PASTOR PAUL'S COLUMN

This month we are focusing on "Contagious Conversations", using the conversations and stories of Jesus as a model.  As I am writing these words, it hits me that my week has been framed around several of these conversations:

* A college buddy whose wife died a year ago called to talk for an hour on Friday.  He marveled over how she so easy included people in her life and in her Bible studies.  Now every Monday night his living room is filled up with guys from his rough and tumble construction world.  It's messy, there are words spoken that usually do not accompany Bible studies, and he loves it.

* A young woman invited Jesus to take leadership in her life last Sunday during our 101 Membership class.  That decision was prompted when a man in the same class told his story of how God had changed his heart 15 years ago.  He is no longer the angry, foul-mouthed, knife and gun-toting man he was before he was challenged to get on his knees and pray.

* Another new friend wants to know how to find reasons for faith.  He wants to believe but doesn't yet know if he can.

* Cards from the past few Sundays reveal that some people want to stop being like the angry brother in the The Lost Son parable, while others have a heart for taking greater risks in sharing the good news of Christ with people who are living on the edge.  Several more have indicated that they are transferring their trust to Jesus for the first time.

So here is the nugget I want to pass on.  Many people around us are still searching to find their way to grace, while God is still guiding spiritually lost and confused people to Jesus.  They are all around us. 

With that in mind, our current series on CONTAGIOUS CONVERSATIONS is essential training for Christ-followers who want to be on the cutting edge of what God is doing in our midst.  Get to North River on Sunday...and get into the conversation.

- Pastor Paul

MOTHERS DAY ENCOURAGEMENT

by CATHY ROGERSON
 
Mother's Day...this day is such a blessing for so many but for some, like those of us who struggle with infertility, it is the most dreaded day of the year.  When we were part of the early days of North River I would ask Paul if I could stand up and during announcements say a few words on Mother's Day.  I thought perhaps I would do that right now.
 
For all you who are wishing and hoping and waiting on the Lord to be a Mom and the ache in your heart is more than you can bear, you are not alone.  If you are married and long to be a Mom there is a promise in scripture that helped me at my lowest moment: Psalm 113:9 which says..."and He settles the barren woman in her home as the joyful mother of children!"
 
For all of you who are not married and motherhood seems unattainable there is the promise that God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ.  Phil. 4:19.
 
When we long for something we don't have and the ache is unbearable there is only one place to take it and that is to the cross.  Lay down your desire to the Lord and wait on Him. The scripture the Lord gave me one day was Psalm 27:14 which says "Wait upon the Lord.  Be strong and take heart and wait upon the Lord."  I was not happy to get that scripture.  It made me mad and frustrated but it has encouraged me again and again when I realize that His timing is perfect and His desire is for my best.  I don't understand God's timing very often and I still don't understand why he never gave me biological children but when I look in the eyes of the children He did give me I see His magnificent love and mercy, grace and hope and am so glad to be His child.  To be part of His bigger plan.  To walk with the King and trust Him even in my deepest longing.
 
Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there and to you who are not I say buy yourself a rose and remember it is from your heavenly Father who is celebrating you today!

 
If you need encouragement with infertility please feel free to email me. I would love to be there for you.   Email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

North River Community Church is a church with a heart for unchurched people.

We aim to make every Sunday at North River a safe place where curious-minded Seekers can investigate the claims and benefits of authentic Christianity. We are committed to teaching the message of Jesus one theme at a time, in as creative a manner as possible. We do this because we live in the midst of a generation of people who have never realized that the Bible is full of wisdom for life. At the heart of that wisdom for life is God's desire to invite you to begin a personal relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus. We want to show you how to begin and how to nurture that relationship.

North River is an evangelical church, which means we are committed the good news about the life and ministry of Jesus on our behalf, and to the authenticity of the Bible as God's Word for the human race. While our worship patterns are very contemporary and creative, we are rooted in historic Christianity. We are not part of a denomination, but we are part of a movement of grace-driven churches that believe that the church exists not only for our own needs, but for those who are currently disconnected from church and from God's grace.

For Seekers, we hope that you will move from curiosity about our church, to contact, by attending one of our contemporary services, and then from contact, to experiencing the deep community that is at the heart of North River.

Check out the site. Come visit. If you have questions, contact me or one of our staff members. We'd love to help you begin that all important relationship with God.

Sincerely,
Pastor Paul Atwater