The Pastor’s Blog
Home Study for August 12 through 17, 2013
Monday – Read I Timothy 6:6-10
How is a desire to get rich a temptation and a trap?
How does contentment counteract that temptation?
Why is the love money a root of evil?
How does this passage challenge you? What will you do?
Tuesday – Read John 8:12
What does it mean that Jesus is the “light of the world?”
How does following Him keep us from walking in darkness?
Is there an area where you need more of the light of Jesus shining in you?
Submit that area of your life to Jesus and invite Him to shine.
Wednesday – Read I Corinthians 3:10-15
What happens when we build our lives on temporary things?
What will last when we build our lives on Jesus?
How can we build our lives on Jesus as we live in the world?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Hebrews 12:28
As we live for Jesus what do we have for which to be thankful?
How does being thankful help us to worship God with reverence and awe?
How does not being thankful as we should be interfere with worshipping God?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read I Thessalonians 5:16-18
How do being joyful always, praying continually and always being thankful lead us into experiencing God’s will?
How do those actions and attitudes transform our hearts and minds?
How do they bring glory to God?
What is Jesus saying to you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 6:25-34
Read more...
Home Study for August 5 through 10, 2013
Monday – Read Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:2 and I John 1:9
What impact does unconfessed and unforgiven sin have on our ability to pray and commune with God?
Why is this true?
When is the best time to confess our sin to God?
How do these passages challenge you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read Luke 6:12-16
What did Jesus do before selecting the twelve apostles?
Why?
What does this say to you?
Wednesday – Read Luke 11:1-4
What do you suppose inspired the disciple to ask Jesus to teach them to pray?
What was different about how Jesus prayed verses how the religious leaders prayed?
How do you suppose this changed the prayer lives of the disciples?
How might it change yours?
Thursday – Read Philippians 4:4-7
How does rejoicing, praying and giving God thanks change our anxiety into peace?
Remember a time when this was true for you. How did this increase your faith?
How does this passage challenge or encourage you in these days?
Friday – Read James 4:7 and 8
What does it mean to “submit ourselves to God?”
What does it mean to “resist the devil?”
Which is harder to do? Why?
Submitting ourselves to God, giving as much as we know about ourselves to as much of God as we understand, is the key to living in an intimate, vital, living relationship with Him. How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 6:19-24
Read more...
Hands and Feet of Jesus Ministries
School Supply Drive
Many families in the local community cannot afford to provide school supplies for their children and we want to help. Below is a list of supplies that we are collecting to share with students in need at Howard Elementary. You will notice that some of the supplies are listed by their brand name and educators tell us that is because even though they may cost a little more, those brands provide better bang for the buck.
A collection box for these supplies is in the main hallway. The deadline for bringing in supplies is Sunday, August 18th. Carla Tappero will be delivering them to Howard during the week of the 19th, as teachers are returning to prepare for the school year.
Supply List
12 pack Ticonderoga brand pencils, 24 count Crayola crayons; Pencil top erasers; large erasers; 12 count Crayola color pencils; 8 count Crayola color markers (washable); glue sticks; bottles of white glue; rulers; pencil pouches; red, blue, yellow and green pocket folders, notebook paper; pens; solar calculators; 3 ring binders; pocket dividers for binders; 3×5 lined note cards; spiral notebooks; Kleenex tissues; backpacks.
Clothing Give Away
Another Hands and Feet of Jesus ministry we have coming up in September is a clothing give away. We are specifically looking for warm clothes and coats, for kids through adults. Please be looking through your closets to see if you might have some gently used clothing that you would like to donate. More details to come.
Friends Twin Rocks Camp August 4-10, 2013 Surfside Camp
Kayla Davidson, Rosa Sanchez and Matt Storm are attending Surfside Camp Aug. 4th – 10th. Please remember to pray for them that week. You can go to www.twinrocks.org for photos posted during the week of camp.
Business Meeting – Sunday, August 11, 2013
On Sunday, August 11th, we will gather in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. for an all church Business Meeting to approve the 2013 Nominating Committee Report. Our Yearly Meeting Representatives will also be sharing. There will not be any adult Bible Study classes that day.
Financial Report
July 2013 Year-to-date
Income $14,678.27 $113,917.06
Expenses 17,462.18 125,490.57
Difference -2,783.91 -11,573.51
Our expenses continue to run less than budgeted but so too does our income. We are thankful for God’s provision in all things and for all that everyone gives to the ministries of MFC. We ask that everyone continue praying for God’s provision for our financial needs.
100th Birthday Celebration for Vera Wisely
Saturday, August 17th 12 noon to 4 p.m.
The family and friends of Vera will celebrate her 100th Birthday with a potluck dinner in the MFC Fellowship Hall and they invite us, their Church Family, to join the celebration. Vera has requested no gifts, but cards are most welcome.
For the potluck please bring a main dish and a side dish; coffee and punch will be provided and if you want any other soft drinks feel free to bring your own. Marilyn will provide a large birthday cake so dessert items are not necessary, but always welcome. We will cut and serve the cake around 1:30 p.m. If you would rather come for just cake and coffee, please feel free to come then.
Please RSVP so we will know how many to plan for: 541-664-1503 or 541-664-3363 or email Marilyn at mts1040@hotmail.com.
Youth Group -Bowling @ Lava Lanes – August 6th and August 27th @ 11a.m.
2980 CRATER LAKE HWY, MEDFORD for info (541) 245-2755 or call Dave Gomez
NWYM Friends Women Retreat 2013
September 27-29 – Twin Rocks Friends Camp
“Hang On To The Vine” Guest Speaker Louise George
Register before 9/4/13 for the discount price. There are workshops, crafts, games, music and fellowship time, it’s a great getaway. For more information there are pamphlets with registration forms on the table in the foyer.
Friends Women Missionary Fellowship Group will meet at MFC on September 19th at 10 a.m. All ladies are welcome.
Read more...
I absolutely love spending time with our 20-month-old grandson Jack. It’s amazing to watch as he learns something new every day and along the way he has taught me some things too.
One day when Jack and I were walking around the outside of the house, when we came to the back door of the garage he wanted to go in. The door was locked and I didn’t have a key with me so I told him we had no way to get in. He immediately said, with all confidence, “Knock.”
Jack knows that every time he knocks on a door it opens for him, so it only made sense to him that if we knocked the door would open for us. Of course, what Jack hasn’t learned yet is that the reason the door opens is because of who is on the other side.
In Matthew 7:7and 8, Jesus invites us to ask, seek and knock; saying that those who ask receive, those who seek find and to him who knocks the door is opened. We receive, find and have the door opened not just because we ask, seek and knock, but because of whom we are asking, from whom we are seeking and who is on the other side of the door.
Jesus invites us to ask, seek and knock, but when we do we need to allow him to give, reveal and open as He chooses. When we do, in His love, Jesus will always give us what is best, reveal what we need to know and lead us to the place where He wants us to be.
Asking, Seeking and Knocking,
Mark
Read more...