bits from bob....
bits from bob....
In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes, "Our tendency is highly to overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and highly to underestimate what we can accomplish in ten years. Set realistic goals but be willing to dream, to stretch."
In the coming year, let us challenge one another to stretch. With clean slates, facing new opportunities, exuberant in the freshness of beginning again, relishing second chances after frustrating failures, we anticipate a year in which we trust God to wonderful, powerful things in this church. We will pray, God will provide. We anxiously wait to find out what God will do through us and to us.
May we reaffirm our desire to be about what God is about. Consider three descriptions that reflect his hope for us.
1. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. I want to hurt for brothers and sisters who have hurt so badly they have given up on God. I will fall in love with Jesus and seek to help others fall in love with Him too. I will pray for the restoration of those who have walked away from God. I will seek a shepherd heart, knowing such a heart will make me more like Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
2. Jesus is Lord and Savior. I will learn to love those Jesus loves. As the church of Jesus, a fundamental reason for our existence is to proclaim the message of reconciliation to lost people. Ours is a ministry and message and mission of reconciliation. Our personal and combined energies should focus in telling others about God's great love seen in his sacrifice to bring salvation and restore broken relationships. Jesus is Lord. May others know him and be saved. May I never forget his claim on my life; may I ever so live.
3. Jesus is our Brother. I will grow in love for Jesus' family. Only as a worshiping, sharing, caring, loving, telling community can we find and provide empowerment to grow spiritually.
