Rear View or Windshield?

The other day I was backing out of the carport and broke off my driver’s side mirror on one of the support posts. I was looking in the rear view mirror and lost my view of the other things around me. That got me to thinking about how many of us live our lives. How many times do we live life focused on “what used to be” or “what is behind us” instead of “what is going on now” and “what lies ahead”? The reason the rear view mirror is so small and the front windshield is so large is because what lies ahead is so much more important than what is behind us. Our past failures, disappointments, fears, and etc. can make us feel frustrated, angry, lonely, and stuck. We can get so focused on “what might have been” or “what could have been” that we miss out on what God is doing now and what He plans to do in the future if we keep our eyes on Him. Paul said, “…this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and focusing on what lies ahead, I press on…” Great words for all of us as we move toward the goal that God has for us in Christ Jesus. Be encouraged. There is something great on the horizon and it’s just ahead!!!

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Sowing and Reaping

As we conclude our series on Grace this week, I am going to talk about the principle of sowing and reaping. During my study time, I ran across this article that I thought was pretty good. I am not sure of its truthfulness, but it is a good illustration of reaping what you sow.
The following story appears on the Internet on a site intended for lawyers: A Charlotte, North Carolina, man bought a case of rare, very expensive cigars and then insured them against … fire. Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile and having yet to make a single premium payment on the policy, he filed a claim against the insurance company, stating he had lost the cigars in "a series of small fires". The insurance company refused to pay but the man sued - and won. The judge stated that since the man held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable, without defining what it considered to be "unacceptable fire" it was obligated to compensate the insured for his loss. Rather than undergo a long and costly appeal, the insurance company accepted the judge's ruling and paid the man $15,000 for the rare cigars he lost in "the fires". When the smoker cashed his cheque, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of arson. With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the man was convicted of intentionally burning the rare cigars and sentenced to 24 consecutive one-year terms. Sunday Mail 9-11-97 p58

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About Sunday

Hello MVC!!! I truly enjoyed worship at MVC this past Sunday. We continue to see God transform lives!!! Just a few things I’d like to share with you today.

1 – This series is one of my favorites, not only because it’s about my favorite subject – Grace – but also because we are seeing people accepting God’s grace right in front of our eyes!!! I never get tired of seeing folks come to faith in Christ. Thus far that has happened for about 21 people!!!

2 – Keep the community VBS in your prayers. Thanks to all the volunteers that are helping make this ministry possible. I heard we had over 300 children show up Monday!!!

3 – Also be in prayer for the youth camps this year!!! The middle school students are going to Screaming Eagle Camp and the high school students will be traveling to Daytona Beach, Florida. Pray for protection during traveling as well as for a transforming experience in the lives of those who will be participating.

4 – The Spiritual Leadership Team continues to receive resumes for the Worship Pastor position. Please join us in praying that God will give us discernment and eyes to see the person He has for MVC.

5 – If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to volunteer to help out at this year’s Sourwood Festival. This is a HUGE outreach for our church and provides us with an opportunity to share MVC with the community. Come help serve a cold cup of Mountain Dew from Mountain View!!!

6 – Each week I grow to be more and more encouraged by what God is doing and will continue to do in our church. I believe the next phase of MVC is going to be bigger, better, and more of a blessing than ever as we “Exalt Christ and Share His Love” with the people of Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Asheville, and Western North Carolina!!! It is sooooooooo good to be back!!!

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See God

I was talking to my doctor today and he said something quite interesting. He said that he believed that if a person did not see God in this world that they would not see Him in the next world. His comment was not about seeing God on Judgment Day, but about having faith in a God beyond this world. In other words, if a person can’t see God in things here, why would he or she be able to envision an eternal God beyond this life? What a hopeless thought! I began to wonder: how many times have I been so caught up in the battles, events and activities facing me at the moment that I totally missed God? It’s like not being able to see the forest for the trees. The Psalmist David said, “The earth declares the glory of God and the earth shows His handiwork.” God is present all around us. He desires to dwell with and minister to us. Let’s not miss His presence. See God! Glorify and praise Him for His presence and His empowering for His children.

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