We’ve gone through a winter with cold temperatures and enough snow to fill our longings of it for several years.  And even though it is winter-time and we know colder temperatures will be upon us and the threat of snow is real, we can’t help but complain when we go through the cold, snowy days of winter, with some vowing to leave to go to warmer climates.

So go already!

I mean that in a satirical sense.

In life there many things that happen to us we can’t control.  If you haven’t figured out weather is one of them, I have some swamp land in Florida I’d like to sell you.  I think we know that, but somehow that knowing it doesn’t translate to our words or actions, because often times we catch ourselves saying or doing completely silly things.

Let’s take our spiritual lives, for instance.  Our salvation is something that is completely dependent upon God.  We can’t earn it, we can’t buy it, we can’t trade for it.  God gives it to us on the basis of His grace and on our basis of faith.

There is an element of control that play into our faith, and that has to do with what we do with our faith once we have it.  Do we let it sit, do we hold it back, do we exercise it?

This Sunday, through 1 John 2:12-17, we’re going to see it’s time to grow up.  Why not take control in your spiritual life and engage in the things God wants you to engage in?  Why be held captive to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life?

We talk of connecting people with Christ and building disciples who follow Christ…those are active, engaging things.

We are on this journey of walking as Jesus walked.  Even though everything is not in place and work is ongoing, I am excited for the many positives I see around.  I hear stories of God working in lives.  I hear a greater connectedness and interaction with God’s Word.  I see new people in services and hear the desire expressed to follow God.  I see lives being touched by happenings at the LINK Center.

God is at work!

So instead of grumbling about the things you can’t control, how about working on the areas you can?

Are you ready?

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Russ