I spoke last week briefly about Time and how we all get the same amount to waste or invest. King Solomon wrote quite a treatise on Time long before my blog. Ecclesiastes 3, verse 11 says this, “He has made everything beautiful in his time.” An old Irish prayer says it this way…

    Take time to work – 
        It is the price of success. 
    Take time to think – 
        It is the source of power. 
    Take time to play – 
        It is the secret of perpetual youth. 
    Take time to read – 
        It is the foundation of wisdom. 
    Take time to be friendly – 
        It is the road to happiness. 
    Take time to dream – 
        It is hitching your wagon to a star. 
    Take time to love and be loved – 
        It is the privilege given by God. 
    Take time to look around – 
        The day is too short to be selfish. 
    Take time to laugh – 
        It is the music of the soul.

I’d like to add “Take time to remember.” Remembering is an important dynamic of the Christian faith. Jews are called to remember Passover and particularly God’s faithfulness in delivering them from captivity. Christians are called to remember Christ’s sacrificial death through the act of Holy Communion. We are all called to remember and celebrate what God has done and is going to do. Our Staff did just that this week and here are just a few of the highlights of 2007 mentioned:

    1. Launched this new website! 
    2. Hosted OKC Marathon Outreach 
    3. Began Explore First Church bi-monthly membership class 
    4. Founded First Kid’s Learning Center Pre-school Ministry 
    5. Began Tuesday evening Prayer and Praise Services(bi-weekly) 
    6. Began a new young adult Sunday School Class(Water Walkers) 
    7. Added 11:00 Christmas Eve Service 
    8. Began celebrating Holy Communion monthly in Worship 
    9. We fully supported our Conference apportionments and the ministries they represent. 
  10. We paid off our mortgage – Praise God!

As I awoke Sunday morning, I believe the Lord gave me phrase for this New Year: “Grow in faith in 2008!” I can’t wait to see His faithfulness in this New Year!

See you this Sunday as we discover “The Heart of the Matter” in our 1 John series.

In Christ’s Love,
Mark