COMPositions 16

Updates, Reminders, & an Invitation

Our Annual Business Meeting has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, February 24th at 6:30 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to ratify by ballot the proposed church budget for 2021 and affirm the appointment of two Governance Board members to a three (3) year term. A copy of the proposed budget and sample ballot with the nominees are available in the foyer. Absentee Ballots can be picked up in the church office during work hours and must be returned prior to the business meeting. Congregational voting privileges shall be extended to those who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, considers NorthPark their church home, worshipped regularly here for not less than the preceding six (6) months, is 18 years of age or older, supports NorthPark through Christian service and financial giving, and supports the mission, goals & leadership of NorthPark Church.

This Sunday, February 21st will be our Annual Upward Basketball & Family Sunday during our 10:45 worship service with a video highlight, volunteer recognition, and White Star Award presentations. We are expecting a number of guests and ask that you make it a point to welcome and accommodate them,…even if they sit in “your” seat. I would remind and ask that we do our best to maintain the current practices of masks and spacing in the sanctuary which may necessitate moving to the center of the row or migrating to the balcony. The suggested space is every other row and at least two seats between families or groups attending together. Again, thank you for your patience and faithfulness as we navigate this pandemic together. (NOTE: There will be childcare for nursery & preschool children. Kids Connection students are asked to sit with their family.)

Today is Ash Wednesday, February 17th, which marks the beginning of Lent which is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar leading up to Easter Sunday, April 4th. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of every believer for Easter through prayer, repentance, self-denial, and generosity. During the 42 days of Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in order to replicate the account of the sacrifice of Jesus’ journey in the desert for 40 days marking the beginning of his earthly ministry. Many Christians also add the spiritual disciplines of reading a daily devotional and praying through a Lenten calendar to draw themselves near to God. There is an excellent resource available to you for
FREE on our RightNow Media account called THE LENT EXPERIENCE. All you have to do is click on this link https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Series/468550 If you are not registered on our RightNow account, just email the church office or a staff member and we will send you an invitation link.

This past Sunday, February 14th, as part of our CHILD DEDICATION SUNDAY my sermon title was The Priority of Parenting based on Genesis 1:27-28, Deuteronomy 11:18-22, & Ephesians 6:1-4. My main point and challenge was that if the nuclear family is going to survive and thrive, it is imperative that Christians restore the biblical principles and priority of parenting. And in the course of the message, I said I would include the principles and habits in my weekly blog/article, so here they are:
5 BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES ABOUT PARETNING:
1.  Children are a GIFT from GOD.Psalm 127:3-5; 139:14-16
2.  Children are born with a SIN NATURE.Psalm 51:5 / Romans 3:23
3.  Children must be TRAINED to HONOR GOD.Deuteronomy 11:18-21
4.  Children are to be DISCIPLINED in LOVE.Proverbs 22:6 & 15
5.  Children are to be RELEASED from PARENTS.Genesis 2:24 / Mark 10:7-9

5 HEALTHY HABITS FOR FAMILIES:
1.  They are COMMITTED to one another.Ephesians 5:21
2.  They express APPRECIATION & AFFECTION to one another.
3.  They COMMUNICATE positively with one another.
4.  They spend LOTS OF TIME with one another.
5.  They LIVE out their FAITH with one another.

Remember,….children learn what they live! If children live with criticism,….they learn to CONDEMN! If children live with hostility,….they learn to FIGHT! If children live with shame,….they learn to FEEL GUILTY! But if they live with encouragement,….they learn CONFIDENCE! If they live with praise,….they learn to APPRECIATE! If they live with fairness,….they learn JUSTICE! If they live with faith,….they learn to BELIEVE! As John the Apostle wrote to his spiritual descendants in 3 John 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Folks, this doesn’t happen by accident and isn’t a matter of luck! It requires constant effort and lots of prayer.  Even then, there are no guarantees. But the good news is, we don’t have to do it on our own. God has given us all the help we need; His Word to guide us, His Son to save us, His Spirit to empower us, and His people to encourage us. God’s love is unconditional, His forgiveness is complete, His offer is free, His promises are true, and His power is great! We can trust Him!

For His Glory,  Pastor Greg

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