September 20, 2024, 7:00 PM
Greetings in Christ and I hope and pray you've had a good week!
Welcome to the Fall Season everyone! The calendar says that this coming Sunday (September 22) will be the first day of Autumn.
Autumn is right there with Spring as my favorite season of the year. I even named my oldest daughter Autumn (she was born on September 15th, but my desk calendar read "Autumn Begins" on her due date, thus I suggested we name the child Autumn)!
One of my favorite Christian writers and thinkers C.S. Lewis once said, "Autumn is really the best of the seasons, and I'm not sure that old age isn't the best part of life." Boy, I hope he's right!
I love nearly everything about Autumn...the cooler temps and the beautiful colors of the changing leaves on the trees. The football on weekends...Hay Rides and Pumpkin Patches...Trick or Treat and Thanksgiving...it's all good stuff!
One of the things I like about living in Kentucky is getting to experience all four seasons.
I believe we have "seasons" of life as well. Our spiritual walk is no different. There are seasons of new life and growth (spring). There are times of extreme heat and testing (summer). Some seasons are times we celebrate a spiritual harvest like the fall. There can also be times when we deal with loss/death and feel that God is very far away (winter).
As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "There is a season for everything under heaven."
We may get frustrated sometimes over our lack of spiritual growth. Be careful when basing everything on feelings. If we allow God to work in our lives, it takes time for spiritual growth to take place. There will be different seasons.
Listen to what Rick Warren wrote, "You may feel frustrated with the seemingly slow progress you're making in life. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity."
Hang in there. Keep walking in the path He is making for you. You may get tired. Stop for a rest or let Him carry you for a bit! Just don't quit!
Here's something I wanted folks to know about:
We had a low turnout for Bible study this past Wednesday night. However, I was encouraged by our hosting around 50 girls from the UK campus doing their Bible study here at our building. The plan is to host them every week this semester!
Here's a little bit of the background story:
I received a phone call on Monday (08.26.24) from a young lady who was a student at the University of KY.
She was part of a group called "Delight Ministries" and they were looking for a place to host their weekly gatherings.
I had never heard about them. However, I did a little research.
It is a ministry for college women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus and find genuine community. They have a weekly group who gather to study God's Word.
I'm excited about having the girls come to our building. It has great possibilities.
The girls are encouraged to find a church home. There is no attempt of the Delight Ministries to make it be "the church."
Therefore, we would have a great chance to meet some college kids and have them return on Sundays.
Please keep this a matter of your prayer time. I thank God for this open door!
May God Bless and hope and pray to see you this Sunday at FCC!
In Him,
Greg H.
