To begin with, an ALERT to all of our men. We are only one month away from beginning a new year and we have not done any budget planning for 2018 at all. We need all of our men to look at your calendars and, in our men’s meeting, next Sunday, set up a Saturday or Sunday afternoon for a budget planning session for this coming year. And, it needs to be as early in December as possible with the Christmas holiday coming up. The men of this congregation did a great job with their budget planning for this year. We had several unexpected things hit us but, because of their planning, we have managed to stay on the positive side of things financially. So, fellas, please look at your calendars and be ready to set a date for our budget planning session for 2018 in our meeting next Sunday. And, as I was thinking about the budget issue it also dawned on me that we need to have a planning session for 2018. A different session strictly for planning our work for next year. Things such as gospel meetings, VBS’s, local evangelism, luncheons, special singing services and any other special things we would like to do as a congregation. This one is not nearly as urgent as the budget session but, it is something we need to work on. As the old saying goes “To fail to plan is to plan to fail”. We need a definite plan of action, plan of work, put together for 2018. But, as long as we get it done by sometime in January we should be good with that.
So, what can we plan for, strive for to make 2018 a great year for the Lord’s church here in Wagoner? Four things to seriously consider:
1. Determine to work hard for the Lord and the church. Whatever area you are or can work in, do it with all your heart. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58).
2. Pray about everything in every way. It is by prayer we keep our God involved in what we are doing. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17).
3. Love the Lord and your brothers and sisters in Christ with all your heart. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” (Rom. 12:10).
4. Be an Encourager to everyone in every way possible. We do this by being enthusiastic and excited about the Lord’s work. “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11). “But encourage one another day after day as long as it’s still called “Today so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb. 3:13).
Brethren, this congregation has accomplished some wonderful things through the year of 2017. With what I have seen and been a part of, I just can’t help but see even greater things for 2018.
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan