The discourse continues in the Beatitudes, as Jesus teaches us the basics of life and faith.  He reminds us of our value to God and to others by saying, "You are the salt of the earth."  He urges us to live as God's children as we reveal God to others as we live our lives:

Matthew 5:13-20 NIV
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Next, Jesus reveals more about who He is and why He has come to us.  He didn't come to erase the foundations of faith but to fulfill and enhance them.  He also reminds us to have the proper mindset concerning righteousness - it is not merely external but rooted in faith and humility:

The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

It is apparent that God's kingdom is one of righteousness.  God cares about every statute and command and how we relate to them.  He cares about us and our hearts toward Him.

Q:  As you read these passages, what stands out to you?  What can you learn from them?

Q:  How can we align our thinking to God's when it comes to our own value and the value of His kingdom ways?

Prayer:  Lord, we thank You that You have given us everything we need for a victorious life.  We need your grace to see, understand, and follow You as we live life.  Help us navigate life with You and reap the benefits of righteousness in your kingdom.  Amen.

During Sunday’s sermon, we learned that God called Joseph prosperous, even as his life circumstances had deteriorated to slavery and imprisonment.  

How could God say he was prospering in those situations?  God’s meaning of prosperity is different than the world’s meaning of prosperity.  His meaning of prosperity is filled with God’s presence, His anointing, joy, peace, satisfaction, grace, and favor.  And yes, His blessing can bring happiness that cannot be understood by the world’s mindset.

Jesus teaches this as He opens the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-12.
Matthew 5 AMPC
5 Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him.
2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
4 Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!
5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!
6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be [i]completely satisfied!
7 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
8 Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!
9 Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!
10 Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
11 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.
12 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Some of these situations that Jesus calls blessed include life challenges that could be hard to bear.  All of them involve seeking God from the heart, choosing faith, and trusting in His goodness.

Q:  In what ways has God blessed you, regardless of your circumstances?

Q: What blessings or favor have we maybe not noticed or discerned?

Prayer:  Lord, thank You that your presence is with us.  We are grateful for Your friendship, favor, prosperity, growth, and blessing.  Draw us to yourself and lead us in the way that leads further into your will and your ways.  Grant us the strength and the grace to follow You and to be obedient.  Amen.

This summer has been one of character studies in Scripture.  God provides these narratives to us as both an encouragement and as a mirror.  We are given a picture of our own walk with the Lord and what adjustments we need to make.

Solomon is a well-known character whose father was King David and his mother was Bathsheba.  Solomon was a man of peace and succeeded David on the throne.  His wisdom, knowledge and riches were world-renowned.

He wrote the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and two attributed psalms in the book of Psalms.  He wrote over 3000 proverbs, 900 of which appear in Scripture.  Some of his most famous proverbs speak of wisdom (Chapters 1-9).

Some speak of the heart:
Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 4:23  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Over time, Solomon got distracted by riches, wives who worshiped foreign gods, and many concubines.  He loved his wives and aimed to please them…more than obeying the Lord about worshiping other gods.  He built high places for these other gods, and the Lord appeared to him to remind him that blessing was attached to his obedience in worship and the removal of the blessings and promise if he worshiped other gods.  He continued in his disobedience, and Scripture says, “Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord.”

His blessings ceased and his heart became despondent.  He writes “All is vanity” several times in the book of Ecclesiastes.  The writings in this book have wisdom through the eyes of age and regret.  He laments his lack of enjoyment in life and ends the book with this final verse Ecclesiastes 12:13:  “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

As Christ-followers, we are now aware that there is more to worshiping God than duty.  Our hearts are filled with God Himself.  Because God is love, we are filled with His perfect love and our desire to obey Him becomes a joy and not a burden or duty.  His yoke is easy and his burden is light.  Thank God for His Son Jesus who came to rescue us into His glorious kingdom.

Q:  Where have we gotten distracted by material things or idols?
Q:  How has God led you into a loving relationship with Him?

Prayer:  Lord, thank You for your Word.  We are grateful for the examples that both encourage us and redirect us.  May we see ourselves in your Scripture as in a mirror.  Make yourself known to us so we can follow You with all our hearts.  Amen.

The Lord's presence and the moving of Holy Spirit are high values here at Wellspring. Before anything else, we approach our Sunday worship gatherings intentionally, seeking to cultivate an environment where the Lord is not only pleased to dwell, but where He is welcomed to remain. We believe this is the Lord's response to our "Sacrifice of Praise" (Hebrews 13:15) and to our presenting ourselves as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1).

