Set Your Mind on Things Above
Hello friends and family, I am glad to be updating you again on the happenings within our ministry. This past month has been particularly heavy and challenging in ministry, as this was a difficult month for our society. The pandemic is only seeming to get worse and conversations around politics were at an all time high given the current election. Those topics alone can bring division amongst friends and community on top of the struggles that our students are normally facing. It seemed to be a month where a lot of students and friends were worn out emotionally and did not know how to cope with the problems the world has thrown at us. As it was a trying month I kept being reminded of Revelation 21 to keep hopeful and to remember what I am working towards.
It says, "Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. to the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children."
I love this passage. It is a slight glimpse of what is to come. I get to remind students that Revelation 21 is what they can look forward too and to live with expectant hope of living together with God and in perfection. A time when everything will be made new and there will be no more sadness or pain, because we will get to be with God in the way that God intended the world to be from creation. The fact that we will dwell in the same place that God is, is hard to imagine and understand, though while we are in this waiting period I believe that God gives us glimpses of what that can look like and I see that all around me, even in these harder times. I see it in my marriage, in my cores, at our worship nights and when I just get to be around this community that I am blessed to work for. I get to watch others try to treat others like Jesus would have treated them and that is special!
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| Me and Aless trying our best to stay warm to watch the leadership conference |
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| My thursday small group roasting hotdogs before our bible study |
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Our church outside during worship:) |
Also mark your calendars for December 1st!! Keep FOCUS Growing is our annual fundrasier to help keep FOCUS growing and thriving. We have a group of generous donors who have agreed to match up to 42,000 in total donations. So, if we receive 42,000 dollars in donations they will give another 42,000, which means we could raise 84,000 dollars!! These funds will help cover cost of outreach materials, administrative support, planting new campuses, health benefits and much more. Please pray about giving a gift on December 1st, any amount is helpful!
With love,
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