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Handing Things Off...

This next week marks my last week at Abundant Life.  It has been with mixed emotions that Cynthia and I felt God's call on us to pursue the next chapter He has for us. 

We have been with Abundant Life since the beginning, and seen our body grow from a few families to who we are today.  It has been a profound privilege for me to serve in many ministries, to be a part of the Eldership, and more recently to serve as the Executive Pastor.

Now so much that has been done and so many relationships that have been developed are being handed off to those who remain to carry on the work I have been blessed by.  Thank you all, Abundant Life Family; for your friendship, your support, your prayers, your love! 

I am reminded that all of us who are in Christ will enjoy eternity together and many of our relationships will transcend our time at Abundant Life.  For that I am so thankful.  We can keep in touch on facebook, at alanclother@gmail.com, and through my personal blog at www.alanclother.typepad.com. 

May God continue to pour Himself out on this community through you!

 

Star Power

The Staff at church meets for chapel every Wednesday morning.  It's a great opportunity to worship and pray together, and hear a few thoughts from George.  Yesterday George shared about the Christmas story, and how the Magi essentially moved out in faith towards Christ.  Imagine as they were heading out, friends asking them "so where are you going?"  and them responding "Not exactly sure...  we're following that star up there..."  They knew who they were traveling towards, but not their destination.

I find myself more and more coaching Christ followers that stepping out in faith is making the right steps today in faith, and trusting that God will deliver you where He wants you.  We rarely get the desitinaton and all the steps inbetween all lined out for us like mapquest directions.  We just keep moving toward Jesus.

And then my mind goes back to the Lord's prayer again.  What did Jesus tell us to pray for?  "Give us this day, our daily bread."  Not tomorrow's bread...  Just keep moving toward Jesus, one day at a time.

And so we walk towards the star, one day at a time.  Trusting God for our journey, and our destinations along the way. 

I find it interesting, even inspiring, that my last official day on Abundant Life's staff is December 24th.  Cynthia and I will celebrate Christmas morning laid bare to God's next plans for us; just following the star...

Are you "following the star?"  Trusting God for your daily bread?  Moving towards Jesus, trusting that He will take care of you along the way?  I can't think of a better gift to give Jesus this Christmas than our love, demonstrated through our absolute trust in Him.  May it be so.