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Our Senior Pastor welcomes you to our weekly Friday Blessings update! In This Issue Daylight Savings Time Begins COJ Worship Survey Lenten Meager Meal Lenten Food Drive Preaching Pastor Elyse is preaching at worship
services on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Pastor Wells is
preaching at L.I.G.H.T. worship on Sunday at |
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TAKE UP THE CROSS This
weekend our Gospel focus is Mark 8:31-38. We are called by Jesus not
only to walk behind him on his way to the cross, but we are also
called to take up the cross and follow. Jesus lets us know, in no
uncertain terms, that the cross is not optional equipment for us, as
His followers. The cross is not pleasant or easy, and it is not
something that we would naturally gravitate toward. The cross
represents sacrifice and death. And yet, we know that only through
the cross, can we receive the gift of new life and the possibilities
that new life in Christ has for
us. One of the greatest temptations
in life is to rely on ourselves instead of God. When we trust in
something other than the unconditional love of God, we keep God at
arm's length. When we trust in something other than in God's care
for us, we edge God out. When we put our security in other things
such as our intellect, our position, our business contacts, our
personality, our hard work, our wisdom . . . anything . . . we are
putting our trust in the world, rather than on God. We are counting
on the temporal instead of the eternal. The writer of Proverbs says
it well: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on
your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He
will guide you on the right paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=vFo7eaIuVUfENQvz2WWKUw_3d_3d
PRAYER: Lord,
Help me to put confidence in nothing at all except your
unconditional love for me. It is all that is trustworthy in this
life and in the next. Draw Your arms of love around me and
teach me to depend on You for every aspect of my
life. Alive in Christ, |
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