A Follower's Thoughts - God's Creation

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Job 12:7-10 says, "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, they will tell you; or the bushes of the Earth, and they will teach you, and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." Have you ever looked into the night sky, looking at all the stars or the moon shining so bright that it illuminated the ground around you? Have you ever watched a sunrise or sunset as the light kissed the clouds and turned them into red, yellow, purple, and other colors that even the greatest artistic painters cannot create? My most intimate moments with God are when I'm outside, taking in the wonders of God.

I've had the privilege of traveling to other parts of the country and Canada to go on hunting and fishing excursions. I've sat in a boat on a lake, 100 miles from civilization, listening to a loon make its haunting call, echoing down the lake. I watched the northern lights dance across the sky. I lay in my sleeping bag and listened to wolves howl in the distance. I walked through an Aspen tree forest as the sun shone through the leaves, engulfed in yellow. And yes, I have had the privilege of trekking through knee-deep snow, snowing so hard I could barely see 10 ft in front of me. That right there was not a pleasant memory! Of all my favorite memories of being in God's Creation, my favorite would be trekking up a mountain on a beautiful clear morning, at around 11,000 ft elevation, trying to breathe in oxygen like you would not believe. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Anyway, I found this huge rock ledge overlooking this vast range of mountains in Colorado. It was breathtaking! I took my Bible out of my pack, sat there on that ledge, and started reading God's Word. The closeness I had to God in those moments was overwhelming! There is an unspeakable peace and joy when you experience things as I have mentioned. Whether you realize it or not, we are all, in some way, connected to our Earth. This has been given to us as our temporary home to enjoy. Sometimes I think society, as a whole, has gotten away from the connection we need with God's Creation. We spend too much time on our phones and TVs and not enough time watching a sunrise or sunset, hiking a trail, fishing or hunting, walking outside looking at the spring flowers blooming, listening to the birds sing, getting our hands dirty planting flowers or a garden. All these outdoor experiences teach us that God is with us. God speaks to us through everything he has made. We need to take the time to look and listen. It's one of the best ways to find God. So, as we approach Holy Week, may we all take the time to experience God's Creation in some way. Never forget to thank God every day for breathing life into you, and most of all, thank his Son and our Savior Jesus Christ for dying on a cross so that we can have eternal life with our Creator.

God Bless!

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Hold On Tight

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Isaiah 41:13 says, “I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” I will never forget the birth of our children. I can remember watching as my wife gave birth to our son, and three years later, the birth of our daughter. These were the most amazing events I have ever witnessed and probably ever will! What a joy it was to hold them and reach down and grab their tiny hand and fingers. Feeling them grip my hand brought tears of joy; seeing their little chest move in and out as they breathed in the air that God provided for them left me in awe and wonder! Words can’t describe the love I felt for my wife and them at those moments.

Our children are all grown up now. My son graduated college and is following his dreams. Our daughter is in college pursuing her dreams. Every time we see them, we hug them and let them know how much we love them. Most of all, we pray for them. When I read Isaiah 41:13, I’m reminded of how much we loved our children and still do love our children. You see, God does the same things for us that we did and still do for our children. Isaiah said that God takes hold of our hands and says, do not fear. When trials come our way, God takes us up into his arms and holds our hand, just as I had done those many years ago with my children—just knowing that brings peace of mind to me. What about you? Jesus wants us to come to him in times of fear. When we reach up and grab Jesus’s hand, I can only think that he will shed tears of joy, knowing that we trust in him to get us through difficult times in our lives. Are you going through a difficult season in your life? Take heart, reach out and grab the hand of Jesus, and trust in him. Just as little children trust in their parents to provide, we must trust in our Heavenly Father to provide because when we do, a wave of peace will come upon us and assure us that everything is going to be alright.

God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Let's Go Fishing

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John 21: 1-3 says, "After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathering there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him. 'We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing."

When I read my bible, I love to imagine myself right there in the middle of what's going on. I love this scene in the last chapter of John. Here are some of Jesus's disciples standing by the sea. I wonder what they were talking about? Do you think the conversation might have centered around the events they just had been through? After all, they had seen Jesus bound in chains and taken from them. They had seen Jesus being crucified on a cross, his body laid in a tomb, then finding out that his body was no longer in the tomb. To top that off, Jesus appears to them, talking and sharing meals with them! What a whirlwind of emotions the disciples must have been going through. Fear, sadness, anger, shock, disbelief, you name it. I would imagine great joy when Jesus appears to them and has fellowship with them. What an emotional ride that must have been!

