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more thoughts on faith (and important notes from The Community Fellowship)


What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

We have all met people who live by faith.  Some of them make it real easy to see where God is working in their lives while others aren’t so obvious.  That doesn’t make one right and  the other wrong. 

The fact is that God has called each of us to live by faith and to know God and spend time one on one with Him often.  Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian.  Having parents or family that follow Jesus doesn’t make you a Jesus follower.  It is you getting to know God and having God in your life.

Faith is doing what God called you to do.  He didn’t call you to walk on water or to give all your money to the poor.  He is calling you and me to follow Him in every area of our lives.  Living by faith is following Jesus.

Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.

For David following God meant that he had to run for his life from the king all the time knowing that he would one day be king.  David had to believe God and let God make things happen in His time.  David killed the giant Goliath with stones and a sling shot after stepping up in faith because he was so offended by the gross mocking of God and God’s people.

Sometimes faith takes giant leaps.  Sometimes faith takes baby steps.  Sometimes faith rests and waits.  But faith always follows the lead of our gracious God who hasn’t left us and promises to never leave us.

Are you living by faith knowing that God is going to move in and around your life?  Faith is the confidence that God will work.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

It takes courage to live by faith.  It takes God in our lives to help us stand firm. 

On a more personal and ministry side, I’d like to take some time and unpack some things that are happening at The Community Fellowship.  Up front I ask that you pray with me and for our situation.

Recently we negotiated a lease for 11,000 square feet of space and began renovating it for our new kids and youth area.  Last week one of our leaders asked our local county building code office to share what we needed to do to move forward.

They shared with us just a few days ago that we cannot move forward with the new space until our current church space is brought within code.  An architect has stepped up to help us figure out what that meant, and we have learned it will cost a significant amount of money to make the changes to meet code.  A few of those pieces we were aware of, but most of it we were unaware of until this past Thursday.

Our church leadership team has met the last few days praying and talking through these issues.  This morning at the conclusion of our worship service we shared with our church family what is going on. 

We have asked our church family as I ask each of you now to pray with us about where God wants us in the future.  Are we to use our current space or move somewhere else?  We believe we are doing what God has called us to do and are moving forward with the vision God has given us.

Lives continue to be changed.  Ministry continues and will continue.  But we are praying and seeking God as to the direction we will go for the place The Community Fellowship and The Community Dream Center will be located.  Will you pray?  Please feel free to share with any of our church leaders or ask questions.  It is an honor to partner with great people and to share our awesome God with everyone we can.  We are moving forward demonstrating the love of God to our community and beyond.


PS --- Please pray for our back2school outreach that is 19 days away on August 4th.  This coming Saturday, July 21st, is the day for people to register (pass this on to those in our area who need this help or who would like to volunteer).  

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