Yes, yes, yes … it was a very good weekend and an outstanding Sunday. Our cry as we left worship yesterday was “Fill me up, light me up and use me Lord!” Here are some musings …

-Once again God showed up in a very powerful way. I know I have been saying that a lot recently, but it is really true. We have been experiencing a great season of God moving in our times of worship and in some of our small groups.

-We had some sound issues once again. I have been trying to get the company who supposedly wants to upgrade our system to get started. Evidently they are so busy that they can’t get back to me. Note to self: maybe they are too busy for us.

-I preached from Judges 6 and 7. This was sort of a conclusion to the series I have been preaching on prayer. This was about God’s call to action and that no matter what we are facing or how we feel God is with us and desires to work through us.

-I had a “take home” reminder of the message. It was something that those who were willing to answer the call had to come forward and respond to and then take home the illustration. I was humbled and pumped at how many people came forward in answer to the call.

-The rally cry of the message was focused on Judges 6:12 where the angel of the Lord told Gideon “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” We all need to remember that no matter how we feel and no matter what we are facing God is still God and He is with us. The other part of the cry came from how God gave them the victory. He had them use pitchers and torches. Our finishing call was “Fill me up, light me up and use me.” (I know that they also blew trumpets, but I couldn’t get everyone a horn and a kazoo seemed a little off as an illustration.)

-We had good attendance and it was very good when you look at how many of our regular attenders were gone.

-We had a great number of children again and we had a few teens in attendance for worship. We are making progress in this area.

-My wife and I enjoyed having her brother and sister in law visiting with us this past weekend and worshiping with us yesterday.

-We have a growing number of people who are getting serious about prayer and are praying often.

-We had a first time visitor and another couple who returned for the 3rd week in a row.

-I was very encouraged by several encounters with people in the community as I attended a few community events this past weekend. It is nice to see the time I have been investing in people, in being a part of the community and of talking with people outside of my church are beginning to result in growing relationships.

-I am very burdened by several who are in the midst of very painful family relationship issues.

-I am very excited to share with another church this week about Natural Church Development and encouraging them to look at their church health and possibly work with them for the next several months as a coach.

Here’s hoping that you have a week of reminders that God is with you. Here’s hoping that you choose to answer the call.

Dennis