Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (MSG)

Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the official end of Summer. It is when we get in our last barbecues, pool dates, and late-night-movie fests. By Tuesday, everyone will be back to school, back to work, and back to normal. Perhaps.

My hope and desire for myself and for you is that we do not simply go back, but that we move forward changed for the better. I am different since sabbatical, and I never want to be the same. I now have a deeper appreciation for life, for my family and community, even for my calling and vocation. I do not want to forget the lessons I have learned. I want the images of joy, laughter, and good times spent with loved ones to be etched in my mind for some time to come. Yes, our schedules may need to normalize, but let’s not forget the ways we have seen Christ in the sunrise and sunset. Even after we turn our clocks back in a few months, let’s remember how we laughed, danced, and sang the night away, how the sun felt on our face as we napped on the beach, how we curled up with a good book, and screamed with excitement on that rollercoaster.

Before the Summer gets totally gone, take some moments to pause, reflect, and give thanks for all you have experienced over these months. For some of us, this time has been hard. We have said farewell to loved ones, been laid off from jobs, seen relationships, which were once so solid, fall apart. Nevertheless, we made it. We are making it. God is still being God and God is still good. Take time to remember and be grateful. For only then, can we be sure that our minds, hearts, souls, and spirits are fully open and receptive to whatever the Lord will do next.

Stuffed with Gratitude

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

I do pray that you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday! I am sure none of you ate until you were stuffed…lol. But I do hope that today (and everyday) you are overflowing with thankfulness.

I heard a message recently by Steven Furtick who serves as the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte. In the sermon, he made a very simple and yet profound statement. He said that whatever we magnify is what we will see. If we magnify our faults, or the shortcomings of others, we will continually see them. If we magnify what we lack or what is wrong in our lives and the world, at every turn we will see the stuff that depresses and stresses us out. On the other hand, if we magnify goodness, it will overtake us. If we magnify and make a BIG deal out of the ways that our loved ones and friends please us and make us happy, guess what, we will be overwhelmed with those things.

The lesson? Draw attention to what you want more of and take your mind and eyes off the stuff that you do not want in your life. I am not suggesting that we ignore our problems and simply wish them away. But rather, that we do not let our troubles, as bad as they may be, steal our joy and rob us of a grateful perspective. If we are not careful, we can find ourselves surrounded by blessings and yet be too consumed with bitterness, anger, frustration, or sadness to enjoy them. Don’t let this be you!

As we get ready to turn out hearts toward the Advent of Christ, let’s ready ourselves by focusing our minds on the One who is the greatest gift we could ever receive. Let’s gorge ourselves on gratitude. Let’s transform the world with thankfulness. Let’s start a pandemic of praise!

Loving and praying for you,

Pastor Danielle

To God Be the Glory!

Thank you for the kindness, generosity, and encouragement that you offered to me last Sunday as we celebrated my 6th Pastoral Anniversary. I never cease to be amazed at the ways you share God's love with me. I was particularly touched by our Deacons pausing during worship service to pray for me.

As we head into year seven, know that I am humbled to serve, profoundly grateful, and filled with much anticipation. To God be the glory, great things the Lord has done!!

Allow me to share a few housekeeping matters here:

First, on this coming Wednesday, we will have our regular Bible Study class instead of the annual Pre-Thanksgiving Testimony, Prayer, and Praise service. We are hitting some very important and impactful points in our study on Forgiveness and I want us to finish it strong. Please plan to jump in with us in-person, via WebEx, or via livestream on our FB Page.

Second, we are gearing up to send out our Christmas cards and end of the year letters. I want to double check to make sure we have your most recent contact information. If you are new to our community, have moved, or you are moving soon, please send us your info. We will also need this for the 2023 Giving Statements that will be sent out in January. Thank you!

Last, do you want to meet with the pastor before the end of 2023? I have been having a lot of one-on-one's with new and old members of our community lately and I am eager to catch up with more of you. Let's set a time to discuss ministry, life, your spiritual goals, how we can support you, or even how you are feeling led to serve in our community. My door is always open. Message me!

