A study of the subject in the Bible tells us that none of those things should be the way we measure success.  Rather, success comes by expending all of our energies to glorify God.   Whether we design websites, scrub floors, teach pre-schoolers, or research cures for cancer, we can do it for the glory of God.  Otherwise, we have to agree with the writer of Ecclesiastes, who says all toil under the sun is “meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”   We are assured in Matthew 7:21-27 that if we build our lives on any other foundation than the solid Rock of Jesus Christ, that when the storm comes, our lives will come down with a great crash.    If we are to be wise in how we define and attain success, we need to be sure that we are basing it on a foundation that will last through every storm of life.

Each spring and fall we encourage each person to jump into a small group and delve into a particular study. So far, we’ve done Life’s Healing Choices, 40 Days of Community, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way, and Treasures of the Transformed Life.

Our new Spring small group campaign will begin on April 22nd, where we will focus on a study of Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love.” We’ll be diving into the love of God-unconditional, unexplainable, unsearchable, and just plain crazy! The second piece is how we respond to this love of God as we turn outward to a hurting world. If you’ve never been in a small group before, this is the one to jump into!

The Adult session will take place in the Main Sanctuary; the High School session will take place in the Fellowship Hall; the Middle School youth will meet in the youth room; and the K – 4th grade youth will be meeting downstairs in our Sunday School rooms. Children younger than the Kindergarten age group will be upstairs in our nursery. The book we are using for the study will be available for $10 through Ewell’s-St. Paul UMC. Book purchase is optional.

 

Come and enjoy free popcorn and drinks, experience an inspirational movie, and hang out with your friends.  Be sure to invite someone to come along!

What does God want from me?

What is success? 

How can I find true happiness? 

Is there absolute truth? 

Why is there suffering?

Have you ever thought about these questions and wondered what God had to say about them?  Come to a new sermon series beginning Sunday Jan 15 – either 8:30 for contemporary worship or 11am for traditional worship. 

This past weekend, I heard a great message by Reggie Dabbs at the United Methodist Youth Rally in Ocean City.  He talked about how in John, Jesus confronts an invalid who sits day after day by a pool waiting for the stirring of the waters, hoping he can get in before someone else does.   Jesus asks him a simple question: “Do you want to be well?”  The man starts in with his excuses as to why he isn’t well yet….no one to help him…someone always gets there before him.  Jesus dismisses all the man’s excuses and gives him a command:  “GET UP!”

I think that too often we sit passively by the “pool,” wanting to be well, but making excuses as to why we’re not.   Let’s hear the command of Jesus to “GET UP!” and move out in faith.  The invalid didn’t know he was healed until he tried to put weight on his once useless ankles, and found out that they could actually hold his weight!   Take a step in faith and hear the voice of Jesus to “GET UP!” – to take action – to be a part of the healing, and do whatever it is God is asking you to do in order to be healed…including forgiving others, denying yourself, or choosing God above the things of this world.  Take the challenge!

I think this gives us insight into our lives in Christ.  While God has a master game plan for each of us – to be in relationship with His Son Jesus – there are so many variations that can take shape within the master game plan.  When we factor in our individual choices, the mistakes we make, where we live, who we marry (or don’t), what do choose for a vocation, (etc) we can see the opportunities for an infinite number of variations in our lives.  But regardless of how many changes we experience, we need to keep our eyes on the master game plan - of living our lives in relationship with our Best Friend and Savior Jesus Christ.  That theme colors each variation with hope, joy, and purpose.  Stick with (or get with) God’s Game Plan!

I think in life we also try to avoid resistance…  Our human nature, if not unchecked by the Holy Spirit, looks for the easy road.  But Jesus didn’t take the easy road, and as His followers, we shouldn’t either.  I have found that the times when I have experienced the most significant spiritual growth have been when I was “riding into the wind.”  Difficult and challenging circumstances force us to our knees.  It is there that we are reminded that only God can carry us through whatever we’re facing, and that God always has a better plan on how to navigate the turbulence.   Resistance keeps us humble and yielded.

Next time you’re riding into the wind, remember the one who holds the wind and humbly seek guidance to navigate, the strength to endure, and the wisdom to learn and grow from the experience.