I am so grateful for you and your prayers.  I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.

Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart

Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Knowing God’s will is sometimes a difficult thing for us as believers.

We all want to find God’s will for our life.

But often the motivation in seeking God’s will is self-centered.

It is God’s will for me, with the emphasis upon me.

Of course, God has a will and purpose for each of us, but many times we may have no idea that God’s will is for God!

It is not just His will for me.

It is His will for Himself.

Vision gives us the ability to prove what is not only the “good” but also the “well pleasing and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2 indicates that in order to prove the perfect will of God, we need the transformation that comes from the renewing of our mind.

Transformation and mind-renewing are related to vision.

The vision of the major things on God’s heart automatically imparts the ability to prove the will of God.

Without vision, we will be trying to figure out what God’s will is.

Finding God’s will for our life becomes a major pursuit.

We look for some indication of His leading.

We look for impressions.

We are expecting that perhaps God will speak to us in a dream.

We often are eagerly waiting for an open door.

This is not to say that the Lord does not use various means to reveal His will to us, but many times we are seeking for something that has nothing to do with God’s own will for Himself.

We are without the overall vision of the mystery of His will, which is Christ and the church–the governing vision of the universe.

Let me illustrate.

When a young man joins the Army, he is under the direction of the big will of the Army.

His decisions and his little will about where he lives, how he spends his time, and when he goes on leave are all within the scope of the big will.

The big will is really the will that controls and directs his life.

His little will moves within the sphere of the big will.

We all must know that there is a big will for every believer.

That big will is Christ and the church!

That is God’s revealed will for you and for me.

My little will–who I am going to marry, where I am going to school, where I am going to live–is to be discerned within the sphere of God’s big revealed will.

And this revealed will of God is identical to the heavenly vision that Paul obeyed.

Thus, like Paul, we can prove and know the perfect will of God.

It is vision that gives us the ability to prove it!

Until Tomorrow

With A Shepherd’s Love,

Pastor Jackson

FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

Greg Paine

June Cronan

Lee Cronan

Darlene Thaxton 

Darlene Wiggins

Amy Garner

Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad 

Ashely Burn’s Sisters 

Brandon’s Dad 

Charlene Palmer

Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons 

Dan Haines

David Burnette  

David Harrison

Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother 

Donnie Butler’s Dad

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Easton Fielder 

Eric Ward

Erik Magnusson

Freddie May’s Mom 

George & Linda Alexander 

James Burnette 

James Garner’s Friend 

Jillian Gray

Jim Mabe 

Jodi Bateman 

John Austin 

John McClain 

June Cronan’s Sister 

Karen Slane

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Lamar Knight   

Larry Barker 

Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Alexander

Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah 

Linda Hodges’ Sister 

Lonzo Christin 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Sims 

Marynell Ford 

Maureen Brown 

Michael Stanley 

Pastor & Mrs. Driskell 

Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother 

Ricky Stubbs 

Rose Fuller 

Roseleigh Osborn 

Sandra Graham    

Scott Lanier 

Terrell Loyd

Tom Witcher