Sunday in the Park – Colona Community Church

Pastor Jed steeped in the last Sunday of June to bring us a message about time entitled, “My Times Are in His Hands.” To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Jed’s study notes with links to BibleGateway for Scriptures referenced. Enjoy!

Psalm 31:14-15

In public speaking, the resource of TIME is often badly mismanaged. The 80-20 Principle – using your time wisely through pacing. In general, our lives are focused on time, are measured and experienced through the passage of time, are bound or constrained by time, and how we use or waste our time.

God instituted the existence of time at creation but He Himself does not exist in time and is not bound or governed by time. He is greater than time and exists outside of time. All human history lies before God as if in the eternal present. He is Yahweh/Jehovah, the great I AM. The “I was and is and is to come” (Rev. 1:8).

II Peter 3:8-9 “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  However, God has appointed times for creation (including you and me) and its history. He has appointed times for His plans and purposes: Acts 1:6-7, II Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2-3 for people in the Bible, including Jesus (John 2:4, 17:1).

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Commit your times to the Lord. Psalm 31:14-15. Dedicate and donate your time to the Lord. The word “times” is plural – refers to people, circumstances, events, changes, lessons, triumphs, periods of testing, etc. Every aspect of our lives at every moment is in His Hands. Psalm 62:8.

Invest your time. It is a gift from God to use wisely. Do not waste it by “burying” it in the ground (Matt. 25:14-30). Consider “tithing” your time.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Be wise with your time. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity heaven.” Limit time on your cell phone and other potentially idle activities. See Romans 13:11-12, Amos 5:13, and Matthew 16:3. Learn time appreciation and time management.

And the first Sunday in July is when we are blessed to join with other churches in Ouray County for Sunday in the Park in Ridgway. This year was a beautiful time of seeing God’s hand of love, protection, and provision over our little county which is currently facing the Gold Mountain Fire. We were truly blessed with relatively smoke-free skies and wonderful worship and fellowship with other believers, as well as a fantastic message from David Brickner, Executive Director of Jews for Jesus.

Here are a few pictures I actually remembered to take that morning! 😁

Thank you to Ridgway Chrisitan Church, Ouray Christian Fellowship, Ridgway Mountain View Fellowship Church, and Josh Young & The Valley Collective for such a special time.

The first Sunday in July brings a tradition here at Colona Community Church. In recent years, every first Sunday of July our little church has joined with Ridgway Community Church to have Sunday in the Park in lovely Hartwell Park just up the road in Ridgway, CO. We gather for a few hours of praise, worship, and reflection on the freedoms we have been blessed with through the sacrifice of others, plus a wonderful lunch and time of fellowship.

This year, nearly four hundred people came out on a gorgeous western Colorado day to hear the music of JustOne Ministries out of Durango, CO, and an inspirational message from Randy Gradishar, former Denver Bronco. Mr. Gradishar reminded us that we don’t want to gain the whole world at the cost of our souls (Matthew 16:26). One of my favorite moments was when he said that someone told him he should be in the Hall of Fame. His response was that he’s already in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame! That’s the only one I can see that would ever matter :)

Here are a few poor cell phone shots from my vantage point on the far side: