Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Additional Scripture References: Isaiah 43:1-2
It can be tempting to discount old in search of something new. We live in a world that doesn't value old. We constantly strive for new things. New job, new car, new relationship. By definition, new means unused. We constantly search for something new because we start to feel used. Just because we’re used doesn’t mean we’re not useful. Take the Bible for example — though it may not be new, it’s fresh. Though it may be old, it’s not stale. As we reflect on 8 years of VOUS, we might not be new anymore, but we are fresh. By the grace of God, we have been used in mighty ways. We are getting older, but we are not stale. God is doing a FRESH thing!
Let the Word become the lens that you experience life
Throughout our lives, we will experience breakdowns and breakthroughs. It’s easy to reminisce on the good old days when we’re feeling discouraged. When we feel like things aren’t going our way, we tend to forsake God’s plan for our preferences, leading us to miss what God wants to do in our present moment. The good news is that it’s never too late to look ahead, forgetting the former things and establishing in our mind, heart, and spirit that with God, the best is truly yet to come.
Perception is a game-changer. Shifting our mindset is one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal. We find whatever we focus on; if we look for problems, we find them. If we look for provision, we find it. Sometimes we simply need to open our eyes and acknowledge that the sovereign hand of God is moving in our midst. Our problems are a platform for him to perform miracles in the middle of our circumstances — we just need eyes to see our problems through his perspective.
As we look towards the future and shift our perspective, our eyes are opened to see everything God is doing. Instead of fearing the future, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. He is always doing a new thing — whether He’s working in our circumstances or reframing our perspective in the waiting, He is always moving.
This week, take time to reflect on Isaiah 43. Write down one area you are asking God to give you a fresh start in? Until the next Crew Week, journal and reflect on what God is showing you! Be prepared to come back and share.
If someone in your Crew needs care, we want to come alongside you. Our Care Response Team is designed to equip you to walk with people in different seasons of their life.Our team is committed to celebrating life’s best moments with you and offering support through its hardest ones.We would love to come around you for the following life events:
+ Marriages
+ Births
+ Deaths
+ Hospitalizations/Illness
Please submit a request at vouschurch.com/requestcare
Saying yes to Jesus marks a brand new beginning. Baptism is your next step. It's how you go public with your faith and celebrate the new life God has given you. The past is behind you, and a fresh future is ahead. This is your moment. We are having baptisms this Sunday, July 27th, across all of our locations, and on the beach.
To sign up for baptisms, please click here.
This back-to-school season, we have the opportunity to show up for our city in a meaningful way. On Saturday, August 2, we’re hosting a Back to School Bash at the Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center, located inside Charles Hadley Park. It’s a chance to serve local families by distributing backpacks filled with school supplies and making sure every student feels seen, supported, and ready to start the year with confidence.
Donate - Fill backpacks for families in need for the school year. You can purchase supplies locally and bring to a VOUS Location or donate online.
Serve - Help host our annual Back To School Bash for families in our community — distribute backpacks, check-in guests, and serve our city during a morning of fun and games.
When: Saturday, August 2nd
Where: Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center
Address: 4900 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Team Rally: 10:20AM
Starting Sunday, August 3rd, we will be moving to brand new service times at all of our locations!
VOUS SoMi
10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM
VOUS Design District
8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM
The countdown is on! If you're ready to take your next step in ministry, leadership, or higher education, now is the time to apply. VOUS College application deadline is July 31st for both our degree-seeking and leadership programs. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a life-changing semester. Start your journey at vouscollege.com/apply.
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack