Choices

Think about it. Every Sunday morning in America we have the freedom to choose how we will spend our time? How we choose says a lot about how we feel about God and the church?

Since most people choose not to go to church it means they have thought carefully about their beliefs and chosen something other than God. Right?

Of course not. And for that, I say, “Thank you, God.”

The reality is people seldom choose to stop attending church.

They may be busy or focused on other things.

They may not see much need to go to church right now.

They may be embarrassed or ashamed because they’ve messed up somehow.

They may have grown up in a family that never went to church.

This is good news. We’re not really living in a community where a huge percentage of the population has rejected God. We’re living in a community that if they were given a compelling reason and an invitation to be in church on Sunday morning, they would very likely be there.

Most people think if they talk to someone about God, they will be intruding. Not true.

The truth is most people are struggling with their lives, with their finances, with their confidence and would love to be reassured that their lives really do have meaning and purpose. We are not intruding if we simply find a way to show them God loves them, we love them and we want to walk with them.

This is where you come in and why I pray for you every Sunday morning.

Sunday morning is still your best opportunity to help your congregation appreciate why they are there every Sunday morning and then feel the need to invite their coworker, or friend to join with them. Not to intrude but to offer the opportunity to be in a community of love and support unlike anything they’ve ever experienced.

How you as ministers and church leaders do that is based on your call as well as the gifts and talents God gives you.

But if that were the whole story you would still be alone every Sunday morning feeling all the pressure.

You are not alone. The church you serve is a community of faith full of people who are also called by God. In fact, God may be speaking to them. The help and strength you need is sitting in your congregation right now. You are simply there to supply part of the vision. They and you are like pieces of a puzzle. With time, God’s Holy Spirit and yes, some hard work, the picture and the missing pieces will be more clearly seen and appreciated.

You are not alone. As a community we also support each other and give each other ideas. We just finished a 24 hour time of sharing and challenging each other. We’re learning more and more that we can support and strengthen one another. We’re learning that we too are not alone.

Best of all, we are not alone because God loves us and did not send us out alone. We have the Holy Spirit within us continuing to guide and direct us.

David describes it beautifully in Psalm 62: “I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:5-8)

You are not alone. God specifically chose you out of hundreds, maybe thousands of others for this task, for this church, at this time.

I am praying for you with confidence knowing that you will make a difference today and every day because you are doing exactly what God called you to do.

This morning, just thinking about this, I’m excited as I pray for you because today Jesus Christ is going to work through you….

Think about it. Every Sunday morning in America we have the freedom to choose how we will spend our time? How we choose says a lot about how we feel about God and the church?

This Sunday morning represents an opportunity to help those who choose to come know they chose wisely.

This Sunday morning represents an opportunity to help those who come feel compelled to offer the same opportunity to choose wisely to someone else.

I will be praying for you this morning with a sense of excitement and anticipation wondering what exciting thing God is going to do next…

I will be praying for you…