Dear Friends of Longview Chapel,
In Joshua 24:15, Joshua focused the people on their future. He made it clear to them that serving God always needed to be their first choice. His words were:
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” NIV
Now we know from history that the people of Israel did not always get that correct. Sadly, many times they chose to follow false gods. They chose to follow their fears. They even chose to go against God and their leaders. However, in times when they chose to serve God first, they found their next steps, sometimes in amazing and surprising ways.
How are we doing at choosing who we will serve? May we be given the grace and the wisdom to recognize God’s presence as we seek to follow God’s voice. May our hearts and minds be willing to see and hear God clearly and not be detoured by the views of the world.
Speaking of choosing, here’s a few more ways that people in our congregation are choosing to use the talents that God has given to them:
• God has given me the talent of meeting and greeting and I use it in groups and in the community.
• God has given me the talents of singing and being friendly and I use those every Sunday greeting my church family and welcoming them to church service.
• God has given me the talent of taking care of dogs. I use that loving my dogs and walking them.
• God has given me the gift of compassion. I use this when I helped a friend through their sorrow.
• God has given me the talent of crocheting and I used it in the VA hospital and making gifts.
• God has given me the talent of speech and I’ve used that to present several sermons to this Chapel and given Elder prayers.
Looking forward to seeing many of you next Sunday as we welcome Reverend Patrick Landau for his first Sunday here as Family Minister. Please plan to come and greet him!
Pastor Donna