POWER

Well, it’s been 4 days now…4 days without power! No lights, no heat, everything is cold and dark. Ever notice how living without power makes things more difficult? Keeping a fire going, carrying a flashlight around to find things, taking care that things don’t spoil…and on and on it goes. I will certainly be glad when the power is restored.

Ever try to run your life without the power of the Holy Spirit? Sure makes things harder doesn’t it? Trying to get things done in your own strength is exhausting, frustrating and fruitless. I believe Jesus knew this when he instructed the disciples to go to Jerusalem and stay there until they received power from the Father. He was talking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8 he tells them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you,….” Power is “the ability to do work.”

I know there are times I have been guilty of working in my own strength and ability. How frustrating it was. I also know what it is like to have the power of the Holy Spirit do the work. What a difference! Ministry actually becomes exciting and fulfilling. It all depends on your power source. I pray that God the Holy Spirit will empower you today. Ask him to, he will.

“One New Year's Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.

Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance, and though they are "clothed with power" (Luke 24:49) find themselves out of gas.”

Steve Blankenship in God Came Near by Max Lucado, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 95.

Mary and I are enjoying traveling the district and visiting our churches. We are blessed to have such a great team of pastors and laymen. This Sunday we plan on being with Pastor Mel and Nancy Skeen and the fine people of Farmington.

We congratulate the Bernie congregation on having a new pastor. Rev. John and Donna Humbert will be arriving in Missouri from Texas in early January. John and Donna were at one time on staff at Webster Groves and Donna is from Webster Groves as well. We welcome the Humberts to our team and look forward to great things for the wonderful congregation at Bernie.

I met the board at Columbia last Sunday. We had a great meeting filled with expectation. Pray for us as we try to impact Columbia for Christ.

Congratulation to Cal and Ceresa Callender, Student Pastor at Gateway Central,on the birth of their first child, Morgan Jaylynn, born December 1^st. Mom and baby are doing fine, I don’t know about dad!!

Be sure and check the district blog to find out more about what is going on in Missouri.

Mary and I hope you have a wonderful Advent season. May you know the joy of giving this year in a new way.

As Gandhi stepped aboard a train one day, one of his shoes slipped off and landed on the track. He was unable to retrieve it as the train was picking up speed.

To the amazement of his companions, Gandhi calmly took off his other shoe and threw it back along the track to land close to the first.

Asked by a fellow passenger why he did so, Gandhi smiled. "The poor man who finds the shoes lying on the track," he replied, "will now have a pair he can use."

~~

Dr Bob, www.grif.net

1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

A COUPLE OF LEADERSHIP QUOTES:

"Don't be afraid to take a big step when one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small steps." David Lloyd George

"Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall." - Stephen R. Covey

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Mike

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