THANKFUL

“I am so thankful for Northgate!”

That’s what I heard from someone in the past few days and I heartily agree!

God is at work and you and I have “front-row seats” as we worship and serve Him together. I can’t even begin to number the people who have described life-altering experiences for which they trace the beginning back to a service or Life Group or other event at Northgate. It’s thrilling to witness God transforming lives. Here are just a few examples:

  • A marriage which is experiencing renewal after many years of angry words and mistrust.
  • Grandparents who have new hope for a grandchild who is suffering the consequences of some terrible decisions.
  • Someone who has reached out to ask forgiveness for years of bitterness and anger.
  • A daughter being reconciled to her father with whom she had no contact for more than 15 years.
  • Two people with severe communication problems who are now learning to listen and respond without using the terms “always” and “never.”
  • Several people who are learning to live with limitations instead of being angry at God for allowing those limitations in the first place.

And there are a lot more stories which can’t be told without breaking confidences. You may be one of the stories. In fact, I think it would be easier to count the people who haven’t experienced new hope, forgiveness, restoration, or purpose.  This is the power of the resurrection at work!

So I’ll rewrite the refrain of one of our recent favorite worship songs:

Holy Spirit, we witness you here

You flood our lives and change the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what has filled our hearts

We are overcome by Your presence, Lord

I am so thankful for God’s powerful presence at Northgate.

A Leader We Can Trust

Lies. Cover-ups. Character assassination. Bullying. Conspiracies. Murder. Fraud. Manipulation.

None of it is new.

Satan has been using every tool at his disposal for thousands of years in a relentless attempt to distract Jesus followers from trusting their Leader.

But our Leader is not a king or a pharaoh; a ceasar or a prime minister; a chairman or a president. Our Leader is the Creator of the earth and everything in it; the Master of every atom and molecule; the only one who has ever conquered death never to die again. Our Leader is the Ruler of the Universe.

The election on November 8, 2016 will not change Jesus’ status: He will still sit at the right hand of the Father to carry out God’s will and work in our world. Nothing can alter the course He has laid out for us. No email scandal or offensive video will derail God’s control.

Please don’t make a grave mistake and put your trust in the outcome of an election. The results of this election will not surprise Jesus. He has a plan and nothing can stop Him. Nothing could be more certain.

Jesus is the Leader, Master, Ruler, and President of all who follow hard after Him.

Trust Him.