Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

 

As I look ahead there are a few things I know about 2010 for the Midland Free Methodist Church.

 

1. We will continue to sign the deed over to God.  There is nothing that we can claim ownership of.

 

2. We will need more people to get on board with their finances.  The new budget will require more of us to be involved with trusting God with our money.  Giving is part of your worship, obedience, and surrender to the God that owns it all.

 

3. Change will happen.  It is impossible to grow spiritually or numerically without change.

 

4. No one will know everyone.  It can't be done.  Meet a few and risk deeper relationships.  It's better to have quality than quantity.

 

5. There are people God has brought across your path for the express reason of you touching them in the name of Christ.

 

6. We will adjust what is temporary and hold high what is eternal.  Putting things in their right category will save us a lot of strife.

 

7.  There is going to have to be an increase in involvement.  Ministry has to continue to touch lives and we will need more people to get into giving themselves for a greater cause. 

 

8.  Flexibility and creativity are mandatory.  Our structure is limited, even with a new building.  There are four generations of people who use our facilities and we've got to be willing to be inconvenienced for the greater good.

 

9.  There are people right now that are going to hell that will meet Jesus because of our obedience.

 

10.  Humility and sincerity are required for unity.  We long to see the prayer of Jesus answered through us (John 17).  But it won't happen with arrogance and shallowness.  The Holy Spirit of God longs to do more than we have let Him do.  Let's let Him do it this year!

 

There are more things that I don't know than there are things I do know.  But what I know is that God is God and we are following Him.  The Kingdom is growing!  Be praying for the willingness to be part of what He is going to do in us and through us in 2010!

 

With Growing Passion,

 

Pastor Dave        

 

Twas the week of Christmas

Twas the week of Christmas and all through the church

our souls were all eager, on our chairs we did perch.

 

We gathered to worship, as we do every week,

to talk about blessings and His presence to seek.

 

We sang all the songs we were expected to sing,

and heard from the Bible 'bout peace and such things.

 

We put on our smiles, wore nice attire,

and said kind words to others designed to inspire.

 

When to our surprise, who should appear

but the Christ that we worship, "What's He doing here?"

 

We were really quite shocked, it's a very new thing,

it's not on the schedule to talk with the King.

 

But He had our attention, so after his greeting,

He lovely asked us, "What's the point of this meeting?"

 

"We gathered to celebrate the day You were born."

But as soon as we said it His spirit was torn.

 

"I don't need a season, a day, or a week. 

You too often ignore the treasure I seek."

 

"I hunger for souls that are wounded and torn,

so I can repair them.  What's why I was born."

 

"But You are too busy being proper and neat

to hear from my heart or sit at my feet."

 

"You fret about gifts and other such stuff

as if my love and grace are never enough."

 

"The message you know is not for a few,

  it's for those who don't know me - but do know you."

 

"You want to honor my life and be like me?

Do it all year and let everyone see."

 

Then He was gone as quick as He came

and all of us knew we just weren't the same.

 

Christmas had meaning, even more than before

since Christ interrupted and walked in the door.

 

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Dave