Good Friday morning Church Requel!
What a beautiful Friday it's going to be today in Mansfield! Almost 50 degrees. Sunshine! The promise of Spring right around the corner! And you know what else? The forecast for Sunday is for NO SNOW! Yay!!!
We are in for a storm of a different, temporal kind this Sunday. The time LEAPS FORWARD one hour early Sunday morning. Think of it this way: time itself cannot wait to worship our Lord. If you want to keep up, you'll need to remember to set your clock ahead one hour when you go to bed Saturday night.
Sowing and Reaping. You won't want to miss the great things going on at Church Requel this Sunday. We will continue our Financial Fitness sermon series. So far we've talked about the laws of financial health and contentment. Now we'll turn our attention to one of the most important financial laws you'll ever apply: the law of sowing and reaping.
I had an interesting conversation with Brandi Walker a few weeks ago as we were planning for this Sunday. She told me that whenever she thought of sowing and reaping, it was always in a negative way. As in when something bad would happen someone would say: "See, you reap what you sow!" I want to assure you that I won't be pointing any accusational fingers Sunday morning.
You see, I don't see the law of sowing and reaping in a negative light. It's just the way God created the universe. Our Lord God is a God of order. He created the laws of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Maybe you're like me. You don't have to understand why these laws work the way they do, but you cooperate with them all the time. I don't understand electricity, but I know how to flip a light switch. I don't really understand the internal combustion engine, but I know how to drive a car.
The law of sowing and reaping is the same way. It's neither negative or positive. It just is! There are basics to the law of sowing and reaping that we can apply to our lives. If we are not reaping what we want to reap, we change what we're sowing. I can't wait to get into this with you Sunday morning. It should be a fun and helpful teaching.
More Special Stuff About This Sunday. I love the job that Brandi Walker has been doing this year organizing our worship services. Haven't you? Last weekend was so very special. If you haven't already checked out all the videos and photos of our children from last weekend, go to our Facebook page. You could also listen to this week's podcast for some personal insight into last Sunday from yours truly.
This weekend Brandi has asked her mom and sister to lead our worship singing with her. That should be awesome! Also it's been awhile since Nancy Roop has led our Scripture reading - so I can't wait to hear her read her Bible for us. Finally, Brandi and Eddie will motivate us with a special song at the end of our sermon.
More In March! I'm so glad February is behind us. We have a couple March dates you will want to put on your calendars - one for Game Night and the other for our New Members class:
Game Night, Friday March 28th. This event is fun for kids of all ages. Bring any games you might like to play: card games, board games, puzzles. We will also have at least one game that we all will play together. Also bring snacks and pop to share with others. Diana told me this week that Rachel and Sara will help lead. Yay!
New Membership Class, Saturday, March 22nd. We'll begin with registration and breakfast at 8:00. The class will begin at 8:30am and last until 1:30pm. A Subway lunch is included. Sign up on the back of your Connect Card Sunday morning. Thanks to Lisa Hatfield, who has volunteered to put together our breakfast!
Let me leave you with one last insight I have been meditating upon this week in preparation for Sunday's talk. Here's a unique verse from Zechariah 4:10 NLT:
"Do not despise these small beginnings."
The Lord has been affirming me through this verse all week long. Church Requel is a small church. And we're growing! I love the growth. I focus on the growth. Growth is good; it's a sign of health. All healthy things grow. So it's natural that if we remain healthy, we will grow too. However, in the meantime, let's not despise these small beginnings. I have a suspicion that we will always look back on these days of small beginnings with great affection. Let's enjoy them and one another as much as we can. Hope to see each of you Sunday morning at 11am. With great affection, Pastor Mark
