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Happy Friday Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  I am Breanna Penn. I’m the one walking around with all the girls (five to be exact) on Sundays with my husband, Tim.  Many of you already know me, but I would like the chance to introduce myself a bit here.  Tim and I were both raised in New Mexico, but the Air Force took us away and back again.  New Mexico is the place we call home for now and my husband went into the AF Reserve so we could be settled and raise our girls near mountains.

We have spent the last three years, changing our life course. When Tim decided to leave active duty, we knew we were ready to start being part of a community.  We were ready to grow roots and settle into a slower pace.  It has been wonderful getting to know so many of you and I recently took on the position of communications coordinator in the hopes of building relationships within our church community.

God is always pressing on our hearts and molding us to the ways in which He wants us to grow.  And for me, one of these ways was in the area of service.  Growth is often about expanding in the things that are not our strong points.  I am often caught up in the business of everyday life and found it hard to extend myself to others. 

1 Corinthians 15:58 says “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

I can have peace knowing the time I sacrifice, the meal prepared, or the listening ear, and the other ways that we are called to serve are not in vain. The Lord moves on the heart of His people and leads them in certain directions so the needs of the body can be met.  I can surrender my time to the Father and maybe even the smallest act of service can result in something eternal.  What a beautiful thing that is! My prayer is that I can use this time at Mountain Christian to listen to the needs of those around me.  My family has been blessed by sermons, music, volunteering with my kids, meals when we had a baby, and your friendship. I hope I can give back, even in a small way. 

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13

The Prayer Quilt

May God bless you and keep you safe from harm

And may this prayer quilt keep you warm.

For in every single moment spent

And in every stitch a prayer was sent

Asking God to send your way

Multiple blessings every day.

A quilt is such a special thing

And gives the heart a lift

But this one is very precious

Because it is a prayer quilt.

With each delicate stitch

In its softness there

Is offered up

A heartfelt prayer.

And when you rest

At the end of the day

May many blessings

Come your way.

Here at Mountain Christian, we have a sweet ministry of women called “Sisters in Stitches.” Prior to Covid, they hosted a 2019 workshop for kids that taught them sewing and the gift of prayer. Fifteen kids came together and made at least two 9-patch blocks.  Before, during, and after sewing the blocks the kids prayed for whoever would receive the quilt.  When the blocks were laid out it was decided that the quilt should be for our own Pastor Frank and his family. 

Covid made it impossible to get back together with the kids to sew the blocks together and quilt them. So Davra Clayton put the finishing touches on the quilt and it was gifted to Pastor Frank and his family. This month also marks the 21-year anniversary of Pastor Frank being here at Mountain Christian. How beautiful it is to see when the Lord brings things full circle.

I was searching for inspiration this week because I am struggling to focus less on my circumstances and more on my Creator and I came across this blog post from Paul David Tripp. It was too good not to share. 

I hope that as you read through this Thank You, Lord list that your mind and heart are transformed. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

“Thank you, Lord,
for the morning light
reminding me of your
presence and faithfulness.

Thank you, Lord,
for every breath I breathe
reminding me of your
sustaining mercies.

Thank you, Lord,
for physical strength
reminding me that
all power comes from you.

Thank you, Lord,
for a mind that works
reminding me that
all rationality starts with you.

……

Thank you, Lord,
for work to do and tasks to complete
reminding me of your
incessant work on my behalf.

Thank you, Lord,
for family and friends
reminding me of my
welcome into your eternal family.

Thank you, Lord,
for the body of Christ
reminding me of your
promise to meet my spiritual needs.

Thank you, Lord,
for continuing to rescue me from me
reminding me of your
ongoing spiritual care.

Thank you, Lord,
for those who encourage, comfort, and exhort me
reminding me of the
faithful zeal of your grace.

Thank you, Lord,
for the majesty of your Word
reminding me that
you are my greatest teacher.

Thank you, Lord,
for the illumining power of your Spirit
reminding me of your
zeal that I would know, love, and serve you.

Thank you, Lord,
for the pain of conviction
reminding me of my
need for your sanctifying grace.

……..

Thank you, Lord,
for fresh starts and new beginnings
reminding me again and again
of the faithfulness of your forgiving love.

