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Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.  May your Kingdom come soon.  May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.  And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.  Matthew 6:9-13 NLT   Chances are, if you are a Christian, you have at some point memorized these scripture verses.  This was the example that Jesus gave his disciples in Matthew as a model for all his followers to use as a pattern for prayer.  As a disciple of Jesus, are you following the prayer model of our Lord and Savior, or have you drifted away from this precious gift of communication with our Heavenly Father?  It’s so easy to fall into passive prayer patterns.  Sometimes you may recite prayers more as a repetitive duty, taking for granted Whose presence you stand in. Or maybe you feel as though your prayers are bouncing back off Heaven’s Gates because requests go unanswered, and you just give up.  Sadly, I know I have been guilty of both at different times in my life, but God’s Word tells us in Colossians 4:2, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”  Those are not passive words but require action on our part.   “Quotation Marks” Being raised Lutheran, the Lord’s Prayer was one of the first memorizations in catechism class.  Every Sunday, as a congregation, those red-letter words would echo throughout the sanctuary between the stained-glass windows and amid worn wooden church pews. But I was merely reciting those words at that time, never comprehending the relational part of this vital communication privilege.  I was speaking to the Holy Creator, Jesus’ Father, MY Father.  I was asking for His will to be done on earth, but did I truly mean that? Did I really  crave His will or my own selfish desires?  I was requesting daily bread - the same manna He provided to meet the needs of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness after delivering them from Egyptian slavery by parting the Red Sea with Moses’ raised staff. But was my hunger satisfied with what he provided, or did I desire  more,  just like the Israelites   who seemed to have forgotten previous, undeniable miracles?  I was requesting forgiveness for my sins from the God who willingly sacrificed His One and Only Son, Who paid my debt in full so that I could have a relationship with him.  But did I truly repent?  Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection opened the door for communication with our Heavenly Father, but was that conversation one-way or two?  Or what happens to those lines of communication with our Heavenly Father when passionate pleas are prayed in desperation, only to be answered with periods, exclamation points, question marks, or commas?    Periods.  – Have you ever prayed and made requests to your Father, and He answered with a definitive yes or no? The answer is clear.  PERIOD.  There have been many incidents in my life when I knew I had clear answers to specific prayers.  1 John 5:14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.”   Don’t be misled by these verses, though.  God is not a genie of whom we can make a request, and He grants us everything we ask for.  Many choose to ignore the four vital words embedded in this promise, “according to His Will.”  God is omniscient; He knows our stories before conception until our final breaths.  He knows His will always trump our requests.  His ways are much higher than ours, and He knows exactly what we need to bring Him glory.  In Isaiah 55:8-9, we read, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the LORD.  And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”  Maybe, just maybe, those clear answers are for our good and His glory, even if they are not the answers we were looking for.       Exclamation Points!  – In December of 2007, my husband, Brent, was at his annual cardiologist appointment.  He was born with a heart defect and had already undergone two open-heart surgeries before graduating high school to correct his aortic valve.  Due to this issue, he had to have his blood drawn monthly to make sure it wasn’t too thick or too thin to prevent clotting or excessive bleeding.  Needless to say, because of the lifetime of the doctor visits, he had an aversion to all things medical!   But at this appointment in 2007, he requested a test to check for any build-up of plaque – miracle number one - HE requested a test, not the doctor!  The results that followed were startling.  He had no plaque build-up, but the test showed an unusual “shadow” on his heart.  He was sent for a cardiac MRI, which showed an aneurysm on his heart the size of a knuckle.  Another miracle!  Had he not requested this test, the aneurysm may have never been detected.  Five days later, he was undergoing open heart surgery number three to repair the aneurysm and replace the aortic valve again.  During those five days, our family prayed for God to intervene and restore his heart.  Our life group at church literally encircled us, laid hands on us, and prayed over us for a miracle.  We claimed Psalms 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me.”  After what seemed like an eternity in the St. Joseph’s waiting room, the doctor met with us to give us the news of miracle number three!  He had made it through the surgery, but the aneurysm had grown to the size of a fist, A FIST!  They were able to remove the aneurysm, replace the aortic valve again, and repair another area of his heart as well.  We witnessed scripture literally leaping off the pages as God performed Ephesians 3:20-21 right in front of our eyes, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  AMEN!!   Question Marks?  – For the next ten years, we lived our lives differently.  We had witnessed the Hand of God in action.  We had seen Him move the proverbial mountain.  But then came the question mark moment in my life.  We had just celebrated his 10-year anniversary from his open heart surgery, as well as our 20-year wedding anniversary.  