November 7, 2014
Dear Eastridge Family,
I want to share a devotional thought from Randy Alcorn this
week:
Life consists largely of selection—choosing one alternative
over another. Those things we choose are
our priorities.
Deciding “I’ll read the Bible and pray when I can find the
time” is like saying “I’ll give to God’s work when I can find the money.” There are an infinite number of things on
which both time and money can be spent. Without
a careful plan and self-discipline, expenditures always rise to meet income. Living beyond your means of time—trying to
spend time that you don’t have—is courting disaster.
Time in God’s Word doesn’t just happen. You must make it happen. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). How do you renew your mind? I like to start my days listening to Scripture
audio, which I play on my smartphone or iPod. If you can’t seem to carve out time to sit
down, you can listen as you fix breakfast, pack lunch, load the dishwater,
clean the fridge, you name it. When
you’re doing something mindless, fill your mind with Scripture.
The hardest lesson we learned in our first twenty years of
marriage was this: life is full of good, worthwhile, and meaningful programs,
activities, organizations, causes, and ministry opportunities—the vast majority
of which we cannot and should not be involved with!
It is not sufficient that something be good or important. It must be the best and most important for me,
and God must show me that. Why? For the same reason that if I have a hundred
dollars to spend on groceries this month, I should buy meat and milk and fruit
and vegetables, not donuts and chips
We sometimes mistake Christian busyness for true spirituality,
failing to realize that over-commitment is no more honoring to God than
under-commitment. In our relentless
pursuit of spiritual success, we drag ourselves through a dizzy, busy, barren
life. Our unspoken motto seems to be
“Weariness is next to godliness.”
Consider making it a policy never to say “yes” to anything
until you’ve thought and prayed about it for one week. Even if someone needs an answer today, tell
them you’ll call them back no sooner than a few hours. Don’t impulsively say “Yes” or you will feel—and
be—out of control. Of course, there’s
also the woman or man who says “No” to everything and needs to learn to say
“Yes.” Be sure you say “Yes” enough to
get your exercise, and “no” enough to get your rest. Steward your life so that when it’s something
you sense God’s prompting to do, you will have said no often enough to give you
room to say yes to those relatively few things God wants you to do.
- Peruvian Consulate
Today and tomorrow we are hosting the Peruvian Consulate in
our church office so they can provide services to Peruvians living in the
Wichita area. This is just one way we
can help serve our community.
- Fall Festival Photos
Last Sunday we had a good turnout for our Fall Festival in
spite of the terrible wind. I certainly
do appreciate everyone who came as well as those who put in many hours behind
the scenes to make the event a success. Some
of you have seen some of the photos I have posted on Facebook on the “Eastridge
Nazarene Church” page. I am saving my
favorites to show Sunday morning.
- Youth Group Service Project
Each fall our youth group has taken a day or evening to rake
leaves for some of our congregation family who can use the help. If you would like to have some help or know
someone who needs the help please contact Pastor Josh @ 316-832-8316
- Children’s Christmas Program
The children have already begun working on the Christmas
program entitled “Christmas Around the World.”
The performance date is December 14th in the morning worship
service. Hopefully we will not have snow
like last year J. They will need some help again with costumes
and props if you would like to help please see Stephanie Heer.
- Church Board Meeting
Sunday afternoon at 4:30 we will have our monthly board
meeting.
- Quotes of the Week
There
is nothing that makes us love a person as much as praying for them. - William
Law
Prayer
is not a monologue, but a dialogue. God’s
voice in response to mine is its most essential part. –
Andrew Murray
If I could hear Christ praying
for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.
—Robert Murray
M’Cheyne
- Sermon
How do you Evaluate Your Life? How do you know if you are
successful or not? What is the measure
of success in God’s eyes? This Sunday we
will explore these questions in my sermon.
I’m looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday
Pastor Andy
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