A New Day

Wow, what A year! I never knew you could cram so much stuff into so little a time frame. We have begun a great Journey together here @ The Park. It may have seemed like a whirlwind at times, and it may have often felt like stumbling in the dark, but I can honestly say, "I think we are coming out of the fog."

Many of you have been through a lot this past couple years. You watched as a pastor that you loved and who deeply loved you, answered the call of God to move onto his next assignment in ministry. You experienced "doing church" for 18 months without the leadership of a senior pastor. You saw friends and family move onto other places of service. You felt alone and scared.

For the first time in a long time, Blackwelder Park Baptist Church knew what it was like to struggle. And struggle you did. God brought you through a very difficult time, but I think all can testify that He never left you or forsook you. The lessons learned in those difficult times are some of the most valuable lessons of life.

As you stumble in the fog you learn to slowdown and depend on God. You learn to lighten your load. You learn that through God, all things are possible. In the fog, you will find abilities you never had, and friends you never knew. You learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

But always remember, the fog is nothing more than God's signature of blessings on a new day. It's mist waters the ground and protects it from the heat of the day to come. The fog is God's way of calming our life down.

I think one of the best experiences I have had since returning to NC is sitting on my front porch in the morning with my daughter, sipping a cup of coffee and waiting for her bus to come pick her up for school. It's quiet (well at least after the bus comes and picks Katie up). I sit there in the mist of the morning and listen to the sounds of the community. I can't see what's going on, but I know its happening. I know that God is at work in my life, and He has given me a new day to impact the world for Him. Whatever the day before held is gone. Its a new day. I take another sip of my coffee, stand up, walk to my car and start the long drive to work. The windshield wipers piercing a hole in the fog as I emerge into the new day.

The past is behind. The day is new. The opportunities are great. And God is with us. Who can be against us?

Love you guys,

Pastor Keith

Wow, what A year!

Ultimate Investment

It is Sunday night and I am sitting in the living room trying to unwind from all the holiday festivities that have been taking place over the past few weeks.  I can't believe it is only 4 days to Christmas.  It seems like only yesterday we were in the dog days of summer but tonight they are calling for 20 degrees.  I love it!

The tree is up, the lights are on, the house is fully decorated.  Church this morning was a sea of red and green sweaters in the midst of a poinsettia forrest.  The old Christmas favorites were sung, cards were being distributed and "Merry Christmas" was the greeting of the day.  

What a great day it was!  We finished our 401kingdom series with a message entitled The Ultimate Investment."  God used that message to teach us that the greatest investment we could ever make in God's kingdom work is our own life.  

Jesus, at the end of His ministry said: "These things I have said in order that you might have peace, in this world you will have tribulation . . ."  I thought it so interesting that He said "you might have peace," but He told us we would certainly have tribulation.  Trials are certain, peace is a choice.  We can choose to receive the peace from God, or to reject it.

How ironic is it that at the end of Christ's earthly ministry He offers peace, and at the start of His life on earth the angels announced His birth by saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men of good will?"  

Peace is the result of listening to the things that He taught us.  As we learned today He taught us 4 major things dealing with peace.  He taught us to love each other as He loves us, to believe He will accomplish that which He has promised to do, He taught us to walk in fellowship with Him to the cross, and to abide in Him always.  When we do these things  we have peace with God and with one another, just as He said we would. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give."

He left peace with us, because He wants us to give it to others just like He gave it to us.  He wants us to give it away.  

How do we give it away? 

The same way He gave it away; 

by laying down His life for the sake of others.  

"Greater Love hath no man than this, then that He lay down His life for His friends."  That My friends is the ultimate investment, and what Christmas is all about.

This blog is a test, it is only a test.  If it were a real blog, I would have something interesting to say, but quite honestly, I am drawing a blank (something that happens more frequently, the older I get).  

This has been a test from the emergency blogcast network.  

You will now be returned to your regular programing