God's Gift of Grace

 

December 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

During this past Thanksgiving holiday, I hope many of you found time to reflect on your blessings and the many things you have to be thankful for. And if you're anything like me, all your Christmas decorating was complete either before or during the Thanksgiving break, getting ready for the fast approaching Christmas season with all the splendor and anticipation this time of year brings. The wonder of watching our loved ones, children and grandchildren alike, as they look forward with hope for what’s to come. Yet for others, the Christmas season can actually be a sad and lonely time. A rather hopeless reminder of a lost loved one, the loss of employment, or an illness, especially with Covid-19 still running rampant. But no matter what has gone before, the one thing we can always be assured of, by God’s Grace we have HOPE!

It's strange how we can find it much easier to trust God’s miracle of resurrection, rather than God’s miracle of grace. We all fear failure to some extent, and most of us have been guilty at one time or another of creating an image of perfection, feeling we are somehow not worthy, falling short of God’s expectations. We're then left with trying to please God either by our works, or some other monumental accomplishments and expectations we force upon ourselves. Instead, we should remember God’s promises are always kept, God’s love is unconditional, and we don't have to do anything in order to deserve God’s grace, because it is truly a free gift. All we need to do is accept it and cherish it.

Our emphasis therefore, should be on living a full Christian life of holiness, which stresses the importance of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love one another as Jesus loved us (Mark 12:30-31). God’s grace is the love and mercy He freely gives us, not because we have done anything to earn it, but because God wants us to have it so we can understand faith and what it means to live a Christian life. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast” God’s grace freely flows because of His great love for us, and we can know how much God loves us with the incredible gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, the source of our faith. This faith is what gives us our heart change when the Holy Spirit takes over our spiritual senses and gradually begins our spiritual birth. This new birth is a process allowing us to experience a new beginning living in Christ, seeing and hearing spiritually.

As God’s children we seek perfection because Jesus Christ calls us to be good Christians, building up others in the faith so we may show His grace to the unsaved. We are no longer sinners needing salvation, but born again believers seeking perfection. Since only God sees into our hearts, the only way a person can know our heart is by our actions, witnessing our good works and seeing how we live every day as children of God. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and repent our sins, we do so because our mind and heart has changed. We turn away from all that dishonors God, and embrace all that brings honor and glory to Him.

While we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ alone, what we believe should be confirmed by what we do. Faith should inspire not only our living a Holy Christian life displaying Christian morals and ethics, but also performing works of service. Scripture reminds us, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become transformed, turning away from behaviors rooted in sin, and toward actions that express God’s love as we strive to become as Christ-like as possible. It is by our good deeds and outward evidence of our faith we will show others the way to the Lord.

We have no better example of what it means to truly love unconditionally and without hesitation than Jesus. It is not just that Jesus sacrificed Himself in our place, but that through His resurrection we are given the perfect gift of a new life in Christ. We will therefore demonstrate the authenticity of our faith by how we live each day with the light of our Lord shining through us, as we share our love and knowledge of Christ by our deeds as willing servants of God. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). So please this Christmas reach out for God’s Christmas gift to each and every one, the gift of His Amazing Grace. With Grace there is HOPE.

Heidi and I ask you join with us in praying for peace for our country, our new leaders and those who are racially and spiritually persecuted worldwide. Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you. Merry Christmas and may each of you enjoy a very happy and prosperous new year in Christ.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Spiritual Fog

 

 

November 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

Have you been in a Spiritual fog lately? Some of our fall days have been foggy, and a lot of people are foggy about which Americans are going to win in the final elections, or whether there will be a medical treatment for Covid soon. What does this picture above show you? Is it a train coming, or is it a clearing through the fog? With the holidays soon upon us, we are not sure exactly the outcome, as these times are foggy at best. Should we be with family, travel, or be out in public places?

