Today our church packed over 200 bags of groceries in our “Extra Mile Grocery Giveaway”. This year was a little different than years prior. This year we didn’t have addresses of people that we knew were going through a tough time. Instead, we asked our people to prayerfully consider who they would give the groceries to. For some people, someone immediately came to their mind. Maybe someone who recently lost their job or is going through a difficult time. For others, they approached complete strangers with the groceries believing that God led them to that person.
I’ve heard the same story from several different “Creekers” today. When they approached the recipient with the groceries, they immediately shared how the groceries came at just the right time. Someone just got laid off. Others just got some bad news from the doctors and needed to see God’s love. There were tears. There was shock. There was gratitude. Here is message that came in on the church line today from a grateful recipient…
A thankful Extra Mile Grocery recipient
I’m so proud of our church for going the “extra mile” in our community today.
We often underestimate the power of small things done in Jesus’ name. Jesus somehow takes the small things and turns them into BIG things! Our job is to freely give what we have to others in His name.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6
“Small things done with great love can change the World!” – Mother Theresa
I’m excited about our Helicopter Egg Drop that is happening this Saturday (April 4th) @ the Oxford Area High School. The team is working hard to bring the community a great event, and it’s all FREE!
We will have free snacks, free balloons, free drawings to win a Sony PSP, a Nintendo DS Lite, and an iPod Shuffle.
Registration starts at 12pm and the event will get started at 1pm.
Hope to see you on Saturday!
We kicked off our Taboos in the Church sermon series on Sunday. We talked about depression. Something the Church doesn’t like to talk about. If you missed it, I would encourage you to listen to the podcast…it should be available today or tomorrow here.
I borrowed my friend Buddy Cremean’s definition of depression because I think it is a great definition.
Depression is the inability to express loss.
Life is made up of loss. From the second we’re born we begin to experience loss. When we experience a loss in life, whether something tangible (having to do with possessions) or intangible (having to do with emotions), we need to be able to express our losses in a healthy way or we risk depression.
We sometimes try to ignore our loss, by suppressing it and pretending that it doesn’t exist.
Other times we deal with it by expressing our loss indiscriminately. We fly off the handle and go off on a rant about it. By the way…this is a good example of indiscriminate expression!
But, it’s only when we accept our loss that we begin to allow God to work in us and through us. We claim our identity in Christ, and he takes us through the process of restoration.
Life is made up of losses. If you are working through a loss right now, I pray that God would give you the strength to endure. I pray that you would claim your identity in Christ. You are a child of the King…adopted by royalty!
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
#2 (In no particular order) God cares more about Elk Creek Church than I do
God reminded me this year several times that Elk Creek Church is His church, not mine. He has shown me that no matter how much I care about Elk Creek Church, He cares more… No matter how much I love Elk Creek Church, He loves it even more…No matter how much I think I am sacrificing, He has sacrificed infinitely more.
I can look back over this past year and see how God has provided for us. This time last year, several of us were putting together the budget for 2008. We were putting together a budget with no track record to go on…no history, and nothing to base it on other than what we trust God for. I remember looking at the projected income and saying, that’s a big amount, but God…we trust you to provide…And God did! It looks like we’re going to end the year having met the projected income that we budgeted for 2008…Praise God!
Sometimes we forget that this is His church, not ours. Sometimes we forget that it’s not up to us to produce the results. I’m thankful that I don’t have to take on the pressure of yielding results. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the powers of Hell will not stand against it!” I look forward to what God is going to do in 2009. I know this much…It’s probably going to look different than I expect.
God I pray that you will use me as you continue to build your Church…Use Elk Creek Church to accomplish something BIG for your kingdom in 2009. Father, we give you all the credit for what you’ve done and will continue to do! Thank you for caring more about Elk Creek Church than I do!
