A new command I give you:  Love one another .  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

-John 13:34-35


Meeting needs and caring for one another is not an option but an opportunity.

There are so many joys to being a pastor.  One of the blessings of being a pastor is watching others care and minister to one another.  The act of care or ministry could vary from a simple meal for a new family or the participation in a birthday celebration or house warming event.  It could be the delivery of a meal to a new mom, or a baby shower for those in waiting, or an attentive ear to one who just needs to talk.   It might be a phone call to check on someone you haven't seen in a while, or the note that says, “I am praying for you”.  It could be financial support for the couple that is struggling because of the loss of a job or sickness.  

Whatever the case, when we actively love one another, our intentional action not only helps our faith increase, but we also become a testimony to others who might be watching from a distance.

The early church was filled with stories of encouragement and sacrifice within the body.  I am encouraged by what I see at Heritage.  Thank you for your sacrifices of service.  How will you leverage your time, talents, or resources this next week to impact the lives of those around you? If you don't, who will?  There is so much at stake.


-Sidney

"Call unto me, and I will do great and mighty things which you know not."  

-Jeremiah 33:3


What if we personally, as well as corporately, caught a vision for "living out a legacy of faith" instead of just talking about one? Can you imagine the opportunities we would have? Think of the potential a group of Christ followers would have it they were crazy enough to believe that God could use them and bold enough to live that way! As has been stated many times before, a church is the people of God, not the building, that are brought to life in and through the Spirit of God living in each of us that make up the living, breathing body of Christ.   With this in mind, we are passing a glorious heritage down to our children and our children's children as they see this  band of  people of faith, loving one another, bearing each other's needs and burdens, while spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us.  May we, as a family, rejoice in the Goodness of God, and look forward to the even greater things He promises.  

We love each of you dearly and anticipate hearing your stories of God at work in your lives!

Guys, remember our camping trip this weekend. Go to the website for more information. Let us know by this Wednesday if you are coming so we can make preparations.

Also, be praying about your commitment to spiritual growth.


-Sidney

Let the Word of Christ, dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

-Colossians 3:16

I am so pumped about our discussions yesterday at Heritage about what growing spiritually looks like.  At Heritage, we believe that growing spiritually best happens in smaller, learning environments where you can be challenged and encouraged as well as held accountable.  If our desire is to leave a legacy, we must live a legacy as we live by obedience to God's Word.  This is why we are opening up opportunities for you to choose a time and day to intentionally spend time with some others like you who will read God's Word and spend time discussing how it applies to life.

I know you will be praying this week about your personal commitment to grow spiritually and how that looks at this season in your life.  If we have a vision to grow spiritually, it will affect our decision making.  Because the clearer the vision of where we are headed, the easier it will be to make decisions on what our priorities will be.

-Sidney

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

-Colossians 2:6-7


Over the past week or so our family has enjoyed the use of a used boat that we purchased (for a cheap price I must add). It is fun to run across the road for an hour and ride the kids around on the boat as well as help them learn to ride the tube. The first time we went out each child was somewhat hesitent. The fears of going too fast or falling out of the tube almost kept them from getting in the water, but in just a short amount of time, each child has gained confidence and now are enjoying the water.

When we first began, I sat them down and talked to them about the codes for going faster, slower and stopping when riding the tube. The first couple of runs for each child began with thumbs down, meaning "slow down," but after getting used to this new experience it has usually been a thumbs up which means "go faster, Dad!"

Isn't it like this with many new things that we experience in life. How many times do we fail to begin anything new because of our fear of failure? How many times do we fail to get out of the boat because of our fear of the unknown?

I am excited about this upcoming week at Heritage because we will be trying out something new ourselves. Since the beginning of Heritage, spiritual growth has been a priority for us, but this next Sunday we will discuss how that looks for us at Heritage. We will not only discuss this in our worship service but we will be taking intentional time to get some feedback from those in attendance. For us to "Live a Legacy of Faith", we each must be committed to a lifestyle of spiritual nourishment.

I believe that our faith is not just talked about but lived out, but to live it we must first know it. Knowing comes through the study of God's Word along with an interaction with one another. I hope that you will join us on this journey of growing in Christlikeness because if we know where we are headed, the options are fewer and the decisions become easier.


-Sidney

"I am carrying on a great project, and I cannnot go down."  
-Nehemiah 6:3


Everyday, we find someone or something tugging on our leg, calling us aside from our priorities.  With age, it seems those distractions increase.    If you are like me, I bet this is something that you deal with, too.  Whether in personal life, family life, finances, or in ministry, there are so many things needing my attention. There are so many  "good"  opportunities. So how do we say no?  

A clear focus of where you are headed eliminates those good options and helps you gain the confidence needed to say no to the distractions when they come. 

Sit down for a minute today and ask yourself, "Where am I headed?"  If you discover and decide your destination, you will be in a better position to say no to some good opportunities and be focused on what is best.

-Sidney

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.  He said to his men, the Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord."  With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul.  And Saul left the cave and went his way.  
-1 Samuel 24:5-7

Saul, while pursuing David to kill him, stopped for a moment and went into a cave to “relieve” himself. It happened to be the same cave that David and his men were hiding in. It was the perfect moment. David had the chance to kill the one that pursued him. His feelings said, “take advantage of this situation.” His men said, “kill him while you have the chance.” But David did not. Instead, he let Saul go. David was at a defining moment within his life and he didn’t do what he wanted to do, but he was obedient to God even though it wasn’t a logical or popular decision.

Everything pointed to killing Saul. The circumstances, his emotions, as well as the advice from those surrounding him. But David knew what he was supposed to do. David rightfully decided not to try and replace who God had put in place. Saul was God’s anointed.

Biblical principles allow us to look through the fog to see what God wants us to see. What decisions are you needing to make today, and where will you turn for counsel?


-Sidney