With this in mind, we are continually evaluating our worship services to identify ways we can create more room for God to move and reduce any unnecessary disruptions that may result from our structure. As part of this ongoing effort, we have decided to make a change in how we receive offerings on Sundays. Rather than having ushers be up front and inviting everyone to come forward and bring their offering at a specific moment in our service, we will place them on the altar steps and invite you to bring your tithes and offerings at any point during worship. The plates will remain there throughout the worship portion of the service and will be removed before we transition to the next segment. You may also continue giving online, or you may place your tithes and offerings in the mail slot located in the wall next to the main office entrance following the service.

I encourage all of us to remain open to what the Lord may desire to do through this change. We believe this adjustment is one way of creating additional space for the Leading of Holy Spirit in our Sunday Worship.

Blessings,
Pastor John

This Sunday, June 14th is a day to mark in your calendars.  People of all ages and all walks of life are proclaiming their faith in Jesus and their redeemed lives through baptism.  

Isaiah the prophet spoke of this coming time where Jesus comes to earth an proclaims the good news of His kingdom to all who will here.  Verses 1-3 capture the sentiment of freedom and joy that we will be celebrating on Sunday.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor
Psalm 61 NIV
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

Q:  Are you poor, brokenhearted, captive, mourning or in despair?  What does this Scripture specifically say to you?

Q:  What hope does this Scripture and its promises give to you?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we ask You to become real in our hearts and in our lives.  We ask you to trade with us - Good News, comfort, joy, a crown of beauty, and a garment of praise to replace the heaviness and captivity of our current lives.  Lord, we thank You in advance for drawing near, for rescuing us, and for making us Your own.  Save us into relationship with You, and grant us the blessing of being in Your presence and in Your kingdom forever.  Amen.

First of all, thank you for following along as we are encouraged to pray for each other.  Second, we spoke about praying the names of God for ourselves and for others as we remember and value of the many facets of God’s attributes and love for us.  Third, we will explore praying the Scriptures for ourselves and for others as we pray God’s powerful words with our names and the names of others inserted into the verses.
 
God’s word never returns to Him without effect.  When we speak God’s words in prayer, He hears and He moves.  What we are doing is telling God what He tells us to tell Him.  In intercession, we can use the prayers that already exist in the Bible.  The prayers of Jesus, Paul, and Peter are in the Scripture for our benefit!  

These apostolic prayers are God-centered. They all address God directly.  These prayers also are positive in that they ask God to release god qualities rather than asking Him to remove negative qualities.  They focus on the impartation of something positive.  A good example of this is Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

How powerful and how easy is it to insert a name into this passage for intercession!

Another way to intercede for others using the Scriptures is by inserting peoples’ names into the Psalms.  Psalm 91 is a great way to intercede for safety and God’s presence for our loved ones:

Psalm 91 NIV
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

The possibilities are many.  The leading of the Lord will show you how to pray for yourself and others using Scripture.  He wants us to delight in these prayers, knowing we are being led by Him as we pray.  We know that as we speak back His words to Him, He hears and He moves.  What a great benefit of being a Christ follower!

Q:  Which of your loved ones would benefit from Scriptures being prayed over them?  What Scriptures would be timely and helpful?
Q:  How can you benefit by praying Scriptures over yourself?  What Scriptures are you led to pray?

Prayer:  Father, we thank You that Your word is available to us to pray.  You always make a way as You draw us close to You by Your word and Your Spirit.  Please move as we pray for ourselves and for others.  We ask for divine protection, answered prayer, kingdom advancement, and greater relationship with You, in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

God, in His immeasurable vastness, shows us who He is with names that describe Him, His attributes, and His simultaneous love and care for the details in our lives.  We have the opportunity to access and utilize these names as we communicate with Him in prayer.

Appropriating the names of God in our prayers expands our vision of who God is.   We appropriate God’s names by declaring them in faith and adoration.  Speaking His names in prayer can show us how much we join with Him as we pray for ourselves, others, and for His kingdom.  Asking for His presence to be in every situation is always an appropriate prayer.

Some of His names are overarching as the one true God.  When Moses asked God what His name is, God answered “I AM THAT I AM.”  By that, God revealed Himself as the eternal God, who is self-existent, unchangeable, omniscient, and transcendent.  When God gave Moses a special revelations of Himself, He used the name YHWH, or as it is sometimes written, Jehovah.  This is God’s covenant name, or the name He uses to emphasize His covenant with His people.  Since the Hebrew scribes considered this name too sacred to be spoken, they used only four letters – YHWH or JHVH to denote this unmentionable name of God.  English Bibles used “the Lord,” “Jehovah,” or “Yahweh” for this name of God “I AM THAT I AM” which can be rendered, “I am with you, ready to save and to act, just as I always have been.”

