Seasonal changes may be subtle in Central Florida, but we can still appreciate that spring is officially here. Flowers are blooming, the air smells sweeter, and the trees are greener.
It’s a great time for fresh starts and new beginnings. As followers of Jesus, we get to experience this all the time. He forgives, brings new life, and his mercies are new every morning. We believe this for ourselves and for every child and family represented at OCC. He is faithful and will never leave us.
“You can be sure the sun will rise. And you can be just as sure the Lord will appear. He will come to renew us like the winter rains. He will be like the spring rains that water the earth.” —Hosea 6:3
What does Jesus look like?
We could make some educated guesses about his physical appearance, but what does he really look like?
Look around on a Saturday morning, and you will see him. He looks like the volunteer writing out name tags for the elementary students, and he looks like the little girl getting her nails painted by one of our high school helpers.
How would our interactions change if we saw Jesus in those around us? How would we change if we started acting like him?
Our elementary kids have been studying the book of Acts, and our teenagers have been looking at what it means to be authentic. The two go hand-in-hand. To be authentic, we need to act like the one who taught us what it is to truly live, and this is exactly what is happening in Acts. Like Jesus, his followers sacrifice their own comfort and look past differences to bring peace, healing, and freedom to others.
Every kindness, every word of encouragement, every truth spoken in love is Jesus on display. Together, let’s learn to see him in others — even in those we’d least expect. Let’s learn to be like him.
OCC NEEDS
- Monthly financial gifts — we currently need an additional $10,000 per month
- Prayer warriors! Will you commit to praying on Saturday mornings?
- Volunteers — get more info
- Small group leaders, especially for middle and high school students
- New metal picnic tables (assembled, if possible)
- Amazon wishlist (Bibles, footballs, games, toiletries)
- iMac for our new OCC office