::truth::

God’s Faithfulness and Dependability

In John Bunyan’s classic book, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, our hero’s depart from the path and become prisoners, locked in the dungeon of Doubting Castle which was ruled by the merciless Giant Despair. Pilgrim and his companion are beaten daily and deprived of all sustenance. When they are at their wits end, suddenly Pilgrim remembers that in his pocket he has a key called “promise” that will open any lock! Sure enough, the key opens the cell door, the dungeon door, and the castle door. Pilgrim and his companion run to freedom!

Nice story- what’s the point?

God’s faithfulness can be defined as his commitment to be 100% faithful to his word. God’s faithfulness and his Word are linked together in scripture. That means God’s faithfulness is seen in his promises. God gives us many promises – things he pledges to do or be for his people. And God is absolutely faithful to keep his word!

But those promises do us no good if they stay in our pocket.  God has given us promises for eternal life, for help in trouble, for guidance and wisdom, for protection and refuge.  But they don’t do us any good if they stay in our pocket.  When we are trapped in doubting castle, abused by a giant despair (ever been there?) we’ve got to take the promise out of our pocket!

We glorify God when we take him at his word.  Let’s lean on him and lean into him. He is faithful, we can depend on him. Let’s honor him like little children who trust and rely on their father (fathers really dig that!)

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Psalms 18:2

The well wisher of your soul’s happiness,

Pastor Tom

(Click here for passages to meditate upon this week)

::prayer::

Check the church “directory” on our website so you can follow-up you prayers with a call or email! (http://swchurchonline.org)

Carolyn:  Pray for Alex to find faith in Jesus while in jail.  My Uncle Ted is in the hospital with bleeding on the brain.  Another couple just lost their home – pray for peace, hope for the future and them to experience the kindness of the Lord.  Pray for a friend struggling with lack of income, a difficult living situation, and unresolved health issues – maybe neurological.  Needs better help.

Wendy:  Please pray for healing for my friend, Elijah Johnson, who was injured (broken bones) yesterday in a vehicle accident.  Praise to the Lord that he survived the rollover.  Pray that God would heal his body and give peace and comfort to his family.  Pray also for Stan and Beth that they will trust in the Lord during challenges in the work place.  The Evil One seems to be trying to impede the work they do to bring glory to God.  Pray that the Spirit will come upon all parties and that they will deal graciously with each other.

Nancy:  Praise for God’s provision in our insurance issues!!  The claim for Jonathan’s heart procedures was paid in full.  Pray for Janna as she waits on God’s perfect plan for her future, whether it is to teach in Morocco or somewhere else.  Pray for our outreach to our neighbors.

Pray for our Fall outreach and service opportunities:

• November 17-22^nd – Samaritan’s Purse “Christmas Child Box” collection (pack boxes into crates on 22^nd)
• December 4-5^th – ECHO trip to Ft. Meyers – volunteers needed.

Check out some service opportunities at The Church of West Orange website. The Church of West Orange is a coalition of churches in our area seeking to be “The Church” to our community!  Good stuff.

::community::

• Birthdays & Anniversaries coming up: Whitney Phillips (11/15), Julie Violini (11/16), Jeff Powell (11/18), the Violinis (11/18), the Relichs (11/20), Sandee Lyons (11/21)

• Operation Christmas Child Pizza and Packing Party: Sunday, 11/22, 12:30 @ the YMCA. Bring $5 for pizza, beverages, and dessert!

• Community Thanksgiving Service: Come, ye thankful people, come to our community thanksgiving service. We’ll join area churches at 7:00 PM, Wednesday, 11/25 at the Church of the Messiah to give thanks and give food for the hungry. Bring non-perishable pantry items and a heart of thanksgiving!

• Food for Families: Bread of Life Fellowship, Inc. along with Publix supermarkets, local schools, local churches, Youth Groups, Boy & Girls Scout Troops, and many families, consider Food for Families a part of their holiday traditions, annually helping others less fortunate. This year, we will be helping over 800 families with more than 1500 boxes of food.

Please consider taking a few hours of your holiday to help a family in need realize the blessings of Thanksgiving by being a part of this worthwhile cause. On Thanksgiving morning at 8:00 AM,, volunteer drivers line up in the bus loop to get maps, directions and boxes of food to deliver to each family’s homes. Finally, volunteers help clean up the work area.

On Wednesday at 8:00 PM, volunteers set up the work areas at the Ocoee High School cafeteria. Unload the food from Publix and local school food drives, then sort and pack boxes.

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Sunday Servants!

• Set-up: Joe, Brian, and John
• Nursery: Susan Feltman
• Snacks: Wendy Andrew
• Prayer: Linn Capice

::mission::

Outreach Idea of the Week: People love to serve! Ask a friend, neighbor, or coworker to join you for our Operation Christmas Child Pizza and Packing Party. It’s a great way to serve alongside them and build that relationship. It also lets others in on the relational loop in a non-threatening environment. Next Sunday, right after church. Bring $5 for pizza, beverages, and dessert!

Operation Christmas Child – Begin praying now for the child that will be receiving your Christmas box, pray that through your gift they will see the love of God.  Pray for Samaritan’s Purse and all involved in prepping the boxes for shipment. Click here to track your box!

Dan & Melody Taube (Argentina) – Praise for a newcomer to the weekly Bible Study.  Pray for the pre-teens and young adults who attended planned activities on Saturday, November 17, that God will touch their lives and that He will become real to them.