August 2021
Message from Pastor Tom:
I find that after staring at a computer all day or working out in the heat, a visit to the beach sounds so inviting. Especially on those hot August nights where you can find yourself drifting from your duties and responsibilities, or possibly not recognizing the need to trust in the Lord. The best advice I can give is we need to get back into Gods Word, Gods Church, and be with God’s people. Through our Lord and Savior’s embrace, we will discover true comfort, guidance, and direction.
Now this sounds easy, but how many will follow this advice? To be honest, probably not many. Being a Christian or not, most will go on drifting throughout their life not knowing their purpose or the plan God intended for them. I find most will think they are doing just fine, but in reality, they are not. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (KJV). This is my favorite Scripture in Proverbs, which tells us if we trust God completely, He will guide us. Yet, we will never know this if we do not get back into Gods Word, visit our places of worship, or share God’s truth with fellow Christians and the lost. By having Faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, it will improve your comfort and happiness, even during stressful and devastating difficulties. Having Faith is what helps us trust God in good or difficult times, especially like now with the Covid pandemic, and still find the peace only God can provide in all situations.
I know all Christians have a testimony about the existence of God in their lives. Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior will change us. The power of God in our life, as witnessed by us, is our gospel and no different from those of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. It does not matter whether you had to drop to rock bottom, or if it was a gradual awakening. The story of how we came to know and accept Jesus does not have to be dramatic and earthshaking. It is the fact we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, confessed and turned from our sins and are willing to trust, and dedicate our lives to being faithful and obedient servants of Christ. It is when doing His will, we can experience the earthshaking part of our journey within the plan He has for us.
This is when the excitement really begins, as it tells us in Luke 15:10, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” So for some, the testimony may not be in how we came to know Christ, but how we are changed because we do. For when we live joyfully in service to God, in a manner that brings Him glory and honor, we are indeed telling a story for all to witness firsthand. Just by sharing your story, they will see your trust in the Lord by His light that will be shining from each of us.
Heidi and I ask you to join us in praying for peace for our country, our leaders and those 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.
It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7
