Today is the last day of 2008, and I thinking about this past year, as I do some of my filing and getting ready for 2009! It is amazing to me the faithfulness of God to me and my family in all that we experienced this year! I am decreeing that 2009 will be a year of God's blessing and abundance on my life, in my family and in my church family!
Many times when we think of a new year, we think that it is going to change for the better just because we turn the page of a calendar. However, what matters is today! The present and what am I doing to be a candidate for the blessing of God today!
If we want the blessing of God in our lives, then it really boils down to TODAY! We can not do anything about yesterday and we can not depend on tomorrow! The only thing I have is today! I want to encourage you to let go of yesterday, and do not dream about tomorrow, but live today, enjoy today, make the most of today!
Jesus tells us - "Do not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough to deal with." Learn to live in the present!
Benjamin Franklin said - "One today is worth two tomorrows; what I am to be, I am not becoming."
In 2009, make every day count for God, for yourself and for your family!
What will I do with the rest of today???????
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2009 - A Year Of Faith
I have been praying and meditating on this upcoming new year, and what does God want for me as well as for His church here at South Attleboro. I believe that we need to people and a church of great faith in 2009! That we do need to start decreeing the blessing of God for our lives and church as we continue to make a greater impact on this area. This is not the time to shrink back, circle the wagons, but this is the time when we need to make use of every single opportunity that God will give to us in 2009!
Hebrews 11:1 tell us - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We do not see what is ahead of us, and that is why we need to hold on Jesus and walk with Him into this new year!
When I read the Word of God - Faith is Risky Business!! There is nothing easy about taking risks! Faith is obedience to God no matter what the risks that we must face in 2009! Mark Batterson gives a definition of obedience, he says, "Obedience is a willingness to do whatever, whenever, wherever God calls us."
God never promised us a life where there will be no risks!!! As we go into 2009, let us be up to the challenge of every risk that comes our way, and walk in faith and obedience to God!
I pray that God will give you the courage to meet every risk head on and to be more than an overcomer in 2009!!
Hebrews 11:1 tell us - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We do not see what is ahead of us, and that is why we need to hold on Jesus and walk with Him into this new year!
When I read the Word of God - Faith is Risky Business!! There is nothing easy about taking risks! Faith is obedience to God no matter what the risks that we must face in 2009! Mark Batterson gives a definition of obedience, he says, "Obedience is a willingness to do whatever, whenever, wherever God calls us."
God never promised us a life where there will be no risks!!! As we go into 2009, let us be up to the challenge of every risk that comes our way, and walk in faith and obedience to God!
I pray that God will give you the courage to meet every risk head on and to be more than an overcomer in 2009!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
What Is Going To Be New In 2009?
As we come to the end of 2008, and get ready to turn the calendar to 2009? What is going to be different? What changes are we going to make and keep? Many people come up with a list of New Year's Resolutions and before January is over, many of the resolutions are already forgotten about.
How many of us are people that like and enjoy things staying the same! It is so easy and comfortable to become a person of the status quo. Look at your life and how many things we do are the same week after week, month after month and year after year! We order the same food when we go out to eat. We sit in the same place at church. We are creatures of habit!
I was readying an email from Mark Batterson who is a pastor of the A/G church in Washington DC. He gave this illustration: Have you ever been offered a free subscription to a magazine for the first year? Why would they give you a magazine for the first year free? They understand something about human nature. Most people will forget about the magazine and will not cancel it. And in reality we did not forget, we just become too lazy to make a simple call and cancel. We tend to keep doing what we have always been doing. The reality is: IF YOU KEEP DOING WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME RESULTS!
As we get ready to go into 2009, I want to encourage you to CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO! During these last few days of 2008 take some time to evaluate your life SPIRITUALLY, RELATIONALLY, PHYSCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, and ask yourself: What changes do I need to make in 2009? Is there anythign that I need to stop doing? Is there anything I need to start doing?
What New Year's changes are you really going to make in 2009?
