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Let us welcome in the new year in gratitude and gladness!
What a pleasure it is to be in ministry together in Southeast Texas! We have had a busy year that has been filled to over flowing with many good deeds and activities in the LORD. Let us give our thanks and praise for the year of 2008, with all its special days including those days of evacuations. We made it through and we are now looking forward to the blessings from God for 2009.
Our watch word for 2009 will be “Abundance.” It is my hope and prayer that we will seek to define for ourselves what it means to live in God’s abundance.
We will continue to seek to grow in our knowledge of God which will include to discover anew how God is able to provide us with every blessing in abundance; to provide for all our needs. We will seek to include when praying the watch word of Abundance, while attempting to have the concept in our hearts that we are speaking of “God’s abundance” given in all areas of our lives and service to God. Several of the verses we will seek to explore are listed below. We will also have others that we look at to uncover the “nuggets” of personal discovery of some of God’s hidden treasures of knowledge in regard to God’s blessings and abundance provided.
Ephesians 3:16 - 4:1 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
2 Corinthians 9:8 - 10:1 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Yes, . Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
LORD God Almighty we praise Thee in gladness today. We look about at all our blessings and they are truly more than we can count. We have a beautiful facility, filled with beautiful and faithful people and we have our needs met. Even in the midst of storms this past year, you kept us safe from harm. Truly, we are blessed by Thee, O LORD. Help us understand Thee better and help us be Thy faithful servants in 2009. Grant us new understanding of your blessings and abundance personally. Help us pray often and vehemently as your word describes, giving Thee always the glory and honor. We lift our members and friends for continued goodness in health and life. We ask that your blessings of mercy abound upon one and all. We give Thee thanks with a grateful heart, O LORD. Bless this family of God at ATUMC and blessing be unto Thee, O most Merciful Father. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Blessings, blessings, blessings,
Pastor Joy
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