Hi Church Family,
At the root of all sin is thanklessness. You might argue that the root of all sin is pride or living independently of God. Perhaps. I would contend that we could trace many of our sinful choices back to a thankless heart. In describing the downward spiral of the depravity of humankind, Paul writes, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21).
The start of that downward descent is thanklessness.
If we revisited the account of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, it was when the serpent poked at God’s restriction, calling into question the goodness of God, that temptation to sin began its work. Once Eve began to wonder what it was that God was withholding from her, she was ready for temptation’s next stage.
Thanklessness! “Life would be better if…” Or “I am blessed but…” Or “if only I had…”
What are the “have nots” that are robbing you of joy right now?
What is the “one tree” that you keep fixating on that is pulling you away from enjoying what God has freely given you?
First Timothy 4:4 tells us, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” In other words, “Enjoy, freely enjoy.”
“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from that one tree” (Genesis 2:16-17). A good God said that! Can we trust that God is good, only good, and always good? Once we doubt the goodness of God, we are set up for thanklessness and temptation is about to do its real work in us.
Long before President Lincoln issued a proclamation that the last Thursday in November be a day of national Thanksgiving, God called us to give thanks to their Creator. Check out how often the word, “Thanks,” or “giving thanks” occurs in Scripture.
It has been said this way, “Satan does not fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God.” This Thanksgiving Day don’t forget God. Pretty basic. On Friday, don’t forget God. This December don’t forget God. This coming year, “don’t forget God.”
How has God been good to you? Are you enjoying the gifts He has given? Do you regularly give thanks to the giver of those gifts?
Happy Thanksgiving! Pastor Brian
Looking Forward
Sermon Direction
Ready or Not…
1 Peter 4:7-11
Link to This Sunday Worship Service
Church Workday
A big thank you to all who showed up in the frigid temperatures to clean up this past Saturday. We were able to accomplish many tasks.
Operation Christmas Child
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s Operation Christmas Child. From those who shopped and packed shoeboxes to those who helped pack cartons and load the truck. It wouldn’t have been possible without you. We sent out 3,476 shoeboxes from our drop off center. Included are1,082 shoeboxes collected from Laconia and the surrounding areas. We are grateful and blessed to be a part of this outreach ministry. In His service, Dave & Betsy
Ushers and Greeters Needed
We are looking for some friendly faces to join the hospitality team as ushers and greeters. This is a great opportunity to serve the body and guests of our church. Please email Susan Lyle at susan.lyle@gmail.com for more information.
Living Hope ~~~~ Church Directory
We are updating our church directory. Please consider taking a few minutes to add or update your information for the directory. If you prefer not to be included in the directory, please email or call the office. Click the link and enter information or find paper forms on ministry counter.
Ryan Barton
Ryan Barton is an entrepreneur, leader, and wisdom-seeker. He is founder and CEO of Mainstay Technologies, an IT company that has won many awards including Best Companies to Work For, Business of the Year, and Torch award for Marketplace Ethics. Ryan was recently awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year” for his work in NH.
He is involved in developing charities. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Laconia Christian Academy. Ryan seeks to work at the intersection of transcendence and practicality: He is drawn to the understanding and the strategies that help us each to awaken, transform, and experience goodness. Ryan is husband to Trish, father of Chloe, Noah, and Olivia, and is an insatiable reader!
Ryan Barton will lead us through his story of brokenness and ongoing transformation. He will share his perspective and tools he has learned as he has pursued fullness in emotional experience, in business, in ministry, and in family.
Please join us Friday night, December 2 @ 7:00.
Aspire Women’s Center
Aspire women’s Center offers a free confidential Bible Study for women looking for post abortive healing. Women who want hope and healing in their relationship with God can bring their experience out of the dark past into His Holy light. Women who want to find peace of God’s forgiveness and freedom to forgive others.
God seeks to lovingly heal those who have been suffering when faced with the pain of their past, whether it was one month ago, 5 years ago or 50 years ago. It takes great courage to step forward, but we can make it a little easier.
For more information see https://www.slideshare.net/
Christmas Eve and Christmas day services
Christmas Eve service will be held Saturday December 24th at 6:00 P.M.
Sunday Christmas day we will have one service being held at 10:00 A.M.
New Years Day January 1st we will have one service at 10:00 A.M.