Christmas Blues

The line at Walmart tonight was a long one. Not at the check-out counter but at the customer service station (returns). As I stood there, upset that I had to wait and wait and wait to return a gun for Nathan, I thought about the families in front of me and also the one behind me. I wondered if they had gotten over Christmas.

As I walked the store there was still a little bit of cheer in the aisles, but not as much as last week or the week before. To be honest, even I am down somewhat. This is not to be the case! You and I, those who know Jesus as Lord, are to be LIGHT. We are to shine on the hillside so that all can see Him. Christmas, the day where we exchange gifts, may be over, but we are called to give the good news away to those who have not heard. Take the time to tell someone about Jesus today; tell them about Riverbend too.

This Sunday is a new year at Riverbend! We are kicking off 2011 in the book of Jude. It is not a long book; it only has ONE chapter. Over the next 4-5 weeks we will walk through this great little letter. Please spend some time today and tomorrow reading over the book and also ask God to use me to proclaim His good news to us on Sunday.

Merry Christmas!

Brian

Praise Him!

It is hard to describe the joy that is in my heart today. God has blessed and to see His hand working in the life of Riverbend is a great thing. Please don’t take this for granted. We are to be walking with Him and growing in Him daily.

This morning I read Proverbs 22; it is one of my favorite because of verse 4 which says, “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”

What a verse! This verse has been somewhat of a life verse for me. It is one I have prayed for myself for sometime and one that I meditate on desiring those qualities to be in my life (humility and fear of the Lord). As you and I are in the midst of this CRAZY Christmas season, please stop for a moment and look at your life and your priorities.

Yesterday I went to a funeral service. It was one like I have never gone to before, and probably never will again. The service was for Bro. Bobby Moore. Most of you don’t know him, but he was the pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Southaven for over 34 years. Over the past year and a half God has placed Bro. Bobby in my life to challenge me to grow in a number of different areas. At first God did this through having Bro. Bobby speak 3 or 4 times at the associational pastor meetings. But in these recent days I have had the opportunity to spend time in Bro. Bobby’s home where he would encourage me in the ministry and challenge me in God’s Word.

The funeral was a celebration of a life spilled out for God. One of the greatest things about Bro. Bobby was his daily devotion time with the Lord, and each of the family members took time to read portions of Bro. Bobby’s devotional journal. It was AWESOME. He truly loved his LORD and he desired to know Him more each and every day.

I tell you this to encourage you to be in His WORD. Allow the Father to fill your heart with real joy this day. Allow Him to fill your cup this AM so that you might spread the reall JOY of Christmas to those you come in contact with today. Be His!

God is SOOO GOOD!

Over the last two weeks Riverbend you all know we have asked you to pray about giving to the Be A Part of MORE campaign for our new building. Well You all did just that and you gave and God Blessed. He has done just what He said He would do, Ephesians 3:20-1-- “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

He blessed with an offering totaling $33,925.

That is over $1,000 more than we needed! He knows and He provides! Thank you for all your gifts. Please continue to pray for Riverbend and the work God is doing in us and through us.

A Great Day of Worship!

December 12th, 2010 at Riverbend Church will go down as a great day of worship. As I looked in the eyes of you in the AM services I sensed many if not most of you “got” the message. I can’t tell you how that feels as a pastor, to look out and see the congregation “get” what is being said.

Then on top of that, to come back and be led to the throne as we were in the PM service, it was awesome. Pastor David and the band did a phenomenal job leading out in worship as they did. And on top of that we took part in the Lord’s Supper. It is always a great time when Riverbend partakes of the Lord’s Supper. Seeing each one come forward and take it is something else. Each time I lead out in it, it means more to me. Remembering the cost of salvation and the death that He died for me almost is overwhelming. He did it for me. He died so that I might live eternally. Eating the bread and drinking the juice is a great reminder of His death and payment for sin.

What a day!