The name Adonai, referring to God, is called “the plural of majesty” signifying that God is not just a ruler, but the supreme ruler of all.  It emphasizes complete sovereignty and ownership.

In addition, the Old Testament gives us God’s compound names as a revelation to us and to all who call upon His name:
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our righteousness
Jehovah-M’kaddesh: The Lord who sanctifies
Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is there
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord is peace
Jehovah-Rophe: The Lord heals
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord’s provision shall be seen
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord my banner
Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord my shepherd

These Old Testament names of God reveal different dimensions of His character that are expressed in Jesus, including five benefits given to us through Jesus’s death:
Sin: forgiveness of sin
Spirit: fullness of the Holy Spirit
Soundness: health and healing
Success: freedom from the law’s curse of failure and insufficiency
Security: freedom from the fear of death and hell

We see Jesus stating who He is in the seven I AM statements in the book of John:
I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)
I am the Door (John 10:9)
I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
I am the Resurrection and the Life (John11:25)
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)
I am the True Vine (John 15:1)
We can call on each and every name of God to honor Him, to Worship Him, and to go to the throne of grace for help in our time of need; we can call on Him as we intercede.

There is one name, though, that I find myself calling on regularly, and that is Yahweh Sabaoth – The Lord of hosts.  This is a military term that describes Jesus as the Head or Leader of God’s armies.  We can call upon Him when we need Him to fight for us.  We see this name used by Old Testament characters in Scripture:
Hannah, when she petitioned the Lord for a son who would rescue God’s people from the Philistines.
David, when he met Goliath in battle, knowing that God was fighting for him.
Elijah, when he stood alone against 450 priests of Baal, and against King Ahab and Jezebel.

Are you joyful? Are you interceding? Are you in a battle? Are you wishing to connect to the God who loves you?  Call on Him!  He's eager to hear your voice.

Q:  Which name(s) of God will you use today in prayer?
Q:  What name of God did you learn that will help you speak with God more specifically?

Prayer:  Lord of hosts, I pray you fight for each of Your precious ones, and that You would surround them with Yourself and the armies of heaven.  Fight for them and attain the victories that are needed in their lives.  Would You rescue, supply needs, protect, strengthen, and draw each one close to Your heart.  We thank You, honor You, and give you praise.  Amen.

We are so blessed to have prayer ministries at Wellspring.  Our prayer chain is available to pray for personal needs. Our altar prayer team can pray for you after service every week.  Our Freedom Prayer team offers personal prayer for freedom and healing.  Some of you gather for our prayer and worship times on Wednesday morning and Friday mornings here at Wellspring.  Many of you pray diligently for the needs of the church and its people.

In this time of transition and adjusting, how much more can we pray for the well-being of Wellspring and its people.  Individuals, ministries, elders, staff, precious volunteers, and all who would walk through our doors need our loving, strengthening prayers.

Our human tendency can be to think about things, talk about things, and even worry about things.  The question is, have we brought all of these thoughts, words, and concerns to the Lord?  Consider the Job from the Scriptures.  In all he suffered, God considered him righteous. God did not consider his friends righteous because they talked ABOUT God rather than TO God. See chapter 42 from the book of Job:

42 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”

7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

How can we be reminded to bring everything to God?  Writing things down and praying about them daily can help.  As we see in 1 Thessalonians 5, being joyful, rejoicing, praying, and thanking God are part of the equation.  We can be joyful and thankful in the midst of our needs:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Also, knowing that we can give our cares to God, Paul writes this in Philippians 4:
Philippians 4:6
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Be encouraged to pray through your day and check your bulletins for prayer times and gatherings coming up.  Of course, please plan to join us on Sunday evening, May 31st at 6:30 pm for our Solemn Assembly to pray together as a church.  Together, let’s talk TO God and lift ourselves and our church to Him.

Stay tuned for the next two blog posts as we discuss praying the names of God and praying the Scriptures.

Q:  What plan can you put in place to pray for often throughout the day?
Q: What time availability can I make in my schedule to pray with others as we lift our cares to the Lord?

