Around our home, it is not unusual for the kids to begin wandering around the home in the wee hours of the morning. Usually a scary dream, upset stomach or a thump in the night sends them headed for Mom and Dad’s room. Since our room is on the other side of the house, they will usually find a light and turn it own to illuminate their way. Several mornings, we have awakened to pounding on our door with a refusal to go to bed until they have seen us, and we have consoled their imaginations or hurts. If we don’t get up and attend to their needs, they will continue to knock without reservation until their needs have been met.

It reminds me of the story when Jesus is teaching on prayer in Luke 11:1-10. It tells the story of a man who is knocking on the door of another man, asking for bread in the middle of the night. The man asking for the bread is refused by the one in the bed; but the man standing at the door continues to knock.

The scriptures tell us that the man does not get up because his friend is in need but because the man is persistent in his knocking on the door. The scripture goes on to say that the man in the bed only gets up and helps because of the boldness of the man in need. As a matter of fact, the man gives the other all that he needs. We find another cross reference to this passage in Luke 18 when Jesus talked to his disciples again about prayer—He said, that they should pray and never give up.

How do you pray? Are you bold and persistent in your prayers? I am knocking right now persistently concerning several things and will continue to knock until my Father comes to the door to answer.

He loves our interruptions.


-Pastor Sidney Brock

Don't forget that our second fellowship is coming up on August 18th at the Lake Okahumpka Park. If you haven't already, please fill out the form on the Events page to RSVP.

Also, you can download a .pdf flyer by clicking here to hand out to your friends. See you there!

This week's blog was written by Terra Machande. Dan and Terra live in The Villages and have a 4 year old son, Kyle.

I’ve been telling God, “enough already” for months. I feel like one of those moles in a Whack ‘em Game. As soon as I start to see a little daylight, I’m knocked out again. As I look around me, everyone seems to have pain and heart break so it can’t be just me who feels like this. Why do they look like they’ve got it all figured out? What do they know that I don’t?

“Come to me…” I hear.

Yeah, yeah God, I know the verse. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28) I know the words, but I don’t know how to do it.

“You used to… remember?”

I am not that person anymore.

“Well, what was different?”

I had a goal. I was focused. You took care of the details. I just kept on going.

“Haven’t I taken care of all the details?”

Yes, sir.

“Haven’t I given you more than you could have imagined?”

Yes, sir.

“So, what is the problem?”

I am overwhelmed. I feel like I am failing at everything. Aren’t Christians supposed to know how to juggle the pain in the world and keep focused on You? I can’t do it all.

“Dear child, you can’t be perfect. Forget about your shame. Let go and give it to Me. I have a purpose for you.” What is it Lord? “You are worried and upset about many things but only one is needed. Choose what is better and it will not be taken from you.” (paraphrasing Luke 10:41-42)

I must get it through my thick skull that the steering wheel is not mine to control but God’s got the car full of airbags. It may not be a smooth ride… especially when I keep trying to grab the wheel, but the destination is worth the bruises. As we begin this part of the journey together at Heritage Community, I look forward to taking the narrow and bumpy path that will leave a legacy of faith for our children.

Sometimes we wonder if our children are listening...

A couple of days ago, Merideth and I had some friends over to sing and share God's word.  During that time, Merideth decided to take the children out to teach them a Bible lesson about the wide and narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14).  Merideth was creative and had them draw with the big pieces of chalk on the driveway and illustrate the two different roads, and then they discussed what kind of road we should be traveling and what that might look like.  Well, our son Caleb (4 years old) woke up this morning asking Merideth if it was okay if he cleaned his room today and helped her around the house.  Merideth was so excited she called me! But the best part of the story was when Caleb came back a few minutes later and asked, "Mom, does that mean I am walking on the skinny path"?

Don't underestimate the learning capacity of our children, and may we take every opportunity to creatively teach the Word of God to them on a regular basis.  God's Word says in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy chapter 6,  that we are to teach the commandments of God to our children in various ways with the intent of being PROACTIVE in raising children of faith.  Training our children in Faith is our responsibility as parents.  The church is here to help resource you to teach your children in faith; not teach them for you.  

