Sunday, April 1, 2018

He Has Risen


He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!

April 2018
Message from Pastor Tom,                                                                                                 
You definitely knew it was March for sure since I got a little windy last month in my message, but hey, March is a windy month. Now we come to April, which is one of my favorite months with the Resurrection of Jesus, and of course, December being another when we recognize our dear Savior’s birth. Two great things happen in April, one being the celebration of our RISEN Lord Jesus Christ, Hallelujah! With the second being the celebration of Heidi and my 37th wedding anniversary, which was planned all those years ago to coincide with Easter. Yet the highlight this month is the cornerstone of our Christian faith, the resurrection of our Savior, and what better month to do it in? April means spring, and spring is a time of renewal with the trees budding, the grass turning green, and flowers blooming. It is finally getting warmer, and everyone is happily attending their allergies, while beginning to make plans for summer vacation when school is out.
What is important for us to reflect on during Easter time is the physical pain Jesus endured on Good Friday so through His Resurrection we can live forever with Him. Therefore, let us also think about the purpose of our own pain. Everyone reading this is going through or has gone through something painful. All of us have faced trials and tribulations and will most likely face more. We can either let adversity make us bitter or better. Our adversity can serve as a stepping-stone, or stumbling block. It’s up to us! Jesus’ passion and suffering produced the opportunity for the salvation of the world. Our suffering ultimately makes us more like Jesus (Philippians 3:10) and gives us future opportunities to minister to others. Although we may not understand it now, pain always serves a purpose! Nowhere do we see this more clearly than in the life of Jesus. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is nearly overcome with anguish and distress. He tells the disciples, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38).  He cries out to His Father, using a term of intimate endearment, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36). He will say this two more times as swollen drops of sweat fall to the ground like blood.
We live in a broken world. Every Christian will at some point in our life know the pain of grieving for a loved one. When Paul told us not to "grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13) he did not mean we would not experience sadness. But because Jesus conquered the grave, we have confidence one day we too will meet both Jesus and our believing loved ones again. This changes everything when we come face to face with death. Our heavenly Father is faithful to keep every one of His promises. If you trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, God will save you from your sin and welcome you into His family (John 1:12), without regard to merit or worth on your part. Eternal life will be yours, and He offers this gift freely to all who believe in His Son. Will you receive it today, or will you be secure in your own salvation?
Happy Easter to you and your family as we celebrate our Father’s greatest sacrifice through His Son, Jesus Christ. Heidi and I pray this Easter you receive God's Love, Grace, and His never-ending peace. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and as always, I hope it spiritually enriches you. Have a most blessed Easter.
Blessings from a Pastor and his wife,
Tom and Heidi

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31

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