From the Pastor

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Sermon Series for March:

Mar 7th: It's a Come to Jesus Moment for the Ten Lepers

Mar 14th: It's a Come to Jesus Moment for the Rich Young Ruler

Mar 21st: It's a Come to Jesus Moment for Nicodemas.

Mar 28th: Choir Cantata at 11:00

Lent has traditionally been a time of self-denial, spiritual reflection and repentance of sins. Here are some reflections on scripture to help guide our thoughts during these days. 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”   –Psalm 139:23-24

Too often we avoid the searchlight of truth. We’d rather hide our sins, deny our weakness, pretend that all is well. But God’s word encourages us to come out into the light and to know the truth that will set us free! The truth that will deliver us from evil and give us light on the path of life!

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”  -Psalm 51:12  (I encourage you to read all of Psalm 51.)

We so easily lose our way and lose our joy, when we take our focus off of God and what He has done for us and wants to do in us.  God heals the broken and contrite heart.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” –Luke 9:23

Jesus was knowingly and willingly going to Jerusalem to die. He was walking the way of suffering and sacrifice for the greater good, and if we are to follow Him, we need to be prepared to suffer and sacrifice as well.

“Get up and pray so you will not fall into temptation.” –Luke 22:46

Jesus relied on prayer to stay in tune with the Father’s will and to find the strength and courage to endure as well as to overcome the power of evil. We must do the same!

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come to God and He will come near to you…Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.” –James 4:7-10

Before we can win any battles we must humbly rely on God to give us the victory.  If we rely in our own strength we are doomed. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”  –Psalm 141:3

Instead of giving up chocolate for Lent, maybe we ought to give up negative speech, critical talk, mean and ugly words. We ought to give up foolish conversation and idle words, and speak the truth in love. We ought to speak words of life and healing, encouragement and hope.

We opened with a prayer and we close with another petition.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” –Psalm 19:14

We stand on the Solid Rock of faith in Christ because all other ground is sinking sand. We need our Redeemer to save us from ourselves, to rescue us in our distress and to forgive all our sins.  Amen.

In His love,

Pastor Dan