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Sunday reflections and CATG News

Big Idea:
Giving and generosity are a natural response from a life transformed by the grace and mercy of Jesus.

Scripture memory:
Mark 8:35-36 (ESV)
³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

Action Step:
Bring your commitment to the ADVANCE Faith Initiative next Sunday and make it an offering to Jesus.

Random Thoughts:

• A friend I was talking to on the phone yesterday asked me how things went yesterday at Church at the Grove and I answered, “It was a great Sunday!”.  The truth is that every Sunday is a great Sunday but yesterday was different.  There are times when you just sense God’s presence and His hand at work in such a fresh way.  It is as though we were right in the center of where we should be.  It was not just a great Sunday but a ‘right’ Sunday as well. 
• I love my community group.  We are having a blast and last night was great Bible study, discussion and fellowship.  Oh yeah, and great FOOD as well.  The conversation, without any prompting from me, turned to the ADVANCE Faith Initiative.  One person shared quite vulnerably that when we started the Faith Initiative that they dreaded the idea of giving more money.  They went on to share that as we have moved farther into the Initiative that they are looking forward to giving.  They stated that they have never been a part of something like this where the focus truly seemed to be about ministry rather than money.  I loved it!  They also shared that the difference has been the focus on prayer and seeking God’s leadership.  YEAH! 
• I am so thankful to God for bringing people like Leo and Monica Shababy into our fellowship.  They are such encouragers, prayer warriors and I love their focus on the glory of God!
• I am asking our church to be in attendance in full force this Sunday as we come to our “Celebration” Sunday, bringing our commitments as “unto the Lord”.  My heart’s desire is to make this about worship more than just about money.
• I love our volunteers so much and I am so thankful for the work they put into making ministry happen in the life of Church at the Grove.  We always need more people to help us do what we are doing.  Are you serving anywhere?
• Our ADVANCE team has been amazing!  They have put in a lot of hours and manpower and have done a great job with the Faith Initiative.  There are too many names to mention and I would hate to leave someone out but I am thankful for all their hard work. 
• January will be here before you know it!  Are thinking about who you can invite to join you at the new high school auditorium when we move?  We have a lot of seats to fill!  What if we were praying for 10 people we could invite in 2010? 
• We have a C-3 class on Friday November 13 at the home of Billy and Melinda Guy!  If you have been attending Church at the Grove and haven’t joined yet, the C-3 is a chance to hear about the details of our church and ask questions you may have.  You don’t have to join that night but it is a chance to learn about the church.  C-3 is a requirement to join Church at the Grove.  Drop us an email or call to make a reservation.
• Someone visited our church yesterday that was invited on FACEBOOK!  What a great idea!  What if we used our social networking connections to invite people to join us at Church at the Grove?  Just a thought!
• Someone told me recently about a conversation they had with someone in our community about Church at the Grove.  The person responded with, “Isn’t Church at the Grove that church that does a lot in the community?”  I LOVE IT!
• Keep praying, fasting, and seeking God’s face!  Continue to invest into people around you! 

See you Sunday!