How many of us are people that like and enjoy things staying the same! It is so easy and comfortable to become a person of the status quo. Look at your life and how many things we do are the same week after week, month after month and year after year! We order the same food when we go out to eat. We sit in the same place at church. We are creatures of habit!
I was readying an email from Mark Batterson who is a pastor of the A/G church in Washington DC. He gave this illustration: Have you ever been offered a free subscription to a magazine for the first year? Why would they give you a magazine for the first year free? They understand something about human nature. Most people will forget about the magazine and will not cancel it. And in reality we did not forget, we just become too lazy to make a simple call and cancel. We tend to keep doing what we have always been doing. The reality is: IF YOU KEEP DOING WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME RESULTS!
As we get ready to go into 2009, I want to encourage you to CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO! During these last few days of 2008 take some time to evaluate your life SPIRITUALLY, RELATIONALLY, PHYSCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, and ask yourself: What changes do I need to make in 2009? Is there anythign that I need to stop doing? Is there anything I need to start doing?
What New Year's changes are you really going to make in 2009?
Saturday, December 27, 2008
What a Great Church!
Christmas is now over and that mean putting away all of the Christmas decorations, lights, trees, and all the presents. This morning I am so thankful for the many people who are outside in the rain, putting away all of the decorations, trees, lights, and cleaning up our parking lot after the Christmas Extravaganza.
They are out in the cold rain, and working to clean up the parking lot so that people will be able to come to church tomorrow. Many will come into church tomorrow and not realize the time and sacrifice that so many people made to clean up everything! This is a ministry that many people will not see, but I know that God is in heaven keeping track!
As your pastor, I want to say that I appreciate these secret servants, and pray that God will bless them for their labor of love!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!
They are out in the cold rain, and working to clean up the parking lot so that people will be able to come to church tomorrow. Many will come into church tomorrow and not realize the time and sacrifice that so many people made to clean up everything! This is a ministry that many people will not see, but I know that God is in heaven keeping track!
As your pastor, I want to say that I appreciate these secret servants, and pray that God will bless them for their labor of love!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!
Friday, December 26, 2008
It was the day after Christmas
Christmas is now over and we begin to think about New Year's Day! I had a very quiet Christmas, since Emma and I are laid up with injuries. I guess we are getting old! Ronnie drove us up to my parents and we were there with them and my sister and her family! It was a nice quiet day, with lots of food. We also endured watching the Celtics lose to the Lakers!
I was reading a book from Mark Batterson and it made me think about a New Year that is right around the corner, and how we do not know what is going to happen. But as a child of God we can only control the things we have control over, and then we must leave the rest up to God. In his book, he quoted Viktor Frankl, who went through the Nazi Concentration camps. Everything was taken from the Jewish prisoners. Their clothing, their personal items, everything was taken from them. They even took their names from them and gave them a number. Viktor Frankl said - "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances."
Those are powerful words to remember as we go into 2009! The most important choice that we can make every day is your ATTITUDE! Your internal attitudes are always more important than the circumstances that are happening around us!
I want to encourage you to go in 2009 with a new determination that I will have the same attitude as Jesus Christ!
May God richly bless you with everything you need in 2009!
I was reading a book from Mark Batterson and it made me think about a New Year that is right around the corner, and how we do not know what is going to happen. But as a child of God we can only control the things we have control over, and then we must leave the rest up to God. In his book, he quoted Viktor Frankl, who went through the Nazi Concentration camps. Everything was taken from the Jewish prisoners. Their clothing, their personal items, everything was taken from them. They even took their names from them and gave them a number. Viktor Frankl said - "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances."
Those are powerful words to remember as we go into 2009! The most important choice that we can make every day is your ATTITUDE! Your internal attitudes are always more important than the circumstances that are happening around us!
I want to encourage you to go in 2009 with a new determination that I will have the same attitude as Jesus Christ!
May God richly bless you with everything you need in 2009!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
It was the best of times and the worst of times....
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, and pray that you will make room for Jesus in your Christmas Celebration!
