Going Deeper in 2019 (an invitation to Deep Roots)

Over the past few months as we begin to look at this new year coming we asked ourselves how to best and most effectively prepare our own lives, our families and our church for what was ahead. We didn't think it was jumping straight back into our regularly scheduled programming. We felt that a pause with a specific focus would be a great spiritual exercise.

And so, instead of relaunching Connecting Point 1 and KidzConnect on Wednesday night, we are going to take a few weeks in prayer and worship to launch this new year with the return of Deep Roots.

Deep Roots (our prayer and worship nights) have been going on quietly for several years and have been a beautiful source of encouragement and growth for many of us. These nights will be no exception. We will meet for three consecutive Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 and turn our hearts to prayer, take the opportunity to worship and expect to meet with God. I can't wait.

Here are the details:

• Wednesdays, January 9, 16 & 23

• 6:30-7:30 in the Sanctuary

• Childcare provided for newborn to Grade 2

• Grade 3 and older are welcome to join us in the Sanctuary

I also invite you to join me in fasting on these days. Whether it is for the whole day or for a single meal, this is an excellent spiritual disciple to challenge yourself with this year.

Looking forward to praying with you,
Pastor Tracy

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

— Colossians 2:6-7

---

This Sunday

WHAT’S NEXT?
Part 1

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy begins our series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

What are you doing New Year's Eve Eve? (all about what to do with your blessing)

5th Sunday means…

If you're new to Freedom, here's the deal. When a month has five Sundays we take the fifth one and do something special that emphasizes church life and we take the time to share a meal together.

So, as you're eating leftover turkey and trying to figure out where to tuck away all of those stocking stuffers, here's what you can look forward to on Sunday.

See you there!
Pastor Tracy

---

Prayer for 2019

Last Sunday and on Christmas Eve we made ornaments that shared our prayers for 2019. This Sunday we're going to do something special with those prayers that will encourage you all year long. I can't wait for that!

Plus, at the end of the service we will give you and/or your family the opportunity to receive a prayer of blessing from one of our leadership couples. This is such a highlight of my year.

Water Baptism

If you have made a decision to follow Christ, it would be our absolute joy to facilitate your water baptism. Click the button for all the information you need or give Pastor Tracy a shout.

Soup Potluck

Back by popular demand... the soup potluck. You know what to do. Bring your favourite soup to share and perhaps a dessert to help us finish off this amazing meal. We'll provide the buns!

---

This Sunday

THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
Blessed & Blessing

Join us on Sunday at 10am as our Speaking Team shares.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (the waiting is over!)

I know that the radio has been telling you for weeks that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But I'm telling you for real, it really IS looking like Christmas. Before another week goes by we will have celebrated the coming of Christ. The time has come.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

— Galatians 4:4-5

Galatians 4:4-5

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

No matter what your year has been like or what this season has held for you so far, we are reminded this week again that God's plan is perfect, His love for us is extraordinary and He has given us a place in family, as sons and daughters and co-heirs with Christ. Just as Bjorn shared on Sunday, that is an incredible gift.

So Christmas is almost here. We are ready to celebrate the arrival of Christ once more. There are a lot of things that "look a lot like Christmas" (according to Bing Crosby) but nothing should stir our hearts more than the gifts that Jesus brought us when He came to redeem us: Expectancy, Grace, Adoption and Reconciliation to name a few.

Let's continue to hold on to the incredible gift of Christ as we gather around tables and trees and sanctuaries to celebrate His coming.

Celebrating Him with you,
Pastor Tracy

Here's a link to our Christmas Eve invitation that you can download and/or share!  #sharehope

---

This Sunday

THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
The Gift of Reconciliation

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy continues our Advent series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Season of Sharing Hope (what's the big deal with Advent?)

The season of Advent is a very special time here at Freedom. I know this isn't a season that everyone has experience celebrating so I wanted to take a moment to share the heart of it.

We've shown this video (see below) in services before and it sums up why we take the time to intentionally lead into Christmas the way that we do. Go ahead and take a minute (actually two!) to watch this and share it with your family.

The emphasis for me is the idea of sharing hope as we consider Christ's coming in the past, His presence with us now and our hope of His return. So while we consider our own hope in Jesus, let's keep pressing in to who we could share it with. Of course, Christmas Eve is a great time to invite people to hear the message of Christ, but I'm praying that this season will be filled with opportunities for each of us to share the hope we have. (1 Peter 3:15)

Be sure to grab some invitation cards on Sunday so that you're ready to invite someone to church this season. If it's easier, here's a link you can download and/or share.

Looking forward to sharing hope this Advent & Christmas,

Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
The Gift of Adoption

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Bjorn continues our Advent series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Step of Obedience (a great way to end 2018!)

Talking about our faith can be intimidating. It brings up a bunch of insecurities and worries about whether we are equipped to answer questions, how people will respond and if we're going to alienate our friends, families and co-workers. And yet, I don't think anyone would argue the point that we are definitely called to boldly share our faith and tell others about the life-transforming power of Christ in our lives.

One of the incredibly important ways we do this is to be baptized in water. When we choose to get into that water we are saying to everyone gathered that Christ is the centre of our lives and we are committed to living for Him and in Him forever.

While water baptism isn't usually done in front of a crowd of unbelievers, it is a testimony to your friends, family and church (and whoever you invite!) of who Jesus is. It builds our faith and reminds of the importance of setting our lives apart for God. It's absolutely one of my favourite things in church life.

If you have made a decision to follow Christ and have never been baptized in water this is your chance to take that step of obedience. We have set aside time in our 5th Sunday service on December 30th for baptisms and it would be our JOY to facilitate this for you!

If you want to learn more, here is a link to the information we provide to people who are interested in getting baptized - it's a great resource.

I know we have a lot of things on-the-go between now and the end of the month but don't miss your opportunity to tell everyone about your decision to follow Jesus on 5th Sunday.

Looking forward to continuing to celebrate Advent with you this weekend!
Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
The Gift of Grace

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Erin continues our Advent series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

The Gifts of Christmas (what you can look forward to this season)

Around here we are in full Christmas season mode. Our decorations are being pulled out, our website graphics are changing, our rehearsals are in the works... it's going to be a lot of fun!

There are three really important things happening that we want to make sure you have on your minds, hearts and calendars over the next few weeks. Let's get ready for Christmas!

Looking forward to beginning Advent with you,

Pastor Tracy

---

Warm Gloves Tree for Ray of Hope

In continuation of our support of Ray of Hope, this year we will be collecting warm gloves for them to give to those in need. Starting Sunday you'll see a Christmas tree in the lobby that you can decorate with the gloves you bring in to donate.

Christmas Eve Invitation

We have added some fun, interactive and family-friendly activities to our Christmas Eve service. We want everyone in our community to hear about Jesus and we're making it as easy as possible for you to invite everyone you know. I mean, you wouldn't go to a party unless you knew you were invited, right?

Invitation cards will be available soon!

5th Sunday Celebration

Did you know that December has five Sundays? That's right! So we're planning a very special service for December 30th that will celebrate church life and help to launch us into the new year. Here are the highlights...

• Stories of Blessing

• Water Baptism

• Prayer for Families

• Soup Potluck

---

This Sunday

THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
The Gift of Expectancy

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy begins our Advent series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Thursday Challenge (are you ready for something to chew on?)

I have an uncle who sends me a lot of articles. (Hi Uncle Frank!) He reads a lot and shares a lot and I very often find myself reading things that I wouldn't have otherwise seen. The best thing about having a personal library curator is that I have a chance to be challenged in my thinking, my theology, my discipleship practices, my leadership... and on and on it goes. I love to learn new things and to be challenged, especially when it comes to my walk with Christ which can get comfortable so quickly.

So for this week's devotional I wanted to share something that Uncle Frank sent to me recently. This one made me stop and think. It came back to mind while I was driving the kids to their activities. It came up in conversation over dinner. And now I give it to you as some food for thought. I hope you enjoy chewing on this one! (Click on the image below to read it.)

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

PS - You don't have to agree with everything a writer says (though you might) to be challenged by it. And don't be afraid to be surprised by what tugs at your heart.

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Wisdom & Foolishness

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Bjorn continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

What's growing in your life? (TBT the symbolic planting on New Year's Eve)

Remember back on New Year's Eve (5th Sunday!) last year when we planted grass seed to represent what God was speaking to our hearts for 2018? Do you still have the tag that you put on that planter?

There are seven Sundays remaining in this year and so... what did God grow in your life in the past 11 months? Have you had a chance to look back and think about it?

It took me until the middle of January to decide what I wanted to write on my planter. As I was driving down the highway one night I felt God speak to me about needing to learn to TRUST. Trust Him in everything, with everyone. I had been having some deep anxiety about travel since the middle of 2017, something that was very new to me. (I used to love to fly.) My 2018 calendar had four trips involving air travel that would give me butterflies every time I thought about them. Almost daily throughout this year I was intentional about allowing the Holy Spirit to renew my mind (Romans 12:2) and recognize that fear and anxiety are not ever something that is from Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace and He is the giver of the Comforter. This year of flying ended with an 18-hour flight home from Ethiopia. And guess what? I was OK. I was calm and I was able to trust that the Lord was with me and surrounding me. When I started to feel nervous I would open up my Bible app and start to read. By the end of the trip, even with some very heavy turbulence, my heart was settled and I knew that God had walked with me through something significant. It mattered in the moment, but I know the lesson is also planted in my heart for the future. I'm so grateful.

How about you? Do you have a story of how God has grown something in your life this past year? One of the most encouraging things we can do as a church family is to share how God is moving. This week, why don't you think and pray about it and, if you're willing, send me your story. I'm excited to hear how God is working in your life!

In Christ,
Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Truth & Lies

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Bjorn continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

An Invitation to "The Commands of Christ" (are you up for a beta-test?)

Wednesday nights are a key time for us a church. We call them Connecting Point 1 because we prioritize them as a place to connect outside of the Sunday morning service. They are a great opportunity to meet with others and intentionally invest in our personal discipleship while we help others with theirs. I'll admit that leaving the house after dinner on cold, dark nights can be challenging (could we implement a sweatpants and slippers policy for CP1?), I am consistently amazed at how much I learn and am challenged by my group. It is absolutely, always worth it.

Starting next week (November 14th) we are going to be starting something that I believe will be a great resource for our church. Pastor Del has written a course called "The Commands of Christ" that is intended to help believers know how to live out the Great Commission. When Jesus tells us to "teach them to obey everything I have commanded you," what are those things that He actually commanded? How can we obey if we aren't sure? This course is practical, easy to follow and personally challenging.

Here's the invitation... We are going to be beta-testing this course for Pastor Del on November 14, 21 and 28. After that, you will get a copy of the remaining lessons so that you can continue to work through them at your own pace. That's right - fresh content, right from inside of our church family, relevant to where we are in our discipleship journey, world-class quality training in your hands... and you're invited to join us.

If you've never been to CP1 before, why not join us for these next three weeks? If your schedule simply doesn't allow you to be with us in person, we will be making The Commands of Christ available to you via PDF or hardcopy at the end of the month. Talk about a life-giving personal devotional tool!

There is one catch... since we are beta-testing this for Pastor Del, we would love to have your feedback as you work through the material. That's it!

So let me recap this invitation...

• Connecting Point 1 - Wednesday, November 14, 21,28 @ 6:30-8:00

• "The Commands of Christ" by Pastor Del Wells (we're beta-testing!)

• As we won't finish the whole course, we will make it available to the whole church via PDF or hardcopy (upon request) as a powerful personal devotional tool.

