Ramblings--20090425

CHBC Ramblings
Wednesday, August 26, 2009

This Past Week
I loved this past Sunday! First, I got to preach on one of my favorite passages of Scripture, Psalm 139. If you didn’t need the message of encouragement it gave, I did! Admittedly, it is sometimes hard to believe that God cares for us as much as indicated in that psalm, but He does. Let’s not believe the lies that others tell us, that Satan uses to deceive us, and that we hear in our own thoughts. Instead, let’s believe God when He says that He loves us and He thinks of us constantly. Like David, let’s allow the truth of God’s care to motivate us to follow the “way everlasting.”

Last Sunday night was a great time of fellowship. About 175 gathered to have ice cream and share or watch others share their talents. Our “Build Your Own Sundae” and “Talent Show” has become an annual favorite in the past few years. After the day was over, I was “worn out”! (I guess you had to be there.)

This coming Sunday
I will preach this Sunday on the topic, “Money Matters.” We will also hear a testimony of God’s faithfulness from Phil Karl, the chair of our Finance Committee. This committee is taking the lead from God’s word in Malachi to challenge us to live on 90% of our income for 90 days if we have not already learned the blessing of tithing:

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:10-12 (NIV)

Generally, we are told not to test the Lord. In this passage, He invites us to do so! I hope you will join me in seeing what God will do. This is not an emphasis on money; it is part of our emphasis on discipleship.

Head, Heart, Hands, and Feet
Speaking of discipleship, in the next few weeks I be seeking to help all us evaluate where we are in our growth in following Jesus. Jesus says that He came to give us life, and we will find the most joy in that life when we are experiencing balanced, consistent growth. Come see how we will speak of this in terms of Head, Heart, Hands, and Feet. This DiscipleLIFE emphasis will begin September 13 and is designed to be a simple but useful tool in measuring your progress in your journey with Jesus, both now and in the future.

And there is more...
Our annual church picnic will be on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend at Mason Mill Park from 4 till 8. We will eat at 6. On September 13, we start Sunday evening classes at 5:30 p.m. Adults will have three choices—look for your Courier for details.

That’s all for now...

God bless,

Fred O. Pitts, Pastor
Clairmont Hills Baptist Church
1995 Clairmont Road
Decatur, GA 30033
404.634.6231 Office
404.634.6062 Fax
www.clairmonthills.org