March 12, 2023 – CountUp

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday March 12TH 2023, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

This morning I observe and celebrate my 8TH anniversary with my current church family. I arrived for the first time on this 2ND Sunday of March (Daylight Saving Time Sunday) of 2015 during a particular valley along my fantastic journey. I’ve heard it said that within the first 10 minutes of walking into a church building for the very first time – most people have decided if it’s their first of many visits, or if it’s their first and final visit. I decided that it was my first of many visits when I arrived at Living Waters Full Gospel Church (my current church family).

It’s the start of my 9TH and final year with my brothers and sisters at Living Waters. I’ll begin relocating 186 miles away in the next week, and my attendance at Living Waters will slowly diminish through the end of this year.

I’ve begun actively searching for a church in my new local area. (There are dozens to choose from.) I’ve started watching Sunday morning services online to see if I want to take that next step and physically attend a service. There’s one (so far) that I want to visit in-person.

Back in late-2006 I searched for my very first church online, and I physically went there not knowing a single person beforehand. That worked out pretty well for me. I was with my first church family for 8 years and a month.

I did little to no research before visiting my 2ND (current) church for the first time, but I knew one person that was part of that church family at the time – a former coworker and friend of 27 years. Now I’ve known her for 35 years !

When I visit my 3RD church up in Sebring – I will know nobody there. I will keep a low profile – revealing little to nothing about my ministry – online or offline. I will be there to absorb God’s Good News. I plan to be a regular-attender and then a member, but I plan to not be in leadership. Of course – my plans are not necessarily God’s plans. I didn’t plan to preach 50+ sermons over the past 6½ years, but that’s where God led me.

I think God is leading me in a different direction with my ministry, and I’m starting to see the dawn of God’s light for that. I can’t share them with you at this time, but there are a couple of exciting opportunities coming up for me where Pastor Chris (that’s me) takes my ministry to places and groups that may have been seeking someone to lead them to God. I’m excited for the future.

“For I know the plans I have for you” – says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster – to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

I will continue to write new sermons and freshen old sermons within my collection. #SundayScripture will continue moving forth as my ministry expands in a new direction and a new environment.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.