• We'd love to have your feedback on the course content as you go through it so that it can be taken out of beta and made available more widely.

I'm excited about this opportunity!! Please join us on Wednesdays!

And don't forget that Jeremy Feller (missionary in Ethiopia) will be speaking on Sunday. It will only be available live so you won't want to miss being with us this weekend.

Blessings,
Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Influence

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Jeremy Feller continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Reaching Around the World (hello from 11,500km away!)

As you read this email I am 11,500 km away. Yep, you read that correctly. We're in Ethiopia! This is a personal trip, one that we have planned to do as a family for a decade. But while we're here we are spending a lot of time with the Fellers, one of our missions families.

It will come as no surprise that what's on my heart this week is all the kingdom work that we are supporting around the world. We set a missions goal of $18,000 this year and we met it in July. Now, all the funds that come in for missions are an extra blessing for these missions families and organizations beyond what we had committed to them. God is good! Thank you for your faithfulness!

So let me just take a moment to remind you that there are about eight weeks left in the year. Maybe God is stirring your heart to give over and above to one of these great families or this wonderful organization right in our own community. I encourage you to step out in obedience and together we can be such a huge blessing in Jerusalem (Ray of Hope), Judea (Pennings), Samaria (Aragons) and the ends of the earth (Fellers).

And let's keep praying for the work that each of our missions partners is doing. It's amazing to see and be a part of what God is up to!

See you on Sunday... I might be jet-lagged but I'll be there!

Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Judging

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

How to Be the Church (11 things you can do today)

I recently shared an article with our church staff that they found incredibly helpful. They thought that you might find it just as helpful. I had to agree.

It's key for us a Christ-followers to understand our times and know what to do. That's what the Bible says the men from Issachar were like. So I encourage you to give this article a read and see how we can each personally be the church outside of the walls of our building.

Enjoy!

Pastor Tracy

(Click here or on the image to get to the article.)

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Worry

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Bjorn continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Won't You Be My Neighbour? (this one is about Halloween)

Halloween Outreach

It’s that time or year again when the sidewalks and streets fill with neighbours, friends and family! Let’s take advantage of the one night a year our neighbours are sure to be outside of their homes and knocking on our doors by making them feel welcome, helping them have fun and taking the opportunity to invite them to church.

If your family chooses to participate in Halloween, we've put together a few tips and guidelines for how to use it as a way to reach out to your neighbours. See below!

Community Ministries wants to help you to make this happen!

You can stop by the Welcome Centre on any Sunday in October (7, 14, 21, 28) and pick up hot chocolate mix, cups and a few Freedom Info cards to get your Halloween outreach off to a great start!

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Treasure

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Erin continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Connect. Train. Impact. (ICYMI on 5th Sunday)

During our 5th Sunday service at the end of September I shared our vision and core values with you. This is an exciting time to be serving this church - some days I can hardly believe how amazing our opportunities are.

If you weren't able to be with us on September 30th, here is a link to the message.

As a brief recap, we believe that it is vital for every follower of Christ to be:

• Connecting - with God and others

• Training - learning to think and act like Jesus

• Impacting - influencing the world around you for Christ

Without these elements you'll find your discipleship unbalanced. But when you engage with God, go deeper in your knowledge of Him and His Word and let that spill out into your daily mission field, you are on the path to daily transformation in Christ. That's where I want to be!

We know there are lots of ways for you to engage in these core values. We want you to know that we are committed to providing you meaningful opportunities to engage in each of these spheres in growing and challenging ways.

In case you didn't get a chance to browse through our ministry fair, we've made all of the information available on our website. (See the button below.) You'll notice that the contact information for each opportunity to connect, train or impact is on the bottom of the card so feel free to send the ministry leader an email and ask any questions you might have.

However you're doing it, whether inside or outside if the scope of Freedom Church, we are all excited to be a part of your discipleship journey as you connect, train and impact. The church is not this building or these programs, it's the people who join together to follow Christ with their whole lives as a local expression of His body. If you're reading this as part of Freedom church - we're glad you're a part of this family. If you're not, let me encourage you to engage in these core values wherever you are!

