Word for the day "Called to be the Lord's community"

James 3:17-18 (MSG) Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to be kind to someone whos is less fortunate, and be thankful for all things! God is so faithful won't you take the time to say thank you! Have a safe and blessed holiday from the Grace & Truth Leadership Team.

The blessing of having each other is a grace of the Lord.

Sisters and brothers let’s not even try to pretend it’s easy. Or that we should simply press through, or shake it off, move on, or “let it slide.”

Perhaps, if we can just allow ourselves to set aside those immature feelings, we can get to the other side in one piece.

Because being alone in emotional pain can hurt and I mean it really hurts. That’s the bottom line of today’s message is we need each other desperately!

Here’s the thing: there are no perfect people. Not even in the community.

We all are imperfect people, yet we find a way to worship together, and we serve together, we share recipes and eat out together, go to the mall together, and share private things together.

We all have experience of feeling completely being alone in a crowd. But when another human being is present for us, we are deeply aware of it and impacted.

The significance of our spiritual community and connection must be recognized.

We help each other move, and we pick up each other’s children from school. We share our dreams and we confess our failures.

We go to the emergency room with each other. The church today has already moved into the position of listening now; I know not all churches.

But certainly, in enough situations to such a degree, we are in the church beginning to gather new evidence and new understanding as to how we might educate toward the essence of community in our time together.

God often will test our hearts to see if we will remain faithful to Him at the cost of something important to us.

Once He knows where our loyalty lies, He opens a new door that meets the desires of our hearts.

God takes pleasure in seeing His creation used for His glory. And I believe having the Lord’s creation connected in a powerful way brings glory and honor to the Lord.

Surely this is a sobering message - a rude awakening for those who are not aware of the Lord’s call to being His community.

Those who respond will progress in the grace of the Lord and enrich their lives with meaningful relationships.

Those who heed the call and obey this message, the purpose and potential they will reach and enjoy will be well worth their efforts of response.

Point to ponder

Koinonia: Greek word for sharing, community, together with dependence. It’s better when we do it together.Quote:The communion of saints also binds us to the future. The prophetic impulse involves living fully in the present out of our responsibility to the future, to our children and children’s children. Maria Harris 

Special thanks!

Pastor James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team is especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of November 2019 by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Mrs. Angela Harrison, Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. David Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Darlene Simmons,  Ms. Itholear Abbott,  Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Theresa Lewis, Ms. Michelle Rosa, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.

Thank you!

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