A fellow Chaplain stated “God is doing so much, yet through the fog it is hard to see it.  We get some glimpse, we can see it, but we can’t see through it.  When we allow ourselves to be so consumed with everything that life brings with it, we move from a sense of obedience to God, to a short-sighted approach that stops when the fog descends down over us and puts us in a spiritual fog.” These words ring so clearly true right now. So just how do we lift the fog from around us and bring the light and happiness to the world? Well, no passage gets at this need and God's provision better than Psalm 119:105. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Did you catch that? When it talks about light, it isn’t just talking about illumination, it’s also talking about happiness. Yes, when we follow God’s Word, it’s also meant to bring us happiness. What better confirmation is there than that?

Yet you never hear people around the world saying, “We need to get back to using God’s Word as a lamp unto our feet, or as a light unto our path.”  Sometimes God’s people even fail at using God’s Word properly. The list is quite long for the need of the light only our Lord and Savior can bring to the human race, to all His creation. There are many of us in need of His light to help deal with the unexpected. We need His light to cope with new emerging difficulties. We need His light for dealing with our families, in our marriages and our parenting. We need His light for our jobs and relationships with our neighbors. We need His light for our struggles with desires and temptations that can separate us from Gods Will.

So this Thanksgiving, let’s all be thankful for the light our Lord Jesus Christ makes available to each of us. All we have to do is reach out and let His light shine through us, illuminating clearly and perfectly the path He has chosen for you and your family once the fog is finally lifted.

Heidi and I ask you join us in praying for peace for our country, our leaders and those who are racially and spiritually persecuted worldwide, and please make sure you go out and vote! Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 1 Corinthians 13:12

God's Way is the Right Way

 

October 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

Wow, it’s so hard to believe October is already here! This year has been anything but calm, and even though we can’t help feeling weighed down by all the unknowns with the pandemic, the elections, job futures, our schools, or just plain being able to socialize safely, with the onset of cooler temperatures and the leaves beginning to turn their brilliant colors, we can hopefully turn our thoughts towards the holidays. So just how do we let the spirit of the holidays warm our hearts and look forward to the season in times like this? The answer is quite simple… with GOD. I know being around people and going places is necessary and gives meaning to our lives. God intended us to be social and build up one another. But without being able to do that lately, I imagine many have felt empty, fearful and lost in your quiet time. In fact, I know you will if the Lord is not in your heart. “God’s way is the right way.”

If you know God’s character you will know that no one is more trustworthy than God. Satan will try to have us see God as untrustworthy. When God says He will not forsake us, He means it. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:5 (KJV). No one who seeks after our Lord and Savior will be disappointed. God will not forsake you. But I am here to tell those who are not interested in God, who do not seek Him, you cannot claim, or be able to receive God’s promise.

For me and my family, not serving God in some capacity is not an option. Now I am not saying we have never felt alone or been fearful. The difference is we have the Lord in our hearts and His Love and Grace to pick us up. I ask, don’t you want the same for your family also? Well you can by reading and believing in two very simple verses. They are mighty, powerful and your acceptance will give you the peace, love, and understanding of living life eternally. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” John 3:16-17 (NIV).

Now take a minute and just think about how Paul’s life was turned upside down. From how he had been living, to the life God had planned for him all along. I am sure it reminds you, as it does me, of the day we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and how our lives forever changed. Have you really thought how your success in life will affect your Christian walk? Will you be a marvelous salvation and blessing to the Christian community? I know you can as long as we all stay the path our Lord has laid out for us, and begin our journey of faith with the Holy Spirit in our hearts and our eyes upon the cross. Then we will conquer the selfish and self-centered life we once cherished, and begin to share our lives with others. We will then give ourselves to the Lord, being one with the body of Christ in the community of believers. This allows us to reap the benefits of eternal life and achieve the Christian excellence the Lord as laid out in our own personal Paul-like conversions. “God’s way is the right way”

Heidi and I pray and ask that you pray for peace for our country, our leaders and those who are racially and spiritually persecuted worldwide. Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you.