The phone rang.  My heart sank.  “Honey, I’m pulled over on the side of the road.  I can’t see.  My head is killing me.”  I tried to stay positive while I ran through the house, heading out the door to find him. Surely this was one of his debilitating migraines he was experiencing.  He will be ok.  Lord, just let me get to him.  My thoughts raced.  All I knew is that he was on Hwy 16 on his way home from work.  My cell phone never works on that stretch of 16, but “somehow” I was able to remain on the phone with him the entire drive.  The next two days are still a blur in my memory.  An ambulance rushed him to the hospital, only to discover a brain bleed from an apparent stroke.  Lifeflight flew him to another hospital for emergency surgery to try to stop the bleeding and release the pressure.  Surrounded by family and friends once again, prayers were being lifted non-stop for another miracle.  But this time our miracle didn’t come.  Two days later, my husband was in the arms of Jesus. “WHY, GOD?  You answered our prayers before.  Why did you take my husband?  Why did you leave our children without a father?  Why did you abandon us?  WHY, WHY, WHY?”  There are times in our lives when the prayers we lift leave us in puddles of tears with “Whys” deafening our minds, questioning our faith, and devastating our cores.  It is in those times that our faith is tested beyond what we humanly can comprehend.  We want to believe that God is good and that he is our loving Father, but there are times questions will remain unanswered.  As difficult as it is to trust someone when you feel that they have hurt you or abandoned you, you can  trust your Heavenly Father.  My favorite verses have always been Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”  I had to literally claim those verses day by day, sometimes even hour by hour, so much so that I even had it tattooed on my right wrist so that it would constantly remind me to trust in God’s sovereignty. Has it been easy? NO. Definitely not.  But He continues to show me through what I call his “God Winks” that He will never leave me, and He is still a good, good Father.  At Brent’s Celebration of Life service, Pastor Benny shared the gospe,l and over 40 people came to know Jesus that day!  There was a miracle after all – over 40 of them!  Will you trust Him in your question marks?   Commas  – These are the unanswered prayers.  The pauses.  The wait.  God hears our prayers, but no answers come.  No change on the horizon.  No healing.  No exclamation points or periods. YET .  For over five years, I have been praying something specific for someone in my life.  I know I am praying my Father’s will because the Lord wants all to know Him.  1 Tim. 2:3-4, “This is good and pleases God our Savior, Who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”  So, I know what I am requesting is His will, but I must keep praying UNTIL.  Romans 12:12 declares, “Rejoice in our confident hope.  Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Jesus even shares a parable with His disciples in Luke 18 about a widow (pretty ironic) that kept going to a judge with a plea, and the judge finally grants it.  Luke 18:1 and 7 reads, “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up…And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?”  This parable was about persisting in prayer, continuing to keep our requests before our Father.  God’s delays always have good reasons.  So even though I am still laying my request at His feet daily, I know He hears me.  He will answer in His perfect timing, and even when things go from bad to worse, He is faithful, and I must trust in His promises.  I follow a precious woman in ministry online, and to quote her, “I will not believe what I see; I will believe what He says.”  The wait is difficult, but His timing is divine.  And as Pastor Benny recently shared in a sermon, “Keep on Singing,” Ps. 40:1-3, I will let those verses be my anthem, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire.  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.  He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see what He has done and be amazed.  They will put their trust in the LORD.”   Heavenly Father, thank You for punctuating our prayers - thank You for the example of how to pray, for yes and no answers, for doing exceedingly and abundantly more than we could imagine, for allowing us to ask questions when our faith is tested, and for Your perfect timing in all our petitions.  May we praise You in every storm that blows our way and keep on singing no matter how You answer.  May Your will be done, and may Your name always be kept Holy.  We pray this in Your Son’s Name, the Name above all Names, Jesus, Amen.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25 NIV  As a little girl born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I was raised by my single mother.  By the time I was seven years old, we had moved eight times and covered five different states.  When we finally settled in Georgia in the summer before my 3 rd  grade year, my mom made every effort to make our little house feel like a forever home.  I specifically remember one picture that she hung on my bathroom wall.  It was a Precious Moments poster she had framed that portrayed a little girl looking into a mirror with the words that read, “When in the mirror of His love I look at my reflection, I accept myself for who I am with all my imperfections.” In elementary school, I certainly didn’t know the depth of those simple words, but now looking back, as years wore on, they would forever be written on my heart.     What do you see when you look into a mirror?  What reflection stares back at you?  Do you embody beauty, joy, and hope; or does the reflection expose past regrets, anguish, or fear? Take a moment to think about the numerous times we daily see our own reflections with all our imperfections.  