There is a certain importance about the things God says should be first.  Matt 6:33 says,  “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  This is more than chronological order; it is a matter of importance, or priority.

It should be our resolve in 2012 that we be guided, even driven, by the priorities of God.  It is so easy for secondary things to consume priority things.  God knew that.  Hence, his word is full of “first things first” instruction, so that by making deliberate choices, God’s priorities will be ours.

You and I have no idea what is going to happen in 2012.  Things may continue pretty steady as they may be in your life now, or they may be turned upside down.  What we do know is that God wants us to function in 2012 with the priorities that He has set out in His Word.

All the resolutions in the world will not satisfy the Lord if first you are not committed to His priorities.  Many of the struggles of life result when we reverse these.  I encourage you to study the Bible with a continual search for His priorities.

May the new year be a joyful one in the will of God following His priorities!

Senior Pastor Miles Grismore

SHORT-TERM  MISSIONS TRIP 2012

MATT MERRY

Hello friends and family!

God has been doing a work with me this year at Liberty and for that I am so thankful.  As a freshman this year, I had the great opportunity to become a prayer leader for a group of guys in my dorm allowing me to grow spiritually as I helped lead, mentor, and encourage the guys to grow in their walk with God.  I have also been thoroughly blessed to have some solid new friends and mentors who have helped keep me accountable. Having grown and been stretched in all areas of my life, I am excited to share with you another opportunity God has opened up for me and ask that you might prayerfully consider helping me in this new ministry.

From March 8-18, I will be going with a team from Light Ministries (Liberty’s mission’s organization) to the Pacific Rim in Southeast Asia. Through Light, we will be connecting with missionaries already serving in the area. The focus of the trip will be on relationship building evangelism with nearby college university students. Sports, teaching English, and helping put on a youth conference is just a few of the things that I will be involved with. With the area we will be at predominantly being Muslim or Buddhist, many of us will have the exciting opportunity to share Christ and the truth of the Gospel with the students, possibly with them hearing it for first time!

All that being said, to have a chance to go overseas for my first time and be exposed to a foreign culture for me can be bit nerve racking; however even more so I am invigorated to see how God will use and direct me before the trip in all the preparation and raising funds, during the trip as I am able to put my faith in action, and after the trip as I continue to seek God’s will for my life. My passion is that God will stretch me on this trip and I am confident that as I trust him, like Solomon’s powerful words exclaim in Proverbs 3:5,6, He will direct my paths. With seeking God’s will and sharing the love of Christ to the many unsaved as my primary motives for going on this trip, I am also looking forward to expanding my horizon outside the U.S. and having the chance to build relationships with the members of my team and make valuable connections with the home missionaries already located there.

Now with all good hopes and intentions, a challenge is always peeking around the corner ready to pounce. For this entire trip to the Pac Rim, the cost I need to raise is $3,025. I covet your prayers in this area as I need to be financially ready to go for the trip by mid-February.  I also pray that if God so leads, you will consider partnering with me and being a part of my life and in God’s work overseas. Thank you very much allowing me the chance to share my heart and I would love to talk with you again in person or over the phone! My number is 641-530-1362 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You can donate online to my trip by putting "Matt Merry" and your donation amount on the screen at : http://www.luglobal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=151&Itemid=186

I love you all!

Sincerely,

Matt Merry

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Join us this Sunday morning as we continue our series through the book of Mark. It is God's desire that we know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, and that we not only know about Him, but that we are like Him. God wants true believers in Jesus Christ to have a servant's heart like Jesus.

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