“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.” (Psalm 113:3)
“I am sick and tired of being encouraged.” Said probably no one – ever!
In Thessalonians, Paul is telling the church that Jesus is going to return and judge the world, and as believers, we should not be surprised or unprepared for that day. We need to stay the course in walking with the Lord and actively serve Him until He returns. And we also want to help each other in this process of living out our faith. So Paul says…“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Here are ten ways you can encourage and build up your brothers and sisters in Christ this month:
- Pray for them by name. Before our home group night, I often pray for each of the members of our group before they arrive. I was also recently given a prayer journal. I have a few names in there so far, and as I go through it regularly, it reminds me to build that person up with spiritual power through prayer.
- Write a letter. My daughter is good at this. She will periodically pick a handful of people to send a word of encouragement through a card or letter. She prays verses over them, and she has heard back from some of them that the letter came at the perfect time and spoke the words they really needed to hear.
- Publicly bless someone. Pick someone around the dinner table or at a gathering and share about how you see Christ in them and what you appreciate about them. Dave Collins always leads a group of people to do this at someone’s birthday or special event.
- Seek to add value to someone. When you wake up in the morning, make it your goal to add value to someone during the day. Check-in at night with yourself to see if you were able to complete the goal.
- Offer to just be with them. Sometimes what is needed most is just your supportive presence even when you don’t know how to help someone.
- Rejoice with someone in their success. Let someone know how excited you are about a blessing or victory in their life.
- Jump in with someone to complete a job. Jump right in with a brother/sister and help them clean out their garage, build that fence, or dig that hole.
- Declare God’s faithfulness and mercy in your own life. Jesus came to save sinners and has been merciful to us regularly. Sharing this testimony of your own life will encourage others to not give up.
- Seek to serve someone in desperate need. Like the Good Samaritan, go the extra mile to help someone this month.
- Send a spontaneous text. Ask God who to encourage and send them an encouraging word, a Scripture, or a great worship song.
One of our three goals as a church is to “GROW IN COMMUNITY”. Let’s all try to accomplish at least three of these this month.
~ Pastor Randy
Hope’s 10th Birthday Celebration!
Suzi King, Director
women@hopetucson.com
Truth be told, it’s unsettling to see this photo of myself every month. I don’t look like that woman anymore and likely never will again. It was taken before I had cancer. My post chemo hair is a crop of unruly grey curls that refuse to lie down…my eyebrows in their own quiet rebellion never quite recovered. I don’t recognize my own reflection.
Yet, I am grateful that our good and gracious God invites me daily to look into a different mirror to see who I am….and He invites you too. Our natural identity, our gifts, talents, wealth, achievements, possessions, appearance or popularity will never be enough to tell us who we are, to sustain a sense of identity that can’t be shaken and is stable enough to build a life upon. We need a supernatural identity, one imparted to us as daughters of the Most High. Ephesians Chapter 1 tells us we have just that. It describes us as saints, blessed, chosen, holy, blameless, adopted, sons and daughters, beloved, redeemed, forgiven, saved and sealed. We have an immutable identity that our Father has both the first and final word on.
Perhaps you are experiencing a trial that renders your life as “unrecognizable.” The grief of lost health, work, relationships, dreams and time can alter our lives in very real ways but cannot change our spiritual DNA. The truths of Ephesians 1 are decreed, absolute and final because of the cross. It is precisely because of this identity that we can press in toward the Lord when the storms come. When we are tempted to doubt or despair we can recall and preach to ourselves our adoption as beloved children of the Most High. We are the “apple of His eye” and I am so grateful we don’t have to rely on the mirror to tell us who we are.
I look forward to enjoying fellowship with all of you in this new year. Our calendar of monthly opportunities, while already set, remains fluid as we navigate this season.
(And P.S….that photo appears monthly with my blessing. It’s a potent reminder of where my gaze should be fixed.)
In His Service, Suzi
pastor kevin receiving his ministry license certificate – way to go!
Discipleship Corner
My wife and I were recently watching one of the Mission Impossible movies and of course it starts with Tom Cruise’s character getting briefed on a mission. The message says something like, “your mission, if you choose to accept it…”. This is so cool! Ethan Hunt is presented with a challenge, and of course, in the movies, he always rises to the challenge.
I think there is something in each of us that wants to be challenged, that wants to be offered a mission. Guess what, we have all been given a mission and it’s super challenging and unbelievably rewarding and way more important than anything Ethan Hunt has ever done.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Go Get’ em! Pastor Dave
Jim Zimmer, Director
zimmer1501@comcast.net
Men’s Camp
Friday & Saturday, March 26-27
@ El Conquistador Resort
Speaker: Bay Forrest
More information to come!
Kyria Kelly - Director
children@hopetucson.com
We are thrilled that we are off to such a great start with our “Loaves and Fish” Scripture memory program. Our kids have jumped into learning their verses and are enthusiastic about the chance to serve Unite 4 Africa with their hard work.
Over the next few months, we hope to come alongside families and encourage personal and family devotional time at home. Kim Sorgius at “Not Consumed” has lots of incredible resources for families striving to follow Christ together, and I encourage you to browse her website after checking out her free family devotional downloads. https://www.notconsumed.com/simple-devotions-for-families-free-printables-youll-love/
Please let me know if I can come alongside you and your family as you continue in your relationships with our Savior. I love hearing from you and love receiving drawings from and interacting with your children!
Thanking God every day for you, Kyria
AWANA continues to meet for Bible and fun games – all with safe practices!
We are in need of someone who will watch one or two toddlers for parents who serve as leaders. Are you the one?
We meet most Wednesdays from 5:45-7:45 p.m. Give Tim or Marilyn a call at 520-575-1307.
February Birthdays:
Quinn Underwood 2/03
Jace Alexander 2/07
Kara Manis 2/10
Silas Zientarski 2/13
Keegan Kollasch 2/16
Jase Coveris 2/19
Bronson Medlen 2/19
Avianni Medlen 2/19
Stephanie Orr 2/19
Gideon Zientarski 2/25
Elias Stroop 2/28
Kevin Mason
Youth Pastor
kmason@hopetucson.com
Winter Camp was such a blessing! So obvious that the Lord showed up and encouraged us all. Throughout camp we processed the concepts of repentance and how that leads us to love God and others well. So excited to hear that students are eager to be in the Word more and to find ways to stay connected to our Savior. Please pray that students will continue to be on fire for the Lord and live a life worthy of Him.
Right now, HopeYouth is in the process of planning some Bible studies to help encourage students. As of now, we have one on Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. We are going through Systematic Theology. If you are interested, please email me at kmason@hopetucson.com.
Important Dates for February:
HopeYouth
Sundays, January 14, 21 & 28
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
at Summit Ridge Community Church
(505 W. Hardy Road)
Superbowl Party – February 7
More info to come!
Contact Information:
Website:
www.hopetucson.com
Administration:
info@hopetucson
Pastor Randy:
rbrainard@hopetucson.com
Pastor Dave:
dcollins@hopetucson.com
Pastor Matt:
mpoling@hopetucson.com
Pastor Kevin:
kmason@hopetucson.com
Mailing Address:
2114 W. Grant Road, PMB 87
Tucson, Arizona 85745
Phone:
520-400-1483
