RENEWAL! There’s nothing like being renewed … rejuvenated … refreshed! How we love those rare days when we only have ONE job to go to, or those nights when we get to come home BEFORE 9:00 at night!!! And there really IS no place like home! We walk in the door, knowing that we’ve just entered our safe haven, our retreat, our “sanctuary” outside of church, if you will! We are fully aware that there is a long list awaiting us to work away at over the next twenty-four hours or so before going back to all our jobs. But for this moment, we just sit in our chairs for a bit and breathe in deeply. We actually get to see each other face to face and we talk and we share and we talk some more. Sometimes we hold hands and pray together for someone or something that we want to bring before our Lord. We might run for a glass of juice or a piece of fruit (or a small dish of yummy ice cream!), and we just chill out and munch a bit. We might sit in quietness with the Word, or laugh over something in the newspaper. Sometimes we make a call or write a note or get some bills ready to be sent out. Other times we dig into laundry or cleaning. Sometimes it’s studying and planning and brainstorming. Mostly, it’s work of some sort ~ because with a schedule like ours right now, a day off never ends up being a day off. It’s just a different kind of work day! And we absolutely love being at home and getting to work on things that are important to us! We have to be honest, though, and say that we while we have never minded working hard and long … we just long for a span of time to totally retreat and give our bodies and minds the gift of more than a few hours of sleep and renewal. We dream of a place hidden away somewhere private, tucked away in a breathtakingly beautiful part of God’s creation! But … until then … the amazing thing about all of this is that God is somehow (supernaturally) bringing to us little vignettes of rejuvenation in the midst of our long days. And it comes in a variety of forms. A friend sees us at work and stops to chat for a few minutes … and the enjoyable exchange allows us to stand still for a bit, and as they walk away we discover that both our body and soul have been refreshed. Someone comes up beside us, a bit breathless, as they exclaim about a wondrous answer to prayer! Our spirits soar, and we find we have the spring back in our steps! Someone else lets us know that they are tucking home-cooked meals for us in one of the work refrigerators each Thursday! Wow, God! How great is that … one day a week we don’t have to pack lunches!!! A surge of strength comes over us and we find that at the end of the day we were far more productive than we had anticipated as we began! Item after item gets crossed off our list, and we were even able to spend a short time with a friend over a cup of coffee! Yes, there are still lots and lots of things awaiting our attention … so many friends we haven’t been able to talk with for such a long time … less time to chat with our kids and grandkids than we’d like – since they all live away from us … books upon books waiting for us to open their pages … photographs still to be sorted from years past … even photos and letters from the past two Christmases waiting to be taken and written and sent out … but you know what? Along with the longing for renewal and rejuvenation and refreshing that only God can bring in full measure, He is refining us. In that process, we are taking the steps necessary to live in daily renewal as we steep ourselves in His Word and practice the very presence of Christ. Oh, is He teaching us! He’s revealing to us where we’ve made mistakes, where we are lacking – and He’s helping us get on track to experience daily doses of refreshing, though smaller in measure yet than what we are seeking Him for. And in this journey we’re on … so help us, God … we are getting the message loud and clear … that we could be witnesses to things far greater than we could even wrap our minds around ~ if only we worked as hard for God and His Kingdom, as we did for our earthly provisions. Lord God, help us get to that place, with Your help and by Your grace! While we love the opportunities for ministry in the workplace, we long for the time to come when once again we will be on God’s time-clock, 24/7! Pray with us for the dawning of that day. And in the meantime, pray with us that we will be faithful in the place God has us now! We ARE loving each day and we ARE in God’s employ ~ just in many different places!!! We’re sure that many of you can relate to what we’ve just shared; and be assured that God is with you on your “stepping-stone journey” which is just as important as the next journey God will send you on! So … happy living! Be renewed, rejuvenated, refreshed … and yes, even refined!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- HOW WE LOVE MEETING WITH OUR GOD! Each Sunday provides its own gift of blessing and fellowship as we focus on our Lord and Savior, and care for each other! We were challenged to seek out the place of service that God has for us in His church. It’s a place that only each of us can fill individually. And what a privilege it is to serve our God and each other as we continue to reach out beyond the walls of our church!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES are just around the corner for Pam Klages on Monday, March 22nd! God bless you, Pam! And thank you for sharing your ministry of music with us each week in worship!
- A LOVING FAREWELL to the Todd family: Michael and Mollie and their children, who have moved to Minnesota Lakes. We will miss all of you, and pray for God’s best in your new home!
- REMEMBER to save your ink cartridges to help us with office expenses; each one turned in is worth $3.00!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 21ST:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with our continuing 50-Day Spiritual Adventure, this week centering on “Identifying and Addressing the Hidden Prejudices of our Hearts”. Whether we admit it or not, all of us have some prejudices that God would love to break us free from so that His work on this earth will not be hindered. Come and see what God reveals to you about your heart!
- 11:15 a.m. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with a class just for you taught by caring, passionate teachers who love God’s Word and His people! We encourage your input, ideas, and sharing from God’s Word as we learn together!!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. - YOUTH – RE: FUEL session with Justin at Clinton Falls! Plan for an exciting time after a brief break! You’ll want to invite as many of your friends as possible to join in on the studies and the activities – the more the better! Let Justin know how many are coming so we can have enough snacks for everyone!
- EASTER MISSION PROJECT – help us feed souls and bodies with a $2 Easter meal and the message of Christ’s love at the Union Gospel Mission in the Twin Cities! This is just one more way for you to help reach the lost!
- EASTER SERVICES:
- MARCH 28TH: - 10:00 A.M. – PALM SUNDAY SERVICE
- APRIL 1ST - 7:00 P.M. – Maundy Thursday Service with Communion
- APRIL 4th – 9:00 A.M. – EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATION, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt for the Sunday School children, and then juice and rolls and a time of fellowship for everyone!
- MAY 1ST – 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA (Hazel is already busy planning an incredible time for us!)
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- Let’s be in prayer not only for the needs we list each week, but for many unspoken requests that are so real in our lives as we desire God’s touch!
- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “Don’t be anxious for tomorrow, God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” (Matthew 6:34)
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
