May We Always Be Thankful.
grateful to those who’ve given
Highland,
I hope you all had a restful Memorial Day Weekend. We certainly did! We enjoyed a slow, quiet weekend with friends and family. Highland, the fact that we can enjoy the security of this great nation is a gift in and of itself. To those who’ve given all, resulting in us relishing within our freedom, is a sacrifice that deserves our deepest gratitude.
Emma & Noah at the MercyMed Gala
Noah’s been away the last two weeks. He is Summer staff for Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters. He completed his staff training then came home to enjoy the extended, holiday weekend. We like to pretend he came home because he deeply missed his parents, but we really know he came home to see his girlfriend, Emma! Ha!ha! Even still, we appreciated spending time with him while he was home. From enjoying slow dinners to watching movies, we savored the moments we had together. He returned Monday to welcome his first group of campers at Snowbid – about 600 of them! He will remain at Snowbird of the rest of the Summer, both leading students down the Nantahala River as a river guide, and leading students in their Small Group Sessions, as they consider God’s Word. I am so proud of my son!
He’s now getting behind the wheel!
Luke turned 15 this pastTuesday! We spent the day celebrating him! As evening fell, he thanked both Carrie and me, saying that he thinks that turning 15 has been one of his best birthdays. Alongside a lunch at Tropical Smoothie with his Uncle and a stellar, homemade Strawberry Cake made by his Grandmother, he also passed his Driver’s Knowledge Test, earning his Learner’s License! He wanted to get behind the wheel immediately! This new milestone certainly helped to make his birthday extra special!
Service begins at 10am.
Sunday Morning Schedule
8am: Doors open
8am–9am: Coffee & Conversation in our Dining Facility
9am-10am: Devotion in our Dining Facility
10am: Sunday Morning Service in our sanctuary (In our gym)
our series through matthew
As we reignited our series through Matthew, we are nearing the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Last Sunday, we took on this text, Matthew 7:7-11:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Highland, out of this passage, allow me expound on three over-arching points that are essential to us at this point within our series.
Honor God Because He is Good
Though we are created in the image of God, that image is marred by the sickness of sin. Jesus acknowledges both sides of that coin when noting that, though our nature is evil, we still desire to give good gifts. These “glimpses of good” we see throughout human relationships are simply a manifestation of the goodness of God. He is the only source of good in this world. As we repent, declaring Jesus to be Lord, our hearts are transformed by the Holy Spirit, becoming submissive to the Lord. This results in our hearts becoming more agreeable with and like the Lord, while also allowing us to taste and see that He, and He alone, is good!
2. Asking Denotes Humility
Furthermore, if we acknowledge that we bear the image of God, then our hearts confess to Him being Lord. If He is God, then the nature of our asking, seeking, knocking, etc… must be coated in jaw-dropping humility. Our pursuit of the Lord in prayer, therefore, must be a pursuit for more of Him, not the pursuit of getting our wants and needs met — a desire for His heart, not just His hand. To rest more deeply in His presence is the deepest longing of our hearts, not a desired “yes” or “no.”
3. Desiring God Because He’s God
David, a man described to be after the Lord’s heart, explains the goal of his ‘asking, seeking, knocking’ — “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Because the Lord is good, His presence is our only good. When our hearts take confidence in this truth, then we experience His presence as our fullness of joy, come what may! The “yes” or the “no” become immaterial, Highland.
Prepping our Hearts for Sunday’s Sermon
Acknowledging the Lord to be Almighty is essential to move forward into the Sunday’s text and fully grab hold of what Jesus preaches. As we near the narrow gate and His dismissal of some who call upon Him, may we all seek and celebrate the Lord simply because He is God. He is worthy of all of our worship. To prepare for Sunday, please read Matthew 7:12-23. To listen to prior sermons in this series, check out our audio page.
Highland cafe’
Doors open wide with a welcome from Jesus Christ. Monday—Friday, 8:30am—11:30am.
Highland cafe’
The Highland Cafe’ continues to open wide our doors with a welcome from Jesus Christ and a warm cup of coffee. Each weekday morning from 8:30-11:30 offers you the chance to come and serve our neighbors, in honor of our Lord. You can also enjoy a cup of coffee, too! Come, serve and be served, all, in the name of Christ Jesus. Furthermore, snacks and coffee essentials, like cream and sugar, would be most appreciated.
Truth Spring Academy is now open for enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. The application window will close Friday, June 27th.
If you live in the North Highland neighborhood and are interested in enrolling your child at Truth Spring Academy, now is the time to complete our Interest Form (Please note, completing the Interest Form is not a guarantee of enrollment at Truth Spring Academy).
To access our Interest Form, please visit our website at www.truthspringacademy.org. After reaching our website, please hover over the “Parent Info” tab and select “Interest Form.” Or, click here.
Once you have submitted the form, we will receive an email with your information. If you have already completed our Interest Form then your child’s name has already been added to our Waiting List. You do not need to complete another form. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the office at (706)249-9424.
Mailing Address Update
Our P.O. Box is now closed. Please send all mail to 3408 5th Ave. Columbus, GA. 31904
So grateful for you, Highland.
I love you,
Rob