 Blessings from a pastor and his wife

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10

God is With Us

 

September 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

Many of us are weighed down by the ever growing pressures of this life, especially now with our children starting school during a time where a pandemic is plaguing the world in which we live. We run around busier and busier than ever, not knowing how to free ourselves up to live more abundantly. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10 (NIV). With our eyes firmly fixed on our Jesus Christ, resolve to walk down this road of suffering in a way that is honoring to Him. Draw deeply on the Holy Spirit’s strength for the next step, and seek to be obedient in thought, word, and deed. You will discover as you follow Him, sweet, soul-satisfying rest will be found, and the pressure of the world that is upon you will be lifted.

I find the stories and principles found in the Gospels are just as applicable today as they were in Jesus’ day. To live the Lord’s way takes His divine power. In order to draw on His strength, believers need to develop attitudes of humility, trust, and perseverance. The Lord wants us to trust Him. He may at times ask us to remain in an uncomfortable situation or take on a task seemingly far beyond our capability. God knows how to solve your problem, but He may choose to require your cooperation, possibly even asking you to do something that seems unreasonable. In either circumstance, relying on Him will bring us the inner fortitude to choose His way.

Like you, carrying my burdens is not easy and I too have found myself asking why and questioning God. When this happens I remember this, Believers are protected. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.” We are so well guarded that the only way our life can be touched by hardship is if God allows it. That doesn’t mean we won’t experience loss or upheaval or pandemics. Sometimes the Father permits His children to walk through dark valleys, but always the protective shepherd, He remains by our side (Psalm 23:4).

So I ask you this, are you letting the Lord have His way in your life? Even when the need seems urgent, a person with a spirit yielded to God waits patiently for the heavenly Father’s plans to unfold at just the right time. On occasion, every believer faces moments of doubt. Trust me, I am surely preaching to myself here. Perhaps a prayer goes unanswered, or our obedience is met with worsening circumstances. Or maybe someone’s criticism makes us question our ability to carry out God’s plan. I believe one with complete knowledge and wisdom knows what God is doing and will wait for the fullness in God's time. Remember God is with us wherever we go.

Heidi and I pray for each and every one of us to be lifted out of our old way of thinking and be transformed, so each moment of our life will take on new meaning with an appreciation of the gifts God bestows on us every day. Praise God for abundant living even through this time of pandemic. Please join us in continued prayer for peace and healing of our country, our leaders and for those who are racially persecuted worldwide. Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you safe, may God's face shine upon you.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us". Romans 8:18

Life Filled With Prayer

August 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

My message for the month of August is "PRAYER". I know everyone wants to spend a sinless life, but there is an enemy forever present tempting us down the wrong path. If you are living a life that contains little to no prayer, then you are following the symptom that leads to destruction!

We have learned a lot about symptoms this year with Covid-19 on the loose. We need to see and learn the symptoms of spiritual destruction. If we want to be prepared for the unexpected, then we must be in prayer, and discipline ourselves to seek God every day. We need to acknowledging God and have dependence upon Him. We can do this by examining our habits, and what we have done through life.  We know whether our attention is on the Lord or other things. If we start our day thinking about God instead of our own plans, and regularly read and apply Scripture, then we demonstrate a heart that is pursuing Him.

I am a great believer in the power of prayer and know firsthand how important conversing with God is. Reading Scripture and becoming familiar with the Word of God are valuable vehicles of communication in Christian worship. Despite the fact we may all be impressed when hearing a very flowery or even showy prayer, true prayer is an expression of truth, a very humble and personal experience. It need not be elaborate nor even complicated, just a simple statement of sincere, genuine and heartfelt words. Whether spoken aloud or in silence, our prayers are our way of directly communicating with God as part of our worship and in developing our own personal relationship with Him. Prayer is our weapon against sin. The quality of our prayer is much more important than the quantity of it. We must spend time in conversation with God, for it is how we become willing to trust and obey Him. There is nothing we cannot do when we turn our eyes to God and trust He will operate on our behalf. As Philippians 4:6-7 explains, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

As many children and grandchildren will soon be returning to school in whatever form of teaching they actually organize for them, let us pray each child will treasure God's Word they have been taught and stand up for truth. Be free from deception and the lies the evil one will whisper in their ears. Pray each and every one of our children will have the great understanding of God's Word and be safe in this unpredictable world.

