On My End

11-01-09 Sunday Morning Interviews from Curtis Allen on Vimeo.

A friend of mine once referred to honoring individuals as arranging a bouquet of flowers to give to our Lord. All of the beauty we find in one another is really a reflection of God’s glory. I’m so thankful for the evidences of grace you have all seen in one another's lives. It’s amazing to read these and think that looks like Jesus. Even in honoring one another, it’s all about Jesus. Thank you all for striving to look like our Savior!

~Blog Crew (Shane Kohout)

Michelle Stefun stands out to me in the way she loves people by taking an interest in them. I have felt her care numerous times. Last night at the game night was no exception. As soon as she greeted me she began to draw me out about what had been going on in my life since we last talked. And as the evening progressed I observed her over and over again caring for everyone else in the same way. Michelle's love for other people has blessed me, and made me want to have an others-focused heart like she does!

~Anna Loftness

On My End

"...the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.”

George Mueller

A quick glance through the verses below reveals something wonderful about our God. In him, there is so much to be excited about. These scriptures show among many things that he loves the unlovely. Furthermore, he takes these unlovely people (you and me) and reveals blessing upon blessing out of the limitlessness of himself. It’s so beautiful to see how God continually gives his people the gift of himself. So please read through the following verse and join these individuals by making your soul happy in the Lord.

~Blog Crew (Shane Kohout)

Romans 5:2-5

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

~Christine Fowler

1 Corinthians 10:13.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

~Juan Cruz

Isaiah 41:8-10

"But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, 

'You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off'; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

~Anna Loftness

1 John 3:2

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

~Shane Kohout

Hosea 11:9

"I will not execute my burning anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

for I am God and not a man,

the Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come in wrath."

~Michelle Stefun

Ezekiel 37:23

"They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God."

~Sarah Jeanne Zastrow

Psalm 42:7-9

Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.

Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

~Shamane Gardner

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

~Brianna Smith

Philippians 4:8-9

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

~April Sanders

On My End

This past Sunday, Mickey Connolly taught on Philippians 3:7-8

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

This scripture has everything to do with economics. Not the economics we learn in oversized, expensive college textbooks, but spiritual economics--the economy of our hearts. We each previously valued things that now seem worthless. Each one of us has experienced this change in our lives. What I find so exciting about this is that we didn't just get bored of what we used to find valuable. It wasn't that we grew up and found more sophisticated pleasures, instead we were each confronted by a greater pleasure; a greater gain.

Jesus Christ is the pearl of greatest price and from the moment our eyes were opened to see him our heart's economy has never been the same. Read and consider the following statements telling of how our community has clearly been affected by the gospel and God's surpassing worth. 

~Blog Crew (Shane Kohout)

“I used to count my intelligence as gain but now I count it as rubbish.”
~Jeremy Peggins 

 “I used to count others high view of me as gain, but not I’m learning how to count it as rubbish!”

~Aaron Spindler