Our congregation worshiped in our beautiful new church building for the first time today, which strangely felt like a homecoming. “Welcome home!” became the theme as we talked to each other and to Pastor Tim and his wife - our pastor of 5 years ago who has been shepherding a church in Michigan’s upper peninsula but is returning to join us once again. There was much cause for celebration!
The attractive building with its reverent sanctuary, situated on the shores of a pristine pond graced with sandhill cranes wading in the shallows, was dedicated as a house of prayer and place of Bible study, salvation, rededication, and change (because of what God can do) where people will find healing, be released from addictions, and celebrate life – even in the midst of death. A place to devote our hearts to God, to live in hope and then give it away to others who fine life hopelessly disappointing.
I left inspired by two succinct challenges:
First, LIVE LIFE. Live in hope. Live by God’s grace.
Then, GIVE LIFE. Give hope away. Give God’s grace as it has been given me.
Then, GIVE LIFE. Give hope away. Give God’s grace as it has been given me.
Living with hope is a different way to live, a way that invites us to experience the resurrection life right now. To have hope, or to lose it, is a big deal. We choose HOPE because God works in all things, and that gives us confident expectation that everything will be okay – that His grace truly will be enough.
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