One easy method to incorporate into your faith training as a family is replacing secular videos that your children might watch during the day with videos that teach a faith message.

One resource that we would recommend is the Boz series.  Take a look online to see what they have to offer at www.bozthebear.com,  but shop around because you will find special deals from time to time.  This is also a good gift for Christmas or one that relatives can purchase for special events such as birthdays etc. 

Happy training!!!

Sidney and Merideth

I was reading this morning a devotional about our value of work and the role that it plays in our lives.  Since I have been personally struggling with this as of late with schedules,  priorities and responsibilities,  it was a good reminder to be careful that our work does not become our source of value.  When work becomes our source of value our lives become performance based and we can never work long enough or hard enough, and the end result is a performance based life.  That performance based life tells us, "the harder you work, the longer you work, the more money you make, the more business deals you close...(you fill in the blank), the more acceptable you will be to yourself and others around you."  How quick this road will lead us towards destruction because we can never do enough to satisfy that craving to be accepted and valued. Oh, by the way, have we ever heard of the word "Workaholic".

Gaining satisfaction from our work is not bad and we need to be "worthy of our hire".  God the Father was the first one to give us a job (Gen. 2:15).  However, our source of satisfaction should not flow out of what we do but what HE has done.  If our lives are centered in Christ, when difficult times come (which they will) we will not be destroyed because the foundation (Matthew 7:24-27) is still strong and in place.

Is your life in balance today?  Are you living a performance based life instead of a God centered life? 
This would be a good discussion for spouses if you are not afraid of the honest answers.

Go to the Father and ask Him today to reveal your source of value. If you sense your life is unbalanced and in need of adjustment, one step in the right direction is spending time with the one who values you the most.

Please continue to pray for... 

-sale of Brian & Brooke's home in TN as well as a condo that Sidney and Merideth have in Sanford
-new prospects for Heritage Community Church
-options for meeting spaces for training and bible study
-July and August Fellowships
-Interim Steering Team and decision making

BLESSINGS..

-We received our official 501(c)3 coverage letter last week and notification as an official church plant status of the Florida Baptist Convention.  Heritage Community is on the map!  
-Our office space is awesome!!!
-Purchase of a new computer so we now have one for the office
-Purchase of Signs for Heritage community to help us with events
-Donation of Financial program to help with record keeping
-Prayer and Financial supporters for Heritage Community


A reminder that our next fellowship time for the new church plant Heritage Community Church is coming up this Saturday July 14th.  Check the information above for more information on the fellowship.

Our first fellowship is coming up on Saturday, July 14th. Click here for all the information.

It has been an unusual week with Merideth gone to Liberty University to complete her last intensive class on the school campus as she works on her Master's.  We have managed not having mom around, but needless to say, I have great respect for moms and the jobs they do--from maid to cook to referee--by the end of the day, I am exhausted physically and emotionally. We are all excited about mom coming home tomorrow!

Several times this week, the kids have reminded me that I wasn't being nice and my son Caleb even went out on the limb to tell me that I was being "Grumpy"--and my response was, "you haven't even begun to see Grumpy".  Then I reminded myself that "I am Living a Legacy of Faith".  Our lives being lived out before our children supercedes what we tell them or instruct them to do.  It is in our actions that those around us will discover the love of Christ as well as learn how to live.  The hardest people to fool will be those that know us the best!

May "Heritage Community Church" be known for its encouragement to people to "Live out a Legacy of Faith" as we grow together in our Faith journey.

We are looking ahead to our next "Gathering" coming July 14th out at the Lake Okahumpka park off of hwy. 44.  This fellowship will be held from 5:30 to 8:00 pm that Saturday evening and there is plenty of room for the children to run and play and some awesome swing and play units.  Be looking for the official flyer that you will see this week.

Would you consider becoming a prayer partner for Heritage Community church? Just email us at prayer@theheritagecommunity.org to be added to our list of prayer partners.