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah and named it Ebenezer, for he said, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12 (NRSV)

Sunday, November 12, 2017, was a historic day in my life and in the life of our church. That was when we officially came together as Senior Pastor and People. It was a day filled with joy, hope, gratitude, prayer, and praise. Six years ago, neither of us knew all that was ahead. We could not have anticipated the ways we would grow together, laugh together, or overcome problems, pain, and a pandemic together. We did not know how much we would come to love one another. We have indeed come this far by faith!

Not long after arriving at Clarendon, I established Becoming.Better.Together. as our Theme. These words, taken individually and as a phrase, fit well with our Vision -- to be a training ground for God’s disciples, preparing us to live out our faith. Our Vision becomes reality as we Worship God, Serve our Community, Grow in Faith, and Connect with one another. We have a mandate from God to discover Christ in community and invite others to join us. May the urgency of this Mission propel us to reengage and recommit ourselves to Christ and to each other.

After all that we have experienced, and even endured, in our first six years together, I am excited about our journey. I am inspired by our quirky community, which is filled with some of the most hilarious, sincere, generous, and faith-filled people that I have ever encountered. Clarendon, up to this point, the Lord has helped us. As long as God stays the same and we stay together, we will be ready for whatever our future holds. Here’s to year seven!

 Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

She has been forgiven of all her many sins. This is why she has shown me such extravagant love. But those who assume they have very little to be forgiven will love me very little. Luke 7:47 (TPT)
 
This past Wednesday we started a new series in Bible Study on the topic of Forgiveness using Luke 7:36-48 as our reference text. This is an important season to revisit (and learn anew) the lessons about what forgiveness is and is not. Moreover, it will do us all well to recommit ourselves, not only to being forgiving people, but also to remembering, first and foremost, that we have been forgiven by God.
 
One of the questions to consider that was raised during our study is this: What if forgiveness is more about love and us embracing and receiving the love of Christ (both for ourselves and others) and not so much about us and how wrong we have been done or how much we have been injured?
 
Recognizing that serious offenses and traumatic experiences come in life – which, by God's grace, we must deal with, process through, and heal from – the fact remains that our injury is NOT what should determine whether we forgive. No, the standard for forgiveness is the love of Christ, the love that God freely and lavishly extends to us daily.
 
I left us with this point to ponder as we launch into this month’s study, “Maybe our ability, or willingness, to forgive should be based upon how much love Christ has extended to us by forgiving us of our offenses.” The key takeaway from the story recounted in Luke Chapter 7 is that neither of the men had the ability to repay the debt they owed. Friends, this is also true in our lives. We could never have gotten ourselves out of our debt of sin, so Jesus paid it all! Now the question is will we allow the love of Christ to so permeate our lives that what we have received will be shared with everyone we meet? We have indeed been forgiven much! Jesus says, loving much should be our response.

Stay Encouraged
…pray without ceasing...
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NRSV)
 
It seems that I ask myself what is becoming of our world more and more often these days. Every time we get through one crisis, trauma, or disappointing event, it appears that another one is on the horizon. It is critical for each of us to keep hope and courage in our heart.
 
There is no better way for us to do that then to dwell on the Word of God. While everyone and everything shifts and changes, God's Word remains. Moreover, Jesus, the Word made flesh, is yet with us no matter how overwhelmed we may be by life or how underwhelmed we are by humanity. Today, I trust that God’s Word is more than enough to both comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.
 
John 14:1 (AMP)
DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.
 
Micah 6:8 (MSG)
But [God] already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.
 
Galatians 6:7-10 (TPT)
The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life, you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!

Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
 
Well, we have made it to the last Friday in July! Where, oh where, has the time gone?!? I hope you are ready for a little rest in the month of August. That’s when we will be in recess from our weekly Bible studies, prayer times, and regular monthly meetings. I will even be taking a break from writing this weekly newsletter. We will, however, be in worship every Sunday at 10am. 
 
During the downtime, I have a request for you. Will you take time to sincerely pray about how you can use your spiritual and natural gifts to serve our church and community? I know that none of us are looking for more things to do. Nevertheless, it is so important that we all realize the necessity of being together, not only in worship, but also, in service. Both are essential!
 
