Growing Together Blog

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Thursday, 26 November 2009 07:25

The 66^th Psalm is a song of thanksgiving in the aftermath of hard times.  The author writes of all the “tests” and “trials” that God’s people have endured, but affirms that God has been faithful and has brought them through the “tight spots” and into “a place of abundance.”  Listen to his offering of praise.

“Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:8-12, ESV).

Never lose sight of God’s blessings in the shadows of each day’s burdens.  There is always reason to praise.  And a grateful heart is always lighter than a critical spirit.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 20 November 2009 12:02

November 22 is a date that lingers in many minds.  For some, it recalls the events in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.  (It is as vivid in my memory as 9/11 is for our younger generation.)  And November 22, 1963, was also the very day that many believers mourned when it was reported that C. S. Lewis had died.  (As you may know, Lewis taught at both Oxford and Cambridge, and after his conversion to Christianity became a staunch defender of the faith.)

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 13 November 2009 18:32

In John 5, Jesus is confronted and berated by the religious establishment for ignoring and violating their traditions.  But in their passion to enforce their rules concerning the Sabbath, they missed the opportunity to worship the Lord of the Sabbath!  This week I came across these convicting words from Philip Yancey that should prompt each of us to examine our hearts as we gather to worship God.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Monday, 09 November 2009 11:05

Missions Conference is behind us … but missions commitment is before us.  What will we do with what we have heard?  What is the next step that each of us must take to become more missions minded?  Those who were part of the early church were intensely missionary in their thinking.