Prayer:  Lord, bind us together in love as we care for each other and all the needs of these loved ones.  We ask for the power of your Holy Spirit to prompt us to pray.  We ask for the words, the discipline, the faith and the hope to trust You in building Your church and restoring lives.  We pray these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

There is much to think about lately – difficult life circumstances, family life, church life, national and international unrest, our lives and communities and all that these encompass.  It’s no wonder our minds and souls become weary.  Maybe more than weary, even to the point of feeling crushed.  Every individual on this earth is having their own unique experience, and the good news is that God knows and cares about you.  He cares about all that affects His earth and all who inhabit it.

One wise church leader instructed us to “think about what you are thinking about.”  How we protect our minds from overwhelm and harmful thinking is a subject in which God offers assistance.  His Word gives us life in the area of the mind:

Philippians 4:4-8 AMPC
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Isaiah 26:3-4, AMPC
3 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Colossians 3:1-3 AMPC
3 If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

Romans 12:2 AMPC
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 AMPC
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

1 Corinthians 2:16 AMPC
16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
 
Romans 8:6 AMPC
6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

We can experience inner life and peace now and forever!  What a gift and a blessing from God!  Knowing that thinking WITH God and relying on His truth and wisdom can save us a lot of overthinking and anxiety.  He will guide us as to what is best to do or not do, and how to think well with Him, trusting Him and relying on Him in every situation.  Our busy minds can be transformed into Christ-like minds ; we have the mind of Christ!  We can think with the Holy Spirit!

Prayer:  Lord, You are fully aware of each of Your children, who they are and what each detail looks like in their lives.  Your compassion and your care are supreme and deeply personal. Help us lean on You, learn from You, and think with You according to Your word.  Lift the fear, anxiety, and rumination from each of us, and advance Your kingdom in us and through us in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Q:  What did you learn from the listed Scriptures?
Q:  Which Scripture helped you the most with your own mindset?

To say the past couple of years have been difficult is an understatement. Many of us have felt the weight of unexpected trials—exactly what Jesus spoke of in John 16 when He said, “In this world you will have trouble.” I believe there’s a reason He ties that trouble simply to being in this world. We often expect trouble from certain places—but many of us have experienced it from where we least expected. Jesus then follows that statement with the encouragement, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The “take heart” statement serves as an encouragement—but an encouragement for what? “Take heart” isn’t just general—it redirects our confidence. Not in our ability to endure, but in His finished victory. The phrase is often used when it’s easy to become discouraged, to lose hope, or to lack faith. This is typically what happens to our hearts when we encounter what the world throws our way. Even in times when it feels like anything that can go wrong does. It is meant to pull us out of that place and set us in a place of hope—hope not in our overcoming, but in His, which we benefit from.

This serves as a promise for us, and there are many promises in Scripture. In the same way, promises were made to the Hebrew people throughout the Old Testament, from Abraham through Joshua. The path from promise to fulfillment was not a straight line. That’s not the case for us either. We get sidetracked, distracted, discouraged. Our faith fluctuates. We serve idols. We complain. We even think about the life we left behind when we chose to follow Jesus. The issue wasn’t God’s faithfulness—it was their consistency. And if we’re honest, ours isn’t much different. Yet despite all of this, God remained faithful.

Toward the end of Joshua, there is a statement recorded that is not only an encouragement but also a foreshadowing of things to come. Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made… had failed; all came to pass.”

Not one. That’s the testimony.

With all that the Hebrew people had done—all the ways they had fallen short—God still fulfilled what He promised. Some did not see those promises take place. Because of rebellion, a generation passed before those promises continued to be fulfilled. But that does not take away from His faithfulness. It didn’t cancel the promise. The declaration still stands: every promise came to pass. And I believe that same truth is on offer for us.

There are promises we hold fast to—promises we build our lives on—that we sometimes feel disqualified from because of our missteps. But God does not change His mind. God makes promises fully knowing our weaknesses—and His ability to overcome them. As Numbers 23:19 reminds us, He does not lie. When God promises something, He will see it done. As we pursue Him, we can trust that every promise He has truly spoken will be fulfilled—whether in our lifetime or beyond it. And just as was recorded in Joshua 21, it will be so for us at the end of this age and in the age to come.

So take heart—He has overcome the world. He is faithful.
Not one promise has failed.
Why would yours be the first?

-Pastor John 

Welcome to the Elder Update page! This page will be the space where you can find the latest news and important updates from our Elder Board. Check back regularly to see what they have to share.

June 18, 2026 
Here are items the elders continue to work on:

Working with Pastor Steve and VCM on areas that need to be addressed:

• Governance Policies - Elder Board
• Building communication with staff and with congregation

Continuing to look at areas that need to be addressed before starting the Pastor search:

• Job Descriptions
• Financial: church budget and cost of Pastor Position

Please remember to keep the elders and staff in prayer during this important season in Wellspring. Please pray for God’s wisdom, provision, presence and protection.

