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Good Morning Meadowbrooke,

Every human being is created and born in the image of God, but that does not mean that all humans can be called a child of God.  The child of God is the one who has been truly born again as a result of a faith that rests in Jesus who was born of a virgin, lived the life we never could, died a death under the wrath of God for our sins while he was perfectly innocent, and then defeated death by rising from it.  

 

See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him (1 John 3:1).  What is it that makes the love that the Christian has received from God so great?  It is great because it overcame our sin and rebellion.  You, Christian, were not only dead in your sins, but deserved the wrath of God, and yet he found you, rescued you through His Son, and now He calls you His own.  To be born of God, is to be a member of Gods family, and to be a member of His family is to be a son or daughter of God.  Paul describes in Galatians 4:6-7 of what it means to be born of God: Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, Abba! Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God(Galatians 4:67). 

 

If you are a Christian, then the God who called out to Moses from the burning bush, delivered the Hebrew people from the slavery of Egypt through 10 powerful plagues, parted the sea, led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, is the same covenant keeping God you call Abba.  The same God who miraculously enabled Abraham and Sarah to have a son by the name of Isaac when he was 100 years old and she was 90, is the same all sufficient God you call Abba.  The same God who sustained Job through shattered dreams and the ashes of what he once held dear, is the all-sovereign God you call Abba.  The same God who moved and manipulated all of history so His Son would be born of a virgin to die for our sins to give us a righteousness we could not earn is the same God you call Abba.  The same God who spoke into existence that which did not exist and is able to provide a way when there is no way is the same God you call Abba. 

 

If you are a Christian, then the same God who leads His people through the valley of the shadow of death is the same God you call Abba.  The same God who is good is the same God who you can now call Abba.  He who raises up kingdoms and deposes them is the same God you can now call Abba.  Because you are born again, you are now a member of Gods kingdom and family.  God is your Abba Father!

 

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we dive right into Ephesians 5:22-33 (These verses are much more about living the Christian life than they are about husbands and wives. You should read this section in Ephesians before Sunday to see why).

 

Dont forget that this Sunday is when we begin to offer nursery and toddlers in Childrens Church for our new 11AM service.  I look forward to seeing you in our 9AM and 11AM worship services this Sunday! 

 

Grace, 

Pastor Keith 
A quick note for those who weren't at the partner's meeting on Sunday when Pastor Wynn shared about the upcoming platform expansion in early October.
 
Scott Catellier will be leading the tear down and framing/drywall process, and the Donaldson family has donated the vast majority of the needed materials.
 
This change will help accommodate the tech/music equipment on the stage, alongside other relevant materials while allowing space for people. It will also facilitate entering/exiting the platform with more ease, and increase security to the finance office.