This passage gives us a clue that we really are made in His image, and that we all at times feel pain. The American Heritage dictionary describes pain as “An unpleasant sensation occurring as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder”. I’m guessing that each of us has felt just a few of those “unpleasant sensations” on the journey we all take called life. By those unpleasant experiences we can truly appreciate the joys of love that have surrounded us through life, though we may not have fully appreciated it. For parents those joys include; marriage, friendship, the birth of a child, being able to share in that child’s growth and relishing the duty of protecting those children, as they are precious in our sight. This journey also has moments of pain. We protect our children, especially as they are “of us” and are viewed as one of the greatest gifts we ever receive. Imagine, if you would, the pain God felt when he witnessed His only son tortured and placed upon the cross. The very people He created made the decision to enact this heinous crime. And yet, God’s love would prevail. This is a season of celebration. A celebration of new life, of forgiveness, and of reflection upon the love our God has for us that we can pass on to others.
Even in His pain the Lord found it in His heart to forgive and love US. Perhaps by His example we can sing a new song and love one another as the Lord would want us to.
In His Name, Craig
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joy of eternal salvation through Christ's sacrifice that washed away our sins. In this new season of spring we need to plant faith into the world around us. Faith that God has a plan for each and every one of us. Faith, that through everything we endure, that God is with us. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1. A beautiful garden of flowers, fruit tree orchards, and veggies of all shapes, sizes, and color, can never grow from seeds without water. The seeds of faith can be watered with the knowledge and understanding of the bible. When we read the bible and teach worship songs to those around us, especially to children, we are watering their seeds of faith and allowing them to grow their roots in Christ. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love." Ephesians 3:16-17
As the seasons, change I pray that we find change in our lives as well. May this be a season of strengthening our faith and finding ways to plant seeds of faith into the world around us so we can establish our roots in love and caring. I pray that we can grow in faith as a congregation so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 In His Name, Blake
I have a journal full of what I like to call my “Words of Wisdom” and over the years I often pull this journal out and read through all that I have saved. Each and every one of them invokes a memory of some stage of my life, some joyful, some not so much.
This particular one I stumbled across right after the loss of my husband, Rich. God heard me and saw my struggles…..He provided! Blessings, Chris
I always eagerly anticipate spring. I can’t help but smile when I hear the birds sing their songs each morning. The smell of fresh wet dirt after a good rain gives me a sense of peace and renewed hope. And when the grass starts to green and flowers start poking through the ground, I start to anticipate working in my flower beds again. My family does not understand why digging in the dirt brings me such joy, but they put up with me anyway. Why do I love spring? I believe spring is a reminder from God that he loves us and continues to care for us. As plants and foliage come to life with the warmth and touch of the sun, God brings his children to new life with the warmth and touch of His son, Jesus Christ. Spring is a time for celebrating! It seems appropriate that we celebrate Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection in the spring. He died and was buried to take on our sins and was resurrected so that those who were dead in sin could be renewed. This is not a dead hope; it is a living hope! 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” (NASB) Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” (ESV) Wouldn’t it be amazing to start each day with song as we celebrate the salvation that He has given us like the birds we hear each morning? Wouldn’t it be incredible if we were renewed each day when we spend time in His word? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people around us could see our joy as we share Christ with those we come in contact with? As God’s children, I hope we can keep the feeling of spring alive all year around. In Christ’s Service, Stephanie Rogge
The Bible says that Jesus is the beginning and the end. He is both king and servant, a shepherd and the sacrificial lamb. Our savior is the bright morning star and the delicate rose of Sharon. In our lives as followers of Jesus we constantly learn that polar opposites can be true at the same time. This truth is a constant thread in our faith; it is repetitive, normal, and consistent. Philosophers, scholars, ethicists, and seminarians wrestle with these questions: How can similar things be different, how can different things be the same, and what is true? Even Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” a question Jesus did not answer for him. I cling to these truths:
Happy first day of Spring to our church family and our community! This is my story; this is my song. Amen In His Service, Kent |
