Deuterono-Who?..Me?

Deuteronomy tells us a lot about God's expectations for His followers. He gave instructions to the nation of Israel on just about every aspect of life. God even talked about how to handle the needy. His love for the poor is evident in his instructions about how they should be treated. In Ch. 15, He tells His people, "Give freely to the poor person, and do not wish that you didn't have to give. The Lord your God will bless your work and everything you touch. There will always be poor people in the land, so I command you to give freely to your neighbors and to the poor and needy in your land."
Thanks for always being willing to give of your time, your energy and your love to people less fortunate than you! You all are amazing examples of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus! (Enjoy a few photos of yourselves at Angel Food and at the Day Center for the Homeless.)

Acrylic Worship

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands."~ Psalm 90:17

The ways to express our praise to God are infinite. My mind cannot even begin to fathom the endless opportunities to offer worship and honor to our Lord. I do know that everything we do is worship to God (Colossians 3:17), and that our very lives are an offering, a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). Last night, our youth group experienced worship in a way that was new to many of us. We offered our art as an offering to God. We acknowledged that God created beauty, aesthetics, and creativity, and we became imitators of Him by also creating our own works of art inspired by His Spirit. We were led in this experience by Heather Hodges. She expresses her love of God through her art as well as through many other gifts and talents God has given her. It was an amazing experience, and I hope it is just the first of many new ways we will recognize as opportunities to bring glory and honor to the King of Kings!

The Loss of a Friend

Revelation 21:3-5 says, "I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: 'Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.' The Enthroned continued, 'Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.' "

This week a dear friend of Mitchell and the Mayes family was lost to a sudden illness and death over a period of a week. Twelve year old Connor Deal went to the hospital a little over a week ago with a high fever and cough. By the end of the day he was sedated and on a ventilator, diagnosed with MRSA pneumonia. He was put on life support and Tuesday he had a brain hemorrhage and died. Please take some time this week to lift up the Deal family and Mitchell and his family in prayer to God as we all look forward to the day John writes about in the verse above from Revelation as he describes a time when all heart-aches will be healed.

visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/connordeal to see pictures of Connor, and even post a note or a prayer for his family. You may not know the Deal family personally, but in Christ, we are all one body. They are precious to the Mayes family, and that makes them precious to us!

Dancing Generation

Psalm 149:1-4 says...

Hallelujah! Sing to God a brand-new song, praise him in the company of all who love him. Let all Israel celebrate their Sovereign Creator, Zion's children exult in their King. Let them praise his name in dance; strike up the band and make great music! And why? Because God delights in his people, festoons plain folk with salvation garlands!

What does that look like? Here are some pictures that make me think of this verse...