My Article from our weekly email

It was such a blessing to our church to host Dr. Danny Akin last week. The Lord Jesus spoke to us through him, and so many of you have commented on the blessing he was to you personally. If you missed this past Sunday, you can access the message online at our website (www.hbcfamily.org) under the media tab, or you can access on the church FaceBook page. I encourage you to share it with your family and friends. While you’re there, look through the other messages, use this tool to be a constant blessing to you, your family, and friends. Share all the good things the Lord has done, is doing, and the hope you have for the future.

I am looking forward to 2014. I believe it’s going to be a great year for you, and it’s going to be a great year for our church. I want to encourage you to make it the best year you have ever had. There are several keys to this being true for you in 2014. 

First, make Christ Jesus the center of your life. Spend time with Him every day: read His love letter to you, treasure it, learn it, and meditate on it. I will be reading through the Bible again in 2014, and I will be using the Holman Christian Standard this year. Join me. I will be using the One Year Bible reading plan. You can find it at www.oneyearbibleonline.com. 

The second thing you can do is get plugged in with one of our fantastic Life Groups. They meet at 9:50 every Sunday morning. You need this time each week; it’s a time of fellowship, prayer, Bible study, and community. God made us relational beings, and you can’t get that by just and only attending a worship service. The third thing to do is to engage in a ministry, at least one ministry. Many of you are engaged in multiple ministries and I say THANK YOU. We couldn’t do what we do the way we do it without you. But many of you are rarely engaged. Christianity is not spectator driven. God has a place for you inside the body of Christ and that place is a place of serving others. If you aren’t sure where your place is then we are implementing a ministry to help you find your PLACE, and that is what it is called PLACE. Sue Drake is spearheading this ministry. Get plugged in, and enjoy the fun, experience the peace, of living with a purpose greater than yourself. 

Another great way to engage is via your Life Group and REACH. Each Life Group should be getting ready to implement this structure so assist in ministry within and outside the LG. Every group member is part of the team and serves once per month. It’s not hard work; it’s loving on people in practical ways, sharing the love of Jesus. I believe if you do these things 2014 will be the best year you’ve ever had. You will be blessed, your family will be blessed, Highland will be blessed, and the community we live in will be blessed. 

In Jesus name, I love you and thank God for you. Merry Christmas!