Monday, July 11, 2011
National Conference 2011
9 people from Mt. Olivet attended this year's National Conference in Huron, OH from July 6-9. It included a short business session, great workshops and worship, an ordination service, and plenty of time to renew old acquaintances and make new friends.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Pastor's Penpoint - "Dependence Day" - July 2011
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Being a self-made person is considered a good thing by many, especially in the United States. We tend to have an "I can do it myself" mentality. We somehow feel we haven't really succeeded if we've asked for help. However, godly heroes recognize that they have weaknesses and are willing to accept their dependence on God and allow him to turn weaknesses into strengths.
When God called Moses to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt, Moses argued that he had never been eloquent and was slow of speech and tongue. But God wasn't concerned about these weaknesses. He wasn't depending on Moses' strength - he was looking for his obedience.
Moses did choose to obey God and to trust him. God made him a great leader of millions of people. Moses' slowness of speech became his strength because it helped him know that he couldn't begin to do what God was calling him to do on his own - he had to rely on God. And God's strength is unlimited. (Judges 6-7)
Godly heroes turn weaknesses into strengths.
In July, we celebrate Independence Day in the USA. We are proud that we were able to cut ties and go it alone. But this is the opposite of success for the believer in Christ. We need to bind ourselves to God's strength, for his strength is made evident in our weakness. Our faith is made stronger in dependence.
Consider this... Has God called you to do something that seems impossible because of your weaknesses? You feel as though you are not smart enough ... or experienced enough ... or strong enough? Good! Now you know that you will have to depend on God to get the job done.
May you have a joyous Independence Day, and a blessed Dependence Life!
~ Pastor Todd
Being a self-made person is considered a good thing by many, especially in the United States. We tend to have an "I can do it myself" mentality. We somehow feel we haven't really succeeded if we've asked for help. However, godly heroes recognize that they have weaknesses and are willing to accept their dependence on God and allow him to turn weaknesses into strengths.
When God called Moses to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt, Moses argued that he had never been eloquent and was slow of speech and tongue. But God wasn't concerned about these weaknesses. He wasn't depending on Moses' strength - he was looking for his obedience.
Moses did choose to obey God and to trust him. God made him a great leader of millions of people. Moses' slowness of speech became his strength because it helped him know that he couldn't begin to do what God was calling him to do on his own - he had to rely on God. And God's strength is unlimited. (Judges 6-7)
Godly heroes turn weaknesses into strengths.
In July, we celebrate Independence Day in the USA. We are proud that we were able to cut ties and go it alone. But this is the opposite of success for the believer in Christ. We need to bind ourselves to God's strength, for his strength is made evident in our weakness. Our faith is made stronger in dependence.
Consider this... Has God called you to do something that seems impossible because of your weaknesses? You feel as though you are not smart enough ... or experienced enough ... or strong enough? Good! Now you know that you will have to depend on God to get the job done.
May you have a joyous Independence Day, and a blessed Dependence Life!
~ Pastor Todd
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