Celebrating God’s Work in Our Midst
All during the Easter season we jubilantly
sang, “Let the weak say I am
strong, let the poor say I am rich, let the blind say I can see, it’s
what the Lord has done in me.” God
is at work and He is at work in our midst.
He is working in our hearts and lives—changing,
refining, purifying us to be a people that reflect His glory.
The cardboard testimonies on Easter Sunday powerfully reflected
that work in our midst.
· God’s
word was milk→God’s word now meat.
· In
constant back pain→Pain free for 8 years and
still praising the Lord.
· When
I feel weak or discouraged→The Lord is my strength.
He hears. He answers.
· Master
in the art of profanity→Working for the Master.
· Very
sad childhood, troubled teen, angry, bitter, wounded spirit, cigarettes
and alcoholic fog, diagnosed with depression, mentally unstable and
infertility patient→Delivered and healed, 3
miracle children, defeating depression, receiving mental stability,
being restored in body and spirit, being led by the Holy Spirit and
walking out wholeness.
· Sad,
lonely→Loved.
· Broken
arm→Healed.
· Troubled
thought life causing depression and fear→Hope in Jesus and healing of
mind, renewal in Word of God.
· Brokenhearted→Trusting in God as my Father.
As
I write this, I am reflecting on Tim’s sermon this morning (April 26),
challenging us to celebrate God’s work in our lives and in our midst as
a church family. He challenged
us to list the ways, so here I go, and this is just since January...…
· Teams
are meeting, praying, and working together in kingdom building.
· Prayer
emphasis with a faithful group meeting almost every Thursday evening.
· Continued
financial support for our missionaries: the Shultz
family, Ed/Doris Ranck and Donna Wyatt even in the midst of an
economic slowdown.
· United
enthusiasm and working together to raise over $18,000 for a team of 11
youth and 3 adults to go to Costa Rica in June.
· Richard
Blair now has a place to live.
· Prayed
for healing for numerous persons (Richard Blair, Martha Bowles, Bob
Hertzler, Bill Schaefer, Wally Schaefer, Steve Graber, Alice White)
undergoing surgery, accidents or illness.
· Installed
a new team of elders (Miles Pruett, Sidney Moyer and Sam Powell) April
26. We are grateful for the
faithful, long-term leadership of Ron Moyer as head elder, Gene
Schaefer’s term as elder; and Wally Schaefer’s continuing service on
the Spiritual Leadership Team.
· Baptism
of new believers: Tiffany Dove and Anna Landis.
· Received
Rob & Candy Falt and Steve & Anita Graber as new members.
· Rejoiced
in the adoption of Emily and Nathan into Steve and Anita Graber’s
family.
· Celebrated
the marriage of Duane Benson and Shauna Garrett.
· The
outpouring of God’s grace on Frank and Debbie Vaughn as they minister
at Elk Hill Boy’s Home.
· The
joint worship service of county churches desiring unity, freedom and
healing in the midst of racial tensions in the county.
These
are not our accomplishments. This
is God’s work, and it is cause for joyous celebration.
The chorus to our theme song extols the praise most beautifully, “Hosanna, hosanna to the Lamb that was slain.
Hosanna, hosanna, Jesus died and rose again.”
AMEN and AMEN and AMEN!
Inviting ~ Building ~ Equipping
By Pat Hertzler
|
