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Weekly reflections and Friday Thoughts

Big Idea:
Givers always have more than enough; Takers never have enough.
Proverbs 11:24 (ESV)
²⁴ One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Memory Verse:
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)
⁶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
⁷ Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Action Step:
Bring a significant “first fruit” offering next Sunday as we celebrate what God is doing through ADVANCE!

Random Thoughts:

• Sunday morning we continued in our “ADVANCE” series and learned about the heart of generosity from Pauls 2nd letter to the Corinthians in chapter 9 specifically in verses 6 and 7. 
• If you sow little, you reap little!
• Givers always have more than enough, takers never have enough.  Check out Prov. 11:24.
• We had a sweet time with our ADVANCE leaders on Saturday night of this past week.  They brought their ADVANCE commitments and we had an awesome time taking communion and worshiping together.  I am so thankful for their work and leadership during this season of Church at the Grove!
• Last Friday we had the whole Shababy family over for dinner.  Leo and Monica came with Jordan.  Gabe, Kortney, Hayden and Riley came over as well and we had a blast!  What a beautiful, godly family.  Jill and I learned a ton about raising godly kids!  I am so glad they are part of the CATG family!
• Last Sunday morning! WOW!  What a God-glorifying morning of worship.  Austin Prince!  That dude is growing as a worship leader.  I love Austin’s spirit and heart for God.  His talent and excellence as a worship leader is rapidly matching his authentic heart for God.  I love that guy.  I also missed Shelley.  She will be back this Sunday.
• I am so proud of CATG for their response to ADVANCE!  I hope it is ok to be “proud” of them!?  We still will have some commitments come in these next few weeks but I am thrilled to see the faith response of so many.  I look forward to sharing the commitments with everyone. 
• If you have not made a commitment to ADVANCE, you still can! 
• My father-in-law is having major surgery next week.  I would love for people to pray for him!
• Speaking of prayer;  We had an awesome time at our first ACCESS prayer time on Tuesday night at Gabe Shababy’s house.  I urge you to consider joining us every other week for prayer.  We will announce the place for prayer on Nov. 24 soon.
• “SHOP WITH A HERO” is Saturday Dec. 5 9am-12noon in front of Loganville Wal-Mart!  I would love for all our uniformed people to help us by shopping with a child.
• I am now TWITTERING!  It is a web tool that allows me to keep people up to date with what I am doing, thoughts I have and any other info.  you can go to http://twitter.com/russbutcher and check out what I am doing.  I would love to hear what you think.
• Keep praying, Keep fasting and Keep serving!  God is doing and will do incredible things as we follow Him.
• I just read The Legacy of Sovereign Joy by John Piper.  What a challenging book on the lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin!  I am now reading Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesusby Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. 

See you Sunday!