Dear Maple Runners,
I love the sunshine and the promise of spring. I receive calmness and peace sitting in the sun, listening to worship music and knowing that God has me in the palm of His hand. February has been a challenging month and yet I have this peace that passes all understanding just knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. There is nothing I cannot overcome as long as I stay focused on Jesus and what He wants for me and for His kingdom.
I think of the examples that we were able to witness the past few weeks of the peace that God offers. As Paul and Judy were preparing for his open heart surgery and hearing that Paul knew he was in a win/win situation. The prospect that his surgery would go as expected and he would feel better, have more energy and be able to continue living his life here on this earth and do more to share the love of God for him and for others or if he was to go to heaven and meet his Savior face to face.
Suzy said that Chris had so much peace when he knew it was time to go. For the strength that Suzy and the kids had as they laid Chris to rest, that only comes from God and knowing His love and His peace. We hurt for our earthly loss, but rejoice with Chris for his heavenly gain.
Pastor John spoke from Acts 19 this month regarding prayer. In verse 8, Paul was in Ephesus and he was speaking about the power of prayer. Some of the people became obstinate and indignant. They didn’t like what they might have to give up in order to seek God fully. We do the same thing today. Do you think God is not answering your prayers because He did not answer in the way that you wanted? Do you think that He is not listening to you? Are you praying with an open mind and heart so that you can hear God talking to you? I remember the day when Denny passed away; I distinctly asked God to give Denny a respite from the pain that he dealt with daily. So clearly, God said, “I got this”. I was so filled with peace. I wanted Denny to have a great day on this earth, and he did, God gave Denny a permanent respite from his pain. It was not at all what I had been thinking or wanted when I prayed that prayer, but my prayer was answered in a way greater than I could have asked for Denny. God has a plan bigger than we can know or understand, I have to be trusting enough to go along with His plan. Are you that trusting?
On February 17, we held a Leadership Team meeting for the clerks of committees, our pastors and church officers. We discussed God’s Leadership Preparation and looked at scriptures to help us understand what God is asking of us as leaders. We looked at 5 key elements of leadership:
1. Faithful Family. Ephesians 6:1-4
2. Committed Authentic Heart Revelation 2:23
3. Discipline Colossians 3:23
4. Refinement of Gifts & Talents 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
5. The Spirit’s Presence & Power Acts 1:8 and Romans 8:26-27
There are immediate things that you will notice as a result of this meeting;
1. Quarterly a summary of the church’s financial position will be in the bulletin.
2. We will annually do a clerk training with all new and renewed clerks of committees to help them understand their role, finances for their committee, anticipate their concerns…
3. Semi-Annually there will be a list of items to be donated to MRF for the cleaning, kitchen, and nursery, whatever can be donated to help us run more efficiently.
You will see additional things be presented as time goes on and the committees have time to reflect on the recommendation and how best to implement. If there are things you would like to see us work on, please make myself, Pastor John or Brian aware so we can move the idea to the best committee for consideration.
Praying for you to have a Blessed March,
Jenni
I love the sunshine and the promise of spring. I receive calmness and peace sitting in the sun, listening to worship music and knowing that God has me in the palm of His hand. February has been a challenging month and yet I have this peace that passes all understanding just knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. There is nothing I cannot overcome as long as I stay focused on Jesus and what He wants for me and for His kingdom.
I think of the examples that we were able to witness the past few weeks of the peace that God offers. As Paul and Judy were preparing for his open heart surgery and hearing that Paul knew he was in a win/win situation. The prospect that his surgery would go as expected and he would feel better, have more energy and be able to continue living his life here on this earth and do more to share the love of God for him and for others or if he was to go to heaven and meet his Savior face to face.
Suzy said that Chris had so much peace when he knew it was time to go. For the strength that Suzy and the kids had as they laid Chris to rest, that only comes from God and knowing His love and His peace. We hurt for our earthly loss, but rejoice with Chris for his heavenly gain.
Pastor John spoke from Acts 19 this month regarding prayer. In verse 8, Paul was in Ephesus and he was speaking about the power of prayer. Some of the people became obstinate and indignant. They didn’t like what they might have to give up in order to seek God fully. We do the same thing today. Do you think God is not answering your prayers because He did not answer in the way that you wanted? Do you think that He is not listening to you? Are you praying with an open mind and heart so that you can hear God talking to you? I remember the day when Denny passed away; I distinctly asked God to give Denny a respite from the pain that he dealt with daily. So clearly, God said, “I got this”. I was so filled with peace. I wanted Denny to have a great day on this earth, and he did, God gave Denny a permanent respite from his pain. It was not at all what I had been thinking or wanted when I prayed that prayer, but my prayer was answered in a way greater than I could have asked for Denny. God has a plan bigger than we can know or understand, I have to be trusting enough to go along with His plan. Are you that trusting?
On February 17, we held a Leadership Team meeting for the clerks of committees, our pastors and church officers. We discussed God’s Leadership Preparation and looked at scriptures to help us understand what God is asking of us as leaders. We looked at 5 key elements of leadership:
1. Faithful Family. Ephesians 6:1-4
2. Committed Authentic Heart Revelation 2:23
3. Discipline Colossians 3:23
4. Refinement of Gifts & Talents 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
5. The Spirit’s Presence & Power Acts 1:8 and Romans 8:26-27
There are immediate things that you will notice as a result of this meeting;
1. Quarterly a summary of the church’s financial position will be in the bulletin.
2. We will annually do a clerk training with all new and renewed clerks of committees to help them understand their role, finances for their committee, anticipate their concerns…
3. Semi-Annually there will be a list of items to be donated to MRF for the cleaning, kitchen, and nursery, whatever can be donated to help us run more efficiently.
You will see additional things be presented as time goes on and the committees have time to reflect on the recommendation and how best to implement. If there are things you would like to see us work on, please make myself, Pastor John or Brian aware so we can move the idea to the best committee for consideration.
Praying for you to have a Blessed March,
Jenni
