From the Pastor’s Desk (9/23/2015)

Dear CSOPC brothers and sisters,

We are looking forward to our theology conference this Saturday.  It looks like the planning is coming together and we are thankful for a great number of registrations.  And by way of reminder, there will be a continental breakfast provided at the hotel beginning at 8:15 before the first lecture begins at 9:00.  So if you’re able come early and enjoy a cup of coffee.  And we should wrap up by 3 or so.
Please be in prayer that the Lord would bless the conference to his glory and use it to grow his people in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Other Announcements
  • Officer Training: We will begin a new officer training class the 2nd Sunday in October.  The office of elder and deacon is open to qualified men who have been members for at least one year.  Although if you haven’t been a member for a year, but are still interested, please come.  It will likely take close to a year to complete the course.  We will meet at Birkes following worship for our sessions.
 
  • PARKING ANNOUNCEMENT: Beginning this Sunday, please use the side parking lot as opposed to the back parking lot.  We can still drop off at the back door, but we are not able to park in the back parking lot (another church will start using that lot in October).
 
  • SET UP AT 9:00AM.  If able please plan to arrive at Birkes Sunday morning at 9:00AM to help set-up.  In particular, the children’s hall needs the most help with set-up.  And we would like for the chidlren’s teachers not to have to help with set-up so they can prepare for their classes.  
 
  • Thank you for your joyful service and participation.  The Lord continues to be at work in our church body.
 
  • Finally, this week’s devotion (attached) is a reflection from Psalm 63:1 (with a hefty citation from Puritan Samuel Rutherford).
 
God bless and I look forward to seeing many of you this Saturday!

 

From the Pastor’s Desk

Mid-week Devotional

“Thirsting for God”

Psalm 63:1, “My Soul thirsts for you.”

            Does your soul thirst for the Lord?  Does your heart ache for a greater knowledge of the living God?  In Psalm 63, the Psalmist writes of his deep longing for a greater and closer communion with the one, true, and living God.  Take to heart the following words from Samuel Rutherford, 17th c Puritan theologian and Westminster Divine, as he meditates on Psalm 63:1, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

 

There is much in our Lord’s pantry that will satisfy his children, and much wine in his cellar that will quench all their thirst.  Hunger for him until he fills you.  He is pleased with the [persistence] of hungry souls.  If he delays, do not go away, but fall a-swoon at his feet.  Every day we may see some new thing in Christ.  His love has neither brim nor bottom.  How blessed are we to enjoy this invaluable treasure, the love of Christ; or rather allow ourselves to be mastered and subdued in his love, so that Christ is our all, and all other things are nothing.  O that we might be ready for the time our Lord’s wind and tide call for us!  There are infinite plies in his love that the saints will never be able to unfold.  I urge upon you a nearer and growing communion with Christ.  There are curtains to be drawn back in Christ that we have never seen.  There are new foldings of love in him.  Dig deep, sweat, labor, and take pains for him, and set by so much time in the day for him as you can; he will be won with labor.  Live on Christ’s love.  Christ’s love is so kingly, that it will not wait until tomorrow, it must have a throne all alone in your soul.  It is our folly to divide our narrow and little love.  It is best to give it all to Christ.  Lay no more on the earthly than it can carry.  Lay your soul and your weights upon God; make him your only and best-beloved.  Your errand in this life is to make sure an eternity of glory for your soul, and to match your soul with Christ.  Your love, if it could be more than all the love of angels in one, would be Christ’s due.  Look up to him and love him.  O, love and live!  My counsel is, that you come out and leave the multitude, and let Christ have your company.  Let those who love this present world have it, but Christ is a more worthy and noble portion; blessed are those who have him.

 

Indeed brothers and sisters, as the deer pants for the water, so may our souls pants for Christ (Ps 42:1).  May we long to be filled with him each and every day!  Day after day, week after week, the world preaches to us its message of triviality, emptiness, and despair.  There is but one who satisfies the sinful and longing heart – who gives meaning and fullness – our Creator and Redeemer!   This week, ask the Lord to show you more of the depths of his love and goodness.  This week, feed on the life-giving manna, the bread of life, and the living water!  And be satisfied.