Charles Dickens in his book: "The Tale Of Two Cities" made this comment that is true for everyone of us. "It was the best of times and the worst of times."
Let me share the worst of times. I realize that there are a lot of bad things going on in our world today, with the economy, people losing their homes, losing thier jobs, and I could list a number of other things. Last night, as I was watching the news, a Breaking News Event came across the screen, that hurt me as a die hard Red Sox fan. The breaking news is that the New York Yankees sign Mark Teixera to an 8 year contract. What in the world will the Red Sox do now?????
All kidding aside. Let me encourage you with the first part of that quote: "It is the best of times." Christmas really is the best of times! It is not just because of all the parties, gifts, food, but it is the time when we realize that God reached out to every one of us by giving us His Son!
In Colossians 1:27 NIV - "Christ in you, the hope of glory." This verse tells us how close God wants to get to you. He is asking the very same question that He asked to Mary, "Are you willing to let Me move in?" Through out the New Testament we see that Jesus #1 desire was to get close to His people. This Christmas we need to realize that Christ is in us! When we understand this great gift of Christmas, and that we have unlimited access to His power and presence on a daily basis!
May you have a blessed Christmas no matter if this is the worst of times or the best times for you! "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."
Charles Dickens in his book: "The Tale Of Two Cities" made this comment that is true for everyone of us. "It was the best of times and the worst of times."
Let me share the worst of times. I realize that there are a lot of bad things going on in our world today, with the economy, people losing their homes, losing thier jobs, and I could list a number of other things. Last night, as I was watching the news, a Breaking News Event came across the screen, that hurt me as a die hard Red Sox fan. The breaking news is that the New York Yankees sign Mark Teixera to an 8 year contract. What in the world will the Red Sox do now?????
All kidding aside. Let me encourage you with the first part of that quote: "It is the best of times." Christmas really is the best of times! It is not just because of all the parties, gifts, food, but it is the time when we realize that God reached out to every one of us by giving us His Son!
In Colossians 1:27 NIV - "Christ in you, the hope of glory." This verse tells us how close God wants to get to you. He is asking the very same question that He asked to Mary, "Are you willing to let Me move in?" Through out the New Testament we see that Jesus #1 desire was to get close to His people. This Christmas we need to realize that Christ is in us! When we understand this great gift of Christmas, and that we have unlimited access to His power and presence on a daily basis!
May you have a blessed Christmas no matter if this is the worst of times or the best times for you! "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Dreaming Of A White Christmas
Welcome to my first posting on my blog. This is a way to stay in touch with my family and friends! I am so thankful that God stays in touch with us on a daily basis! During this Christmas Season, it makes us realize that God reached out to us by sending His Son to touch us!
We live in a world that is becoming more and more isolated and without contact with people! This Christmas Season let us not only dream of White Christmas, but let us reach out to others that need a human contact!
At South Attleboro Assembly of God we desire to Connect with God, Connect with one another, so that we can connect with our world! God is all about connecting!
I want to encourage you to come to our Christmas Eve Services. We will have two this year. The first service will be at 4:00 and this will be geared more for children, and Pastor Mike and Phil will be leading this service. At 6:00, we will have our traditional Christmas Eve Service, with singing of Christmas Carols, Special Music, Devotional and Communion. I look forward to connecting with you!
Pastor Ron Squibb
We live in a world that is becoming more and more isolated and without contact with people! This Christmas Season let us not only dream of White Christmas, but let us reach out to others that need a human contact!
At South Attleboro Assembly of God we desire to Connect with God, Connect with one another, so that we can connect with our world! God is all about connecting!
I want to encourage you to come to our Christmas Eve Services. We will have two this year. The first service will be at 4:00 and this will be geared more for children, and Pastor Mike and Phil will be leading this service. At 6:00, we will have our traditional Christmas Eve Service, with singing of Christmas Carols, Special Music, Devotional and Communion. I look forward to connecting with you!
Pastor Ron Squibb
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