“My hope for Bethany, for all of us is, that the love of Jesus fills us so that we may see that everything that happens is to God’s glory. I will watch as the love of Jesus is so hugely displayed in us that we will show Christ and be like him to others”
Sunday, May 13 – Mother’s Day – 2018
God is a God of blessing.
In Women’s Fellowship we were given an assignment answering the question “How can we (I) as a Bethany matriarchs be a blessing to Bethany right now? We were given four areas: What are Bethany’s gifts, What’s special, Our fears and challenges, Hopes and Dreams, and How is God at work in Bethany.
As the hymn says “Blessed are those who are willing to have the mind of Christ fill them. May the peace of God, our Father, rule in our lives.
I’m so blessed to know that Bethany leaders, the council and all of you are willing to have the word of God dwell richly in your hearts every hour of the day. Dear people of Bethany, I as a matriarch and speaking for the matriarchs at WF am so proud of you and love you because in all of your lives you are living under the rule of Jesus. God has equipped so many of you to calm and comfort the sick and sorrowing. God is at work here through Twice Fed, opportunities to learn about justice, God centered convincing and practical messages, hospitality, unity in council, all the different ministries involved in making our worship services pleasing to God and all the work that goes into making sure that fellowship at Bethany is made special.
God has put a race before us. May we all be brave in all that’s set before us looking only to Jesus as we go forward and meet head on our fears and challenges – finances, disagreements, numbers of people, how to attract youth and families, unity in finding a pastor, estranged relationships, and how to empower all of us to be able to cross all diversity.
I will be here at Bethany no matter what our challenges and fears may be. My prayer is that I will allow God to move in me as there are changes in some of the things in which I sometimes want my own way.
My hope for Bethany, for all of us is, that the love of Jesus fills us so that we may see that everything that happens is to God’s glory. I will watch as the love of Jesus is so hugely displayed in us that we will show Christ and be like him to others, that over the years our sanctuary will be full, that this is a safe place, that our giving illustrates all that God has done. I don’t want to see color lines, no more sighs as my kind of music isn’t used, no more groans when it’s a little more noisy in the back of church.
Christ will be exalted at Bethany and that’s my desire as the mind of Christ, My Savior fills not just me but will be victorious in all of Bethany.
(This blessing is based on the praise song/hymn “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior” and written by Willy VanderKooi)