Life More Abundantly

As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, special prayers were requested for Sally Mason, Debbie Taylor, Mertie Harmon and Calvin Reece.

Linda Abercrombie gave the devotional, "Reset Your Gratitude Meter," and read 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." What are you thankful for?

What is Thanksgiving? Food and football? Is it about giving thanks or thinking about another year of circumstances. As a Christian, it is not about circumstances but believing that hardship is sent for growth in God. Life may be hard, but it falls under God's will. We have an easy lust for more stuff. Unlike third-world countries, we should be thankful for our food, family and homes. We should sit at the Thanksgiving table not complaining but giving thanks. We need to reset our gratitude meter and be thankful for our salvation in Christ and God's daily care for letting us stuff our faces and watch football.

Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing upon the offertory, and he and Rick Lett served as ushers. Congregational hymns included "Showers of Blessings" led by Becky Johnson and Karen Gardner, and were blessed with special music from Jerry Abercrombie, who sang an inspirational song, "Wedding Music," and Sarah who sang, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."

Scripture for God's message from Bro. Mark Hall was from John 10:10, in the words of Jesus, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Bro. Mark told us the agenda of the thief, Satan, is to steal, kill and destroy, and the agenda of Jesus is to bring us life and life more abundantly. The title of the sermon was, "This Is the Life."

Brother Mark told us Jesus wants us to have life more abundantly.

"What if all you had today is what you thanked God for yesterday? What would you have?" John 14:6 Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Brother Mark told us Jesus is the way without exception. He is the truth without error and he is life without end. Without Jesus there is no growing, knowing or going. With Jesus we grow in faith, knowing God and that we are going to heaven. "There is no going to heaven without Jesus," Brother Mark said.

Mark said, "Without Jesus, there is no life. He is life. He gives us three kinds of life. First, He gives us physical life." Johns 1:3-4 says, "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Second, Jesus gives us spiritual life. Christians are new creatures spiritually transformed. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Third, Jesus gives us eternal life. Brother Mark said, "He adds years to the life and life to the years with abundant life. Eternity never grows old. Life with Christ is an endless home, but life without Christ is a hopeless end.

Brother Mark told us: "With physical life, we know the world below us; with spiritual life, we know the world around us; and, with eternal life, we will know the world above us. Christians never meet for the last time because we have that third life, eternal life. Abundant life is eternal life and seeing people we love again. We will meet Jesus one day and say, "This is the life." Of all of the things we enjoy now, we can only imagine how wonderful heaven will be, so much so that we can't describe or comprehend it."

In closing, Brother Mark told us Jesus has a place for us. As the song says, "this world is not my home, I'm just passing through." But, Brother Mark said we can still have that abundant life because Jesus can add years to the life and life to the years. "Let God draw you closer to Him through Jesus Christ. Be thankful for Jesus and our eternal life. We don't know where this life ends. Eternal life doesn't end."

Our hymn of invitation was "He Touched Me," and Wayne Johnson gave the benediction.

We wish you a blessed Thanksgiving. Remember to thank God for the many blessings he sends our way. We invite you to worship with us at Mill Creek Baptist Church on Sunday mornings at 11. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m., and everyone is welcome.