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Walk by Faith

CityRise May 15, 2020 E-newsletter, Uncategorized, Updates,

Photo by Jad Limcaco on Unsplash

As challenging as these past weeks have been, I’m thankful that the weather at least has been nice in Houston! (That is, before today’s storms.) I hope you’ve been able to spend a good amount of time outside—your health and safety permitting, of course. I tell you, one of the most popular things I’ve seen people doing throughout this season is walking. I love a good walk. It’s a light workout, gets your body up and moving, and is a perfect opportunity to think or talk, whether it’s whomever you’re with or with your Creator. Perhaps you don’t want to talk? No problem! Walking can also clear your head and push out the noise that so often drowns out the Holy Spirit’s whisperings. Going for a walk, or whatever the closest equivalent is for you, is such a beneficial thing.

God’s people do a lot of walking, don’t they? This past Sunday we wrapped up our series “Into the Unknown” where we talked for several weeks about how God guides His people as they walk through wilderness after wilderness, from the days of the Old Testament to today. Quite often, God’s Word encourages us in our “walk” with God. Here is just a handful of examples:

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV)

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 NIV)

So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. (Deuteronomy 5:32–33 NIV)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 ESV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

You know, it makes sense to walk in a wilderness rather than run through it, especially if you’re in unknown terrain. That’s why, since the beginning of this month, our specially designated teams have been meeting diligently about how we should operate when our in-person worship services resume at the end of the month. As I said in the State of the Church address on May 3, our goal is “to restore opportunities to worship corporately, on-campus at a pace that allows adherence to the latest safety guidelines while cautiously navigating the challenges” our community is facing. We are examining and deciding as carefully and as thoughtfully as possible rather than running headlong into it.

And I’m thankful that we’re walking through this together as a family, as apart from each other as we have been. That’s why May 31 is going to be an exciting start to the summer season—it’s going to be a Family Reunion! So, what’s this reunion all going to look like? As early as Tuesday of next week, I will pass on to you our plans. We’re going to have fun, be safe, and start to slowly gather back as long as it takes. But this doesn’t mean we will leave behind our online reach! We are going to continue growing virtually and I encourage those of you who find it challenging to attend in-person to gather with us on YouTube from the security of your home.

As much as we might want to run, walking is the right pace. I’ll see you online this Sunday morning for the beginning of our new sermon series “Right or Right: Losing Arguments. Winning Relationships.” As we are called to walk in a right relationship with our Father, we also need to walk in a right relationship with each other, and that starts by asking the question “Do I want to be right, or do I want to be right?”

Have a great weekend, Church Family. I’m grateful to be walking with you at this time in our lives.

Stay Expectant,
Pastor Roger

PS Rescheduled! Due to potential weather conditions tomorrow, our Food Drive and Slime Fight for Food at Crosspoint Church-Bellaire has been rescheduled for May 23, same time of 9am-12pm! We are aiding the Christian Community Service Center (CCSC). Bring as many items as you can or sign up to volunteer here. And this is also the chance for boys and girls to get me or Miss Jennifer slimed! More details and prize information can be found on our KidStuff main page here. Let’s have a great turn out from all ages and help those who are in extra need right now!

Roger Patterson is the Senior Pastor of the CityRise Network, leading multiple congregations in lifting our city and the world by generously giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Roger lives in Houston with his wife Julee, and three children.