December 31

Good morning, Beautiful Church Family!

I've read today's Scripture reading over and over. There's so many things that caught my attention. I love the verse in Malachi 3:2 & 3 that describe God being like a refiner's fire or launder's soap - purifying & cleansing us until we sparkle and His reflection shines in us. Verse 6 declares that He is the Lord and does not change. Surely, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. And because He does not change we are NOT consumed in our sinfulness. In verses 10-12, God tells us to try Him by bringing our tithes and offerings into His house and see Him open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessings so much that we couldn't contain them. All very, very great Scriptures.

Then I read Revelation 22:1-21. Specifically, verses 12-17 jumped out at me. Did you read it too? Christ is returning and His reward is with Him, to give to every one according to his work. He's the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. God spans eternity. He always was and always will be even though we are but a breath, a wisp of air in the great scheme of things in this life. God declares that we who DO His commandments are blessed and will have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. How amazing that God loves us so much that He lets us work for Him, that He lets us serve Him, that He sets perimeters for our lives and gives us boundaries through His commandments and makes our lives matter!

"And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." Do you realize the grand opportunity we have right now before us in Hillcrest Church? We have the living water. We are the bride! It's our job, our ministry, our time to call out to the nations of people within Dallas and say, "Come and thirst no more!" Every day people around us are thirsting. They are trying eduction, money, possessions, drugs, alcohol, sex & relationships to feed that thirst, and ultimately some even take their lives because they are so hopeless and find their existance meaningless. It's time for us to step up and call them forth to come and know that Jesus is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He's the Living Water, the River of Life.

Will you join me more than ever praying for our move downtown as a church body, the Bride? Will you pray for all the divine connections that must take place to plant our church downtown? Will you pray for the eyes of the people's hearts to be opened to see the amazing love of Jesus and to see their filthiness and the need for His righteosness? Will you pray for deaf ears to be opened and clouded minds to be cleared and hard hearts to be softened and dumb mouths to be opened and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?! Will you join me in finding your voice to speak out and call forth the people who are waiting to hear? Will you serve whole-heartedly to touch the people's lives? to impact generations to the glory of God? You will surely reap eternal rewards when He returns.

I know 2011 was tough for many and great for others. So many tragedies around the world...and yet so many victories. But it's time to press on even more and to run the race even better...whatever that means to each one of us personally. We have a destiny to seize in 2012 as a church body and as individuals! May God bless each one of us to step up and take hold of His calling and purpose for our lives at such a time as this and to run the race He's set before us well.

See you at church Sunday! (If you aren't doing anything for New Year's come to our home to celebrate w/our Life Group and bring some yummy food! We're supplying the games.) :)

Blessings,
Rolanda Green
Hillcrest Children's Minister