June 10, 2026
The Elders thank all of you that attended the Solemn Assembly. It was an important step for the life of our congregation and we appreciate your participation. Many of you shared that you felt a shift and healing has begun. We are so thankful to God for His presence and healing. We also are thankful for the word that Pastor Steve shared that he heard from the Lord, this is a paraphrase of it: "He has cleansed us. Now we are to live in the new heart he has given us. The proving ground for the new heart has begun". He shared last Sunday morning (June 7) so if you missed it you can listen to the recording of the sermon.

Two areas that you can pray for us to hear God's leading in are Discipleship pathways for Wellspring and our policy training that will happen at the end of the month. Thank you.

May 21, 2026
Here are some of the things the elders have been working on:

Planning the Solemn assembly, set for May 31, with the staff.

Working with Pastor Steve and VCM on areas that need to be addressed:

• Conflict resolution
• Governance Policies Elder Board
• Building communication with staff and with congregation

Continuing to look at areas that need to be addressed before starting the Pastor search:

• Job Descriptions
• Financial: church budget and cost of Pastor Position

Please remember to keep the elders and staff in prayer during this important season in Wellspring. We had to postpone Governance policy training with VCM due to illnesses. Thank You.

Suggested Reading Material from VitalChurch
Many people asked about the books that VitalChurch suggested that would be helpful in developing a strong church family. The list below are some of the suggested book titles that have been recommended pertaining to conflict and healthy communication. These books have not yet been read and discussed by the board but are some of the recommended materials that we intend to use to help the church move forward in a healthy direction.
 
Recommended Resources in Learning to Develop Biblical Conflict Resolution:

• Making Peace: A Guide to Overcoming Church Conflict by Jim Van Yperen
• The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande

 
Recommended Resources in Learning how to Develop Healthy Communication Skills:

• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory
• Honest, Direct, Respectful: Three Simple Words that will Change your Life by Dennis Adams and Sue Warner Schumann

Emergency Contact Information
In order to ensure that we are caring for the Wellspring community now that Pastor Rick has retired the Elder Board is establishing a team to handle emergency situations. The team will be Pastor John as first contact at 860-597-8030. Two elders will be on call as needed, they are Matthew McMahon at 301-452-2117 and Dawn Speer at 960-839-9763. Pastor Steve is supporting in an advisory capacity, but will not be a part of the team because it is not part of his job description as interim Pastor. If you have any questions feel free to contact one of us.

As Pastor Steve has been preaching on the Acts 2 church, he has reminded us of what it means to prioritize our worship of the LORD. It matters to God when we put Him behind other things in our lives. We are called to put God first and to have hearts and minds that are focused on Him and open to His Holy Spirit. We want to be a church where the culture – everything we do – points us in the direction of worshipping the Lord. This means being intentional in the practical things - our service start time, when we encourage fellowship and have beverages available, how we encourage people to join in worship, and establishing the sanctuary as a sacred space. These are all important as is how we each, individually, prepare our hearts for worship. We will be introducing practical ways to help us along this path – stay tuned!

Scripture is full of rich descriptions of both heaven and earth praising the LORD and declaring His glory. Rev5 Fridays are another opportunity at Wellspring to do just that - bring praises before the Lord's throne of grace. The focus is simple - to magnify the name of the Lord - much like the text in Revelation 5 describes. We want to join with the thousands upon thousands who are saying, "Worthy is the Lamb!" Come join us in the sanctuary at 8:30 am on Fridays. Our time together includes worship, intentional silence for prayer, reflection, and/or scripture reading as people are led, and taking Communion. Each gathering lasts 60-75 minutes. Come join us as we lift up the King!

Why do we collect returnable bottles and cans? Great question! Our long-term relationship with Hope of Life is the short answer. One of the things that Hope of Life does is Baby Rescues. They work with local people who live in the mountain villages near Hope of Life to rescue sick and malnourished babies. They help the family to get their baby to Hope of Life where he or she receives love and care to grow strong enough to return to their village. These rescues cost money and Bob Vujs's bottle collection efforts have raised $63,000 to date that goes towards these important and life-saving rescues. Wellspring has been happy to partner with Bob on this important project for many years. It started small, but has grown considerably. What used to be a few bottles is now often bags and bags of bottles!

