“So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’” (Acts 5:38-39a)
Dear Friends,
A date in our history passed us by without recognition. Did you know that First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Clemens was organized 190 years ago on April 10, 1835. At that time the church had 18 charter members and by 1841, the church had more than 100 members.
Over the years, the church has had its ups and downs. This happens in every faith community, as well as in every aspect of life. You may have felt this in your own life as you face trials and tribulations on a regular basis. We have seasons of abundance and seasons of scarcity.
So, how do we get through those times of scarcity?
What keeps us running the race and fighting the good fight is our belief that we each have a mission and purpose that takes precedent. As the scripture cited above reasons, if it is of God, it will not fail. It does require us to remind ourselves of why we are here and reimagine a way forward when we want to thrive and grow.
When you hit a roadblock, whether in life, family, business, community and more, you must take the time to figure out how you will get through the wilderness to reach the promised land.
It is amazing to think that this church has been doing ministry and mission successfully for 190 years. I may not say it enough, but we have a core of people who have stepped up in wonderful ways to keep going even in the toughest of times.
To be guided by the love of God, inspired by the ministry of Jeus, and encouraged by the power of the Holy Spirit is essential in our plans for a fruitful future.
It may be for this very reason that we spent time this year talking about the Fruit of the Spirit, how to keep the fire burning, and right now taking a deep dive into how our worship feeds our souls, so that we live life in a way that pleases the Lord.
This is why I am deep in the thought of what comes next for us. A friend of the church put a theme in my head months ago that will take shape this fall. And that is how we can be a Force Multiplier. It is about taking what we have and optimizing it for the greatest impact.
An encouraging word for us may be what the apostle Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 12, when he asks God to remove the thorn from his side. God responds to hm in this way, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul decides then that he will boast in his weaknesses so that the power of Christ can dwell in him, and by doing so, in spite of how weaknesses, he will be strong.
We may feel that we have challenges we must face in life and in community, but if we lean on the power of God, we can be victorious.
For the time being, I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, and come back refreshed, renewed, and ready for what God has planned for us this fall.
I thank God for you,
Pastor Kathy Nealand
"We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer, we develop endurance, 4 which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. 5 And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love.” Romans 5:3-5(The Voice)
“So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.” Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
“ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20
“So, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’?” Matthew 21:42
"Walk by the Spirit . . . led by the Spirit . . . live by the Spirit . . . keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:16, 25
“[Paul Gives Thanks to God] I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.” -1 Corinthians 1:4-5
“Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
As we begin a new season in the church, it is good and right to think about what we mean when we pray “give us this day, our daily bread.” It is all about God’s provision. If we see God as a parent, we know that if we have a need, God will provide exactly what we need. The scripture verse above proves the case. Ask and it will be given to you. Knock and the door will be opened.
