Seeking God First

Last week we had a "Vision Meeting." Now some churches have meetings where the leadership tries to "cast a vision" of what direction the church is going to be taking over the coming months and years. Here at NAC, we usually do something different. We gather for a time of prayer, worship and discussion to try to discern what God wants us to be doing. Through this process new ministries are started, old ones reinforced or laid aside and a sense of unity and anticipation usually fills the night.

Our meeting this summer quickly led us to the conclusion that God want us to make seeking Him a priority. I think that one of the reasons for this focus is that we can very easily develop a sense that we have "arrived" now that we are in a new facility. We can think that we have it all figured out and a sense of pride and complacency can develop.

We need to avoid that at all costs.

Instead, we need to drive a stake in the ground and say that seeking God will be our top priority. We need to take time...extended time...to pray and read the Bible. We need to place our ideas on the altar and give God's ideas the most value. We need to recognize that God does want to lead us and to speak to us by the Word and the Holy Spirit.

We'll be talking about this more in the coming weeks, but for now will you join in this prayer?

Lord, you have called us to seek you, but I find that my hands and mind are filled with the busyness of the times. Lord, I lay down what is in my hands and place my concerns at your feet. I want to learn from you. I want to hear Your voice. I want to spend time in your presence. I want you above all else. Lord Jesus, I am your disciple. Teach me. Help me to set aside time to learn from the Scriptures. Help me hear the voice of your Spirit. Help me to learn to live my life the way you want me to. Mold me into who you want me to be. In Jesus name. Amen.

Pastor Karl

Vacation Bible School

Last night was night 4 of this year's VBS at Nashwauk Alliance.
Our theme this year is "God's Big Backyard" - it is a community service based theme.

Most years we collect money that we send to different missions groups. This year we decided since it was all about serving those around you, that we would instead collect food items that we will be donating to the local food shelf.
At the end of the first 3 nights we had collected about 1/2 of a grocery cart.
I was so moved, when on Thursday night we had to send one of our youth members back to the local grocery store to borrow 2 more carts. We had so many food donations - that we now have 3 heaping carts to donate!! That is still with one night to go!!!!!
The kids really seem to be understanding that we need to help and serve those around us.

Every night a different community member comes and speaks to the kids about what they do to serve our community.
Monday - and Itasca County Sheriff spoke to the kids
Tuesday - we had a nice lady from the Red Cross come speak.
Wednesday - Nashwauk Fire and rescue crew come up with a firetruck, their rescue rig, and an ambulance.
Thursday - We had a retired US Airforce member visit us.
Friday - We are having a missionary come and speak to us.

This kids have enjoyed all of the speakers, and have taken away so much from these lessons!

The week overall seems to have gone quite quickly - so with just one night to go, we will soon begin the countdown to -- Vacation Bible School 2009