New Year's Rockin" Eve

There's a party going on at Faith United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne! Don't Miss IT! Come hear Sevenglory in Concert! We get started at 8:30 with fun and prizes. We seat for the concert at 9:30! the Concert starts at 10PM and we rock the NEW YEAR 2009 IN!! Let's Raise the ROOF. $10 Donation. Contact: pastorbec@verizon.net for ticket info or call 260-744-4238. Or search: New Year's Rockin Eve on Facebook.

Discovering God's Will

There is one question that tends to perplex each one of us as we face the task of making daily decisions. Some decisions are harder than others. When it comes down to it, if we are true seekers of God, we eventually get to the place where we really want to know what God's will is and the questions becomes, "Why am I here and what am I supposed to do."

In our study, we discovered that there is God's Providential Will, God's Moral Will, and God's Personal Will for You. Our action steps are:

Learn God’s providential will.

Surrender to God’s moral will.

Discover God’s personal will for your life.

We studied the first 2 in Weds night bible study and now we will complete the study with a study in the book of Esther. So, each blog entry will deal with the questions on study guide #3. If you do not have study guide #3 or you would like to have #1 &#2 please e-mail Pastor Rebecca at pastorbec@verizon.net. All studies can be e-mailed.

The Book of Esther:
Read the entire book of Esther to get an understanding of the context. Who was Esther, and how was she guided into God's will for her life? From whom did she ask for directions? What did she do? What kind of character did she have? Post your observations here as we have open dialogue. Share your observations: What do you appreciate? What are you learning? Do you see any applications for your life?

I look forward to this...this is a good thing. Pastor Reb

Cell Phones Vs. The Bible

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh! And one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think, "Where are my priorities?"

And no dropped calls!

What We Know is Less Valuable Than What We Do With What We Know

In our Daring to Dream series, David Mains makes a statement that it takes more than remembering to produce spiritual transformation. We can hear, read, & memorize the Bible. We can recite the sermon the pastor preached. We can learn the "Christian ease" and still miss the point if we neglect to do anything about what we know. He suggests that we have to work at putting our faith into practice. We have to learn to live it.

As we are in the season of Lent, we are called to examine, re-examine, and reflect on the death and resurrection of Christ. Our reflections lead us into the place where we realize that Christ died just for us as individuals! We notice the wonderful gift of grace because we find out that there is nothing we can "do" that is really ever good enough. We always fall short. The good news is "Jesus" died on the cross because we will fail every time.

How do you view the cross? Shouldn't the things we do flow out of our love for Christ, or do we "do" stuff just to feel good or to impress people?

Beware of the Big Head

In Chapter 3 of David Mains book: Never Too Late to Dream, he suggests that it is a win-win relationship when we allow God's dreams to be our dreams. He speaks of Judas who had money on his mind, not God. He sold out Jesus for money! I immediately recalled how my beloved Dad has always warned me, "Not to get the Big Head." He has said it so much that it almost got on my nerves. I asked my Dad why he always says this to me. He said that he has seen so many folks hit the bottom after rising to the top because they always get the big head. What he meant is that somehow the stop following God's plan and they begin crafting their own. The more I work in ministry, the more I see what my Dad sees. I am praying that God keep me humble and grateful. Right now, I am so grateful that I only want to do what God wants. So I need to know what God's dreams are for me and for Faith UMC, Fort Wayne. So, time off and renewal has become more important. I need to stay in the presence of God.

At the end of the chapter there is a question that asks if we have ever known anyone who once followed God, but is no longer. I do know such a person. Without this person, I would never have made it out of the darkness. This person pointed the way. I followed Jesus. It is hearbreaking to look back now and know that the one who pointed the way to me is now off the path. It is because somehow, my guide back to sanity got the big head. I remember watching it happen. I remember issuing the warning. I didn't feel qualified. I felt I was being disrespectful. Today, I wish I had screamed louder.

What do we do about those we see getting the big head or straying from the path?

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart for They Shall See God

The LORD is all over me today. I was studying the Beatitudes today, and paused with a profound realization. As we look for God sightings, we may also be on a journey towards perfecting a pure heart. I found myself asking the question, "What is the difference between our lives before we saw God in everything and after we began to purposely hunt for God sightings?" Could it be that our hearts were corroded with impurities? Is there a cleansing process going on in order for us to see God in everything? Maybe it's similar to a dirty windshield--gotta clean of that thang before you can see clearly! What do you think? Do you sense a cleansing? a clearing of your windshield?

Make the Best of Today!

This week I have been caring for a dear friend. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She is undergoing chemotherapy and is currently staying at my house. During this time, she has shared her concerns about dreams that she had that may or may not come true. I have anguished with her and have drawn one conclusion: No day is promised. So, let's make the best of today, and let tomorrow have its own worry. Today, I have my friend with me. Tomorrow, I may not. I love today because she is part of it!