I can see Peter walking away from the group, looking out over the sea, breathing in the salty air, watching the sea birds glide over the waves, and saying, "I'm going fishing." Really, Peter? After all you and the other disciples have been through? I got to thinking about what Peter said, and it dawned on me that maybe Peter wanted to go fishing to take his mind off the trials and tribulations he and his friends were going through. I'm sure Peter loved to fish. After all, he was a fisherman by trade. I think Peter just wanted to get away from the troubles and problems life was throwing at him. We need to apply this scripture into our lives in that sometimes when life deals us trials and tribulation, fears and anxieties; we also need to get away. Take a deep breath and step back. Take a hike, ride a bike, call and talk to a friend, visit a loved one, start a hobby, read God's Word, and yes, go fishing.

We know how this scene ends. The disciples caught nothing that night. But guess who shows up on the beach at daybreak? Jesus. Jesus knew the frustrations they were going through, just as he knows every frustration we have. So, Jesus shouts from the shoreline where the disciples should cast the net. They did as he said, and they filled the net full of fish. Jesus calls us daily to cast our net, even when it seems hopeless. We must cast our net and cast it with faith. The disciples did and looked at what happened—a net full of fish. Good things happen when we cast our nets for Jesus. Lives are saved, brokenness is healed, sorrow is turned to joy, love destroys hate, and light is brought into darkness. Are you ready to cast your net? Are you prepared for a peace that surpasses all understanding? Only Jesus can bring that into our lives. Peace of mind is a rare commodity these days. When trials and troubles come our way, and they will, may we all look out over the oceans of our lives and say, "I'm going fishing."

God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Scars In Our Lives

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John 20: 27-29 says, "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your fingers here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'"

Most, if not all, of us have scars. Whether it be emotional or physical, scars are there. They are a reminder of just how fragile we are. We tend to carry our emotional scars within our souls, locking them up and throwing away the key. Hurtful words, degrading comments, wrongful acts against us can create emotional scars. Our physical scars are visible on the outside. Physical scars remind us of the stupid mistakes we make. They remind us sometimes that we tend to do things before we think. And yes, physical scars make us ponder this question. Isn't this a disaster waiting to happen?

So, through all our emotional and physical scars that we may carry around in our lives, there is someone whose scars trump our scars. That someone is Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to put our fingers in his hands and put our hand in his side, and do not doubt but believe. For it is by his wounds that we are healed. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thought

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1 Kings 19: 11-13 says, "The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'"
When I read this scripture in 1 Kings, I imagine myself in Elijah's shoes. God had called him out to be in his presence. Does God call you out to be in his presence? He calls me out daily to read his word. He calls me out to take walks with him, whether it be in the woods, on a hiking trail, in my own yard, or walking around doing my daily work. The point is that God calls. We must hear that call and respond. I will admit, there are times when I don't respond. I've come to know that usually, when I don't respond is when the noises of life drown out the quiet whisper of God, saying, "come be in my presence." Just like the scripture is describing. Elijah could not hear God in the wind, in the earthquake, nor in the fire. He heard him in the whisper. I find myself more and more seeking God's gentle whisper, especially when life's winds, earthquakes, and fires are drowning out God's voice. I hope each one of you will find the time this Holy Week to come into God's presence and hear His gentle whisper. Read your Bible, take that walk, find a quiet place to be in God's presence. You will be glad you did. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts on Generosity

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A Followers Thought - Correll Pritchard

Almsgiving and Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says, "The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work." Doesn't it make you feel good to help someone in need? It does me good. And guess what? It makes God feel good too. After all, didn't he say so himself in 2 Corinthians 9:7? Almsgiving and generosity are about giving of ourselves to help others. Whether it's giving our money to the church, charities, or the homeless person down the street, or whether it's giving our time and talents on missions trips, community projects, or as simple as saying a kind word to a stranger.

