Weekly Note From the Pastor
November 25, 2008
I love this time of year! We usually spend Thanksgiving at my parents. My mom makes the best holiday spread anywhere… cornbread dressing, homemade cranberry salad, and her popular homemade yeast rolls! My brothers and I hunt, play waffle ball, and play forty two all evening. We watch the Cowboys game together every year while eating some of the best homemade dessert in the world. And when the weather is nice, that is just icing on the cake.
I pray you have memories and continue to make new ones every chance you get. And be thankful for this privilege and the traditions you leave for your children to reminisce about when they grow old. We all need a place to escape for a little while, even if it’s only in a memory.
“Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT
A Good Testimony
November 20, 2008
I got permission to publish this testimony so that it might be an encouragement:
Pastor Jeff,
I am going to come way out of my comfort zone and share with you what God laid on my heart today as I was fasting for the Building Program…I was reading, just trying to get quiet and hear from the Lord, when he reminded me of Genesis 12:3. We are Abraham’s seed and so blessed with the same blessing as he received. One of the promises made to Abraham was that through him, families in the earth would be blessed. I was struck at how that relates to us at TCOC, especially in light of what the Holy Spirit gave me to share this past Sunday night about our role in seeing families reconciled. When we are walking in the blessing of the Lord through obedience, we will be a blessing to families in the earth today! That was so exciting to me! And then my next thoughts went to how important it is to be walking in the fullness of God’s blessing, so that we can bless those around us. I think it is so important that the body have understanding of how much God desires to bless them. When our priorities are right and lined up with the Word of God, then God can liberally bless us because He can trust us to carry out His purposes. Glen and I have experienced that ourselves in awesome ways the last few years. We have brought home much less financially than in the past but have seen more miracles than ever in our life as we have obeyed the Holy Spirit in our giving. We have not yet seen complete restoration in our lives of all that has been lost, but in many ways we have received more because we have numerous times witnessed God provide for us in supernatural ways – which is really better because then God gets the glory and not man. And isn’t true prosperity having every need met through Christ? In the state that the economy is in right now, I believe there is a lot of fear in people’s hearts to commit to giving but if they can understand the principles of God’s economy, they can have greater boldness to give. The Word states that Isaac sowed in a time of famine and reaped in the same year a hundred-fold return! (Genesis 26) I think that’s an awesome testimony to what God can do in our lives!
I feel impressed to share with you an experience Glen and I had in these last few years of his lay-off. After getting laid off, Glen went out on his own for about a year and a half doing home renovation, which was a completely different field for him – previously he held a good position in a large company as a purchasing manager. But it was a desire of his so we went for it. It did not make us rich but we got by and he was enjoying it, until one day the work just “dried up.” During that time as we were seeking the Lord, he was doing a lot of extra work up at our church (He was on staff part-time as the head of audio) and our pastor came to him and offered him a position full-time to oversee the facility. It was a major step down for us and it was much less money so we really weren’t interested but God began to wrestle with us and deal with us to take it. So we did and about a month into it, our church began a major remodel. Long story short, Glen felt impressed to go to Pastor and offer to oversee the building remodel so they would not have to pay a general contractor to do it. God spoke to Glen and told him, “Glen, if you will take care of my house, I will take care of yours.” Well, Glen did oversee it. It took about 6 months; he barely slept, many nights he spent the night up there, as did our boys, and during the course of it experienced tremendous persecution from two other men in the church body. But Glen also saved the church in excess of fifty-thousand dollars. (Actually much more – I just can’t remember the final numbers without asking Glen) It was a tremendously satisfying, yet difficult time in our lives. One of the most difficult actually. But I have shared all that with you to tell you that the financial miracles we have experienced since then have been amazing. God honored His words to us and has truly taken care of us in a time when Glen has been very underemployed and we have had only one income. I learned all over again how dear it is to the heart of God when we take care of His church and care about what He cares about. Anyway, I just felt impressed to share my thoughts with you and let you know I am praying for the church body of TCOC to come to a higher place of submission to the purposes of God, but also a higher level of faith (Myself included!) to receive the fullness of God’s blessing in our lives, so that we can fulfill our commission to be a blessing to the families in the earth today!
