Greetings & blessings to you in this New Year!

Every year around this time I find myself in contemplative thought and prayer about the year ahead of me. Where am I going? What changes should I be making? When am I going to start that next project? What am I doing?

The most important question I need to ask myself, however, is, "Who am I being?"

We humans get this mixed up a lot, don't we? We want to get going! We want to accomplish great things! But we forget that if they are really going to be great things they must start on the inside where the Spirit of the Lord dwells.

Remember, God doesn't give out points for all that you do. The Pharisees in Jesus' day were quite pumped up about all that they did - and they did it right, by golly. They sacrificed a lot to be correctly "right" in doing what the Jewish law demanded. But more than once Jesus reminded them that they were barking up the wrong tree. He was after whatever was in their hearts, not all the correct things they were doing. "Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice," he told them. Matt. 9:13

At the end of the day, I often ask myself this question: "Have I given my best to what God has called me to be today?" Notice - not called me to do but called me to be. It is because of the "being" that the "doing" produces fruit in the kingdom.

Just be a human.....being!   

It's your Godly DNA.

Greg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Monday, January 9: Women's Book Study at Gayle's house, 7 PM. Read chapters 13 & 14 of Max Lucado's Fearless. Directions to Gayle's will be sent out via email to you Book Study participants. Her phone number is 602-822-4435.


NEXT WEEK:

Sunday, January 15: Breakfast Club at Greg & Jeane's house. Bring a brunch dish to share. We meet at 10:30 AM for brunch & fellowship; Communion service follows brunch. Try to carpool if you can - parking is limited! Thanks.

Monday, January 16:  Monday night at Peace Lutheran Church fellowship hall. Carrie is making her good BBQ Chicken sandwiches; you bring the salads, sides and desserts. We'll eat around 6:30 PM. Class starts at 7:15 PM. Come and hear what's happening in the new year for Life Discovery! New Series: Sanctuary of the Soul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Saturday, February 4: The Screwtape Letters at Mesa Arts Center. Author and theologian C.S. Lewis' brilliant novel reveals spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view. Entertaining and definitely insightful - you'll see yourself in more ways than you know. More info next week, but save the date. We will be getting group tickets that you can purchase at a discount for the evening performance. A MUST SEE!

Healing From Loss - Reclaiming Your Life
A new grief recovery workshop is beginning in February. If you know of someone who can benefit from this 12-week workshop, be sure to tell them about it. Call Greg if you want more information or if you wish to sign up: 602-622-1488. It could be your BEST decision of the New Year!