Pastor's Penpoint - "Fulfilling God's Vision" - February 2015

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith ..." (Hebrews 12:2)

In the coming months - we will be hearing a lot about catching God's vision, both individually and for the church. We will begin with:

• The four part sermon series in February, "Be Thou My Vision;"
• that will lad to six weeks of prayer during Lent - focused on awareness of God setting forth His vision for Mt. Olivet, our programs and ministries; and
• then conclude this focus with worship and a time of fellowship discerning God's response on Sunday, April 12th.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of vision is that it changes our way of thinking, which in turn changes the way we live.

• A mother endures the painful labor of childbirth because the vision of her newborn baby sustains her.
• And a four-year-old endures the struggle to be a very, very good by for another two weeks because he is motivated by a vision of gifts under a Christmas tree.
• An Olympic swimmer endures the long hours of staring at the bottom of a pool, day after day, because he is motivated by the vision of the gold to come.

Vision is a power that motivates us to do great things, give great things, and love everyone at all times. Vision keeps us going when there doesn't appear to be any other reason to keep pushing forward toward the goal.

Evangelist Oswald Chambers says the thing that keeps us going for God, even when everything or everyone around us is tumbling and stumbling, is our vision of God, not our devotion to theology or denomination. It is the vision of God before us, where we set our "minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2).
In the coming weeks, please join me in asking God to give you a vision of Himself. Ask Him to show you how your purpose is an extension of His heart and mind. Next, ask the same for the church. Let's pray to strip away agendas, biases and disagreement. Instead let's hold our breath - and wait for God to breath.

Together, we can fulfill God's vision.   ~P.T.