The Quest Vision

When I read Psalm 145, verse 10-12, I am reminded of all the glorious things that God does for me. When I was down and had nowhere to turn, God was there to point me back to the right path. Since I have experienced the grace and goodness of God, I am reminded daily that I need to praise Him and that I need to show others of that love. It is noble that as a church community we share that love with each other on a weekly basis. It has been said many times that we, as a church community, need to get out from behind the walls and "spread" the love of God. I try not to waste an opportunity to spread that message. In the recent past, I have had opportunities to talk with people who are hurting. I am able to reassure them that they are not alone in their struggles and that they have a God who loves them. God has a plan for them; God has a plan for all of us. If we can just be still and listen, God will talk to us. All though the Old Testament, there are stories of God's glory...seeming defeat, but then glorious victory. We have God's word that He will never leave us. This is backed up by the stories in the Bible. More and more I feel that my role in life, along with this church community, is that of a "role model": not necessarily as one to be admired or emulated, but one who should set an example of sharing God's awesome love and power. It is a role that is scary, one that I'm not sure that I want, but it is a role I feel that God is calling me to do. Do you hear Him calling you as well?

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Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:6-7)

God is good. We can look around us every week here at Quest and see that He is good and that He is faithful to provide for those who seek to be faithful to Him. That much is obvious. To me, though, Quest is also a reminder of God's sovereignty and omnipotence.

How many times over the past year or so have we wondered what the future held for our church? We had a great location, and then we didn't. Then we had a new building that seemed great.....but then that fell through. At just about the time that we started to get concerned that we would have nowhere to go, God worked it out and brought us to our new home here on Flowing Wells.

Whatever our ideas were about what Quest should be when it was first begun, God has shown us over and over again that He has it all in His control and that He, too, has plans and ideas for us. It's amazing to sit back and think about what God has done to build and grow this church, and how he is reaching people every day through each one of us. This church is something special. I believe that because I have experienced it, but also because I can see that it is God-built. God planted this idea in the mind of a faithful servant, who followed His lead and recruited others to join on the journey. Quest began with God, continues because of God, and constantly pursues God.

God, thank You for having this vision for us, and for having such wonderful plans for this church. Help us to be faithful to You and Your vision, and help us to invite others to journey with us as we pursue You. Together, help us find You. Amen.

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The Quest is a year old!

Birthdays are a time to celebrate the achievements and events of a person's life, and the first birthday is always special. Many things happen in a baby's first year. They begin small, pink and helpless but soon grow by many pounds. They begin to discover their environment. They learn to smile. They learn a multitude of motor skills that are the foundation for life as a human.

Churches experience many changes too. They start as someone's vision or idea. Then a few people get involved and there is a gathering, usually in someone's home and the people there worship God together. Then they outgrow the living room and they start looking for a building, and before you know it they're filling up chairs and running out of coffee on Sunday mornings.

Actually, most churches do not get past the idea stage, those that do often fail within a year. The first year of a church's life is as fragile as that of a newborn.

Quest certainly seems to have God's blessing. He has led us from a small group of visionaries to a full-fledged church. He has given us a place to meet, and talented people to furnish the facility with a stage, a cross and paintings. He has given us hard working people to see that things are done. There are chairs to set up and coffee to brew, and God bless the person who brings us doughnuts! He sent talented people to sing and play instruments. God has seen that all are needs are met and He has even provided for some things that we don't need!

Why has God done all of these things this year? So we can worship Him! Celebrate God and His amazing works this week!

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"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." (vs. 8)

When I read this verse it reminds me that God is great. I think of all the things in my life that I have done wrong and I am reminded that God is good and He loves me no matter what I have done. That is really hard to wrap our minds around because not many of us have experienced that type of love in this life... but it is a real love that is available for us. All we have to do is ask for it.

I think the Quest Church has been a place where I have come to learn more of that type of love because of the people here. There have been many times when I have confessed something to someone in the community and their first response has always been love. They have been "rich in love." They have not judged me or given me the cold shoulder but rather they have stood beside me and loved me.

When I know there are people in the community who are willing to love me like that it makes it easier to understand the love the Lord has for me. For me it's hard to read something and know it's true. I like to have empirical evidence. I like to see it first hand. The Quest has been a place where the Lord has shown me His love in new and amazing ways.

I hope you have had some of the same experiences at the Quest. I believe it is a place where God is showing people His love in ways they never thought about.

Have you allowed God to love you in a way that is "rich?" Pray this week that God would shower you with His love in ways that you never thought possible. Jesus said "ask and you shall receive" and I think if we ask to see His love He will show us.

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I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be astounded.
They will put their trust in the LORD.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud,
or in those who worship idols.

O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

---Psalm 40:1-5

Many of us have waited patiently for the Lord to do something in our lives, to reveal Himself to us, or to show us how to get out of the mess we've made. We have even cried out to Him sometimes in our distress. This psalm tells us that He hears our cries, and even lifts us up out of the muck and mire of our messy lives, setting our feet on more solid ground. As a result, we sing joyful songs of praise about what He has done, and other people notice. And yes, many of them will come to journey along with us and begin to put their trust in our God.

This psalm reminds me so much of our church. We all come from different background and have our own stories to tell. But our God is the same loving God who lifts us up and brings us together as one. And yes, He does have many plans for us individually and for us as a community of followers. I can hardly wait to see the plans our God has for us. While I know there are likely to be some struggles, I also know that God is with us as long as we strive to find Him and to serve one another along the way.

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