Fall is Here

With the change in the weather, it’s certainly feeling like Fall. The weather for Growing Hope Globally Plow Day was amazing. A record number of tractors came out. The car show was nice. Great food and neighbors made for a great day! Congratulations to all of those who volunteered their time and efforts for this great cause.

It won’t be too long until Thanksgiving now, and then we’ll begin our Advent remembrance. Our theme for Advent this year will be “Eager Expectation,” based on the verse from Romans 8:19: “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed,” (NIV). How was the world different before Jesus’ birth? What difference did the Incarnation make?

Next week we’ll be looking at the prophecies of Zechariah 9 and focusing on “Peace to the Nations.” We’ve been praying for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine for a long time now. It can sometimes be discouraging to continue to see conflict and innocent people hurt by violence. Jesus tells us that until he returns there will be “wars and rumors of wars,” but he also tells us when that happens “not to be alarmed, (Matthew 24:6). We continue to trust that God is on his throne and that peace will finally come to earth.

Continue to pray for those who are recovering from surgery and who are struggling with other health concerns. When we see evidence of answered prayer, it should be encouraging for us to continue to be faithful in our prayers.

I hope to see you next week and bring along a friend!

God bless,

Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday

Zechariah 9—How is the warning against the nations connected to the coming of the King?

Matthew 21:1-11—What’s the significance of Zechariah 9 being quoted here?

Isaiah 23—What reason is given here for the prophecy against Tyre and Sidon?

Hebrews 10:19-31—How is the blood of the covenant described here?