Merry Christmas, Highland!

OUR EVERY DESIRE

‘Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to perform for Him what was customary under the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms and praised God’ (Luke 2:27-28)…

Highland,

Along with Simeon, may the joy of our hearts abound over the child who became, not only his sin-offering, but the sin-offering for the entire world.

May we also remain in awe, with Simeon, as he speaks from the same heart as David, who said in his last words: ‘Is it not true that my house is with God? For He has established an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and secured in every detail. Will He not bring about my whole salvation and my every desire’ (2 Sam 23:5)?

As Simeon holds this child in his arms, he is embracing his whole salvation and, at the same time, his every desire.

Highland, may we find our every desire to be met in Him, Jesus, who is the light and the life of mankind.

Merry Christmas,

The Strickland Family

Plans for December 19th Services

Highland,

Considering all factors, holding services underneath the pavilion is our most suitable plan for tomorrow. We will assemble at 9am to pray, sing and to then deliver the Advent gifts to our neighbors.

Once we return, we will then hold our 10am service underneath and around the pavilion where the grounds will be least saturated and muddy. We will worship together and our service will center around Advent. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Join Us,

Rob

How Do We Know That We Belong to The Lord?

How do we know that we belong to the Lord?

“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you. May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen (I Th 3:11-13).”

How do we know when we belong to the Lord? When we love Him most and we love Him first. We know that we belong to the Lord when we place our greatest value upon what He values. When the Holy Spirit convicts us we can see so clearly our sinfulness and that, apart from the Holy Spirit, our hearts long to share common values and, additionally, even celebrate with our sin-nature.

However, when we submit to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and, with humility and brokenness, bring our sinful hearts before the Lord, declaring Jesus as Victor over sin and death, asking Him to take over our hearts, He redeems us. He then makes us His own (meaning, He adopts us as sons and daughters) and we belong to Him.

As the Holy Spirit is renewing our disposition, then our natures are being transformed by His holiness from the inside, out! We are then no longer able to be comfortable sharing in common value with sin, our hearts will, evermore, long to share in agreement with the holiness of the Lord. Those common desires and values that are in agreement with the holiness of God become the evidence(s) that we belong to God. All of this is only possible by what Jesus has done for us - notice that Paul says: ‘May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father - Jesus’ overcoming sin then forges for those who are repentant an adoption certificate into the family of God.

I love you, Highland.

Rob

Plans for December 11th and 12th

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Highland, LET US GATHER.

This church opens wide her doors with a welcome from Jesus Christ.

TO THOSE WHO HELPED WITH CHICKEN & RICE THIS SATURDAY, THANK YOU!

Each Saturday from 10:30am-1:00pm, we serve our streets a meal of Chicken & Rice, along with the Gospel. Volunteers are welcome to join us. Chicken & Rice Ministries is our flagship work. It serves as the invitation to all in our streets to come and know Christ. If you would like to come and serve, please contact us.

PRAYER GATHERING AT 10AM THIS SUNDAY, ***INSIDE OUR SANCTUARY

THE ADVENT SEASON SCHEDULE

9am: Deliver Advent Gift Bags to our neighbors

10am: Advent Focus during our Prayer Gathering

Our Prayer Gathering will be in our sanctuary at 10am, tomorrow morning.

Due to the weather conditions, we will be holding our Prayer Gathering in our Sanctuary, at 10am this Sunday. We are currently going through 1st Thessalonians as a church, together. As we gather this Sunday for our Prayer Gathering, our schedule is as follows:

  • 9am-10am: Coffee & Conversation. As you arrive, grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Enjoy having conversation with one another and the chance to be together. Also, if you’re willing, some will be setting up for the 10 am service. We welcome your help, if you’re able. We will also pass out our Advent gift bags to our neighbors.

  • 10am-11am: Prayer Gathering Service. *At 10am, we will gather in our sanctuary and we will worship, pray, celebrate the Advent Season and open God’s Word, together. The sermon will be based on this text: “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” (I Thessalonians 3:11-13, ESV). Come, ready to ‘abound in love for one another.’

We are strongly encouraging social distancing and masks will be available for those who would feel most comfortable wearing one. If you have a mask, please bring one for yourself to use.  We ask that you stay home when you are sick. We also ask that you cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Finally, keeping your hands clean using sanitizer or by washing them with soap is vital. If you have a personal bottle of sanitizer, bring it and keep it on you for your personal use throughout gatherings.

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Location & Mailing address

3408 5th Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31904

phone Number — (706)249-9424