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Time to Celebrate
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven… a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance… Ecclesiastes 3:1;4 NRSVUE One June Saturday afternoon I presided over a wedding. A joyous time of two people coming together to share their lives. While the happy couple was still involved in the receiving line, I slipped out the door and up the hill to a grave-side service. A dear saint of many years had passed from this life to the life promised. We have only so much time, and that is all. Not meant as a “downer”, rather a reminder of how precious each moment is. Celebration and sadness are verses of the same song of our lives. Today I celebrated with the church as a new Pastor was appointed. The moving forward of my church was now complete. Someone new will serve and lead this wonderful, loving congregation in ways I never thought of. And God willing, I will be there to support, to celebrate, and to continue to serve my Lord. We cannot predict how our life will go, but we can choose to live it with faith and joy. More celebrations will surely come our way, and when the trying times and times of great sadness come, we can press forward trusting our Lord is with us every step of the way. Have faith. It all comes right. Pastor Mike |
Dr. R. Michael Sanders is our Retired Pastor of the Topinabee Community Church.
Born and raised in Mt. Vernon, IL, his southern ‘twang’ still occasionally presents itself during his uplifting, Bible-based sermons that are grounded in a thorough understanding of scripture and years of experience as a pastor and teacher
Pastor Mike attended school in Illinois, receiving his B.S. degree from Southern Illinois University, two Masters degrees, including a Master of Divinity, from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. His Doctorate is from the Oxford Graduate School.
Pastor Mike enjoyed serving TCC with his wife, Kathy. They share their home with new addition, Watson, an Aussiedoodle. Pastor Mike writes devotions for the Petoskey and Cheboygan newspapers, online subscribers, and has written several books. His passion for bringing the Gospel to others comes out in both his preaching and his writing.
Born and raised in Mt. Vernon, IL, his southern ‘twang’ still occasionally presents itself during his uplifting, Bible-based sermons that are grounded in a thorough understanding of scripture and years of experience as a pastor and teacher
Pastor Mike attended school in Illinois, receiving his B.S. degree from Southern Illinois University, two Masters degrees, including a Master of Divinity, from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. His Doctorate is from the Oxford Graduate School.
Pastor Mike enjoyed serving TCC with his wife, Kathy. They share their home with new addition, Watson, an Aussiedoodle. Pastor Mike writes devotions for the Petoskey and Cheboygan newspapers, online subscribers, and has written several books. His passion for bringing the Gospel to others comes out in both his preaching and his writing.
The Perfect Moment
Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Psalms 37:3 NRSV
How are we moving forward?
Are we waiting until the perfect moment?
Until all of the planets are aligned just so?
Until we are “certain” we’ll succeed?
Or, have we done enough research that we are willing to get going, despite
the details which have surely not been attended to?
Let genius and perfection wait for their “perfect” day. Let you and I simply
be faithful with some part of moving forward this week.
Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to move forward this week. And some
help with deflecting the “Nay-Sayers” would be most appreciated. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Sanders recently retired from Topinabee Community Church.
His devotional books can be found locally at Ken’s Village Market in Indian River.
Have faith. It all comes right.
Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Psalms 37:3 NRSV
How are we moving forward?
Are we waiting until the perfect moment?
Until all of the planets are aligned just so?
Until we are “certain” we’ll succeed?
Or, have we done enough research that we are willing to get going, despite
the details which have surely not been attended to?
Let genius and perfection wait for their “perfect” day. Let you and I simply
be faithful with some part of moving forward this week.
Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to move forward this week. And some
help with deflecting the “Nay-Sayers” would be most appreciated. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Sanders recently retired from Topinabee Community Church.
His devotional books can be found locally at Ken’s Village Market in Indian River.
Have faith. It all comes right.
Devotions
Retired Pastor R. Michael Sanders
Seemingly Impossible
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'For mortals, it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.'" Mark 10:27
When I was a child, my dad, a man of many works, took my red wagon and somehow connected to the back of it the motor from our old grass cutter. Later, I could be seen slow-riding through the neighborhood on my power-wagon, with dad by my side.
I told my friends in the neighborhood about it and they laughed and said it wasn’t possible. The next day, my dad and I went by their part of the neighborhood, with me happily driving along.
Roger said, “It’s a trick. Your dad must be pushing you somehow.” Then, Roger walked home. Others joined in. We had a blast for several days with this new gadget.
No matter what it is, there are some people who will tell us our ideas and hopes are impossible. The trick is not to become one of them, but to pursue our dreams, knowing that many things, once called impossible, are commonplace today.
Prayer: Lord? I know all things are possible with You. I can look back on my life and see Your hand guiding me. Show me the next things we're going to do!
© Copyright 2021 R. Michael Sanders
Beyond Ourselves
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18 NRSV
Throughout the week, I will have opportunities to serve others in small and large ways.
I will also have temptations to be selfish and to ignore the hurt and needs of others.
It will be then that I will need to sing the old Hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour.
For without God, I become a follower of my worst self.
So today, lets walk together and see the wonder that God has in store.
I need thee every hour,
stay thou near by;
temptations lose their power
when thou art nigh.
(Refrain)
I need thee, O I need thee;
every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to thee.
© Copyright 2021 R. Michael Sanders
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18 NRSV
Throughout the week, I will have opportunities to serve others in small and large ways.
I will also have temptations to be selfish and to ignore the hurt and needs of others.
It will be then that I will need to sing the old Hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour.
For without God, I become a follower of my worst self.
So today, lets walk together and see the wonder that God has in store.
I need thee every hour,
stay thou near by;
temptations lose their power
when thou art nigh.
(Refrain)
I need thee, O I need thee;
every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to thee.
© Copyright 2021 R. Michael Sanders
Life Lessons from our 4-Legged Friends... and One Bumble Bee, $7.95
With longing glances, soulful stares and endearing eccentricities, pets touch
our hearts and and become family as they share our lives. Dr. Michael Sanders
uses his life experiences with dogs and a couple of cats to explore the simple
wisdom that our 4-legged friends offer. He tells their stories and ours with humor,
love, and a deep appreciation for their companionship.
To purchase any of the above books, please contact Kathy via email:
tccsec2013@yahoo.com
With longing glances, soulful stares and endearing eccentricities, pets touch
our hearts and and become family as they share our lives. Dr. Michael Sanders
uses his life experiences with dogs and a couple of cats to explore the simple
wisdom that our 4-legged friends offer. He tells their stories and ours with humor,
love, and a deep appreciation for their companionship.
To purchase any of the above books, please contact Kathy via email:
tccsec2013@yahoo.com
A Feast of Wild Blackberries, $6.95
Dr. Michael Sanders brings devotions to inspire us when life is hard, using
uplifting messages to remind us of our ever-present God and His love for us.
Dr. Michael Sanders brings devotions to inspire us when life is hard, using
uplifting messages to remind us of our ever-present God and His love for us.
Avocados for Breakfast, $6.95
Pastor Mike offers his unique and humorous look at the Christian life. His insights are
shared through his use of story-telling and poetic prose. With a fresh voice, he reaches
into our hearts to provoke us to genuine love and faith.
Pastor Mike offers his unique and humorous look at the Christian life. His insights are
shared through his use of story-telling and poetic prose. With a fresh voice, he reaches
into our hearts to provoke us to genuine love and faith.