against the devil.  Love is a powerful weapon against temptation.  Love is a powerful weapon that allows us to see riches, pleasures, and the cares of life clearly for what they are, normal, temporary, something we can experience and still be true to God.

     I hope you have a great rest of the week.  May God bless you and yours with what you need to help you see Him.