Life Changing Changes

Change in life can be a very powerful tool in the hands of the Lord to help us to change.  Can you remember the last transition that you went through that really changed your life in some way?  Changing your residency certainly changes your physical surroundings…beginning a new job presents new challenges…getting married should change your life…  One of the most difficult transitions that I have ever faced is leaving home to go to college.  It is just about that time for some of our young people!

In the Old Testament, Patriarchs like Abraham were sometimes “called” to physically pack their bags and move on.  Somewhere along the journey or perhaps once they reached their destination, they would build a stone altar and worship the Lord.  This altar represented a commitment to the Lord and what He was doing in their lives, even though it was difficult. 

In times of change, we become stretched and challenged in all new ways.  Isn’t stretching and challenging ourselves both physically and all other ways good for us?  I think that I’ve heard it said, “It keeps you young.”  Yet, if you are anything like me, you resist change.  My prayer – Lord change me, Lord change us…help us to become more like you.

Hopefully you will find this simple yet challenging.

Rick Brock

The float featured a silhouette of the Church all lit up and complete with stained glass windows and featuring the ARCTIC penguin.

We believe that our appearance in the parade allows us to share the Christian message and to encourage our community to learn more about the combined Youth Groups, from these two churches. “Annandale Reformed Church Teens In Christ”’s enthusiasm is infectious.

Pastor Rick provided the music and one of our teens, Eddie McBurney used a microphone and encouraged the parade watchers to share the Christmas greeting with us as a way of sharing fellowship with the community.  It seemed to us that no other float interacted with the parade goers, and the children of all ages shared the Christmas greeting.

High Bridge Reformed Church and Annandale Reformed Church YOUTH are joining efforts.  While we are still in the infancy of this union and figuring out all that it means, we certainly know that there has been a renewed energy in our meetings.  We have basically doubled in attendance for our Wednesday evening meetings.  Along with the youth, we are also becoming more familiar with a few parents who have already shown themselves to be valuable partners in this ministry.  ARCTIC will certainly keep its identity but we have also begun brainstorming for an identity that will represent the union.  Thanks God for His leading and please continue to pray for God’s leading as we look for his will.