Dear Friends,

Look for the opportunities. As the temperatures are rising, our plans are shifting from settled winter/spring habits to summer suggestions. It’s not summertime yet, but we know the heat is coming as it always does! Many people are already making their travel plans, ” the-kids-are-out -of-school” plans, life after graduation plans, or life after retirement plans. And some of us are just making plans to go back to work and try to survive another hot summer here in Phoenix! Whatever your plans, look for the opportunities.

Look for the opportunities to worship the God who loves you more than he loves himself. Wherever, you are take time to pray and thank God for the blessings you have around you. Here at home see the blessings. On the road see the blessings. With family near or far look for the blessings and thank God with prayer. Also ask God for help for yourself and others as you see needs. You will always find what you look for. When you look for opportunities, you will find them. When you take time to talk to God, also take time to listen to him. That’s the other part of worship. Maybe you have the chance to visit one of our sister congregations and worship with them. The same message can seem new when it’s heard from a different voice. You always have the option of watching worship from Apostles on our Facebook page or catching it later on our YouTube channel. Our worship services will continue at the regular times all through the summer.

Look for the opportunities to be a blessing. And that includes being a blessing to your own congregation here at Apostles. If you normally put your offering in the basket when you are here  in person, take some time to switch your contributions to Automated Giving while you are gone (contact Judi Markosian for help with that). Many people do the same for their utilities and other obligations while traveling, why not for church? After all, the Air Conditioner bills certainly go up around here at that time of year. Look for the opportunity to be a blessing to the people that you find around you this summer. It doesn’t matter if you are at home or on the road. There will always be people around you who need the gift or talent that God has given you. God may send you as the answer to their prayer. And no matter what gift or talent God has given you, we all can love and encourage those around us.

There will no doubt be a lot of changes this summer wherever you are. Some we expect and some will seem to come out of nowhere. But wherever you are look for the opportunities and  take this prayer with you:

Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

Peace,
Pastor Andrew