June 2019
Message from Pastor Tom:
Message from Pastor Tom:
Blessings and Peace. Last month we honored our mothers and
our military personnel on Memorial Day. This month we turn our attention to
honor our fathers in all they do for us. I find in recognizing our dads during
such occasion as this, it is also a great way to allow the Lord to work on us
and soften our hearts along the way.
So with Father’s Day fast approaching, I have a few
questions for you to ponder. How is your honesty, integrity, actions, and
purposes in your life gentlemen? Where is your accurate account, as your life
becomes center-stage this month? The Bible provides an accurate account of our
Heavenly Father’s character, actions, and purposes. Together, the Old and New
Testaments teach us man’s problem is sin and the only remedy is faith in the Son
of God, Jesus Christ. Through the Bible, we learn what happens at the moment of
our salvation. Our sin’s penalty is reconciled as paid, its power over us is
broken, and the Holy Spirit becomes our daily constant companion. So does your
unwavering devotion to Christ lead others to trust your Savior?
Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience.
They’ll stay faithful as long as it’s safe and doesn’t involve risk, rejection,
or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation,
they first check to see which way their friends or family are going. What kind
of witness is that? Who will want to follow our God if we ourselves won’t
follow Him? Our response can draw others to Jesus, or push them away. We need
to practice our commitment to Christ both privately and publicly. I truly
preach this to myself, as the Holy Spirit has laid this on my heart to share
with you. I know the time you spend alone with God will transform your
character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and Godly behavior in
an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord. I find through His
Word, God has entrusted us with the knowledge of who He is, what He is doing,
and how the future will unfold for mankind.
The Scriptures were intended to lead us into a growing
personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and to empower us for fruitful
service as Christ’s Ambassadors. As men of integrity and leaders of our
families and church, we are called to follow Jesus’ example in glorifying our God
in heaven, focused not on Himself, but on the Heavenly Father whose plan is to
reach the entire world with His saving grace.
No matter what, your prayer life can become effective and
dynamic if you’ll approach the Lord with a clean heart, align your requests
with His will, and believe He will do what He says. Then you’ll be able to pray
with absolute confidence, knowing He will hear and answer your petitions. The
Father’s will includes different tasks for His children to accomplish,
according to the way He’s planned for each one to function. Meditating on
scriptural principles and examples will help us discern what He has in mind for
us. Just as Jesus’ work was to do the will of His Father, this is our calling
as well.
Fathers, in determining the course of your life, please take
time today and every day to listen to the Lord, to partake of His wisdom, and
to determine what He is saying to you personally. In so doing, you will orient
your mind to His priorities, will, and thinking. As Christ increases in our
mind and heart, we’ll discover our self-focus decreases and He becomes the
delight of our lives. Oh what a father you will be!
Heidi and I understand all fathers are under much pressure and go through a lot working to provide for their families, leading
their wives, being a father, and just being a man. It is our prayer God will
bless you graciously as we honor all fathers on this special day. Thank you for
taking the time to read this, and as always I hope it spiritually enriches you.
Have a most joyous Father’s Day, as it is now your time to be a little
pampered.
Blessings from a pastor and his wife
But if
serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as
for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15