Heidi and I wish to join you all in praying for peace and healing for our country, our leaders and for those who are racially persecuted worldwide. Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you safe, may God's face shine upon you.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Christ Sets Us Free

July 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

With Independence Day coming up, the topic of freedom is on many minds. So what is freedom? I can tell you this, Jesus declared, ''Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin'' (John 8:34). And then he said, ''If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed'' (verse 36). The really true freedom is the kind of freedom Jesus is talking about. Freedom to live as God projected us to live. We have however, deliberately limited ourselves in this work to the problem of freedom. We have become the “me” and the “now generation" with no thought to others, no matter ones ethical, racial background, or religious beliefs. Look, I’m not even talking about the teachings or the upbringing of one’s life here, that’s another blog. I am talking about how we treat one another right now, today!

What is needed is a change in one's lifestyle, beliefs or personality. A journey with God, having faith, and with the help of the Holy Spirit ultimately bringing spiritual healing and peace, will guide one to today's Freedom in this world. So please remember, God’s Grace is a gift and the source of our forgiveness of sin. It is by God’s mercy we receive it, because we have not earned it and we do not deserve it. That God’s Grace is part of His plan of salvation for His believers, beginning with the acceptance that our salvation is through the atoning sacrifice His Son Jesus made for us. That the gift of God’s grace leads us to salvation through our faith and God’s grace will keep our Freedom and faith enduring until the end.

So I ask you this. Do you want to live your life in peace, having a loving spirit, with complete freedom? Or, continue being yoked to sin and chained to the worldly legalism? We have all been granted free will, so the choice is ours.

Heidi and I wish to join you all in praying for peace and healing for our country, our leaders and those who are racially persecuted worldwide. Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you.

 Blessings from a pastor and his wife

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Pray For Change

June 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

As June is beginning and summer is well and truly on the way, my question to you is, “How are you responding to the call of Christ?” Remember Christians, one day we will all stand before God and give an account of our life. Those of us who are listening to His voice will experience spiritual abundance and blessing, both here on earth and one day in heaven. As Greg Lorie stated not long ago in one of his daily devotionals, “Please take a stand and say you’re a follower of Christ, people will be watching you (and secretly hoping you’ll mess up). Yet you may be the only Gospel some people will ever read”.

Now more than ever in this season of our lives, it is important we listen to God and the Holy Spirit, as the world is trying so hard to shout out and have Their voices heard. We need to raise true awareness of the fight against racial injustice worldwide. As Our Father stated in John 7:24, ^“Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” Everyone reading this is going through something that is painful. We’re all facing some sort of trial. We can either let adversity make us bitter or better. I believe it can serve as a stepping-stone, not a stumbling block. It’s up to us! We cannot claim to love God if we do not take seriously what He says and act upon what He asks of us. Jesus’ passion and suffering produced the opportunity for the salvation of the world. Our suffering ultimately makes us more like Jesus and gives us future opportunities to minister to others.

While we may not understand it now, pain always serves a purpose! The resurrection of our Savior is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. With Covid-19, the killing of an innocent black man at the hands of those people we place our trust, the very ones who pledged an oath to serve and protect, are playing judge and executioner. The world is a sad and troubled place. We need to be listening to God’s Holy Word now more than ever. He is speaking loudly! Please Listen and STOP this worldwide injustice. Be a part of the solution.