Thanks for your time,
Blessings,
Christy Sullivan
Weekly Note From the Pastor
November 20, 2008
This past Saturday evening, I was touched by the comment of a little girl at the conclusion of the service. She was giving me a hug and telling me she loved me as she does every weekend, along with her siblings. She looked up at me with those beautiful eyes and sweet smile and said, “Pastor Jeff, we look forward to coming here every Saturday evening all week, so that we can go to service and see you and tell you we love you.” Talk about making my day.
The impression we make on others, especially while at church, has a huge impact upon our effectiveness as an Ambassador for Christ. Ambassadors are ministers of the highest rank, with plenipotentiary (a person who has full powers) authority to represent their head of state. We represent Christ as foreigners on this earth, and have been given the commission and authority to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and to be ‘Jesus with skin on’ to those we come in contact with. Church is not a place to set that mantle aside. You never know what a little love and encouragement when sowed into hungry soil will produce.
“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20a NLT
Weekly Note From the Pastor
November 13, 2008
I took my kids to a birthday party last weekend where they were playing Black Light Dodge ball. I did not realize parents were invited to play, nor did I go prepared. But when asked, I thought I might play a game or two. I ended up playing the entire time – ten to twelve games – and was ready for more. It was a lot of fun and made me feel young again.
I found out I still don’t like getting hit or getting out, but couldn’t avoid it. My once “cat-like” reflexes were more like good intentions (I moved in my mind but my body followed far behind). I did not leave with a great sense of victory, but with a really sore arm! We must be able to adjust to change and the progression of life. And being able to ‘poke fun’ at yourself and laugh helps make those adjustments a little more enjoyable.
I know the best thing we can do is to always enjoy life, because God’s gift to us is the happiness we get from our food and drink and from the work we do.” Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 CEV
Corporate Prayer
November 12, 2008
I wanted to make a comment about our prayer time this past Sunday night. I have been in more emotional and excitable prayer meetingsbefore, but it has been a long time since I have felt like those who gave devotionals and testimonies were speaking so profoundly to me. Thank you for hearing from the Lord and delivering that message to His people.
Reminisce: Pock My Koes
November 6, 2008
Here is another old Newsletter article… one of the first ones I ever wrote back in 1999:
“Geff, pock my koes!” Have you ever had something done to you that you weren’t sure whether it felt good or bad, enjoyable or terrible. That’s the way Jefferson, Sheridan, and Cassidee feel when I pop their toes. Especially Cassidee, she’s the best. She sort of wants me to do it because she asks me. But is never completely sure about it and refuses to surrender her “piggies” all the way. That half laugh and half cry is priceless. I begin to grasp those oxymorons, “bitter sweet” and “hurt so good”. How so is life sometimes. Ministry, marriage, and various other things I’m sure you can think of, produce this same feeling. To be stretched, challenged, and changed hurts, but always produces a good result. If we can laugh through the pain and think about the outcome, we will continue to ask: “Pease pock my koes.”
WallBuilders.com
November 5, 2008
I thought this was an excellent statement… an excerpt of their weekly newsletter: “While overall results were disappointing for many, there were nevertheless several victories. As we keep in mind that last night’s election was not a destination, but rather one stop on a lifelong journey, we realize this post-election atmosphere provides many new opportunities. We continue diligently to pursue John Quincy Adam’s wise axiom that ‘Duty is ours, results are Gods’.'” David Barton
Weekly Note From the Pastor
November 5, 2008
Since yesterday’s election, I have been receiving e-mails and telephone calls of all variety. Some were mad or scared, while others wondered what will happen in our country over the next four years. My encouragement to people is that the presidency of the United States does not affect my devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords. My responsibility is to pray for our leaders, whether I agree with them or not. If we want to make changes, it starts with us as individuals. Some want to blame society or Hollywood. Others want to blame the church, believing that preachers aren’t being “harsh” enough about issues. However, they themselves aren’t really doing anything, at least outwardly, to impact change for righteousness. It is always easy to judge and blame another party or group. Any way you look at it, this is an opportunity to pray and trust God like never before. Don’t waste time replaying the election… it’s over! Use your time and thought life productively.
“Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God.” 1 Timothy 2:2 CEV
Weekend responses
November 4, 2008
We had several that responded to salvation this past weekend. Nine cards were turned in stating they had made a commitment. Praise God!
