Church of the Holy Apostles - Katy, TX
  • I'm New
  • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • The Episcopal Church
    • Sermons
    • Staff
    • Our Vestry
    • Contact Us
    • Community Partners
  • Family
    • Nursery
    • Kids
    • Students
  • Ministries
    • Connect >
      • New Member Class
      • Small Groups
      • Serving Teams
    • Adult Ministry
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Next Steps
    • myCOTHA
    • Parish Resources
    • Support Groups
  • Events
  • Give
  • I'm New
  • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • The Episcopal Church
    • Sermons
    • Staff
    • Our Vestry
    • Contact Us
    • Community Partners
  • Family
    • Nursery
    • Kids
    • Students
  • Ministries
    • Connect >
      • New Member Class
      • Small Groups
      • Serving Teams
    • Adult Ministry
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Next Steps
    • myCOTHA
    • Parish Resources
    • Support Groups
  • Events
  • Give

God is Building His Kingdom: You are Invited to Join His efforts!

11/13/2014

0 Comments

 
By Darrel Proffitt, Lead Pastor
I was researching stewardship recently, and I came across this article that was offered by Focus on the Family.  The author is Harvey Nowland.  His words both challenge and comfort me.  He reminded me that I do not own anything but am simply a steward of all that God has given me.  That means that God has a purpose in giving me what I have and I am to care for it.  As I mentioned in my message this past weekend, God wants us to be conduits of His blessings not containers.
As we draw near to our Presentation Sunday (when we present our pledges to God for the ministry at COTHA) this coming weekend, I know that many people are still undecided about their pledge.  There are many reasons that you may be feeling that the time is just not right for you to take this step of faith.  Or you may be wondering if God will really bless you if you step out in faith.  Wherever you are and whatever you are feeling, I am praying for you.  I offer these words from Harvey Nowland to help you in your thoughts and prayers:
“God’s goal isn’t simply to keep you and your family reasonably comfortable – He has a kingdom to build, and you’re a part of His management team in accomplishing that plan.
  • The bad news is that often we’re prone to behave as though we own what we can get our hands on and then set our own rules for how we use those things. But if we look around us we can see how mismanagement – lack of good stewardship – based on sin has yielded some pretty disastrous results.
  • The good news is that when King Jesus came to earth, the kingdom of God arrived. And as the King’s voluntary subjects, Christians are to acknowledge Jesus as the rightful owner of the resources we manage. That means we’re to manage His property according to God’s values and to accomplish His will according to His Word – stewardship.
Christians need to understand that opportunities to achieve God’s agenda in building His kingdom involves not only our material possessions, but also our abilities, knowledge, skills and relationships.
To make it really simple – everything from your backyard and bank account to your mind and body - is a resource that you must manage for God. No false humility required here, you are an important member of God’s management team – stewardship.
You may be thinking, Sure, sounds good, but I have a job, medical bills, the car needs tires, the kids need braces and the economy has all but flat-lined. So, if God owns everything – can’t He do most of this stuff Himself or at least help with some of my bills?
Building the kingdom of God and stewardship aren’t simply “nice ideas” for which missionaries, pastors, Bible teachers and youth workers are responsible. Kingdom building certainly includes those responsibilities, but ministry and stewardship begins with God working inside of you and me.
The key to having an appropriate sense of stewardship, with the ability to make clear and wise choices, is to consciously take this first step: hand over ownership of all your resources to God. You could look at it this way. You don’t have – and you never will have – enough money, possessions or time not to take this step. The alternative will draw you to, or keep you in, the modern rat race that leads nowhere.
Stewardship can seem daunting. After all, being managers of our families, possessions, the earth and builders of a kingdom isn’t small stuff. But remember, God promises us that He’ll never require something of us that we cannot accomplish. Furthermore, whatever God may require of us, He provides the ability to achieve.”
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed”(2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB).
Join with me as I continue to pray for all of you and the ministry God has entrusted us with at COTHA.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    COTHA Blogs

    A place where we share our experiences and thoughts on ministry!

    Categories

    All
    COTHA Ministry Staff
    COTHA Reflections
    Devotional
    Mission: Africa
    Mission: Central America
    Mission: Local
    Mission: Mexico
    Mission: Sri Lanka
    Mission: Students
    Rector

    Archives

    October 2019
    October 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007

    RSS Feed

Church of the Holy Apostles
1225 West Grand Parkway South
Katy, TX 77494
info@cotha.org • 281-392-3310

​Service Times
Sundays 8:00 and 10:30

Office Hours
Monday – Thursday  9 A.M. - 5 P.M.