JAMES 4:13-14
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
REFERENCES: JAMES 4:15, 5:1–3, 7–11; MATTHEW 6:19-21
A puff of smoke, a gust of wind, a spark of lightning, all transient, lasting only seconds, but all having the potential for great impact. Such are our lives, a mist, here today and gone the next. But what will we do with the mist that’s been given to us? Will we choose earthly success for ourselves or will we choose to impact the lives of others? In comparison to eternity, all we have here are mere seconds. To make those seconds count beyond this life, our motivation has to be to live for more than ourselves. In the mountains and valleys of life, we don’t get to have control. All we can do is take our God appointed place and walk it out with the goal of not merely success, but true significance. By adding value to those around us and leaving a legacy that will touch heaven.
Success is about adding value to you; significance is about adding value to others.
Oftentimes we make plans in our lives and forget to ask God what he wants us to do. And when we do that we are missing the chance to live a life of true significance. When we are obedient to God’s voice, not only we are showing him that we trust him, but that we are also willing to live a life that’s more than just about self-fulfillment.
Instead, you ought to say “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” —James 4:15
Service is about what you do with what you have. Many times we are called to do big things with our talents, gifts or money. There are resources and talents instilled in us that we store away. We may accidentally fall into greed when we hoard what is given us.
“For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19
Following Jesus requires our commitment day in and day out. This path is demanding and our perseverance is successful when we focus with the end in mind. We can easily drift away from what God has called us to be without this kingdom mindset. Our ultimate goal is to build the kingdom of heaven. This requires us to not only be obedient and serve others but we must do so with joy in our hearts, without grumbling and complaining as we wait for the promises of Christ. Be patient and stand firm. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy in the midst of our suffering. Rejoicing in Christ allows us to persevere through every season and every circumstance. As the farmer waits patiently for the harvest, we must wait expectantly for the glorious promises Christ has for us.
Write down 3 areas in your life for which you desire perseverance. Ask God to see if this aligns with his plans for you and surrender it to God. Pray for God's promises and courage to follow his will.
All of you that are already in our database will receive a text this upcoming Thursday from our new text platform. It isn’t spam, it’s really us! This will become a primary way for us to resource, equip, and update you. We encourage you to save this number and opt in for more updates.
VOUS High is youth community of VOUS and we are creating a space for middle schoolers to gather for service every Sunday.
Students will start with worship in the main auditorium and then be dismissed to their junior high space. This will be a moment to connect with other students, hear a message, and then discuss in small groups.
For more information and to RSVP your student, click here
Join us at the annual ILMC Thanksgiving Bash to distribute meal kits and turkeys. Also, bring a chair and cheer on your favorite team at our annual VOUS Bowl.
To serve, click here
Date: Saturday, November 23rd
Time: 9:00AM - 12:30PM
Location: Charles Hadley Park
1350 NW 50th St
Miami, FL 33142
Ready to kick off Thanksgiving with a burst of energy and community? Join us bright and early at Peacock Park for the VOUS 10K Turkey Trot! Whether you're a runner, a walker, or somewhere in between, this is a chance to start your day with some fresh air, great friends, and all-around fun! See you at the starting line!
To sign up for the Turkey Trot, click here
Date: Thursday, November 28th
Time: 6:00AM
Location: Peacock Park
2820 McFarlane Rd.
Miami, FL 33133
On Sunday, December 1st we're bringing our annual Tree Lighting tradition to both our SoMi and Miami Gardens Locations! Sign up to serve and join us for a night of fun! Invite your friends and let's welcome the Christmas season together!
Please note: There will not be a 6PM service at VOUS City. Instead, join us at VOUS Miami Gardens for the 6PM service, followed by the tree lighting celebration.
Date: December 1st
Time: 7:30PM
Location:
VOUS Miami Gardens
17801 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33169
VOUS SoMi
6767 Sunset Dr
South Miami, FL 33143
To serve, click here
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10AM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack