Shannon and I have been out of town for about a week and a half. I had a math conference in Gainesville, Florida for a few days. On our way back to Ga, we visited some friends in Valdosta (Jason, Candy and Joshua). Then, we went to visit our families in Vidalia, GA while Shannon was preparing to preach in a series of meetings at Cornerstone Church. Everything went well, and I thank God for his mercies during both the conference and the church services.
It is amazing to see God work in the lives of people and change them into new creations. That is what happened this week in the services. Shannon spoke three messages from Romans 12 (Holy Rebellion, Rebel with a Cause, The Heart of the Matter) and once from Acts chapters 1 and 8 (Turning the Church Inside Out). They were timely messages about rebelling against the worldly system and living a transformed life in the midst of a secular world (as one follows the Holy Spirit). He spoke about the need for community – that one cannot be “saved” without developing relationships within the community. He cried out for the church to reach beyond our own comfort and into the community which surrounds us that is dying without our intervention. We must reach out even to those people around whom we may be uncomfortable, as they need to see the story of Christ exemplified in our lives.
While we were grateful for this time, we are both happy to be back home in Birmingham. We missed all of our Alabaster Church of God family and our friends in the Birmingham area while we were gone. We missed our fellowship at The Bridge meetings and going to Habaneros after church on Sunday. To all our family at Alabaster: We missed you; we love you; and it was so good to see you last night. (To those who couldn’t make it last night, we look forward to seeing you soon.)
Just one last thought: Where would we be (as Christians) without a family of faith? How has your church family impacted your life? Please take a moment to thank those people who have helped you along your journey to living in Christ.
Peace,
Dee
