Life is often painful.

We've all been hurt, and we've all hurt others as well. 

 

 

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Most of us look like we have it all together . . . on the outside. What’s lurking inside, or even buried far within, can be hurts that we just don’t want to admit.  Life is often painful. We’ve all been hurt, and we’ve all hurt others as well.  And let’s face it: we’re all struggling with something. 

Maybe it’s our weight, maybe it’s a relationship, maybe it’s our finances, maybe it’s an addiction, maybe it’s a memory from our past that haunts us. Perhaps it’s just the everyday stress of living in a fast-paced world, trying to keep up, and never seeming to get ahead. Sometimes these hurts and struggles act like a curtain pulled tightly closed, shutting out the light and separating us from our loving God (Papa!). All of these struggles and trials keep us from the life God truly intends for us. 

Wouldn’t you love to experience freedom from your hurts, hang-ups, and habits? You can!  Life hurts, but God heals!

Beginning August 23, St. Mark’s will embark on a new journey as we kick off our fall ministries with an eight-week series entitled “Life Hurts, God Heals.” We currently have staff and teams at work doing publicity (Have you noticed the “Got hurts?” billboard?), organizing weekly worship services, coordinating prayer support, and preparing for small groups, children’s and youth ministry. This is truly an all-church effort! 

Many of you will remember the all-church campaign St. Mark’s did in 2004 based around Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life.   Our fall kick-off this year is based on the book Life’s Healing Choices written by John Baker, one of the pastors with Rick Warren at Saddleback Church. This series will focus on God’s healing work in each of our lives. Rick Warren believes this campaign could have as much impact across the church as did 40 Days of Purpose, and we at St. Mark’s will be one of the first congregations to offer it. This series will also serve as our public launch of Celebrate Recovery, a ministry we’ve been doing in a low-key pilot phase for several months.

Our entire staff is really excited about this sermon series and the hope it offers all of us. Rick Warren says it well; “We all need healing – from those who’ve hurt us, those we’ve hurt, and the hurt we’ve caused ourselves. I’m confident in the transformation that will happen in your life, the lives of your church members, and the lives in your community as they learn to make the decisions that move them past life’s pain toward God’s purpose.”

Please invite your friends and neighbors, and join us every week as we walk through Life’s Healing Choices. You’ll have the opportunity to work together in small groups, experience God’s healing touch, and ultimately grow closer to God!