There is great joy and connection that comes from worshipping with others. Moreover, sharing our faith in community makes us stronger and more confident about our beliefs and our lifestyle choices. We also gain a lot through serving together. When we serve, we build camaraderie. When we serve together, we encourage the bonds of friendship and fellowship. When we serve, our hearts are knit together and we learn how to give and receive love, compassion, comfort, and even correction. Friends, we need all of this!
 
Do you have 1-2 hours a month to serve with our Sunday School or Children’s Ministry? Do you have 2 hours a month to serve alongside our Welcome Team, Praise & Worship Ministry, or the Multimedia Ministry? These wonderful folks are the face of our church and extend our ministry presence out to the world (literally). Or maybe you can share just 30 minutes a month leading our Wednesday morning Prayer Call or serving with our Intercessory Prayer Ministry. I can assure you that whatever way God is calling you to get involved – a deacon, trustee, teacher, or administrative support – there is a need for your smiling face and open heart. And the return you’ll get on your investment of time and energy will be much greater than you can imagine. (See Ephesians 3:20)
 
Each week in our spoken benediction “As We Go” we reaffirm our commitment to becoming.better.together. with God and one another…. Let’s not allow these to be words that we merely recite. Prayerfully, let’s find ways to live them out as we serve our community. Thank you for praying!

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle
 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 
 
It can be a weird thing to realize that you do not know how to slow down, pause, and rest. Yet, so many of us struggle with the concept. I say it’s weird because it seems that we come here hardwired for rest. Babies sleep as if they have just pulled an all-nighter or worked a double shift. But as we age, we start to fight the very natural and necessary function of resting. Toddlers eschew naptime. Teens want to be up all night long. College students….well you get my point! Our world is hyperconnected and hurried. News never stops. Music never stops. Sports don’t stop. We can literally stream anything ALL day long! Whew. Life for most of us in the Western world runs at a frenetic pace and it’s limiting our ability to dream, see visions, and experience the true power of Holy Spirit in and through us. (See Acts 2:17) 
 
During or our annual month of rest in August, we will do a few things. We will again read through the Book of Proverbs and our sermon series will be focused upon wisdom. We will also move our worship service time up to 10am. This will allow us to have more time after service to enjoy the weather and our families and friends. I am asking that you pray now about how you can truly rest and get rejuvenated during this time. There is much work that Jesus is calling us into, but we will never get to it if we all always tired, stretched to our extremes, and disconnected. Jesus offers us rest. Let’s embrace it like never before in this season! 
 
Loving and praying for you,  
Pastor Danielle

And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation. Philippians 2:5 (TPT)

Love is very much a learned behavior. We may all come wired and equipped to give different types of love (See the sermons from the past two Sundays). Nevertheless, if we will truly be able to love and BE loved, we will need to learn some lessons. We will need to embrace the love of Christ and, as in all things, follow His example.

The Apostle Paul writes in the Book of Philippians that Jesus:

…emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in his death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion! Philippians 2:7-8 TPT

Jesus put Himself in a place of weakness, so that He could model perfect love to us. From this we should glean that before we can fully love, we too will need to adjust our posture. We may need to go from a position of strength to one of humble submission. We may need to move from being the one who always gives to learning to receive. And, from speaking to simply listening. We all want and need a steady stream of love in our lives. God has so much to teach us about how to get and receive the love we so desperately want. Are you willing to learn love and make the required life adjustments?

 Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 (NLT) 
 
We are over half-way through our sermon and book study that is focused on us becoming better neighbors. I know that the book study has been engaging and impactful. I hope you have also been encouraged and empowered by the sermon series. I want to take a quick moment today and share some practical guidance on how to put into action all that we have been studying. 
 
First, remember that good neighboring is God’s big idea. Anytime the Lord asks us to do something we can be well assured that God will give us the grace, wisdom, joy, and even patience, to do it well. 
 
Second, remember that good neighboring is basically about inviting and making space for others to join you in what you are already doing. None of us has time to add more things to our already full plates. Do not assume that to build better relationships with your neighbors you will have to start doing a lot of new stuff with strangers. Instead, look for ways that God is at work around you. Invite your neighbors to join you for dinner, walks, chats on the porch…stuff you are already doing daily. Be open! 
 
Third, remember that good neighboring is about good loving. In last Sunday’s sermon, we started to get into the various types of love. My hope is that we can all see that we have the capacity to love others well, because of the great love we have received from God. Do not try to love everyone the same. Us the type of love that is appropriate for the relationship and then be willing to go deeper and higher as Holy Spirit leads you. 
 
How is it going for you? I would love to hear your feedback about the small group study and sermon series. Feel free to share your thoughts!  
 
Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle
 
 

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

The hymn writer tells us that “We’ve come this far by faith.” And no matter how far we have come – whether we think we should be farther along or not – the statement is nevertheless true. It is our faith that sustains us. It is faith that carries us through and carries us forward. Faith is a central component to our lives. We have faith in so many things and people. Yet, to be the most successful, our faith should be fully anchored in Jesus Christ.

In the month of July, we will press deeper into our 2023 theme of Togetherness with a sermon series entitled Counter Cultural. By faith, we must be convinced that God is empowering us to think, speak, interact, and live much differently than the world around us. We cannot merely fit in; we have been called to stand out! It will not always be easy to love, forgive, give, and receive like Christ did. Nevertheless, this is our mandate and there are blessings awaiting us on the other side of our obedience. I hope you will journey forward with us, for truly we have come too far to turn around now!

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)

Well, we have made it nearly to the end of our Prayer Blitz month, and I am curious to know how it is going for you. How has God moved in your life? Where are you seeing or sensing Holy Spirit to be at work – in you, around you, through you? Today, our prayer focus is Elevation and Promotion. And, if you have been following along, you will recall that this was our focus on last Friday as well. On the surface, of course, I made a mistake when putting together the calendar and did not notice my error before publishing. I also wonder however, if my mistake is not a sign from God. Perhaps this is an area we need to revisit.

For what are you believing God? Are there places in your life (personally, professionally, relationally, financially, health-wise) where you are simply living below your capacity? Are there any dreams that you have forgotten, passions you are repressing, or opportunities you have not pursued? Perhaps it’s because you do not know where to begin or maybe you are just too afraid to start where you are and see what happens. Today, take a moment to pray and simply listen to what Holy Spirit is saying to you. Then, do whatever comes next. God does indeed have great things in store for us. I am just faith-full enough to believe that whatever is up ahead will be worth the journey and the wait. How about you?

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:13-16 (NLT)
 
Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets… (Daniel 2:28a NLT)

Listen, I have one simple thought upon which I want you to focus. Here it is: God is still God. There are so many situations and voices trying to grab our attention these days. Everything from the pandemic, to the constant reminders of the racial inequality and injustices in our world, are trying to convince us that God is actually not who God says that God is. Nevertheless, despite the challenge, difficulty, and seeming endlessness of certain situations, the truth we know about God yet stands.

God is still doing the miraculous. God is still opening the right doors and closing the wrong doors. God is still healing ALL MANNER of sin, sickness, and disease. God is still undoing, redoing, and outdoing. God still has all power. God is still love. God is still loving us at our most unlovable point and forgiving us of things for which we cannot forgive ourselves. God is still bigger than any obstacle you will ever face. God is in your right now and God will be in your tomorrow. God is still working. God is still our hope. God is still keeping promises. God is still restoring marriages. God is still providing and making a way out of no way. God is still breaking chains and setting people free. God is still reconciling relationships. God is still seeking and saving those who are lost, confused, and disappointed. God is still speaking. God is still listening. God is still comforting. God is still answering prayers. God is still birthing new life. God is still fulfilling dreams. God is still able. God can still be trusted. God is still God. Jesus is still Lord. God still loves you and has a plan for your life. Fix your eyes on Jesus. God is still good. God. Is. Still. God.

Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you! Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you! God will take care of you, through every day o’er all the way; He will take care of you; God will take care of you!

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

As we prepare to launch into our small group study of the book The Art of Neighboring, I want us to be very prayerful and open to Holy Spirit. The concepts and disciplines expressed by the book’s authors are good, and they will be challenging. When we get into it, we may start to feel as if it doesn’t take “all of that” to be and live on mission for Christ.

