May 1-2, 2010 – Hamilton – College Station, TX

It’s my turn to come up with the new word(s) of the week…Hirundo Rustica. Sounds like a delicious Italian dish on the menu at your favorite Italian restaurant…or maybe not. This is the name for 1 of 636 recognized (Texas Ornithological Society) bird species found in Texas.Our beautiful state is full of exquisite feathered creatures with names like Yellow-billed Loon, Blue Footed Booby, Wandering Tattler, and Bobolink. The Hirundo Rustica, a.k.a. the Barn Swallow, is a protected bird that builds mud nests in the roofs, eaves and overhangs in barns and similar structures. These dive-bombers love to build their nests at the Hamilton Unit in the cover over the basketball court where we play. Yes, the heavenly Father protects and feeds them. If He will do that for them just think how He cares for us! Sound familiar? Read Matthew 6:26. We would like to personally thank those who attended and endured the bombings of the adult birds and the occasional baby bird falling from the nest during our services. Thanks for helping keep our equipment and us clean!

The older we get the more we yearn for heaven. As we mature in Christ, the things of this world become less important. It is with an increasing urgency that we feel the need to reach up, reach out and reach in. What does this mean? We are wired to worship. When we worship we reach up expressing our love to Him. We reach out to Him through prayer and study of the word to develop the deep relationship that carries us through the tough times. This love and relationship compels us to reach in ourselves to serve and share our faith with others. Together we encourage each other, apply the word, and walk by faith with Christ at the center of our lives. Forgiveness is free, salvation is free, but a good strong relationship takes work. Mitchell puts it this way, “Standing in a garage doesn’t make you a car. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian”. It takes work.

Mitchell makes another good point about reading God’s word. It is our manual for life. It is your lifeline and strength to keep going. There is a confidence that comes with knowing the word. It is hidden in your heart and becomes available to apply when you need it. Read it out loud. Read it often. Read it over. Meditate on it. Study it. Memorize it. Apply it. Share it. Whatever is in your heart is what comes out. God’s word is strong and SHARP. It will lift you up when you feel defeated and weak. As Christians, we should take it in daily as we would food. Make it like breakfast, lunch and dinner. Getting into the word gets you into Christ.

God’s promises are in the word. To me, this verse sums it up the best. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new”. I recently heard a song that talks about being the experience of being a new creation. The lyrics read, “All that I can do is give it back to you. You’ve taken my old skin and made it new again. You have made me new. Brand new. A new creation.”

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