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Welcome to the first day of spring...whether it feels like it or not! No matter what kind of winter we have, we can always trust that spring eventually comes, and with it, new life and growth. Likewise as you're about to see in today's News & Notes, we can trust God's heart for us as evidenced through His steadfast love and faithfulness.
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Trust God's Heart
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One day, after completing a swim workout, I decided to sit in the sauna to do some light stretching. While in there, I saw a fellow Jesus-follower whom I knew had just had an interview for a new job. When I asked how it went, he replied, "I didn't get the job. I was really surprised. I thought the interview went great, every indication from them seemed to be a go; they even gave me a tour and everything. But when they called, rather than offer me the job like I assumed they would, they told me they had decided to 'go another direction.'"
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I was immediately sad for my friend. I knew how excited he was at the possibility. So as I wiped sweat from my brow, I conveyed my condolences. But he pleasantly surprised me when he replied, "Oh, it's ok. I know it means God either just saved me from something or has something better for me." What a great response! My friend was revealing a genuine trust in the heart of our Sovereign God.
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Binding Yourself to God's Love
Today, we continue our The Effects of Trust series by moving on to verses 3 & 4 of our key passage of Proverbs 3:1-10 where we are told to trust in God's heart. Our two primary verses for today read as follows...
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"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3-4 ESV)
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When Solomon tells his son to "let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you," he is poetically saying "Trust God's heart!" As Psalm 145:8 teaches us, God is abounding in steadfast love. And as 2 Timothy 2:13 reminds us, even if we are faithless, God is faithful. So to "let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you," simply means, "Don't abandon the ways of the Lord, for He is faithful and full of steadfast love for you."
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To emphasize the importance of this, Solomon tells his son to "bind them around your neck." Like tying a necktie that can't easily fall off, you are to metaphorically fasten these characteristics of God's heart to your heart. For this "binding" protects you from being led astray by the temptations of the world.
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Binding Effects
And what is the effect of trusting God's steadfast and faithful heart? It's right there in verse 4. You will "find favor and good success" with both God and your fellow humans.
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Now, this doesn't mean you will have the golden touch or achieve everything you set out to do perfectly. Nor does it mean God will give you everything you pray for. My friend in the sauna prayed for the job but didn't find 'success' in the eyes of the interviewers. However, because of his big-picture perspective, I truly believe my friend will find an even better job where he will be appreciated and sense God's favor through the job.
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It is worth noting: sometimes the difficulties you face are actually part of God's favor. As it says later in Proverbs 3...
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"for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:12, ESV)
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God loves you too much to let you grow into a spiritually-fat, spoiled brat. So He uses the difficulties life will throw your way to grow you into the likeness of Jesus, so that you, too, may display steadfast love and faithfulness toward Him and those around you.
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So trust God's heart, knowing you have His favor as shown through Christ on the cross.
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Holy Week
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Mark your calendars! This year, our Good Friday gathering will be April 18th @ 7:00 pm, and we will be holding TWO Easter Services. They will both be the same service, so choose either the 9:00 AM or the 10:30 AM service. Invite family, a friend, co-worker, or neighbor, and come celebrate Jesus' resurrection with us!
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Pine Lake Work Weekend
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Work Weekend is March 28th-30th! Take advantage of this open invitation to men & women (age 18+) wanting to volunteer for various projects around Pine Lake Camps! Registration closes on March 26th, so get started right here if you are interested in volunteering!
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Bible Study Resources
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Did you know that you can access over thousands of free Bible resources (videos, study guides, stuff for kids, etc.) through Riverwood's subscription to RightNow Media? Click here to get started!
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Just for Fun
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To celebrate the first day of spring (especially coming after our "big blizzard" ;-) ), be sure to stop by a Dairy Queen TODAY for your free ice cream cone!
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