Christmas Night of Worship!
I hope you will make plans to join us for our Christmas Night of Worship on December 14th at 6:00 PM. This will be a great time for us to set our hearts on Christ and remember the wonderful truth that He came to dwell among us, our Emmanuel. Christmas is always a busy time of year, and it is easy for us to get caught up in the parties and family gatherings that we forget to adore our King who has come. Let us all make a commitment this year to spend more time celebrating King Jesus and less time on things of this world.
So, I hope you will take a moment and put this event on your calendar! Our adult and children’s choirs, band, and tech team have and will be working hard to make this night a worship-filled night; you will want to make plans to join us!
Dwell on the things of God
Your thoughts are the determining factor as to whose mold you are conformed to. Control your thoughts and you control the direction of your life. - Charles Stanley
What are the things that fill your mind? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up in the morning, or the last when you lay your head down at night? Is it the worries of the day? The things you saw on Facebook? Or, are you thinking about the things of God?
Paul, in writing to the church of Philippi, encourages them to dwell on “whatever is true.” Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Php 4:8). This is a simple but great reminder to us today!
I am sure you grew up hearing a saying much like I did, “you are what you eat.” This same sentiment is also true for our minds. The ideas that fill our minds are the things that we are going to care about the most. They are the things we will spend time on, researching and talking to our friends about. These ideas will shape how we live our lives. Philippians 4:8 is a helpful rubric for us to know, is what we are spending our time thinking about worthy of it?
I would add to the Charles Stanley quote that our ability to control our thoughts is always going to be faulty; you and I are sinners after all. We must rely on the Spirit of God working in us for strength to fight against our sinful thoughts. Relying on the Spirit’s wisdom and righteousness, for the strength, wisdom, and righteousness of our God is infinite!
If it vindicates truth, uprightness, reverence, religion, chastity, holiness, be on that side. If there is anything the reverse of this, do not have anything to do with it. But if there is any movement in the world that will help forward things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, “think about these things,” and so think upon them as to increase their influence among the sons and daughters of men. - Charles Spurgeon
Love you and mean it!
