Sunday’s sermon was exceptional! Roger did a fantastic job preaching and setting the mood for everyone who attended. We are in the I Am series and last Sunday, November 13, his title was “I Am the Light of the World.” The sermon was simple, easy to follow, but there was so much depth involved! His preaching got me thinking about the series we just finished up on Wednesdays evenings, Grow. I realized Sunday’s sermon was the perfect ending to the Wednesday series when Roger talked about God’s light being a simple candle. It is so true!

The closer we are to the light, the warmer and brighter it gets. That is just what we have been learning to do on Wednesday evening: Matthew teaching us how to worship, Lyndsey telling us the benefits of having a daily quiet time, and Roger explaining to how to read your Bible effectively. It all fit so perfectly! God does some crazy awesome things like that every now and then. I love it! Roger had a significant point on Sunday. I just want to touch on again. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

WE are the light of the world, which means we need to get our spiritual lives under control. We need to get in the habit of diving into God’s Word on a daily basis and talking to Him throughout our day, and just making him a part of our lives! We then will be shine like the candle on Sunday. People will look at us and see the Light of God’s love all around us. They will feel the warmth of His love as well.

I ask you to ponder about Roger’s sermon and the Wednesday night teachings. They have been quite helpful to me. If you do not remember what they were, we have them on PODCAST!!!!

You can find the podcast on our website under the resources tab or by clicking here

Last Wednesday evening, I taught the bible study and we went over Luke 10:25-37 “The Good Samaritan,” and was able to turn my teaching into service. I was headed to get some coffee and Starbucks, when I passed what looked like an estate sale. I love those; you can find such great items for a great price! I immediately turned around because I saw two mountain bikes sitting out in the yard by a fire hydrant. I noticed the two women cleaning were quite old and frail. I began talking to one of them about purchasing the bike and within that conversation; she asked if I would help move some heavy boxes around her house. I was hesitant at first because I *needed* a cup of coffee and I was hungry and I was trying to buy a bike on my lunch break.

Soon enough, the other lady was trying to scoot a pretty heavy box to the other side of the garage inch by inch. The one I was talking to asked if I worked and I told her yes, then she asked, “Could you help her move boxes real quick?” I finally gave in; both of them were cute old foreign ladies with an accent. I could not resist anymore. So, I helped them move some boxes and got a mountain bike on my lunch break! Talk about helping out others who slightly intimidate you! It was good!

Manual Labor. What comes to mind when someone says that? Do you get a feeling of despair? Ugh? Why me? Someone else can do it.

Well for me, I get excited. Really excited! I enjoy the aspect of working out in the sun and sweating. Any chance I get to help others out, I take it, especially if it consist of manual labor. I had the chance to go to Joplin and help with the relief efforts.

My days there consisted of bending over for 6-8 hours in 104° picking up debris from the houses the tornado tore to pieces for the first 2 days. The second day there I worked with an organization called Relief Spark where 12 other people besides me unloaded two semi-trailers full of donated food. We then proceeded to sort the food, pack it into boxes for families and churches, and finally we distributed the food to those who showed up that afternoon. The next 2 days I worked with Relief Spark once again, but this time we demolished a house each day and set everything beside the curb.

The point I am getting at is this: my spiritual gift is serving. I am more than willing to use it at any time to do work for the Lord. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms”

(1 Pet. 4:10). Right there! The Bible says each one of us has a gift given by the Lord. Use it for His kingdom! Use it to help others. Not everyone will have the same gifts, but each one of us can use the gift for others around us in many ways and forms.