What a timely message we heard on Sunday! God moved! If you missed it, Daniel kicked off our series on Peace preaching on Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” You can watch here if you were not able to catch it on Sunday.
In a perfect world, the holiday season is “the most wonderful time of year.” We all know though that often the holidays can be stressful, sad, exhausting, grievous, and all things that seem opposite of “wonderful.” That is why I am so excited about our theme of Peace. Peace is possible during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year.
Another verse that echoes the message from Sunday is Romans 8:6. The NIV says, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” The ESV says, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Every day we have to fight the battle for our minds. Like Daniel said, “Your mind is a battlefield for peace.” We have to keep our minds “stayed on,” “governed by,” and “set on” the Lord. While redirecting and renewing our minds is a daily, even sometimes hourly (or maybe even minute-ly, ha!) thing, gathering and worshipping together with other believers significantly helps as well.
There are three more Sundays in December. If you live near one of our campuses, I encourage you to make it a priority to be here each week. This coming Sunday, I will continue the Peace series and will also be interviewing a young lady who is leaving soon to serve as a missionary overseas for the next two years. December 19, we have a special service planned to include the Lord’s Supper. This will be the first time we’ve taken it on a Sunday morning together since the start of COVID. December 26 will be the last Sunday before the new year. Each campus has something a little different planned and I know it will be such a blessing to you.
We also have our Christmas Eve services that start on December 23. What a way to experience peace in the midst of chaos! Pause with your family and attend a service together. Set aside that hour to reflect on Jesus coming to earth, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. The services are at 6:30 p.m. on the 23rd and at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on the 24th at each location.
I’ve said it before and will most likely say it again, but Tammy and I are praying 2 Thessalonians 3:16 over you this season. Even now as I write this, I’m praying again, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
See you Sunday!