Honoured to connect, train and impact with you,

Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Giving

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Around the Table (did anyone grab the cranberries?)

In the last day or so there have been emails going back and forth between my family members getting the details straight for this weekend. Who is hosting? Who's making the potatoes? Did anyone remember cranberries? (This is one that I just thought about. Seriously though, did anyone in my family grab cranberries yet? Mom?)

For a lot of you there are similar messages going back and forth as you plan to be together with people that you love for a special meal this Thanksgiving. Maybe you have traditions to uphold. Maybe you have a great aunt who makes a sweet potato casserole that you look forward to all year.

But no matter how you manage to get around the table, what you eat or who carves the turkey, I hope you will find moments to practice gratitude. Being thankful is a lifestyle choice and this season can be so helpful to bring us back to the centre of recognizing the blessing and favour of God in our lives.

If you're in the middle of a difficult season and are struggling to find joy, let me encourage you to look to Jesus. In every circumstance His gift of life and freedom are always something to bring joy and hope.

Looking forward to celebrating His goodness with you on Sunday!

Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Enemies

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Bjorn continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Vision & Values (5th Sunday is happening!)

Today is Thursday. Things are happening around the church that have my heart beating a little faster. Tables are being set up, the printer is whirring, lights are colour-coordinating and yes, balloons are being ordered. It must be 5th Sunday.

When a month has five Sundays we use the fifth one to celebrate some aspect of church life and we make sure that we seal it with a meal together. This one will be no exception.

Our theme this week is VISION. What do we see God doing here at Freedom and how can we be all in? As I was putting my message together I couldn't help but type a little faster and blink away a few tears. It's more than a little exciting to be talking about God at work in us and through us. I can't wait to share it all with you.

And, of course, there will be something interactive. You are going to get a chance to talk to ministry leaders and find out how you can jump in, take next steps or find a new challenge. That's where the balloons come in... but I'll explain that on Sunday.

Here's what you need to do to be prepared for church this week.

1. Come ready to be inspired.

2. Come expecting to be challenged.

3. Bring a "family favourite" dish to share after the service.

In the meantime, I'll be trying to stay calm.

Can't wait to see you on Sunday,

Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

5th Sunday
Vision Emphasis

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy shares the vision and mission of our church. Be sure to stay for lunch after the service!

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

We've Got Stuff to Handle (who's fighting for you?)

I saw this on a friend's Facebook wall this week. There are times when we feel like giving up, when we don't have enough strength, when we can't take any more. God knows and He doesn't ask us to be braver, stronger or more courageous. He asks us to come to Him to trade our weakness for His strength.

The best part of this FB post is the "we've" part. The message isn't to pick yourself up and do better. It's to never give up because you're not alone.

Just a simple encouragement today.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And here's a song that I've been loving lately. Who is fighting for you? You don't have to fight alone.

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Divorce & Promises

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy continues our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

God's Will For Your Life (it's more simple than you think)

Ever wonder what God's will is for your life? Well, I don't know if you should take this job or that one. I don't know what ministry opportunity you should be saying yes to or what Bible reading plan you should be following right now. The specifics are something we learn to trust God for daily as we listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit leading us.

But here's what I know God wants for me today...

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT)

So this is me, living out God's will for my life in this very moment. There is no mystery to this, I choose to practice joy, prayer and gratitude... and I ask for help to remember to keep the posture of my heart focused on these things as I go through my day.

Want to join me? What are you grateful for today? Start there... I always find that gratitude leads to worship and prayer and a heart that is so much more inclined toward joy.

Our Freedom Team at the Williamsburg Community Festival this past Sunday. Way to go, everyone!

This week I've been thinking of how thankful I am for the group of ladies who showed up last week with cleaning cloths and got our Freedom Community Centre ready to welcome students to our FCC programs tonight. We didn't take any photos or publish any names... these women just showed up in the 30+ degree heat and made it happen.

