Words from the Pastor
Isn’t it great to know that we serve a risen Savior and that He loves us unconditionally? What does that mean? It means that if we mess up, which we will, He still loves us and still desires a relationship with us. We as humans aren’t like that usually are we? At least I’m not. When someone offends me, I hold them at arm’s length and don’t let them into my life again until I say it’s okay. And at times I have done that with our children. They aren’t doing what I want them to do so I am going to be sore at them and upset that they aren’t! Praise the Lord that He isn’t that way! He loves us no matter what. But I am getting better at not doing that, by God’s grace.
You see, when we are offended, that’s all we can see. All we can feel is the pain of the offense and we can’t see the big picture. We can’t see the fact that everything is working for our good like it says in Romans 8:28. God is going to use these things in our lives to help us mature in Jesus. Paul even goes so far as to say that our afflictions are light and momentary! Read what Paul tells us in II Corinthians 4:17: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” I know what you’re thinking I bet! “Light and momentary troubles! For crying out loud I just buried my son!” Or, “Do you realize that I was just diagnosed with cancer?” Or, “I hurt my back and I can’t work. How am I going to provide for my family?” All of these things are real in so many of our lives and they hurt and worry us so much, but Paul calls them “light and momentary troubles.” And here on Earth they aren’t. Our struggles are real and they hurt. They take a toll on us. But Paul wants us to look at it from an eternal stand point. Everything that goes on down here, even if we live to be 100 years old, is just a small blip when you compare it to eternity. It is just a blink of an eye and it is causing you to become better or bitter. It is causing you to become more like Jesus or more like the world that has no hope. It’s your choice.
Okay pastor, how do we get over it? Well, Paul tells us in the next verse, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Don’t be looking at what’s around you, look up and ask God to show you what He wants you to learn from this. Ask Him how He wants to you to grow and become more like Jesus!
This is what Paul told the church in Colossae to do in Colossians 3:1-3, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” It is all about our attitudes brothers and sisters. Where is your heart set? If it’s set on things that are around us, we are not going to have peace. But if it is set on Heavenly things God can do wonderful things through us. Look up!
Please let me know if you need anything. You pray for me and I’ll pray for you. Naomi and I love you all. -Pastor Steve
Naomi and I want to say “Thank You” to each and everyone of you who helped pull off this last Resurrection Day Sunrise service! Some folks started on Friday decorating, an army of people showed up on Saturday and so many more pitched in on Sunday! The decorating crew, the set-up crew, the tear-down crew, the band, the sound guy, the cooks, the servers and so many more. Thank you each and everyone of you! I will not try and name names because I will miss someone, but the Lord knows and He is going to reward you abundantly!
Oh, and I was informed that even though it is our 13th year it is our 14th Sunrise Service. My math skills are a little bit lacking. But we did have the most people in attendance that we have ever had, somewhere around 240. Amazing, and at 5:45 in the morning!
Naomi and I love you all!
Pastor Steve