Truth is, what God asks of us individually will vary. Nevertheless, there are some universal characteristics (i.e., spiritual fruit (See Galatians 5:22-26)) that are non-negotiable. They are what is produced in our lives when Holy Spirit is present and allowed to work freely. We must agree that we don’t get to pick and choose when and where to share the fruit that Holy Spirit produces in our lives. We are to be salt and light everywhere we go and with everyone that we meet.

I am excited to study together. If you have not signed up for a group, please do so today. Books will be available again on Sunday following worship. Classes are launching next week. Prayerfully, plug in with us. You do not want to miss this time of fellowship and faith building.

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. James 5:17-18 (NLT)

There are times when prayer can be hard. We may really want to pray, but for some reason, we can’t quite get to it (or through it). Sometimes we don’t pray because we don’t know quite what to say. Other times, we do not pray because we just have not taken the time to develop the discipline and the habit of praying regularly. And sometimes, we don’t pray because we lack faith.

Well, the good news is that there is a remedy for whatever reason you may have for not praying. The answer is prayer. Seriously, when we pray, we learn, we grow our faith, and we overcome our feelings of doubt and fear. Prayer leads to prayer. The more you do it, the more you will want to do it and the more you will understand the power that comes from it.

June is the mid-way point of the year. This is a perfect time to recommit ourselves to prayer. We need it and our families, communities, and world need us to pray without ceasing. When the people of God pray, Jehovah listens. And that may be the very best reason of all to just do it!

Download the Prayer Blitz Calendar 
Join our Prayer and Bible Study Group on Facebook

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this [R]ock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18 (NIV)

What is the value of the church? Not the building of course, but the called-out people who have professed belief in Jesus Christ. Is there benefit to us gathering (virtually and in-person)? Is it important for us to be and stay connected to one another? Does our existence in our communities and neighborhoods make any difference? These are some of the questions that I have been contemplating as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost this coming Sunday.

Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. It is the day when Holy Spirit came and filled those gathered in a specific place with miraculous power. (See Acts 1) All these years later, Believers in Christ are still gathering (albeit in different ways) and still being filled with Holy Spirit’s power. Moreover, people are still being amazed and perplexed when they see God working and moving in and through us. The response to us by those on the outside may vary. Nevertheless, there is value in the Church – the people of God – and that value is that we represent Jehovah. We are the recipients of God’s wisdom, grace, power, joy, and love. We point others to Christ. We stand as a witness to God’s goodnes. In a world that is ever-changing, the Church is a constant. We preach Christ with our lips and our lives. We are salt and light and love. We are the hands, feet, and mouthpieces of Christ in the world. And, while I may be a little biased, I think that’s a pretty big deal! What about you?

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long! – Traditional Hymn (Blessed Assurance)

I am filled with excitement and gratitude as we prepare to celebrate our 114th Church Anniversary this Sunday. I am excited because you know how I feel about a party! I am grateful to God for sustaining and blessing us for all these years. I am also grateful for each of you and the many members and friends who came before you. Your contributions to the fabric of our community have been unique and significant.

In celebration of our community, I want to invite you to share your impressions, reflections, and remembrances about our Church. I would love to hear your voice in response to one or more of the statements found below. Whether you have attended our church for many years, a few days, or months, I want to know how you feel about us.

Once I get your responses, we will put them together and share them broadly. This will be a fun way to assess our church and spark conversations about who we have been, who we are, and who we are yet becoming. As I stated in the message last Sunday, we cannot rest on our history. God has and is calling us forward into a renewed sense of purpose. The communities we serve need us to discern and discovery how God is at work around us AND expect us to be about that same business. I hope you will take a moment to prayerfully reflect and share openly and honestly. I look forward to hearing from you!

Please join us on Sunday for worship and then plan to meet us at Quincy Park from 1pm to 3pm for food, fellowship, and fun! We are yet Becoming.Better.Together. and we need you!

                        What I like most about our church is ____________.
                        My favorite memory from my time at Clarendon is ___________.
                        One thing I wish we did more of here is ___________________.
                        When we are together, I feel ________________.
                        Clarendon is a place where __________________.
Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 John 2 (NRSV)
 
Today, on what we set aside as National Day of Prayer in our country, I ask you to pause and pray with me. Specifically, we need to pray for mental health awareness in this month when we draw attention to its importance. Please take a few moments and view this important video message.

