It was a full day as Sundays always are. Thank You, Father, for the blessings of Your presence in worship and throughout every other aspect of our day together!

Romans 12:1 (<<click here to read the passage)

Today was a wonderful day of worshipping together with fellow believers. We aired our online service, which was recorded at our home. And then I gathered with two of my three congregations – my partner in ministry taking responsibility for the third. They all had similar components, but all were simultaneously unique.

I diligently work every week, to ensure that I have put my very best forward. I strive to make sure the sermon is solid – Scripture is on point, and that thoughts are coherent and applicable. There are times when the hymns don’t perfectly reflect the sermon topic, but I endeavor to make sure that they are impactful.

I do all I can do with what is at my disposal and with the gifts that God has bestowed upon me. I do it all with the core mindset that God will then take the offering that I extend and fill in all the blanks. I cannot make people listen. I cannot make the seed that I spread find a receptive plot of “soil” in the hearts and minds of those who hear my voice and partake of the offering that is placed before God. Only God can do those things and only we can open ourselves for God to do what He desires in our lives.

On occasion, I will refer to The Message paraphrase of the Bible. It was put together by a very well-respected minister, theologian, and author, Eugene Peterson. Here is how he transcribed this verse. The “I” in the first sentence would be the Apostle Paul speaking.

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. MSG

I do all I can do and let God do the rest, but the thing is, each of us is responsible to take all aspects of our lives – all of our comings and goings, thoughts, and actions – and let God work in us and through us. As my Life Application Study Bible states, “We do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven.”

Lord Jesus, enable us to give You everything You have given us and use it for Your glory. Make us what we need to be. Amen.

July 30th, 2023, Sun, 8:00 pm