Little  Britain  Presbyterian  Church

Pastor Tom's Bi-Monthly Message

January & February,  2010

Happy New Year

There is excitement to begin a new decade.  We don't know what the year ahead holds; we might have some trepidation as we begin a new year, knowing the hardships of the year before. We also have an eagerness that maybe things will get better in the new year, in the new decade. We are eager to press on to the new things God has in store.

As a church we are expectant about how God will use us in this decade.  We are sending a team to a conference called Vision 2020 for three more meetings over the next year.  The next meeting is February 6th.  As a team and as a church we realize how quickly things are changing in our society.  Also we know that God is not finished with our church but that he still has great days ahead for us, to be used by Him in our community and in the world, for lives to be transformed and for people to grow in the grace of God.

Growth happens by daily walking with God.  We walk with God by spending time with God in prayer and in reading his word.  This is how we will grow as individuals and as a church.  It is only as we are in communication with the Living God that God will shine through us and we will be a beacon in our community.

So how can we grow with God?  Consider how you spent your time with God last year - did you spend anytime with him outside of church?  Is there room for improvement.   Let me suggest a few ways to take the next step with going deeper in your relationship with God.

If you are not reading your Bible everyday - begin, try reading just a short passage everyday and make it a habit.  If you are reading your Bible everyday try reading the whole Bible cover to cover in a year or maybe two years.  If you are reading the whole Bible already try to increase your time thinking and dwelling on a passage.  As a church I would encourage all of us to think deeply and widely about Isaiah 43:15-21, the passage given to us by the Vision 2020 team.  When reading God's word, I encourage us to ask God's Spirit to guide our reading and that we allow God's word to become a part of us.  That the word of Christ may dwell in us richly!

May we be open and ready to obey God's voice in the decade we are entering.

Blessings,

Pastor Tom