One thought for you as I go. God stated more than once that obedience to His Word was more important than sacrifice. Go wants you and me to obey His Word even more than He wants us to perform some “religious” ritual that we always do. So as we partake of the Lord’s Supper I want to be aware of this and not “just” take it. I want it to mean something and I believe it does, not just for me, but for the whole church family. Thanks for being a part of it @ Riverbend.

Just a Few Words

Sunday AM Worship was something else. To be honest, I was somewhat concerned about the reception of the message, but as I looked into everybody’s eyes I sensed that for the most part the message got across. As stated Sunday, spiritual warfare is not necessarily a bad thing. If you know what it is and you are on your knees, gaining strength from the Lord to combat it, it can be a good thing. No I don’t mean that fighting a battle is fun, easy or a walk in the park, but knowing that you are on the right path, or walking with God is a good thing. So in that sense spiritual warfare is a good thing.

I can’t tell you how excited I am as we get ready to move into the new building. It is not just about being in a new place and the excitement of that; for me it is the opportunity to see new people come be a part of Riverbend and seeing God move mightily in hearts as He changes lives. I truly believe He is going to use us, if we will obey Him.

Make sure you are praying about what He would have you give towards the Be a Part of MORE campaign. Remember that we are taking up a special offering for that this Sunday AM and also on 12/19.

Turkey day is over-Thank goodness, says my waistline

The turkey has settled and we seem to be back on a normal week. I hope you all had a great week last week! I thank you for allowing me and Paige to spend some time with our families south of here. It was a blast to see some cousins and extended family/friends over Thanksgiving.

I had the opportunity to preach at FBC Houston, MS this past Sunday. FBC Houston has sponsored and supported Riverbend since day one. I thanked them for their prayers and their support as well as opened God’s Word up and preached. Please lift FBC Houston up to the Father today. I love so many there, and I desire to see God move afresh there.

Excitement is building in me! I am so excited about the “NEXT STEP” here at Riverbend. God has opened the door and has allowed us the opportunity to expand for His Glory. We are looking forward to the new building come February. I hope you all received a letter from Riverbend last week and that your family is praying to see what God would have you give to “Be a Part of More.” We are going to take up an offering December 12 and 19. God is blessing and He desires for us to be available for His use. As we move forward, physically and figuratively, please know that the adversary is out there seeking whom he can devour. We are in a war! We must remember to daily put on the whole armor and get in the fight. Satan wants to bring us down to defeat, and he really doesn’t care how that comes about. He is crafty and we must remain focused and on task for Christ. As you go about your week this week, please pray for the marriages and families in Riverbend. Pray for God to break through in some areas where people have built up walls and strongholds. He is able! You and I must Pray and believe!

I love you all,

Brian

Men's Night @ Safehaven

Sorry for the delay in posting. Internet was out at the Tillman household over the weekend.

Just got back from Riverbend Men’s Fellowship at Safehaven. We had the opportunity to cook Thanksgiving for the men at Safehaven. We had a great turn out of guys! Over the past few weeks I have been taking the guys through a study on Faith by Manley Beasley. This study has stretched the men of Safehaven, it has stretched me. I asked the men of Riverbend to come out with me and they did. We had a great time! Brad Fowler fried us a turkey and the men at Safehaven and Riverbend LOVED IT.

Over the past two months I have had the opportunity to speak each Friday night to the men of Safehaven and I have enjoyed spending time with the men there. Many of you may not know what Safehaven is, it is a transitional ministry form men who have served their time in the prison system and trying to get acclimated back into society. Larry Logan is the director and there is doing a great job.

The thing I love best about Safehaven is that the men there are hungry to learn the Word. They have messed up and paid for it, but now they want to grow. Every time I am there I am reminded of God’s grace and also His desire to use us if we make ourselves available.

As I close may I just challenge us all to grow! Be in God’s Word and obey what He says. We must remember that this world is not our home; we are residents of heaven. We are here for a reason; to be ambassadors for Him. He has us here on official business. We are to live out our lives in such a way that everyone around us knows that we are His. They know because we are telling them and also they know because they see a difference. So be His and remain focused on the task at hand.

Brian