Upon rising in the morning, we begin our day in front of a mirror, getting ready to present our best self to an imperfect world, and before bed, we most likely see our reflections one last time as we brush our teeth and fall back into bed, only to begin this cycle all over again. While as believers, it is important to care for the temporary tents God has entrusted us with this side of Heaven, we also need to reflect His light by our daily living.  We are told in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”   We can spend countless hours taking care of our body– feeding it, clothing it, grooming it; but how much time are we taking to honor God by feeding it the Bread of Life, clothing it in Truth, or adorning it with the Full Armor of God?  We were created in God’s image.  According to Genesis 1:27 NLT, we read, “So God created human beings in His own image.  In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” From the beginning of Creation, God fashioned us in His likeness.  But how do we, as His own handiwork, reflect him?   Do our mirrors focus on our own imperfections that are either visible or internalized? Or do we hunger to know Him intimately and see our reflections through His perfect love since we were created in His image?  In 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT, we read, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”  My friends, the Lord knows us COMPLETELY!  We are His creation.  He knows all of our imperfections but loves us compassionately.  He desires us to use our imperfections as testimonies of His healing Hands and forgiving nature.  Nothing is hidden from Him, and nothing we do can withhold His relentless pursuit.  And one day, when we are face to face with Him in Heaven, we will fully comprehend His overwhelming love.     The dictionary defines reflection as, “The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without   absorbing it.” I don’t know about you, but I want to redefine that definition and pursue the Lord so intently while on this earth that I continuously absorb His Word and reflect His light before men so that I no longer focus on my own imperfections, but rather on the Perfecter of our faith!   Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV states, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off EVERYTHING  that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith…” (emphasis added).  The challenge we face is dying to our own selfish desires in order to fix our eyes on the One who can bring true freedom!  This world is not our eternal address as believers.  Heaven awaits us with all of its perfection.  Does your reflection lead others to the same destination?  I would love to encourage you to immerse yourself daily into the living and transforming Word of God so that your life can be a beautiful reflection of your Creator.    Recently, I sold that childhood home after my mom had gone to be with Jesus.  And although the Precious Moments picture was no longer on the wall of the bathroom, the mirror still echoed loudly.  As I looked at myself almost fifty years later, time had changed my reflection.  Lines from life’s experiences were prominently realized on my face, and my hair was now sprinkled with “wisdom.”  But I still remember those simple words in that frame.  I now understand that we are all imperfect souls on a journey to our Heavenly Father, and if we meditate on His Word and allow it to penetrate beyond our eyes and ears, we have the privilege of then reflecting the image of the One who can change the reflections of others as well.  Heavenly Father, thank You for Your relentless pursuit.  Thank You for being our Perfecter of Faith and taking our imperfections and using them for Your glory.  May we all be completely transformed in You and reflect Your overwhelming love in a world so desperately in need of healing that only You can provide.  Satisfy our thirst with Your living water, and may we, Your vessels, abundantly overflow.  Selah! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Christianity is not an external show of practices, religion, prayers, emblems, going to church every time the doors are open, devotional practices, or alms. It is solely about your relationship with Christ. We could all agree that a relationship cannot be built without intention. The study of God’s Word and prayer (with listening) to our Heavenly Father is how we achieve that intimate relationship that is needed for complete understanding and obedience to Christ.   We must “take every thought captive” as 2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs. We can’t do this if we are void of what God’s Word has to say.   Why must Christianity be lived out 24 hours a day? Because there are eyes and ears on us at all times that we are awake and around others. We can make an impact every day…positive or negative. Representing and emulating Christ to the best of our ability is a must. The only way to do that is to not only “do study, but LIVE STUDY each and every day. This is how Christ in us can be seen and heard. We will all give an account for what we do and say in this life, so we must make every moment count.   Romans 14:12:  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God   Matthew 12:36:   I tell you, on the day of judgement, people will give account for every careless word they speak.   One of the greatest advantages of studying the Bible is that it offers an understanding of the meaning and significance of life. It helps to give us a reason for our existence. We find purpose and vision by studying God’s Word.   Proverbs 29:18:   Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.   PRAYER FOR TODAY: Jesus, I want to fully submit to You. Please help my mind submit as well as my heart and spirit to all things that you have for me. I understand that I cannot live this life in the right way without You taking charge. Make me obedient for the ultimate joy to flood my life.   In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN.

