Weekly Newsletter March 11

Carolyn and I are on the road this week traveling to Georgia to celebrate the marriage of our daughter, Emily to her fiancé, DJ. It’s a reflective time for me. I remember being single, wondering and waiting if I’d ever get married. I would wonder for whom was I waiting. What would she look like? What experiences would we have together? I never thought if she’d wonder about me. Then one day I met Carolyn and discovered that she also had been wondering and waiting for me, her husband. It’s beautiful to be wanted and to find that person who's waiting for you.

The story in the Bible about the son who took his early inheritance and left home comes to my mind. The father of that young man was rightly offended, but he never allowed any anger or disappointment to keep him from waiting for his son’s return. Every day the father stood at the highest point in the village and watched the horizon, waiting for his son to return.



We followers of Jesus are waiting for Jesus to fulfill his promise to “come again and take us to be with him.” But Jesus delayed. And we’re still waiting. Why? In 2 Peter 3:8-9, he tells us, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord’s isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Two big ideas impress me:

First, Jesus wants no one to be outside the will, purpose, and plan of God’s eternal life. So he’s waiting for them to get the message and change their mind about him.

Second, Jesus has given those of us who do believe in him a task. We, whose names are firmly written in his Book of Life, have the task of telling all people about Jesus, God’s love, forgiveness, and new life.

Jesus is waiting for you. Are you willing yet to recognize him for who he is? Are you showing and telling of his love and power to anyone and everyone around you? What are you waiting for? Jesus is waiting for you?

We are here to love God and all people so that all people may experience the

life-changing love of Jesus!

LOVE - We meet every weekend to experience God's love for us and show His love for others.

SERVE- We use our abilities, talents, skills, and passions for the good of others.

ENGAGE - We engage with friends to care for one another and to make new friends so they may experience God's kindness too. 

If you don't have a group of friends who encourage, support, and pray with you, you're like a car with one flat tire. You're struggling along. One of our groups for guys meets Mondays, 7PM, led by Daniel Carroll (the guy in the drum cage). Email Daniel for information. Or go to CtC Life Groups to see more options. 

Dear Jesus, 
We often get so busy that we can't hear you knocking. We rely so heavily on our own resources that we don't even think how much stronger, wiser, and faithful you are. Help us listen for and to you. Send your Holy Spirit to inspire, empower, and guide us. Amen.

 
Roger L. Frederick, Lead Pastor