Spring Forward or Fall Back?

“America tried this before — and the country hated it. In the early 1970s, America was facing an energy crisis so the government tried an experiment. Congress passed a law to make daylight saving time permanent year round, but just for two years. The thinking was more sunlight in the evening would reduce the nation’s energy consumption.It didn’t work, said David Prerau, one of the nation’s foremost experts on the issue. ‘It became very unpopular very quickly,’ he told NPR.Americans do not like changing their clocks, but they disliked even more going to work and school in the dark for months — the price the nation had to pay for more sunlight in winter evenings.” (NPR, March 19, 2022)
Mission or Outrage?

“In the age of outrage, we are perpetually encouraged to view others purely in categories of friend or foe. Are they on my side or are they against me? Do they like my politics and politicians? Endorse my worldview? Embrace my ideology? Outrage is a product of the flesh. It is selfish, divisive, wrathful, and chaotic. In some cases, outrage pretends to be righteous anger, but underneath the veneer, it is simply driven by our fleshly desires. In contrast, engaging the Spirit takes the focus off us (our tribe, our desires, our anger, our anxieties) and places it on God and his glory. When we experience forgiveness in Christ, God entirely transforms the way we see people and communities.”
Hurry Up and Slow Down!

- Silence and Solitude – Mark 1:35, Luke 22:39 – How often do you have quiet time to yourself? If Jesus needed it, so do we.
- Sabbath (Rest) – Exodus 31:13, Mark 2:27 – Did you know that the average American touches his or her phone over 2600 times per day? The times that we used to be at rest are now spent with screens. God rested and gave His people the gift to do the same.
- Simplicity – Matthew 6:21, 2 Corinthians 1:12 – How many emails are in your inbox? How much stuff do we need? Could the stuff in your garage, shed or storage unit be used by someone else?
- Slowing – Ephesians 4:2, 1 Corinthians 13:4 – Sometimes we can notice unnecessary hurry in the times we are impatient. In his book, Comer suggests intentionally choosing the longest checkout line at the grocery store. Who does that? People who are not in a hurry do. Once at the front of the line, you can be a blessing to the cashier who likely need some of that.
Authentic Living

Overcoming Overthinking

It’s All About Jesus

The Courage to Be Vulnerable

Who Are You Going to Call?

Prayer and the Nature of God

“Prayer can have no meaning unless it takes into account God’s total nature. He is holy; we come to Him on those grounds. He is love; we pray knowing that He is concerned about our needs. Because He is merciful, God understands and cares about human need. In most of the prayers of biblical characters, God took the initiative. The greatest saints have always known intuitively, from the depths of their spiritual nature, that God desires to provide for His own. God has chosen to relate Himself to us as a loving Father. He is also shepherd, keeper, refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1), and a sun and shield (Ps. 84:11).”
30 Days of Prayer

Date |
Prayer Focus |
|
Date |
Prayer Focus |
11/1 |
Southwest Church |
|
11/16 |
Our college students |
11/2 |
Our Nation |
|
11/17 |
Growing faith & Overcoming doubt |
11/3 |
Our Community |
|
11/18 |
The Church around the world |
11/4 |
Our Schools, Teachers, Staff, |
|
11/19 |
People in need |
11/5 |
Unity |
|
11/20 |
Wisdom |
11/6 |
People who are grieving |
|
11/21 |
Neighbors |
11/7 |
Opportunities to show love |
|
11/22 |
Difficult people and relationships |
11/8 |
God’s Glory |
|
11/23 |
Local outreach |
11/9 |
God’s Will |
|
11/24 |
Our need and ability to forgive |
11/10 |
Global Missions |
|
11/25 |
Thanksgiving for God’s Provision |
11/11 |
Veterans and Military |
|
11/26 |
Contentment |
11/12 |
Freedom from sin |
|
11/27 |
Stronger Marriages |
11/13 |
Widows and widowers |
|
11/28 |
Boldness to share the gospel |
11/14 |
Orphans |
|
11/29 |
Opportunities to serve |
11/15 |
Our families |
|
11/30 |
Perseverance |
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” – James 5:16b