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God phoned the CPC office this week. 


Wouldn't it be nice if it worked that way sometimes! How does God speak to the church, or any of us, for that matter? 

Well, to keep things simple, clear, and appropriately 'blog-sized', there are three primary ways God speaks to us: 

  1. Through the Bible
  2. By His Spirit
  3. Through his family (each other; the church!) 

Most often, it's the combination of all three working together. And one, absent of the other two is often incomplete. 

Sometimes when we're together in a gathering, someone will sense a message stirring in their heart. They may even wonder if this message is for more than just themselves. It is the responsibility of those leading the gathering to discern if the message is 1. for just the individual, 2. for the whole church, and 3. for that exact moment (or for another time, and perhaps shared in another way). 

Last week, our dear sister Lena Russell arranged to meet with me. As we met she shared a wonderful picture and word that had been expanding in her soul for some time. It was rooted in Christ's words in John 15. She didn't ask to share it with the church; she only wanted to share it with me. I found it very encouraging and I suspect it would be a wonderful reminder to all of us. I wanted to share the summary Lena wrote for me with you for your benefit:

God is the Gardener (vinedresser), Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. The branches must remain in the Vine.  These are born-again believers. They already have their salvation and are clean. The Vinedresser continually lifts up the branches and ties them to the wire so as to expose them to the sun.  He cleans them of 'mold' and impurities (old habits etc.) Now the life (sap) flows from the roots bringing nourishment through the Vine into the branches, so they can produce fruit.  Without Holy Spirit we can do nothing.  We must remain in the Vine, having daily fellowship with Jesus.  Thanks be to God we are not left to ourselves.

How does this speak to you today?
What is one thing Jesus may be asking you to do in response to this? 

I encourage you to read John 15 and listen for the Holy Spirit's voice! 

Keep connected to Jesus - He is our first love! 

Pastor Mike