Thank you, Lord,
for my calling as your ambassador
reminding me to
live with your kingdom in view.

Thank you, Lord,
for your guiding hand
reminding me that
my life moves according to your control.

Thank you, Lord,
for suffering and trials
reminding me of
my weakness and your strength.

………..

Thank you, Lord,
that you are the Lord of Lords
and that by grace
I am your child forever.”

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2, ESV)

God bless,

Paul David Tripp

Read Paul David Tripp’s original post and reflection questions here: https://www.paultripp.com/wednesdays-word/posts/thank-you-lord

  Jesus’s peace says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  Matt 6:19-20.

Jesus said “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Peace does not start with nations.  It starts with people.  It starts with us.  It starts in our hearts.  In order for you to give peace you must first have it because you can’t give something you don’t have.  And we cannot have peace with ourselves unless we have peace with God.  And peace with God is found in Jesus.

When the apostle Paul was writing to the church at Phillipi he said (Phil 4:4 ) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The true story of Horatio Spafford illustrates that kind of peace.

Horatio was a successful lawyer who owned a great deal of property in Chicago.  He lost most of it in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.  Then, in 1873 he lost what was left with a downturn in the economy.  He planned to sail to Europe with his wife and four daughters but at the last minute stayed behind to take care of some business.  His wife and daughters sailed ahead. He planned to meet them later.  On the way, his family’s ship collided with another ship and sank.  His four daughters died.  His wife sent him a telegram that said “saved alone”.  Imagine how he felt when he received that telegram.  He lost his business, he lost his property, he lost his money, and now he lost most of his family.  How does a man respond to that kind of tragedy?  Horatio boarded another ship to meet his wife in Europe.  When he was passing the very spot where his four precious daughters drowned, he wrote a hymn that starts like this “When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows likes sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘it is well with my soul.’”

That kind of peace overflows to family, friends, co-workers, cities, states, nations, and the world.  There’s only one way to get that kind of peace.  That peace is found in a person, Jesus Christ.

What’s going on in the world today?  Every time you turn on the tv, listen to the radio, or check the internet, it’s disaster after disaster.  Nation against nation; religion against religion; race against race, democrat against republican, and person against person. Ezekiel 13:10 says, “they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace.”  It seems like everyone wants peace, but no one has it.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

The world says peace is the absence of conflict but the peace Jesus gives lives in the hearts of those who love him.  How can nations live in peace  if the people that make up those nations have no peace?  How can races or religions live in peace if the people who make up those races and religions have no peace in their hearts?

The world’s peace is dependent upon feelings - It says if I feel good about myself, I will be at peace.  We live in the most self-obsessed society that has ever existed.  Let’s call it, the selfie society.  We take pictures of ourselves until our arms wears out, then we put our phones on  selfie sticks and take more.  This avalanche of self-love should mean that we have more than enough peace.  Then why is there no peace?

Jesus’s peace is dependent on trust.  The bible says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”  Is 26:3.  But trust is only as good as its object.  If you sit in a chair with a broken leg, you can trust it with all my heart, but you will still end up on the floor.

The world’s peace says you have to be in control of every situation.  The world says if you have power and money, you will be in charge.  Then, you will have peace.  But what happens if you meet someone with more power or money than you?  You no longer have control so you no longer have peace. 

Jesus’s peace says you don’t have to be in control, because God is in control.  James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”  What could be more peaceful than snuggling up in the arms of the Creator of the Universe.

The world says that peace comes from winning.  If someone hits you, hit back harder.  Never forgive and never forget.  In the movie Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,  Malcolm (human) warns Caesar(ape) that the apes need to run because the soldiers are coming and war is about to start.  Caesar replies that apes already started the war and man would finish it because men never forgive.  We don’t need a monkey to tell us that men never forgive.  Just look around!  How much forgiveness do you see.

Jesus says forgive.  In Matthew chapter 18, the bible says, that  Peter came to Jesus and asked him, if he must forgive somebody up to 7 times for sinning against him.  Jesus answered, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”  Jesus said that if God forgives us, the least we can do is forgive each other.

The world’s peace says the one who dies with most wins….Stay tuned for part two…..