by George | Nov 9, 2021 | Devotional, Newsletter
Be A Tree
“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”
Psalms 1:3
In an old Peanuts comic strip from 1964, Lucy is trying to give Linus a nature lesson.
They are watching the leaves fall from a tree.
Lucy: “This happens every year. It’s one of the cycles of nature. There is a real lesson to be learned from this… Do you know what it is?”
Linus: “Don’t be a leaf… Be a tree.”
Leave it to Linus to find a deeper, kind of theological observation.
I think he has a point. In the springtime, leaves look really beautiful on the trees. They continue to hang on through the summer. Then, fall comes. Leaves fall from the trees.
But, the tree remains, even in the bitter cold of winter.
A tree is mentioned in Psalm 1.
“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”
Psalms 1:3
Did you notice that the leaves in this verse don’t wither? They are ever green.
It’s a beautiful picture of what it’s like to draw our strength and vitality from God. Jesus said it this way:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”
John 15:4
It’s possible to be like a tree. Steady, secure, abiding and drawing from His life giving Waters.
by George | Nov 6, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
November Community Church Ministry Newsletter
What is it about the beginning of November that puts us in a rush? We look forward to Thanksgiving, but in the back of our minds, we are already thinking about the Christmas season. (Maybe it’s because we are already seeing Black Friday commercials!)
Too easily we hit the ground running, without a plan. If we make plans, we tend to forget to ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance.
James warns us:
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
James 4:13-15
Solomon reminds us:
“The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
So, before we leave the starting blocks, let’s remember and follow the advice from Solomon:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
And:
“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3
Community Church Ministry is doing, Lord willing, 5 Thanksgiving to-go plate dinners.
Please pray with us for the success of these events we are committing to the LORD. (All events start at 6:30.)
Thursday, November 4- Darlington MHP
Thursday, November 11-
Dutch Gardens MHP
Monday, November 15- Callier Forest Apts.
Thursday, November 18- Ashland Park Apts.
Monday, November 22-
Swan Lake MHP
Huge thanks to all who gave last month!
We were able to pay for the hoodies, buy word search, activity books, and pocket-sized Gospel of John. God bless you for your generosity!
As always, we would love to partner with you to reach your neighborhood.
Let’s get together to talk about it!
Keep praying, and never give up! Thanks for your support.
by George | Oct 12, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
October Community Church Ministry Newsletter
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Are you tired? I am…
Yes, I know it’s only Tuesday.
We can all relate to being physically tired. These days, I think we all are emotionally tired as well.
The ongoing Covid crisis, the division of our country, and the uncertainty of our times are big factors in this.
I’m glad Jesus recognized that as humans, we get weary sometimes.
Let’s continue to abide in Jesus and the rest he offers for our souls.
It’s not a bad idea to get some physical rest as well. We were not designed to keep going for 24 hours without a break.
This month, Community Church Ministry is taking a break from doing our community dinners. It’s not because we are tired, but it’s because of the rise in Covid cases. We are prayerfully planning to do to-go plates in November.
Meanwhile, we are continuing to deliver non-perishable groceries to 4 neighborhoods.
Also, we are buying supplies for our Christmas outreach and continuing to pay for the children’s hoodies.
Special thanks to those who have donated to make this possible.
If you haven’t given, please consider it.
Also, please continue to pray for our ministry, for an end to Covid, and for revival in America.
Thanks! May God bless you richly!