We needed to make a change, so the bottle drop off location for the Guatemala Baby Rescue project has moved. We now have a brand new collection bin that is located on the side of the building near the back of the kitchen. Look for the sign that points the way to the new bin. There is even a paved sidewalk area so you can drive your car closer to the bin if you have a lot of bags to drop off! The rest is easy! Just unlatch and lift the lid. The hydraulics will keep the lid up while you put your bags in the bin. Please close and latch the lid when you are done dropping off your bottles. Please do not open the front doors of the bin. And, please do not drop off bottles in the old location - they block an emergency exit. Thanks for your help in making his change. If you missed the video of the Drama Club's presentation of this location change, check it out by clicking the video link above. For more information about Hope of Life, CLICK HERE.  

Have you ever been utterly disappointed in an outcome, or a season, or people, or yourself?  Peter the disciple seemed to be living an exciting, enlightening, and transformational 3 years with Jesus.  Then he denied Jesus and was crushed with disappointment in himself.  He may have felt like he could never go back to ministry.  His Lord was gone and he had nowhere left to go except for his former job as a fisherman.

John 21 AMPC
21 After this, Jesus let Himself be seen and revealed [Himself] again to the disciples, at the Sea of Tiberias. And He did it in this way:

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, also the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples.

3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing! They said to him, And we are coming with you! So they went out and got into the boat, and throughout that night they caught nothing.

4 Morning was already breaking when Jesus came to the beach and stood there. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 So Jesus said to them, Boys (children), you do not have any meat (fish), do you? [Have you caught anything to eat along with your bread?] They answered Him, No!

6 And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find [some]. So they cast the net, and now they were not able to haul it in for such a big catch (mass, quantity) of fish [was in it].

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Simon Peter, hearing him say that it was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper garment (his fisherman’s coat, his outer tunic)—for he was stripped [for work]—and sprang into the sea..
Oh, the joy in the disciples of seeing their Lord again.  Peter, in his characteristic boldness, leapt into the water to get to Jesus.  The miracle proved that it was indeed Him.

8 And the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only some hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

9 When they got out on land (the beach), they saw a fire of coals there and fish lying on it [cooking], and bread.

10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them; and [though] there were so many of them, the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, Come [and] have breakfast. But none of the disciples ventured or dared to ask Him, Who are You? because they [well] knew that it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so also [with] the fish.

14 This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself (appeared, was manifest) to the disciples after He had risen from the dead.
Imagine the atmosphere at that meal.  The risen Christ appears, creates a miracle, and feeds them again.  This wasn’t just a sentimental visit, as Jesus always has divine purpose in all He does.  He was there to restore Peter as a disciple and leader in the soon-to-be formed church.  Peter had denied Him three times.  Jesus gave him the opportunity to speak his love to Jesus three times.

15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.

16 Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.

17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him unconditionally (agape love).  Peter’s pride had been broken and humility had made him realize he was not as strong or as faithful as he could have been.  He had boasted of perfect love for Jesus.  Each time as he answers, he says to Jesus, I love you like a brother (fileo love).  He knew not to boast again.  Jesus responds to him each time with an assignment – feed my lambs, tend My sheep, feed my sheep.

18 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go.

19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said to him, Follow Me!

20 But Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following—the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper and had said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?

21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man?

22 Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!

23 So word went out among the brethren that this disciple was not going to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but, If I want him to stay (survive, live) till I come, what is that to you?

24 It is this same disciple who is bearing witness to these things and who has recorded (written) them; and we [well] know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.

Peter knew by receiving his assignment that there would be ultimately difficult and sacrificial.  He would indeed give up his life for the Lord.  And also for the others, instructions on how to fulfill God’s will in their lives.  Every word from the mouth of Jesus came to pass.  Jesus remained their friend, and would soon ascend to heaven and send the Holy Spirit to them to dwell within them.  Peter and the others were deeply disappointed, and then fully restored by the Lord.

Q:  When have you been deeply disappointed in something or even yourself?

Q:  How has God restored you, or how can you seek Him for restoration?

Prayer:  Lord, we thank you for the example of Peter being disappointed, humbled, and directed back to relationship with You for kingdom purposes.  We thank you that You have good plans for us and that You are always accessible.  Help us in our disappointments and mindsets.  Heal our hurts.  Show us how to reconnect with You and how to take the next steps.  You are good.  Heal us Lord, in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Praise be to the God who rescues us!  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  He made us right with God through His death, and we are saved through His life!  See Paul’s description of these miraculous blessings in Romans 5:

Romans 5:1-11 NIV
Peace and Hope
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Paul mentioned glorying in our sufferings (for our faith) as it produces in us perseverance, character, and hope.  James echoes this in in James 1.  In our human nature, we often avoid any kind of suffering if we are able.  Again, to consider trials and sufferings pure joy, the joy must come from the Lord and His grace.  He matures us through difficulties and helps us grow into maturity.
 