The point is it's about giving. You see, it's not about us. It's about others, thinking of others before ourselves. Jesus was the greatest example of giving. He gave his life for us on a cross so that we may have eternal life! Now that's the ultimate definition of almsgiving and generosity! As we go through these 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter and the resurrection of Jesus, may we reflect on what Christ did for us and give our money, time, and talents to others in need. And remember, do it with a cheerful heart because God loves a cheerful giver. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts on Prayer - Correll Pritchard

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Philippians 4: 6-7 says, "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Wow, I love those verses! Let's face it, we all worry from time to time and get anxious about matters in our lives. This fast-paced world we live in today can be a challenge. Juggling our jobs with decision-making with family time and whatever else our lives bring can be overwhelming. In my walk with Jesus, I have learned to prioritize my life in this order. "God First," then my lovely wife, then my children, then my job. In my opinion, the key is God First. Prayer is me turning that key to open the door to a one-on-one relationship with Christ. When I get stressed, I withdraw to a quiet place and pray. It may be in my office at work, it may be while I'm outside working around our campuses, or it may be going to my favorite spot on my personal property. The point is this, take the time to talk to God. To me, a one-on-one conversation with God is prayer. It's my favorite way to pray to God. I feel Jesus right there with me when I have these conversations. Guess what? My worries and anxieties fade away. Then I feel a peace that overcomes me. Just as the scripture says, a peace that surpasses all understanding. What is your favorite place to retreat to or your favorite way to pray? Wherever or whatever it is, please take the time, not only this Lenten Season, but every day to have that relationship with Christ. It all starts with a conversation.

God Bless,

Correll

Adoration & Worship - Correll Pritchard

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A Followers Thought

Adoration and Worship

Adoration is the showing of respect and devotion to God. Worship is the showing of Adoration to God in many ways, such as going to church to worship him, praying daily, giving God thanks for all your blessings, putting others first before your needs, giving your time and money to further God's Kingdom. Those are just a few things that symbolize our Adoration to God. I want my brothers and sisters in Christ to think about this. Adoration and Worship can only come when you have Jesus in your heart and soul. You might say, where is this statement going?

Well, let me give you guys a little background of my life growing up. I didn't grow up in a Christian home. I didn't go to church; I didn't pray daily; I didn't put others first; nor did I do any other thing to show Adoration and Worship for God. Yet, I always believed there was a God. You might ask, how could that be? It could be because I did grow up in a loving home. My parents loved my brother and me very much. They taught us right from wrong, a good work ethic, respect our elders. Could it be that I grew up loving the outdoors, God's Creations? My dad would carry my brother and me hunting and fishing often. The best part about those excursions was being out there in the woods, the lake, or the rivers and creeks we explored, seeing and experiencing God's Creations! Oh yea, one more thing. My mom would prepare the fish and wild game we harvested. That was some great eating! I guess experiencing these events in my life made me realize that there is more to this creation than the Big Bang Theory. I just knew there was a higher power at work here. It was God!

Thinking back on these events in my life, it wasn't until I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior that Adoration and Worship became the focus of my life. I started looking at God as not only the creator of all things but as the creator of me. And in doing so, I must do everything that I can to follow the example of his son Jesus. In John 14;6, Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." I believe if we want to fully experience Adoration and Worship to the Father, we have to surrender to the son. It is through Jesus that our Adoration and Worship of God can be complete. God Bless.

Correll

A Follower's Thoughts - Making Memories

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We all love to make memories with our children. I have so many fond memories of my children when they were little. The trips to the beach were some of my fondest. Wendy and I would spend time with them on the beach making sandcastles, putting them on a float for the first time, and letting the waves carry them to shore; all the time, they were crying and screaming, hold me, hold me. I guess the ocean can be a little intimidating when you are a child. I also remember lying on the beach and letting my kids cover me in the sand until all you could see was my head. Oh, and another time my daughter climbed on a bar stool in the condo and fell off, breaking her wrist. Now, that was a memory, not so great when you spend one of your vacation days in the ER!

Some of my favorite memories are the times at church with our children: Wednesday night suppers in the Fellowship Hall, helping teach them in Sunday School, carrying them to Bible School, making Advent wreaths, watching them in Christmas plays, coaching them in Micro-Soccer, and yes, trying to keep my daughter from rolling around on the floor at the Arbor Service on Sunday mornings. You know, there is a saying, "it takes a village to raise a child." I wish to thank each one in my church village that helped build a foundation under my family, a foundation centered around Jesus.

As Christmas approaches, let us all continue to make memories with family, friends, and church family. Let us not forget what this season is about, Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 says, "For a child has been born, a son given to us, authority rest upon his shoulders: and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." May Jesus be included in our memories this Christmas, as well as every day moving forward. God Bless and Merry Christmas!

Correll Pritchard

A Follower's Thought

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My family and I went camping at Wind Creek this past Saturday a week ago. The weather that Saturday morning was wonderful! You could feel the cool air of the fall season, my favorite time of year. I got up early that morning, got me a cup of coffee and my Bible, and went down by the water to have my alone time with God.

