Writing to the Corinthians from Ephesus, Paul informed them of his travel itinerary in the closing chapter of 1 Corinthians.  He planned on visiting the city of Corinth, but everything was put on hold because a great door for effective work had opened to him in Ephesus.  Some great opportunity for ministry had presented itself to Paul in Ephesus.  He sensed the energy of the Spirit.  Doors were opening and things were happening.  So he stayed on.

Paul recognized an open door when he saw one.  Do we?  I hope so, because God has opened a door for effective ministry for River of Life. 

For the last several Sundays we have been privileged to have children and teenagers from the New Horizons ministry join us in the Legacy service.  Some great things have already happened in the lives of these children as a result of being here.  Many of them have connected with members of the RLA family.  More are waiting.  All we need is…YOU!

Last Sunday we were blessed to have many families from a neighboring church visit the Legacy service.  This church which is located in Fort Myers is going through a time of transition with the passing of the pastor.  How great it was to see our church family join with their church family in worship, prayer, and fellowship.  Truly, in Christ we are one.  Following the service many of these brothers and sisters in Christ expressed their appreciation for the Legacy service and their plan to return. 

In a few weeks we are walking through another open door God has provided at Stoneybrook.  The 2013 Bash is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 30-31.  The outreach will be held each morning from 9:00am – 12:00pm, and will conclude with a very special Legacy service under the tent on Friday evening.  We are going after unreached families.  Again, all we need is…YOU!

Paul understood that when God opens a door for effective ministry you don’t ignore it, you walk through it.  Maybe the open door isn’t what you expected.  Maybe it doesn’t look like what you anticipated.  But God chooses which doors to open.  Our job is to walk through the doors He opens.

Is this an appeal?  Most certainly!  If we ignore the open door, God will simply find another church that is willing.  But if we will seize the opportunity God has set before us, He will use RLA to do amazing things.

With Paul we can truly say, “A great door for effective work has opened to me.”  Like Paul, let’s walk through the open door.

Pastor Todd Weston

Maybe you’ve heard the old joke, “Do you know why the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years?  Because, even back then, men wouldn’t stop and ask for directions!”

I will never forget an ill-fated sightseeing trip our family took while vacationing in Colorado.  A close relative led the way as we drove through the scenic Rocky Mountains.  But when we turned off the main road onto a dirt road I became a little suspicious.  I asked our tour guide if he knew where he was going.  He said, “Trust me.  I know where I’m going.”  Farther along though, as the dirt road gave way to a narrow trail I once again questioned our guide.  Again he answered, “Trust me.  I know where I’m going.”  Several hours (and miles) later as we crossed the Wyoming state line, our confident guide confessed that he had been lost all along.

Many people are lost today as they are travelling down the highway of life.  Sadly, because of pride or just outright stubbornness, many refuse to admit they are lost.  You hear it all the time, “Trust me.  I know where I’m going.”  Famous last words.

Life is a journey from here to eternity.  Do you know where you are going?  While many refuse to admit they are lost, and while others have received some bad directions that are taking them farther down the wrong road, God has graciously given us a roadmap that shows the way.  “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

It’s a mistake to run the race of life trusting in yourself or looking to another person for directions.  Run the race looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Put your trust in Him alone.  He knows the way.  He is the way.

Pastor Todd Weston