WHAT A FRUITFUL SUMMER FOR THE CHURCH!
May 29th, 2010 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's DeskOur summer was indeed a long one but very, very fruitful - from the Easter Sunrise service to the Thailand Mission trip, to the Kid’s Camp; and now to the just recently concluded Youth Camp. How amazing our God is indeed! He was and is sufficient to us every time in every way. But there’s still one more major event we’re focusing on now – H4U outreach in Ozamis. Already all our gears are up, knees to the earth and eyes fix on Jesus, our Commander-in-Chief!
But before we take another step, let’s give thanks to the Lord for a fruitful summer. Like God’s people of old, the Jews, looking back to their history, the people made a conscious decision to focus on the blessings of God rather than the hurts of the past. Somebody writes, “A thankless spirit betrays a life which is no longer focusing on the greatness of Christ.” If you don’t feel very thankful today, it’s probably because you’ve taken your eyes off of Jesus and put them on your problems. A thankful spirit is a mark of Christian maturity. When the believer is overflowing with thankfulness, he is really making progress. The opposite is being ungrateful, murmuring, grumbling, criticizing! Always finding something negative in a situation instead of finding good out of a negative situation!
Beloved, there are so many reasons to thank God for. Being thankful is not just being grateful when everything go your way, when your prayers are answered but to see the good things, even though surrounded by bad things, bad situations, and undesirable people and circumstances, and then to give God praise despite all these bad things that may be going on around you! That’s maturity. Regardless of the circumstances we can choose to be thankful. Why? Because we know that in every circumstance God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose…(Rom 8:28Rom 8:28
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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I know one time or another we fall short of this. But we are to be growing in this area of thankfulness which is a sign of maturity. How do we often take our blessings for granted and fail to thank the Lord? Too often we are content to enjoy the gift but we forget the Giver. We are quick to pray but slow to praise. Beloved, the greatest expression of God’s love is in the cross of Jesus Christ. There the Father has given us the best He could give us – His Son – so that we can be forgiven and receive eternal life! That alone should cause us to praise and thank Him – for that alone is what we really need in this life and the life to come! Is there anything greater than the salvation of God through Christ? Absolutely nothing! Then rejoice in that today!












































































































