Begin again

I have new opportunities on my plate these days.
I am excited about serving people in River City Church as their small group pastor.
For me it's coming full circle. I began as a church planting pastor in communities around the Northwest and we planted churches by moving to an area and starting a small group,
What fun in God it was to become entwined in peoples lives and help them in their pursuit of God.

Now in RCC, they have given me an opportunity to impact the leaders of many small groups and encourage them to be God's instrument of blessing.

I believe that all of us are called to be encouragers. Hebrews 10:25 says, "let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day (of Jesus soon coming) appoaching." What a calling and what a gift. The Holy Spirit is in us to strengthen and help one another. We can do this by considering how we may spur one another to good deeds, by meeting together in uplifting environments. Sometimes just a simple phone call and prayer are powerful. Just hearing your voice may be all they need to remind them that someone cares.

If I could equip these young men and women in God's purpose and plan I would impart to them the capacity and grace to love God first and every human that God bring's into their presence. How to love is such a practical question. And the scriptures are filled with pragmatic ways to do just that.
The bottom line is to treat those around us as we want to be treated.

This is a simple challenge to all of us.
Are we loving God first and authentically caring about and loving others?