Seek God's Presence
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul to the Philippians (and us too)
Friends,
The Advent and Christmas Season have ended and a new year has begun. I am so thankful for the amazing talent, hard work, and spiritual depth of our community and staff that God worked so powerfully through to bless us in this season. Looking back on 2019 fills me with gratitude for the year we have shared.
This past year was filled with blessings and marked by grace. That doesn’t mean there weren’t challenges and moments of pain and worry in 2019. In fact, at one of the hardest moments and in dimmest valleys of this past year I had a couple of staff and leaders ask if we could pray together. I said sure because pastors are supposed to say yes when their people ask them to pray. I really did not know it until it was happening how desperately I was in need of this blessing until it was poured over me.
What began as a prayer for peace in the ‘valley’ became a well of power for the journey.
We have continued to set aside time to pray and I want to invite you to join us. Will you carve out even a few minutes each day to say thanks for who God is and what God has done? Will you join us in seeking God’s presence to be poured out upon the worship, the work, and the mission of our community? Will you spend just a few minutes of intentional time breathing in the hope, light, and love of Christ and listening for God’s voice?
I am firmly convinced that the fullness of what God wants to accomplish in and through University will be rooted and grounded in prayer. We don’t want to live without the peace that passes all understanding and we don’t want to miss out on all God has called and created us to be. Let us pray then, with expectant hope, to faithful God who has so much more planned for the people of this community.
Blessings,
Pastor Ben