Rock Springs Church, Make Heaven Bigger by Caring Better. If you would like weekly updates about what is happening at Rock Springs, subscribe to our weekly emails below OR download our Church App! MAKE HEAVEN BIGGER BY CARING BETTER NEW HERE? HOW WE CARE SERVICE TIMES ORIGINAL CAMPUS - MILNER SUNDAYS 8 AM | 9:30 AM | 11 AM WEDNESDAY NIGHT GROUPS 7 PM Address: 219 Rock Springs Road Milner Ga 30257 (770) 229-8663 LEARN MORE MACON CAMPUS SUNDAYS 11 AM WEDNESDAY NIGHT GROUPS 7 PM Address: 1415 Bass Road Macon, GA 31210 (478) 738-6752 LEARN MORE BRANCH CAMPUS SUNDAYS 11 AM WEDNESDAY NIGHT GROUPS 7 PM Address: 219 Rock Springs Road Milner Ga 30257 (770) 229-8663 LEARN MORE ONLINE CAMPUS SUNDAYS 8 AM | 9:30 AM | 11 AM LEARN MORE LATEST LIVESTREAM Guest Speaker: Dr. Steven Kyle October 19, 2025 | BENNY TATE WATCH MORE VISIT SHOP LEARN MORE UNLIMITED STUDY GUIDE LIFE IS BETTER TOGETHER! Make Lifelong Friends. Have Fun. Grow Together. JOIN A SMALL GROUP TODAY OUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY Rock Springs Church Preferred Business Partners BROWSE OUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY

What an exciting time we live in, that we can connect through technology! Many of those who join us online via Facebook, YouTube, or our website do so because of some sort of physical barrier keeping them from plugging in at one of our physical campuses. We want to make your experience with us online the best it can be, that's why we are always looking at ways we can be better.  MAKE HEAVEN BIGGER BY CARING BETTER NEW HERE? HOW WE CARE SERVICE TIMES SUNDAY SERVICES: 8:00 AM 9:30 AM 11:00 AM SIGN UP WHAT TO EXPECT What an exciting time we live in, that we can connect through technology! Many of those who join us online via Facebook, YouTube, or our website do so because of some sort of physical barrier keeping them from plugging in at one of our physical campuses. We want to make your experience with us online the best it can be, that's why we are always looking at ways we can be better. BIBLICAL TEACHING Thought-provoking and engaging messages based on the Bible are brought to you live via a large screen. SERMON ARCHIVE ENGAGEMENT People who want to interact and engage with one another while services are live. If you join us on Facebook , we would love to interact with you personally! JOIN TODAY COMMUNITY Stay connected with our church family! Join our newsletter for uplifting messages, event updates, and community news. Be a part of our thriving church community. SIGN UP LIFE IS BETTER TOGETHER! Make Lifelong Friends. Have Fun. Grow Together. JOIN A SMALL GROUP TODAY OUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY Rock Springs Church Preferred Business Partners BROWSE OUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Rock Springs Sports Ministry, Building Champions for Christ Through Athletics. Building Champions for Christ Through Athletics At Rock Springs Sports Ministry, we're all about building champions for Christ through athletics. We believe that sports provide an excellent platform to shape character, develop leadership skills, and promote spiritual growth. Our team is committed to providing an environment where athletes can experience character-building and spiritual goals. Join us to experience the excitement of becoming champions for Christ through sports! Rock Springs Jr. BASEBALL Register Here Rock Springs Jr. Sports League RSJr League sports are inclusive and open to the public, meaning you don't need to be affiliated with Rock Springs Church or Rock Springs Christian Academy to participate. The registration fee for all sports is $100, which covers the cost of uniforms as well. These sports are co-ed, offering opportunities for everyone to join, and each sport involves one weekly practice session and one weekly game. Flag Football: Coed ages 4yrs. - 11yrs Registration in August. Season September - November Basketball: Coed ages 4yrs. - 11yrs Registration in November. Season December - February Soccer: Coed ages 4yrs - 11yrs Registration in February. Season March - May Baseball: Coed ages 4yrs. - 8yrs Registration in May. Season June - July Community Events & Groups Ultimate frisbee Coed softball Coed pickleball Men's Basketball Group- Macon BROWSE GROUPS "We have very much enjoyed the sport's ministry at Rock Springs Church. It has gotten my daughter not only excited about playing sports, but she is so excited to learn new bible verses every week!" Allie Banks, RS Jr. Soccer Parent “I absolutely loved it and had a blast watching the teams grow and learn. Our coach was amazing. I couldn’t have been happier with the season. The only reason we aren’t signing up again is the age limit.” RS Jr. Basketball Parent For more info contact ERIC HABELT Email eric@rockspringsonline.com Follow