CALL 2 FALL

Call 2 Fall is a national prayer effort taking place on July 5th, where Churches and believers gather together to pray for our country and repent before God.
Click: CALL2FALL to learn more.

Hope you all can join Angel and I across the Globe on July 5th...wherever you are!

Viva Leviticus, GCC!

We are a people who were created to celebrate. The book of Leviticus has lists of different celebrations for the people because God knew His people needed to celebrate. Nothing has changed since those days…we are still a people who not only need to celebrate, but we crave for times to get together. How many of you celebrate birthdays, graduations, births, anniversaries…my wife has even come up with special days to celebrate just for our kids and they love it. This June 14th we are going to celebrate! Another reason to get together to praise God for 35 years of what He has done through Maplegrove & Geneva Church of Christ. Come and join us in our celebration…our LEVITICUS moment! Our worship service will begin at 10am followed by a picnic!
VIVA LEVITICUS GCC!

HIS "Call Number" Responds

This past Sunday we honored our men and women who serve in Law Enforcement. Those who protect us daily and those who have lost their lives protecting us.

There was one video that we shared that really hit my heart.

Let me share a bit.

When an officer is killed in the line of duty his call number is retired.
Before I say any more…listen to the video below.





Wow! As I sat and listened to this video the day before my message something struck me. She said his call number 3 times. Why is that significant? We have a Lord who was in the grave 3 days…but on that third day…when his “call number” was called out HE RESPONDED by leaving the tomb! No matter where we are we can still call on HIM and He will hear us and He will answer and He will protect and He will be our refuge….

Because of His blood…guess what that means for our “call numbers”…those of us who belong to HIM, who are HIS followers? Death has no hold on us. Our “call number, our name is written in HIS book and cannot be retired! (Revelation 3:5)

How powerful is that?

I don't know about you, but there is a peace in knowing that HIS "Call Number" responded and STILL responds today...all we have to do is ask, knock and seek! Matthew 7:7,8; Revelation 3:20



Revelation 22:7 “Behold, I am coming soon!”

An Attitude of Abigail

I find the story of Abigail intriguing and powerful. There are so many facets to that story and yet I want to briefly talk about Abigail and her actions as we prepare for an incredible Sunday.

In 1 Samuel 25 we read about the story of Abigail, Nabal and David, and in this story we find David and his men had been watching over Abigail’s husbands land and those who worked in the fields.

“Night and day they were a wall around us all the time we were herding our sheep near them.” (vs. 16)

If you read the story you will see Abigail’s actions when her husband Nabal refused to thank David and his men for their protection. Abigail did not lose any time after she heard what Nabal did. She quickly put things together to ride out to David and his men to show her thanks for what they did for her husband and their land.

I challenge you to read what happened in 1 Samuel 25.

This Sunday, May 17th, we have a unique opportunity to thank the men and women who serve us in Law Enforcement. Those who serve to protect us daily and those who have lost their lives in the line of that service.

Today and always, may we express an attitude of Abigail.

I am really excited about this coming Sunday. One, because my kids love doing stuff for their mommy and I enjoy it because they are old enough now that they can come up with the most interesting, mind blowing ideas to make her feel loved. Joshua sat the other day and saw the "Open Heart" ad for "Kay Jewelers" and said, "That's what I want to give mommy." (apparently this is an innate thing for guys because my wife doesn't ask for jewelry) I see what my wife does daily for us and tonight I even told her, "I'm glad you are the mommy." I realize that she holds a place in our house that I cannot fill and it is unique, vital, has purpose and is treasured by us!

So, Once a year we “celebrate” Mother’s. We give them special gifts and flowers, but do we really see the race they are running?

I ask you Mom's, "As a Mother, do you ever ask yourself “what am I doing?” What kind of race are you running? What makes it…AMAZING?

Well, this coming Sunday is Mother's Day and I want to encourage you to invite all your friends and family join us as we celebrate Mother’s and talk about this AMAZING RACE.

Rib, if you are reading this...Know I love you and you are treasured!

Pastor Matt

WOW...heart PLANS!

Wow! What can I say? How can I not start a sentence without my “signature word”?

Thursday was another amazing day; it is the day I turned 37. Another birthday to reflect back on the past year and remember some amazing things God has given me and has taught me. One of the most significant things I have thought of this past year is my relationship with my kids and how thankful I am that God entrusted them to me, and how much we have grown together. Lately, one of the most enjoyable things I get to do is sit with my daughter and share in her little girl movies. She has allowed me, her daddy, to enter her little world that is important to her and I have found that my presence in her life…even watching a movie with her touches her life. Today, as she sits with me, giving my hugs and blowing kisses…I have found that her movie GIGI has taught me something about my own life. In this story, it is GiGi’s birthday and she really wants a Pinkie Star Castle, however, in her dream the King has plans to build her another castle. When she saw the plans she decided that this could not be what the King planned so she gave them the castle she wanted…after all, isn’t that what the King would want, for her to be happy? When it was finished there was a HUGE pink castle with a chocolate milk moat….which now attracted bees. It also had a bath tub that was far too big for her to sit in and the mirrors were so high she couldn’t even see herself. It was then she began to realize that the King truly knew her and knew what was best for her. That his plans had her best interest at heart and the castle He wanted to build would be perfect.

As I look back over my own life, I can see times where I thought my plans were what God would “want” for me. I have been learning yearly, monthly, daily, every moment that God has plans for me that are His…that are what is best for me and they are not to harm me like attacking bees around a chocolate moat, but are like the trees He plants by streams of living water. Thursday I turned 37 and I am so grateful that He is in charge of my life…not me.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Stones of Pain Weighing Heavy...

This week will be the end of our series, Yes, God Still Moves Stones. I could think of no better topic than to talk about the STONES OF PAIN. Why, because we all feel it, experience it, see it, touch it, and walk in it. Some of us experience pain because of others, some because of illness or loss. Others, well, we just plainly walk straight into it. And, at some point in our lives…we will experience each path with the road name, “PAIN”.

My wife shares that when she was in track that her coach always told her that pain speaks. It tells you when your body is in distress, when it needs something or for you to stop doing something. Often times, however, we have become accustomed to the pain that we don’t seek out the one who can move the STONE off our foot, leg, arm, head, heart, eyes…you get the picture. Did you know that you can have freedom from pain, and you can have freedom in pain? Maybe the Stone of Pain He needs to move is something spiritual rather than physical.

A year ago my wife woke up on a Tuesday and was pain free. She could hardly believe it. She was full of energy, praising God that she could sit up and walk without pain. For three straight days she was without pain and for the first time the Motrin bottle did not move from the shelf. Yet, on the fourth day…it all returned. I was so discouraged, after all I had been praying and asking God to release her from her pain. I learned something that day when she looked at me and smiled and said, “He gave me three days…a small glimpse of what it will be like in GLORY when the pain is gone…I am going to cling to that HOPE.”

I don’t know what your pain is? I do know He can move the Stones of Pain in your life. I know that He can give you freedom from the pain in your life and I know that he can give you freedom and joy in the midst of pain.

I’m excited to explore the STONES OF PAIN this Sunday. Come and explore with me here at GCC @ 10:30am.