Scripture: Philippians 4:9
Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
Thought for the Day: Even though the old saying – practice makes perfect – is not always true, there is something very important to practicing whatever it is that is important to us. The word Paul uses in this verse is a word that implies routine, making something a habit. How many of us have done things that have created a really bad habit, but we’ve not been as diligent in working toward those things that make for good habits. Yesterday, I challenged the congregation to stretch, making room for God to enter in and do something big, but I also suggested the congregation practice in a small way in the coming weeks – with a 53rd offering. There are 52 weeks in the year, but what if we made an additional gift in the amount of our weekly giving. If you give $5,200/year, that is $100/week – could you offer a 53rd gift, an additional $100. If you give $520/year, that is $10/week – could you offer a 53rd gift, an additional $10. I like challenging myself, pushing myself a little. There are times when I fall a bit short, but each time I have challenged myself to give a little more to the church, I have found myself missing nothing. Sure, it might have meant a slight change in a weekly habit, but most of those are not terribly healthy. Practice a little, push a little, stretch a little – God appreciates it and will use whatever we put forward.
Prayer: Keep us practicing those things you have taught us, O God of peace, for we desire to have our lives resemble the life of Jesus. We’ll never be perfect, but we never wish to use that as an excuse for not trying. Amen.
ALL CHURCH
THANKSGIVING DINNER
This Wednesday Evening
5:30 – 7:00pm in the Gym