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful and will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing [God] will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:13 (NRSV)

My message today is very simple: God has already made a way for whatever you are going through. If you are tempted to give up on yourself, on life, or on someone else – hold on. If you are thinking about quitting on your dream or pursuing your passion – try one more time. If you feel like you cannot handle the pressure or the pain of this life any longer – take a moment to remember where you have been and envision where you might be if you hold out, hold on, and get healed.

Jehovah is still making ways. The testing of this life is not meant to destroy you. Testing can come to reveal the quality of our faith and help us to see our great need for God. Be honest with yourself, are you leaning too much on you? Have you told yourself that no one can or will help you – care for your loved one or build that business – so, you don’t even ask for support any more? You were not meant to do life alone. The pain you feel is real and it may be an indication that you need to do something different. Look up! The way of escape might be right in front of you. Trust. Listen. Yield. Obey.

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So, Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’ Genesis 22:13-14 (NIV)

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 (NIV)

I love beautiful things! I mean everything from flowers to dresses, to shoes (really like shoes), to art. I like beautiful music, beautiful people – which is all of us when we smile – and you already know how I feel about words. Beautiful words really add meaning to life. It is so nice when we can see the beauty that surrounds us.

Admittedly however, it’s not always easy to recognize the beauty in some things and people on the surface. In those times, we must commit ourselves to looking for the beauty. When we take time to seek out beauty and goodness we get doubly blessed. We are blessed when we finally see it and we are blessed as we journey to find it. We overlook opportunities to show goodness and to extend grace to ourselves and others each day simply because we do not look for beauty. We sometimes mismanage our chance to be Christ’s hands, feet, and mouthpieces, not because we cannot do it, but because we are not focused upon the right things.

Today, look for the beauty. God has promised that there is beauty to be found in every season of our lives. It may be on the surface, or it may be just beyond it, but either way, it will be worth it when you find it.

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy... Philippians 1:3-4 (NLT)

As I mentioned last week, I am taking some downtime this week to rest and recover from all of our Lenten and Holy Week services and activities.

Nevertheless, I did want to just extend my gratitude to everyone who helped to ensure that everything flowed smoothly for our recent services. Thanks to our Staff and extended Staff, Deacons, Praise and Worship Ministry, Multimedia Ministry, and Welcome Ministry. You all helped to decorate our Sanctuary, read Bible passages, prepared breakfast, welcomed guests, and ushered us into the presence of the Lord. Thanks to those who came early and stayed late to set up and clean up and who purchased items from our own pocket. Your generosity and compassion were on display!

I was overjoyed by the ministry we shared during our Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services. And, I cannot say enough about the music and worship that we experienced on Resurrection Sunday!! Our SonRise service was great and I believe we will do it again next year. Whatever you did big or small, and especially your prayers and presence was needed and appreciated.

Clarendon, I am excited about the ways that we are growing and the joyful spirit that infuses all that we do. We are indeed Becoming.Better.Together. Thanks again for your presence, your service, and your commitment to Christ and to our community.

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

READ
Luke 15:11-32

REFLECT
Editor's note: We reflected on this passage on March 11, but return again to hear the good news one more time during this holiest of weeks.

The parable of the prodigal son is a story of repentance and forgiveness. It's an ideal story to meditate on during the Lenten season. Today I'd like you to reread the parable of the prodigal son, but where it reads inheritance/property/money, substitute the word blessing.

Matthew 7:11 establishes that God is a good father who gives good gifts to His children. These valuable gifts are God's blessings. But sometimes, we exchange God's blessings for the things of the world. God’s blessings are not limited to material possessions, they are our time, talent, jobs/career, relationships, and knowledge. We become the prodigal child when we beg our Good Father to bless us, misuse the blessing for our benefit, and only come to our senses after calamity strikes. All the while, our Good Father eagerly awaits our return and welcomes us back with open arms.

RESPOND
How have you squandered away God’s blessings?
What checks can you put in place to ensure you use God’s blessings appropriately?