I could go on preaching and saying much more here, however I would rather end this blog in prayer, a place we should all be in this time of need.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray the words spoken today have been pleasing to your ears. I ask you watch over all mankind Lord, people who are shut in, sick or in hospitals, and those who are lost and missing out on your precious gifts of life. Lord help us reach out to the lost, just as you have commissioned us to be your ambassadors, committing our lives to passing on the message of reconciliation, and glorify you by spreading the Good News of your mighty works until your return. God you also commanded us to love our neighbor, and our neighbor has no greater need than salvation. I pray we will bring glory to you in thought, word and deed. That you will continue to bless us, keeping your hands upon us as the Holy Spirit continues to guide us along our journey of faith. On this day Lord, I pray there is not one of us who has not received your gifts of peace, love and forgiveness. In your precious Son Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Heidi and I wish to join you all in praying for peace and healing for our country, our leaders and those who are racially persecuted worldwide. Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 1 John 2:11

Our Hope is in Christ

May 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

I open this new blog for the month of May with great hope, giving heartfelt prayers for everyone’s wellbeing and safety during this stressful time with the pandemic that has been laid upon the world. We need our faith in God to be stronger now more than ever just as stated in Lamentations 3:25-26, "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him, it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

I know many of you are bored being quarantined, or feel alone when we are to be isolated from the world and our loved ones. The television, blogs, radio, and media bombard us all the time with how we should live our lives according to this world. Yet in the end, it is God who is the One we need to listen to through the reading of His Scriptures. I know what you're saying, I say this all the time and I sound like a broken record. Nevertheless, what record are you playing? Hope in God is power, present and eternal power. Hope keeps people from killing themselves, it helps people get out of bed and go to work each day. People such as our doctors, medical personnel, first responders, food service and grocery store workers. God Bless each and every one of them. 

Hope gives meaning to everyday life, even during this locked-down stay-at-home life. Hope liberates us from the selfishness of fear and greed and empowers love. Not a risk-taking life style the world so often tries to seduce us with, as we know this is Satan's stronghold. In James 4:13-14, he stated it very clearly, "Now listen you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” James makes sense as we do not know if we will live to see tomorrow, or even the end of the day. However, I know if we have hope in Christ, then we have hope in everything knowing we will live forever in and with Christ.

I would like to share something I read this morning about faith by John Piper. The biblical view of faith is not a leap in the dark. It is warranted and well-grounded. It’s called faith not because it has no foundation. It’s called faith because it involves trust. Jesus didn’t call the believers blind; he called the unbelievers blind (Matthew 15:14). “Seeing they do not see” (Matthew 13:13). Saving faith in God’s word is based on “seeing.” Real seeing. The Bible answers like this: Satan does all he can to blind “the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

I also find it is Satan who takes away our Hope. Through His Word, God has entrusted to us 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. We are called to follow Jesus’ example in glorifying God our Savior, focused not on Him, but on the heavenly Father, whose plan is to reach the entire world with His saving grace. Please read your Bible and know God's will for your life.

Heidi and I pray God will open the eyes of our hearts to see and savor the beauty of Christ. To incline our hearts to hear His word, and know His Son, and His way by filling us with kindhearted love and courage to face each day.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

 ^“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" 1 Peter 5-10

The Tomb is Empty!

Message from Pastor Tom:

He has Risen! He has risen indeed. The tomb is empty!

The resurrection of the Savior is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. As we reflect on the physical pain Jesus endured on Good Friday so we could live forever with Him, let’s also contemplate the purpose of our own pain, especially at this time with the onset of Covid-19, loss of jobs, and the isolation of not being able to leave our home. Everyone reading this blog is going through something that’s painful. Now is the time we need to stand strong, not only in our personal surroundings but spiritually as well. We cannot help but face some sort of trials and tribulation, Jesus Himself warned us of this. We can either let the hardships make us bitter or better. It can serve as a stepping-stone or stumbling block. Remember 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 as Philippians 3:10 stated, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” This gives us future opportunities to minister to others.

