Weekend Snapshot
Hey Northgate,
One thing that seems to be true every single year is that summer has a way of flying by!
It feels like we just got started, and somehow we're already talking about school starting, fall schedules, sports practices, and everything else that comes with a new season. Before the calendar fills up again, though, I want to encourage you to pause for a moment. What do you want to carry with you into the fall?
I'm not talking about the souvenirs from vacation or the extra five pounds from all the summer cookouts. (Although, unfortunately, those seem to have a way of following us into every season.) I'm talking about what God has been doing in your life.
Maybe this summer you've experienced a deeper relationship with God. Maybe you've learned to slow down. Maybe you've had some conversations that changed you. Maybe God has reminded you of something you had forgotten. Or maybe you've simply experienced His faithfulness in a difficult season.
Whatever God has been doing, don't leave it behind when summer ends. Jeremiah reminds us that our lives are shaped by what. and whom, we trust. This weekend I’m going to be looking at how the direction of our trust determines the condition of our lives.
So as a new season approaches, maybe the question isn't simply, "What's next?” Maybe it’s: "Who do I want to become?” Before you fill your calendar, ask God to shape your heart. Before you establish your routines, establish where your trust will be. Before life gets busy again, decide what matters most. Because the goal isn't simply to get back into a routine. It's to make sure our routine is forming us into the people God is calling us to be.
So enjoy these last days of summer. Take the trip. Have the cookout. Sit by the pool. Stay up too late. Make some memories. But as you head into fall, don't forget to carry the most important thing with you: a heart that is learning to trust God. I'm excited about what God has ahead for us at Northgate. Let's enter this next season not just with full calendars, but with full hearts and deeper trust in Jesus.
Pastor John
Lead Pastor
One thing that seems to be true every single year is that summer has a way of flying by!
It feels like we just got started, and somehow we're already talking about school starting, fall schedules, sports practices, and everything else that comes with a new season. Before the calendar fills up again, though, I want to encourage you to pause for a moment. What do you want to carry with you into the fall?
I'm not talking about the souvenirs from vacation or the extra five pounds from all the summer cookouts. (Although, unfortunately, those seem to have a way of following us into every season.) I'm talking about what God has been doing in your life.
Maybe this summer you've experienced a deeper relationship with God. Maybe you've learned to slow down. Maybe you've had some conversations that changed you. Maybe God has reminded you of something you had forgotten. Or maybe you've simply experienced His faithfulness in a difficult season.
Whatever God has been doing, don't leave it behind when summer ends. Jeremiah reminds us that our lives are shaped by what. and whom, we trust. This weekend I’m going to be looking at how the direction of our trust determines the condition of our lives.
So as a new season approaches, maybe the question isn't simply, "What's next?” Maybe it’s: "Who do I want to become?” Before you fill your calendar, ask God to shape your heart. Before you establish your routines, establish where your trust will be. Before life gets busy again, decide what matters most. Because the goal isn't simply to get back into a routine. It's to make sure our routine is forming us into the people God is calling us to be.
So enjoy these last days of summer. Take the trip. Have the cookout. Sit by the pool. Stay up too late. Make some memories. But as you head into fall, don't forget to carry the most important thing with you: a heart that is learning to trust God. I'm excited about what God has ahead for us at Northgate. Let's enter this next season not just with full calendars, but with full hearts and deeper trust in Jesus.
Pastor John
Lead Pastor
NEED TO KNOWS
- Kickoff Weekend — September 10 & 13, as we kick off the fall season at Northgate. Enjoy donuts, check out the Group Life Fair in the lobby, and find a group to connect with this fall. For our Northgate Kids, it’s also Move-Up Weekend! Kids will get to check out their new rooms and meet their new leaders as they move into their next grade level.
- BASE End of Summer Party — Wednesday, August 26, from 6:00–8:00PM, we'll be hosting our End of Summer Party at the Youth & Community Center. Students have been asking to bring back 9 Square in the Air and Gaga Ball, so that's exactly what we'll be doing! We'll also provide pizza and dessert.
- ManCamp — September 4–5 Guys, it would be a real shame if you weren’t at ManCamp… Don’t be the guy hearing about it afterward—sign up today! NORTHGATEFMC.COM/EVENTS
- Savor | A Night of Dessert & Worship — Ladies, you’re invited to a sweet night set aside just for you! Tuesday, September 15, from 6–8 PM for an evening of worship, delicious desserts, and a little surprise too! Register by September 7th