I've been thinking about the team who donned bright green t-shirts on Sunday and played Plinko with our neighbours and gave out prizes, who had conversations about our church and connected with new families. And then there were the Freedom Youth who showed the kids in Williamsburg how to play 9-Square-in-the-Air for hours at a time. So thankful.

And I've been thinking about the people who have been preparing to lead CP1 groups, Encounters and a retreat for Frontline, Sunday School teachers who have committed to another year of investing in our Freedom kids and everyone else who chooses to make the time to impact others. Yeah... how could I not be grateful?

Let's live out God's will for us today. I'm filling my heart with gratitude. Will you join me?

See you Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Being Blessed

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Bjorn kicks off our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

What Does Jesus Say About... (welcome to our fall series!)

---

This Sunday

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT...?
Being Blessed

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Bjorn kicks off our fall series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Starting With the Man in the Mirror (get out there and do something!)

The book of James has practical wisdom for how to walk out our faith in tangible ways, living lives of integrity. He's known as an author who gets right to the point. This Sunday's message title was inspired by four verses in the first chapter of his letter:

“
Do no merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do.”

— James 1:22-25

As we've been sharing great stories of courage this summer, I wonder if you have asked yourself if you could be one of those people? Do we really believe that God can use us? That we could live to tell stories that inspire the next generation of believers?

So what does it take to go beyond mediocrity? James tells it like it is. We have to be willing to hear the Word and then put it into practice. We can't simply just agree with the principle and not allow it to transform our lives. And when we do what is the result? Freedom and blessing! A life of faith truly is extraordinary.

While I was at General Conference in May, Val Rutten (a PAOC missionary in Ethiopia) was being interviewed and one of her responses lit up the room (and became Tweet-worthy, see side). Want to break out of a pattern of looking in the mirror and forgetting what you've seen? "Get out there and do something!"

Looking forward to talking more about it on Sunday.

See you then,
Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday...

THE SUMMER OF COURAGE
The Man in the Miror

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy shares the final message in our series.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Listing vs. Growing (I love check marks!)

Moving houses is a lot of work but there is a silver lining. It's list-making heaven... if you like that kind of thing. I have been going crazy with my list-making. I have lists for everything and if I follow them, everything will get done on time and in an orderly fashion. I mean, sure, I actually have to do everything I've listed but for now I'm sleeping soundly knowing that I have a plan to get it done.

A friend recently sent me a Veggie Tales video that reminded her of me (and her!). It's basically a young carrot singing about how much she loves check marks. (Go ahead and click the link, it'll put a smile on your face.) Whether you consider yourself an organized person or not, you'll probably agree that it's a great feeling when you can check something off of a list. Actually, I know for a fact that some of you make lists of things you've already done so that you can go and check them off. #truth

As I've been staring at my moving lists for a few weeks I've been thinking about how much of our real lives can't be articulated by a list. You can't make a list of how you will be a more patient parent, a more loyal employee or a better friend. You can't check off the fruit of the Spirit in your life - love, check; joy, check; peace, check - because these are things that grow in your life as you surrender to Christ daily. They are cultivated by the Holy Spirit in you, not achieved.

And so, as we enter in a major list-making season (how's that back-to-school shopping going?), let me encourage you not to wait until everything is in perfect listed order before you spend time in the Word. Don't wait until the coffee is brewed to 96 degrees exactly and every sock is matched and put away before you call out to God in prayer. Don't believe that conditions must be perfect before you can invest in your relationship with Jesus. You don't need to make a list for these things, you need to develop the habit of daily obedience. In the same way that you don't tell your tomato plants how many centimetres to grow each day, you simply care for them; do the same thing for your walk with Christ.

Growing Together,
Pastor Tracy

---

This Sunday...

THE SUMMER OF COURAGE
Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego

Join us on Sunday at 10am as Pastor Tracy shares this incredible story of courage.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.