I opened my Bible to James 4:13-15 and read. "Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money. Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.'" As I sat there contemplating what I had just read and watching the sunrise, I noticed the mist rising off the waters of Lake Martin. I thought about how we are like that mist rising. Then I asked myself this question. What is my life? James 4:14 said that my life is a mist that appears then vanishes. At that very moment, I watched as the mist danced across the water, rise above the waters, and vanish. I thought to myself, that is what my spirit will do one day when my time on Earth is done. My spirit will rise up to meet my Savior, Jesus Christ!

You know, we go out into the world and make all kinds of plans for our future. Yet, God's Word says, we are not promised tomorrow. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to plan for our future, but I do believe we need to consult Christ on our plans and put God at the front of our plans. I pray for guidance for myself and my family's future, as we all should. I ask myself this question. God, is this really what you want me to do, or is this really what I want you to do? So, I" ve learned to say, God, your will be done, not mine. After all, I'm just a mist rising off a lake. Here for a little while, then vanishing. Whether it be today, tomorrow, or anytime in the future, none of us knows when our time on Earth is up. I pray we all will rise like the mist into the Heavenly Realms to be with our Jesus.

God Bless. To him be the Glory!

Correll Pritchard

A Follower's Thought

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I was sitting here this morning thinking about what I could write down to encourage people today. I was reading over an old devotion that I shared a few years ago with our staff. It came from James 3:1-12. It says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistake in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships, though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also, the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is set on fire by hell. Every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue. A restless evil full of deadly poison. With it, we bless the Lord and Father, and with it, we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine yield figs? No more can salt water yield fresh."

Wow! That was a mouthful! A wise person once said, as you go through life, you are going to have many opportunities to keep your mouth shut. Take advantage of all of them. You know, it would be nice in our walk with Jesus, if that walk came with a total makeover of the mouth. I believe that makeover is possible, but it can be a huge battle for us as Christians. You see, we are in a constant battle between our flesh and our spirit. The tongue is one of those major battles. I believe that the hurtful and unkindly comments that we sometimes can say is really a heart problem. Our tongue and mouth is just a vent from our heart. If I can change my heart first, my tongue will respond with kinder words to build up someone, not tear them down. How can I change my heart? By renewing my mind in Christ, Jesus daily. How do I do that? By reading God's word every single day. By praying to God to guide me every single day. And lastly, by fearing God. You see, we are all going to be held accountable by God for what we say. In Mathew 12:36-37, Jesus said, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned." Those words right there, motivate me to try and bridle my tongue each day. Does that always work? No, but I wake up each day reading God's word and praying to him to help me fight my flesh. I'm not perfect. None of us are. We must rise each day, knowing through faith that the blood of Christ washes our imperfections away. I want to close by saying these words that I read somewhere in a book. It goes like this. "On a windswept hill in an English country churchyard stands a drab, gray slate tombstone. The stone bears an epitaph not easily seen unless you stoop over and look closely. The faint etchings read: 'Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, lies Arabella Young, Who on the twenty-fourth of May, began to hold her tongue.' That is all that will happen to us someday when we die. It will just be a lump of clay. And on that day, we will hold our tongue."

Let's hope that we learn what that woman never did, to tame our tongue.

God Bless.

Correll Pritchard

A Follower's Thoughts - Going Against the Grain

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Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." As a Christian, trying to not conform to this world can be a tough challenge. The allure of worldly possessions, money, bigger houses, better vehicles, that new pair of shoes, or jeans is following along with the crowd. Could it be, we follow the world because we want to be accepted, be liked, be successful, have more than our neighbors? It could be, as Christians, we should be going against the grain of worldly thinking? We really should. We should stand out in the crowd. After all, we are disciples of Christ Jesus. We must renew our minds to the will of God. Look at it this way, picture the world as a wooden board. Have you ever rubbed your hand down a wooden board? Often, when you rub your hand down the board in one direction, it feels really smooth, but when you rub your hand in the opposite direction, it feels really rough. That's due to the grain in the wood, with the grain, it's smooth; against the grain, it's rough. It's often so rough that sometimes you may get a splinter in your hand. Believe me, a splinter in your hand is no fun! Basically, when you conform to this world, you are following the grain or the ways of the world. This is easy and smooth—the path of least resistance. Now, on the other hand, when you don't follow the world and its enticements, you go against the grain. That can and will be rough and, at times, painful. Jesus said, if you follow me, you will be persecuted. But you know what, as far as I see it, it's a path worth taking, because at the end of that board is Jesus holding out His nail-pierced hands to take our hands and remove every splinter that the world has given us. God Bless.

Correll Pritchard