Although we may not understand it now, the pain we are going through always serves a purpose! Nowhere do we see this more clearly than in the life of Christ Himself. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is nearly overcome with anguish and distress. He tells His disciples, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” He cries out to God, using a term of intimate endearment, “Abba! Daddy, save me! But not my will but yours.” He will say that two more times, swollen drops of sweat falling to the ground like blood. Jesus shows it is not a courageous spirit God desires, but a willing one.

Feeling sorrowful is expected, but denying God’s will because of our own emotional struggle is not an option, “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” Isaiah 53:3. We can all see this as a moment of temptation for Jesus, but He does not give in. The same thing happens in our own lives where we desire God’s will, but when it comes time to pursue Him deeply and pray earnestly, we succumb to other distractions. This happens in my life more than I want to admit. Our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak.

At the beginning of the passion story line, the Gospels emphasize trust and obedience in the Father. These passages reveal the heart of Jesus and the calling of all who would follow Him, and to stand faithfully in prayer and lean into the will of God, not their own understanding. We must remember the goal is not to focus on the path or on our pain, but instead try to find our own way. We can do this by fixing our eyes on Jesus, because He is not only our guide but also our destination. He will welcome us home with open arms when we finish life's race and cross into eternity with Him.

Heidi and I wish a Happy and Blessed Easter to you and your family as we celebrate our Father’s greatest sacrifice through His Son, Jesus Christ, and pray this Easter you receive God's Love, Grace, and His never-ending peace. Please keep yourself and your family safe, remember God loves you, and He always grants you His peace.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." Mark 16-6

Spiritual Wellness

March 2020

Message from Pastor Tom:

While March may be known for many things, one of them is Spiritual Wellness Month. Typically, Spiritual Wellness is considered a search to find meaning and purpose in human existence, where we strive to find harmony with ourselves and those around us while balancing our inner needs with the rest of the world. Spirituality and religion go hand in hand, as our religious faith, values, beliefs, principles and morals actually define our spirituality. I know every person has their own religious spiritual preferences, however I am talking about one God, our God, Jesus Christ who shed His blood for our sins and gives us hope in all things.

I had been listening to the news last night and it was particularly gloomy. So sitting at the dinner table with my wife, I was contemplating the happenings of the world around us, the elections, the change in weather having devastating consequences around the world, yet again another mass shooting of innocent people only trying to make a living at their place of work, and the overwhelming impacts on every family member and friend in their lives. My heart was heavy with pain and anger, but then I remembered the Lord’s voice through Scripture," I have told you

these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). I could breathe again my heart lifting from the pain.

Yes, the world is a dark and disturbing place, so full of controversy and chaos. Yet we can shift our focus from our frustration and worries toward God and ask for His peace to surround us today. Remember, God is the only One with limitless resources and power, and He wants to meet our needs as promised in Romans 8:11, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Does this not bring peace to you? I know it gave peace to me at the dinner table during my time of frustration. Jesus is saying the peace He gives us is different from what the world can give us. This explains why people search for peace elsewhere, but will never find peace at the end of their pursuit. Jesus left His peace with us. His peace is the peace that enables Him to stand still in the strongest storms of life. His peace is the peace that allows Him to forgive people when HE was suffering the most excruciating pain of crucifixion.

Life is full of things to worry about, but approximately 90% of the things we worry about never happen. The remaining 10% of the things we worry about are beyond our control making it pointless for us to worry about those things we cannot change. The path to most spiritual wellness must include prayer. So rather than taking time to worry, let us spend this time in prayer focusing on God and you will have peace. Pray about everything. Prayer is the primary means by which we talk to God, and it’s also one of the ways He teaches us. When we pray, we’re petitioning the Lord and trusting Him for the answer and peace. In doing so, we learn to listen to Him, just as we learn to wait for His response. God loves for us to honor Him through this spiritual act of worship called prayer.

Heidi and I pray for the Lamb of God to richly bless and keep you safe from harm. The Good News is true peace is not so hard to obtain. All you have to do is to accept it as God’s gift, and you will be able to experience the peace He so wants us all to enjoy.

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety" Psalm 4:8