The Pastor’s Blog
Ladies Meetings:
Ladies Fellowship Group All ladies are invited and welcome to join us for sharing & caring fellowship. We will meet on Tuesday, January 7th at 7 p.m. at the home of Glenda Workman. Patsy Burton will be co-hostess.
Friends Women Missionary Fellowship Group All ladies are welcome to join us at MFC, Thursday, January 16th at 10 a.m. Following the meeting we will have lunch at Wendy’s.
Wednesday Night Activities will Resume – January 8, 2014
6 p.m. Simple Meal with Wed. Night Kids, Youth Group, and Adult Study at 7 p.m. If you haven’t been here on Wednesday evenings in the past, come and join us this year!
All Church Potluck – Sunday, January 19th
Please join us for a time of fellowship and good food! We’ll meet in the fellowship hall following the Sunday School & Bible Study hour. Please bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.
Youth Group – Spartans Hockey Game at The Rrrink – Sunday, January 12, 2014
Jr. and Sr. High Students meet at MFC at 1 p.m. for a ride. Cost is $6 with student ID. For more information contact Dave Gomez. www.sospartans.com
MFC Youth to Impact Primetime January 29th
Where Youth Groups Hangout Together! Bring your friends for some fun, fellowship and food! At Bobbio’s Pizza in Central Point – 8:30 to 10 p.m. Large slice of pizza and soft drink – $5
Financial Report
December 2013 Year-to-date
Income $25,216.48 $211,025.49
Expenses 17,961.81 214,493.75
Difference 7,254.67 -3,468.26
We thank everyone who contributes to the ministry of Medford Friends and we thank God for His generous provision for us.
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On his way to work one morning a businessman came upon a professional mover struggling with a large and heavy box. The mover was trying to get the box through a doorway that appeared to be just barely wider than the box.
“Can I help you?” the businessman asked.
“That would be great,” smiled the mover. “Grab hold of the other side of this box.”
For the next few minutes the two men lifted, pushed, pulled and perspired. But no matter how hard they worked the box didn’t budge an inch. Finally, the business man straightened up and shook his head, “I don’t think we’re ever going to get it out!”
“Well no wonder!” roared the mover. “I’m trying to get it in.”
How often does that happen when we are working with other people, or even with God? We think we know what we’re doing, only to discover that we are working at cross purposes. No matter who we are working with, the one thing we can do to keep this from happening is to take time to listen to each other and to know what we’re trying to accomplish, and when we’re working with God it is especially important for us to listen to know what He wants to do.
In that regard, Paul’s prayer for the believers in Rome is very applicable. In Romans 15:5 and 6 he wrote:
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are all different, with different needs, interests, perspectives and preferences, however, as we listen to each other and seek, discern and follow the will of Jesus, we can live and serve in a unity that not only gets the work done that He has called us to do but do it in a way that brings glory to God.
As we go into the new year in this time of transition as a church family, may we take the time to listen closely, to pray frequently and together discern and follow God’s will for us.
With Hope,
Mark
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Home Study for December 23 through 28, 2013
Monday – Read I John 3:1-3
How great is God’s love for us/you?
What does it mean to be a child of God?
How should that understanding change and transform our lives?
How does this passage bless you? Challenge you?
Tuesday – Read Romans 5:1-8
Did Jesus die for the righteous or the ungodly?
What does this tell us about the depth of His love?
How should this impact how we view ourselves? Others?
How does this passage encourage you? Challenge you?
What will you do?
Wednesday – Read Luke 2:1-20
Allow the beauty of the birth of Jesus, and this demonstration of God’s immeasurable love, speak to your heart today.
Thursday – Read John 10:1-5
How can we recognize the voice of Jesus in our lives?
What does it mean that Jesus goes on ahead of you when you follow Him?
What confidence can that give us?
What hope does that give us?
Where is Jesus leading your life in these days?
Are you following Him?
Friday – Read I John 4:7-12
If we don’t love others what does that say about our relationship with God?
How did God show His love to us?
How is the love we show a testimony to who God is?
To love like God is a real challenge for us, how can we grow in our ability to show that kind of love?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Revelation 3:7-8
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Home Study for December 16 through 21, 2013
Monday – Read Galatians 4:4-7
How does it make you feel to know that God had both a plan and a time to make it possible for us to become His children?
What does it mean to us that we are children of God?
How important is it to continue to seek God’s plan and timing in our lives today?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read Luke 1:5-23
What was wrong with Zechariah’s question?
How was God’s timing different from Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s?
How does this encourage you? How does it challenge you?
Wednesday – Read I Corinthians 1:26-30
Why does God choose to work in such a vastly different way than the World does?
How are God’s values different from the values of the world’s system?
What does this tell us about the importance of living God’s way?
Thursday – Read Romans 3:21-24
Why is it important to realize that we have all sinned and we cannot save ourselves?
How should being saved by grace through faith in Jesus influence the way that we relate to others as we share Jesus with them?
How does this passage encourage you? How does it challenge you?
How will you respond?
Friday – Read I Corinthians 9:30-33
What is the risk of pursuing righteousness by works?
How does our pursuit of works blind us to who Jesus is and what He is doing?
What challenge does this passage set for us as we seek to live for Jesus? As we seek to share the truth of Jesus?
Saturday – Read Matthew 1:18-25
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