James 1:2-11 NIV
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Through every trial, every test, every bit of suffering, God’s love is always there.  He is always good.  He calls us, He conforms us into the image of Christ.  He calls us, justifies us (just like we had never sinned), and He glorifies us.
 
Romans 8:18-30
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Q: How do you feel God’s love and presence during trials and suffering?

Q:  How can we increase our joy in difficult times?

Prayer:  Lord, we are so grateful that You have rescued us and loved us even when we were sinners.  Thank you that You refine us into Your likeness – that we can be encouraged in our tests and trials that You are increasing our character as we trust You.  Grant us courage, grace, and joy as we walk through this life in good times and in difficult times.  You lift us up, You teach us, and You help us in our time of need.  Praise be to Your glorious name.  Amen.

Have you ever gotten to a checkout line in a store only to realize you don’t have enough money to pay for what you need?  Or have misplaced a credit card? Or didn’t realize how much something cost?

Disappointment, shame, frustration, and sadness may follow an incident like this.  You may wish that someone kind would come along and pay the bill for you.
700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet prophesied that such a Person would come and pay the price for our sin, our mistakes, our shame, and our suffering:
 
Isaiah 53:4-12 NIV
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

What a debt we owe to the One who willingly became a perfect sacrifice for us.  What confidence we can have to be reconciled with the Father Himself, able to approach His throne with love and joy.

John the apostle received a revelation from God 95 years after the birth of Christ, 62 years after Jesus’s death and glorious resurrection.  God sent messages to 7 churches – one of them being the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3.

Revelation 3:14-22 NIV
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

We could never pay for our own salvation.  We could never pay for our own freedom, our own faith, our own fervor for Him.  Not only did Jesus sacrifice Himself for us, He made us and then bought us back to Himself.  He has redeemed us!  He also disciplines us in love.  He shows us what true riches are – Him!  He counsels us to buy from Him gold refined in the fire – our refined purity and Christ-likeness before Him.  What a treasure He is, and in Him, we become rich through His own life, death, and resurrection.  We are indeed redeemed.

Q:  Do we still hide from God when we have sinned?  What do these passages tell us about accepting His redeeming work in our lives?
Q:  Do we think that we are in good standing with God with our sometimes lukewarm spiritual lives?  What would happen if we asked God to bring a fire on the inside of us for cleansing and excitement for Him?

Prayer:  Lord, may we never take Your perfect love, effort, suffering, and intercession for granted.  You are the reason we are here, and You are the reason we have a way to forgiveness and life.  Draw us closer to You, fill our hearts with grateful thanksgiving for all that You are and all that You have done for us.  We thank you that You never give up on us.  We thank You that You are always available to us and that your faithfulness never ends.  We bless your name, Jesus.  Amen.

There is good news!  Even if situations around you have been heavy or confusing, the good news of the Gospel stands strong.  In fact, in the midst of our earthly trials and tribulations, the good news of the Gospel is the BEST NEWS.  Jesus gave Himself up as a perfect sacrifice, was raised from the dead, and reconciled us to the Father.  We have a living hope and a belonging to the never-ending perfect kingdom.

See what the apostle Peter says:
1 Peter 1:18-25 NIV
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that this great truth has been made plain, what is our part in living in this truth?

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25  but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
How do we live as people who love one another deeply?  

Peter continues:
1 Peter 2:1-7 NIV
2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.”

As we approach this Holy Week, we have the opportunity to set our minds on the great and perfect sacrifice of Christ and His glorious resurrection.  Join us as we ponder and celebrate Jesus our Messiah.

Q:  Where can you make time to remember and honor Jesus this coming week in your quiet time and in our gathering times?
Q:  What does Jesus’s death and resurrection mean to you?  How have these truths guided your life?

Prayer:
Father, we thank You for your perfect plan to redeem all people to Yourself.  Thank You for your grace and mercy toward us by making a way through your perfect Son Jesus.  Please stir up your Holy Spirit in us so that we would read your Word with understanding.  Draw us into worship and prayer.  We lift grateful hearts to You for all You are and all You have done for us.  Amen.

