Pastor Cherri’ Kerr, Discipleship Pastor

The Springs Church

135 N. Grant, Cedar Springs

Happy New Year! So how goes the New Year’s Resolution? If you’re like me, you are doing okay, for now. But we know the struggle is coming. We can look ahead and see a bright future but it’s that space in between here and there that we struggle.  God knows more about our struggle than we might realize. Exodus 13:17 (NIV) says, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

God knew that the Israelites lacked the faith they would need to get to the Promised Land. The people needed time to prepare for what was ahead of them. And God was protecting His investment. He wasn’t putting a band-aid on their situation. He did not set them free for them to be enslaved again by some other nation. No, He had plans for them and every intention of seeing those plans to completion.

The same is true for us. God has everything we need to get from here to there. Have you ever noticed that the problems that tend to bother us are things like debt, obesity, addictions, anger and worry? These things are symptoms of our real problem. And like the Israelites, God isn’t looking to set us free so that we can become captive again to something else. He isn’t offering a band-aid. He offers a solution. God knows that all that we struggle with in this life starts in our heart.

Ezekiel 36:22-23 (NIV) “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name… Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

As you journey from here to there remember that you’re not the only one with skin in the game. God is completely invested in you. It is His Holy Name, His character, His power which is called into question when Christians choose to live enslaved.

Ezekiel 36:25-26 (NIV) says, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Real change comes from a changed heart. God changes people from the inside out. This year allow God to uncover some things that may be hidden in your heart so that you may experience the fullness of God’s blessing in the coming year.

Alisa Bowyer

Alisa Bowyer, 13, shot this deer during the state’s annual youth hunt last weekend. She is the daughter of Phillip and Heather Butler, of Cedar Springs.

Brittney Robinson

Brittney Robinson, a 10th grader at Cedar Springs High School, bagged this nice 8-point buck on Sunday night during the youth hunt.
Brittney is the daughter Trevor and Salli Robinson of Cedar Springs.

Zachery Kerr

Zachery Kerr, age 10, got a 5-point buck during youth hunt on Saturday morning, September 24, while shooting his grandma’s 44 magnum rifle. This buck stepped out at 50 yards, providing the perfect opportunity for the perfect shot. Zach is a serious hunter, as you can see from the picture. He is the son of John and Cherri Kerr, of Cedar Springs.

Since 1990, 26 young women have been recipients of a scholarship from the Cedar Spring’s Women’s Club. This year Audriana Boomgaard, daughter of John and Cherri’ Kerr, of Cedar Springs, was selected by the committee to receive the $1,000.00 award.
Audri was very involved in the Cedar Springs High School Varsity Soccer team and helped put on community soccer camps for children. She has been asked to manage Spring Arbor University Women’s Soccer Team in the fall. She was a member of the 2009 Red Flannel Court and was selected as a student leader for her church’s youth group where she was also involved in Vacation Bible School, Christian Life Club, Sunday School, on the worship team and distributing food for the needy families.
Preparing for the future has been an important goal for Audri. When she enters Spring Arbor University this fall she will already have completed a full semester of college thru dual enrollment. Her career goal is to obtain a PhD in Children’s Clinical Psychology. Working with children and young adults who are coping with handicaps, defects and life-threatening illnesses is her ambition.
Congratulations and best of luck, Audri.