Stir It Up

I don't believe there is anything magic about the church building.  Is a place that is set aside for worship of the Lord and the training and the fellowship of God's people special?  Of course it is.  However, what makes it special is what is done in it and who enters it.  The Lord is within us and when we come together for His Cause, His Kingdom, and His Worship, it is special.  So, I don't believe it is a magic potion to walk in the church building every Sunday....however, I do believe it is desperately needed.  Time and time again I have seen the results of those who have neglected the corporate worship of God.    Without a consistent pattern of corporate worship (and a daily pattern of personal worship), life leads to confusion, self-sufficiency, and a cooling of one's spiritual senses.  You become more vulnerable to become spiritually hardened, selfish minded, and dangerously casual concerning the things of God.  The church building is not magic but it is mighty special, but it is because of the fellowship of God's people that takes place in it.  That fellowship is so desperately needed in each and every one of our lives. Hebrews puts it this way:   Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:23-24 (www.lifejournal.cc)
I have never met a Christian that did not need to be stirred up from time to time.  All of us need to be reminded of the good works that ought to mark our lives.  None of us need to neglect the worship of God's people.  It ought to be a habit.  I encourage you to be a part of worship.  Tomorrow night we will be blessed by our preschool choir's presentation and our 'Happy Birthday, Jesus!' party.   They are even signing autographs before the presentation!!  Sunday we will worship the Lord together on Sunday morning and on Sunday evening at 5:00 we will have our Christmas Celebration Fellowship- we would call it a party but we are too spiritual for that!   What great opportunities to be stirred up for Him!

Please be in prayer about a great event tonight.  Tonight we will be giving out our Christmas food bags.  This is always a great event. Probably close to 80 families will come, be prayed for, have the Gospel shared with them as needed, and then be blessed with some Christmas groceries.   A local grocery store helps us with this event as well as individuals and Sunday School classes.   We always welcome you to come and pray with folks or take their groceries to their vehicle.  It is a great way to express the love of God this Christmas season!  If you cannot be there, please pray for us.  Thanks!