God created us with a deep need for Him.  We need Him for our very existence.
Sometimes life gets difficult beyond our ability to process it.  Those who remain resilient do so because of hope.  If there is no hope in the Lord and His goodness, our outlook and resilience perish.

Even Job, in the midst of inconceivable tragedy, says this:
Job 13:15 NIV
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.
He knew God’s character and his own following of God’s ways.
 
David writes often in his psalms about the benefits of putting his hope in God.  He finds truth, learning, and relief from shame.

Psalm 25:3 NIV
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
Psalm 25:5 NIV
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
The sons of Korah remind us that we can speak to our soul.  We can tell our soul to align itself with God and find hope in Him.

Paul names Him the God of hope.  As the God of hope, He has the ability to overflow us with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!  He tells us that trusting Him opens the door to this overflow.
Romans 15:13 NIV
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter describes God’s great work in us and for us.  We are given a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

As Holy Week approaches, let’s put our hope in the One who gives us all we need to live our new lives with that living hope!

Q:  What area of your life needs a new and living hope?
Q:  How can we understand and apply the truth that God has given us a new life full of the living hope of Christ’s resurrection?

Prayer:  Lord, we are so grateful that we can trust You.  We praise You as our living hope.  We ask you to fill us with more hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

On Sunday, April 5th, come and join us for our Sunrise Service for a short time of worship and reflection as we witness the first light of the day and celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. The service will be held at Klingberg Family Center located at 370 Linwood Street in New Britain beginning at 6:00 am. Follow the signs when you arrive at Klingberg to find our gathering on the back patio area.

Join us on Sunday, April 5th at 10:00 am in the sanctuary as we celebrate our risen Lord!

On Good Friday, April 3rd, Wellspring will host a solemn service from 12:00 -3:00 pm.  An intentional time of silence before God, we will seek to deepen our relationship with Him and listen to hear His voice.

People who wish to participate should not feel obligated to attend the entire service. There will be short Gospel readings every half hour and they are intended as breaks in the service and opportunities to refocus our prayers. Please join us as the Spirit leads you for a time of remembrance, quiet reflection, hope, and reverence in the presence of our Lord.

     

Maundy Thursday is a sacred observance of Holy Communion during Holy Week.  The  word "maundy" comes from the Latin and is from the same root as our English word, "mandate."  Jesus instructs or "mandates" his followers to partake of Holy Communion.  We do so in remembrance of Jesus and his suffering and death on the cross for our salvation.  Maundy Thursday service at Wellspring is a solemn service of remembrance of Jesus' passion and we partake of the elements of the communion table, remembering all that Christ has done for us.  Please join us on Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 pm for a service of readings, song and Holy Communion as we observe this holiest week of the church calendar and prepare for Resurrection Sunday!

At this 10:00 am service on Sunday, March 29th we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem which marks the beginning of Holy Week. The Kids Drama Club will have a special presentation during the service. 

I can be easily distracted.  I know I’m not alone in this, as we live in a society that provides one distraction after another.  If it’s not constant news or social media, it’s advertising, entertainment, and problems of all kinds.  We live in an unprecedented age of informational overwhelm.

In the midst of it all, God provides focus for us.  My first pastor used to say, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”  In other words,  Jesus is our focus.

Jesus Himself remained focused on His Father and His mission while on earth.  He maintained closed communications with His Father as He demonstrated how the Father is and what He does.  He exemplified love and embodied grace and truth.  He finished His mission to be the perfect sacrifice for the sin of humanity (past, present, and future).  He sent His Holy Spirit to us so we could have Him in us and with us.

So to be focused and Christ-like, He gave us instructions to help us along.  The first is a summary of God’s commandments:

Matthew 22:34-40
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

As the resurrected Christ left the earth, He gave his disciples clear, focused instruction.  What do we do with our salvation and infilling of the Spirit of God?  We aim to fulfill the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:16
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In our everyday lives, we have the opportunity to speak with people about our life-giving, saving Jesus in a spirit of humility and deference to God and His power.  Paul writes:

 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NIV
Christ and Him Crucified
1And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Join us as we ask for God’s grace to help us focus and to “keep the main thing the main thing.”

Q:  Where do I waste time every day?
Q: What specifically can I do instead to grow closer to Jesus and to be like Him?

Prayer:  Lord, we submit our days and our time to you.  We realize our own need for Your presence as well as the need for others to know You.  We ask for Your grace to help us focus on You and your way.  Show us where to go, what to do, and how to present You to others in love.  Amen.

Questions?  Email me at lauriemccarty@wellspring,net.  I’d love to hear from you,