from Darius Johnston

God, make a fresh start in me,

    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.

Don't throw me out with the trash,

    or fail to breathe holiness in me.

Bring me back from gray exile,

    put a fresh wind in my sails!

(Psalm 51:10-12 MSG)

A friend recently shared a blog post with me about clutter and the emotional chains that keep us surrounded by clutter.

The six emotional chains are:

1. It has sentimental  value so I must keep it.

2.I got it as a gift, so I can't get rid of it.

3. Letting go of the dreams the stuff symbolizes is too hard.

4. I paid good money for that so I can't let it go.

5. What if I need it someday? Depression Era Mentality

6. Things are so messy I can't ever get done, so I won't start.

By the time I got to #6, I realized that as Christians we can accumulate a lot of spiritual clutter in our lives. We keep traditions alive in our lives long past their value in our lives just because that's the way it has always been done, even when a new way may be more effective and efficient. Please do not misunderstand me - I am not saying all traditions are bad and need to be changed. I just think we need to reevaluate why some things are done and see if they are still working in our lives.

Sometimes we have a dream of where we think God is leading us. Then God starts nudging in another direction. But we hold fiercely to the first dream instead of following God's direction. How freeing would it be to just follow where God is leading instead of telling God where to stay?

Then there is #6. Life can get messy. We should never give up and say, "God I am too much of a mess. There is no fixing me." God is the Creator. He can always wash us clean IF we let Him.

What about your life? Do you have some spiritual clutter that needs cleaning out? Take some time this week to do a spiritual inventory of your life and do some spring cleaning. God is great at helping you let go of clutter if you let Him.

              

NOW | 2014 | 

              

This week we continue our series "Never Too Young" with the story of the "boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fish." Very often, children begin to compare themselves to others talents, abilities, money, or families. They convince themselves that they have too little to offer to God. However, God does not ask us to out perform, out give, or out do our friends and neighbors. He asks us to be faithful with what He has given us, no matter how "little" it is.

 

Through our story, children will learn all about how God can use the "little" that we may have to offer and turn it into "much" and lives will be changed.

               

              

May 4 | 2014 | 9:00 and 10:45 am

                 

  

 Threes:

           

New This Week | 2014 |

  6:30 pm      Divorce Care 4 Kids, Lisa Attaway, Room 204

  7:00 pm     Divorce Care, Glenda Routh, Room 125
                    Grief Share, Ron Pope, Room 119
                    Healing for Damaged Emotions, Amie Super,
                              Pastor's Office
                    
 7:30 pm     Dare to be Uncommon, Men's Bible Study, Randy

                              Putnam, Reggie Brock, Tommy Trigo,

                              Room 124                  

              

These ministries are looking for men and women who would like to help mentor our children. Classes range from Kindergarten to 12th grade and are all broken down by grade level. If you are interest in helping or would like more information, please contact Michelle Rico at 817-292-9292 or by email.

Sunday | 9:00 am and 10:45 am
La Casa de Dios | 10:30 am