RECITE
Abba, forgive me for squandering away your blessings and neglecting to use them for your glory. I am thankful, that you are the Good Father who patiently waits for me to repent so you can restore our relationship. Amen

READ
John 10: 31-42

REFLECT
In this passage we discover yet again that Jesus is questioned and ridiculed about who he really is.

While at the temple at the time of Hanukkah (the Festival of Dedication), Jesus continued providing examples of evidence of who he is, who sent him and why he was sent. Still, people accused him of blasphemy, they wanted to stone and arrest him.

His own people did not believe in him. He pleaded his case by trying to convince the people to believe in the works he performed rather than believe in him. It still wasn’t enough. They still wanted to arrest him because they felt he was just a blasphemous mere man.

Imagine being on earth while Christ was in human form, performing wondrous works and miracles, listening to his teachings and preaching. Now fast forward to today where the number of his wondrous works and miracles have greatly multiplied and yet we still have so many that don’t believe he is the Son of God. If they didn’t believe he was the Son of God while being present on earth and in human form, how can they who have never seen, believe that he is the Son of God here and now? We should continue to pray and communicate with unbelievers by providing the word and pray as Christ did; without judgement, bias, or wrong intentions. Help someone else see Jesus through how you live.

RESPOND
How can we as believers help those who are actively trying to seek and understand God through their circumstances?
What scripture would you give someone who does not believe in Jesus?

RECITE
Father, continue to provide me with guidance, obedience, and patience to help those who don’t believe.

READ
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

REFLECT
Have you ever had your worldview shaken by God? In this passage, Jesus challenges the Jewish people’s beliefs in a profound and even dangerous way.

After the feeding of the thousands and the Sermon on the Mount, there is a lot of debate among the Jewish people about who Jesus is. There is so much debate the Jewish leaders want him dead.
Jesus travels to Jerusalem to attend a major religious festival, but he does so secretly since he could be arrested and killed.

When the Israelites see Jesus teaching at this festival openly, they begin to question why the religious leaders have not yet silenced him. Could it be that he is the Messiah?

But some in the crowd say that Jesus couldn’t possibly be the Messiah because they know where he has travelled from, and their belief was that the Messiah would appear anonymously.
Jesus’ response is radical. He tells the Israelites — who believe they are God’s chosen people — that he has been sent by God, and that they do not KNOW God. That’s a bold statement to make to some people who are debating whether or not you should be put to death!

Jesus sees into the very hearts of the Israelites. Their stubbornness and their actions, which could lead to his death, demonstrate that they do not have a deep knowledge of God, let alone a personal relationship with Him. But rather than leave them in the darkness of their unbelief, he challenges them and he is not harmed for it, because God still has more work for him to do.

RESPOND
Do your words and your actions demonstrate that you KNOW God or are you stuck in what you THINK you know about God? How would you react if God directly challenged you on your faith?

RECITE
Lord, examine my faith and challenge me daily to know you better so that my actions and words will be a reflection of Your love for your people.

READ
Matthew 12:28-34

REFLECT
How often do we think, “I don’t feel like it” in reference to any number of things? Working out immediately comes to mind (Amen, somebody?) Even when we know the right thing to do, if we’re not careful, our feelings can sidetrack us.

Today’s passage reminds us that agape love is not grounded in our fickle, funny, and fleeting feelings. No, loving God is an act of loyalty born of our confession of who God is, gratitude for all God has done, affirmation of what God is doing, and hope in what God will do. In fact, Jesus calls on teaching from the Hebrew Bible in reminding us that the love of God is the first and greatest commandment. This love is not passive, but active, intentional, and all-encompassing. Not only are we to love God with our heart, through our lives [soul], in our thinking, and with all our might, but the outgrowth of our love for God is our love for others. That is, if we truly love God, we must also love those made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28): our neighbors and ourselves.

Love is more than a feeling; it’s a commandment. And aren’t we glad and grateful to be the recipients of God’s greatest expression of love in action:

“For God so loved the world that [God] gave [God’s] only Son, so that everyone who believes In [God] may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16 (NRSV)

RESPOND
Self-check: Do your heart, your life, your thinking and your efforts demonstrate your love for God?

RECITE
God, no matter how I may feel, you are worthy of my love, adoration and praise today and every day. Amen