It is amazing how complex life is...and how simple it can be. Consider a few thoughts:
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and a roof over your head, you are richer than 75% of the world's population.
If you have "milk money," or any spare change, lying around somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If you awoke this morning with more health than sickness, consider yourself more blessed than over 1 million folks who won't survive the week.
Two weeks ago, we launched the "Gratitude Experiment," where we found ourselves challenged in this season of Thanksgiving, to find out how truly blessed we really are. Our word gratitude, has at its core a grip and an understanding of another term: GRACE. And grace understands that it has benefitted from and received favor (from God and others).
How much thought have you given to the idea of being among God's favored ones. It's true, you know? The Bible identifies us human-kind, as the recipients of God's kindness. God is an extreme grace-giver, in fact. Consider:
The Bible is the Word of God's grace (Acts 20:32)
We stand in grace (Romans 5:2)
Psalm 45:2 even said that God's grace was poured out on the lips of King David!
Bottom line: You are a graced man (or woman), my friend.
And the expression back is gratitude - a recognition of that. So as we celebrate pilgrims and turkeys and freedom (and even a Cowboy victory) this season, let us continue to stand in that place of gratitude to the Maker, Sustainer, and Savior of us all.
Gratitude Experiment - part 2, this Sunday. See you there, 9:01 or 10:46 am.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Christmas Comes Early at THF
Christmas comes THIS SUNDAY - November 14th - at The Heights Fellowship! 2010 marks the sixth year THF has partnered with Samaritan's Purse International Relief for our holiday focus - Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. The Heights Fellowship is connecting with Samaritan’s Purse to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift. Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language. In 2009, the International Operation Christmas Child effort distributed 7.9 million shoe box gifts worldwide and distributed them to children in over 100 countries around the world.
Our annual Christmas partnership with Operation Christmas Child began In 2005, when THF families delivered 143 filled shoeboxes to the Samaritan's Purse drop off location. In 2006, we delivered exactly 200 boxes...our goal. In 2007, our goal was 300 and we delivered 460 boxes! What an amazing thing! In 2008, we collected just under 500 boxes. In 2010, we want to continue this bold emphasis.
Every box represents a precious boy or girl in need of a Savior. You can participate in Operation Christmas Child as a family, as an individual, or as a Small Group.
Click HERE to find out more
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. The Heights Fellowship is connecting with Samaritan’s Purse to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift. Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language. In 2009, the International Operation Christmas Child effort distributed 7.9 million shoe box gifts worldwide and distributed them to children in over 100 countries around the world.
Our annual Christmas partnership with Operation Christmas Child began In 2005, when THF families delivered 143 filled shoeboxes to the Samaritan's Purse drop off location. In 2006, we delivered exactly 200 boxes...our goal. In 2007, our goal was 300 and we delivered 460 boxes! What an amazing thing! In 2008, we collected just under 500 boxes. In 2010, we want to continue this bold emphasis.
Every box represents a precious boy or girl in need of a Savior. You can participate in Operation Christmas Child as a family, as an individual, or as a Small Group.
Click HERE to find out more
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A Celebration of the Backslidden
It's not a four letter word, but its impact among those of us who know Jesus and claim His church as our family is equally impacting: BACKSLIDDEN. No one wants to admit he's backslidden. She surely doesn't want to be named among the backsliders.
But the dirty little secret of our culture is that come this weekend, we'll all be backsliders. So THF wants to celebrate that with you. I'm talking about TIME CHANGE - From Daylight Saving Time back to Standard Time. (What'd you think I meant?)
It's a pretty cool concept. DST originated almost a century ago, during World War I. The idea was to save energy for our production during the war effort by taking advantage of longer daylight hours in the months between April and October. The idea was legislated by the US Congress in 1966 when they standardized the idea and established the dates - April to October. In 2007, the US Government acted again to lengthen DST by four weeks (creeping its beginning back into March and extending its duration into November). It was believed that change alone would save upwards of 10,000 barrels of oil per day. Pretty impressive!
The fact is that most people know little about DST, and care even less - except as it affects their sleep patterns. (Who doesn't hate losing that hour in the Winter?) But this weekend is SPECIAL - it's the one time during the year we all get to backslide - for an hour at least - and enjoy the indulgence of "an extra hour of sleep." Go ahead, set those clocks back and rest easy. Your God will still be on the job.
THF hopes you'll remember that and then join the celebration of the backsliders on Sunday morning at 9:01 and 10:46 Central STANDARD Time. You'll be the better for it all the way around. See you here.
But the dirty little secret of our culture is that come this weekend, we'll all be backsliders. So THF wants to celebrate that with you. I'm talking about TIME CHANGE - From Daylight Saving Time back to Standard Time. (What'd you think I meant?)
It's a pretty cool concept. DST originated almost a century ago, during World War I. The idea was to save energy for our production during the war effort by taking advantage of longer daylight hours in the months between April and October. The idea was legislated by the US Congress in 1966 when they standardized the idea and established the dates - April to October. In 2007, the US Government acted again to lengthen DST by four weeks (creeping its beginning back into March and extending its duration into November). It was believed that change alone would save upwards of 10,000 barrels of oil per day. Pretty impressive!
The fact is that most people know little about DST, and care even less - except as it affects their sleep patterns. (Who doesn't hate losing that hour in the Winter?) But this weekend is SPECIAL - it's the one time during the year we all get to backslide - for an hour at least - and enjoy the indulgence of "an extra hour of sleep." Go ahead, set those clocks back and rest easy. Your God will still be on the job.
THF hopes you'll remember that and then join the celebration of the backsliders on Sunday morning at 9:01 and 10:46 Central STANDARD Time. You'll be the better for it all the way around. See you here.
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