From Our Family and Music Minister | We all need encouragement from time to time. Encouragement can be helpful when we are feeling down, struggling with a difficult task, or trying to achieve a goal. Encouragement can come from many sources, such as friends, family, teachers, mentors, or even strangers. It can be as simple as a kind word, a hug, or a pat on the back. When we are encouraged, we can receive the strength to keep going when we feel like giving up. However, we can’t always be on the receiving end. As Christians, we need to make sure that we reach out to our family and friends who might need encouragement. As Christians, there are so many ways we can encourage each other:

From Our Pastor | As we remember our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection, we cannot help but be in awe and amazement at our Father’s great love for His children. Everything we remember and celebrate this week testifies of God’s great love for us.  Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

From Our Family and Music Minister | Over the years, I have attended many youth rallies and worship services.  These events can be great times of teaching and worship for young people; however, many of the youth just get caught up in the emotion of the event.  As a result, they will come down during the invitation, be attentive during Bible study, and even show up for Sunday School the following Sunday for the first time in a year.  Unfortunately, this change usually passes within a few days because they were caught up in the emotion of the whole event and honestly had not made a heart change.

From Our Pastor | What difference does salvation make in everyday life?  We usually think of salvation in terms of eternity.  We focus on its impact after death.  While salvation is the determining factor in our eternal destiny, it also completely changes our lives now.  The Christian life is a completely different life than the non-Christian life.

From Our Family and Music Minister | As we read through the familiar stories of the Old Testament, how often do we wonder how these individuals could be so stubborn? From patriarchs that waivered in their faith to a whole nation of people who would see God’s hand work and then, in a short time, completely turn their backs on Him, we see stubborn hearts.  Before we judge and do not seek to learn from their mistakes, we must remember how many times we have failed God. There were times when God was speaking, but we didn’t want to hear, or when we saw His hand moving and didn’t want to get involved. How often have we forgotten to let God guide us because we wanted to follow our stubborn ways?

From Our Pastor | Have you ever considered some part of the Christian life and thought, “I can’t do that”?  Perhaps the subject considered was Christlikeness.  You thought about your weakness and failures and decided that it was impossible for you.  Or, you thought about growing in your Christian walk and concluded that you did not have what it took to make that happen.  Perhaps you really wanted to serve God but did not even try because you were not equipped.  When life’s problems came, you felt defeated because of your lack of strength. 

From Our Pastor | In Ephesians 5:15 we read, “Therefore be careful how you walk…” Verse 16 goes on to say, “…because the days are evil.” As we live our lives, we must be careful how we live in these dark, sinful days in which we live.

From Our Family And Music Minister | I’m sure most of you are familiar with school projects. Either you had to do one or you had to help a child do one. Once all the projects were turned in, your fellow students (in my case from multiple grades) would get to see everyone’s project. There was always the one project that didn’t look right, and you couldn’t even tell what it was. The adults would nicely say things like “What great creativity” or “At least you did it on your own.” Well, I was that kid. My school projects just flat-out looked sad. Even if you tilted your head sideways and turned down the lights, my work didn’t look any better. I believe it is because my vision out-shined my ability to execute. Even though I spent hours and hours on the project, and it flopped, it didn’t discourage me from trying again the next time. I was a child and didn’t know better. So the very next time a school project would come along, my mind would go in thousand directions of how I would make this project the best in the class.

From Our Pastor | Why should we follow God?  Most of those around us don’t follow Him.  The world is becoming increasingly hostile toward God and those who live for Him.  The risk of losing friends and even employment is greater than any other time in our lifetime.  Why follow God?