Dear Church Family,
February is upon us. As you visit the mall or even the grocery store you see aisles and displays filled with red hearts, chocolate and candies, all claiming to proclaim the undying love and affection of one person for another. I must acknowledge that cards can be pleasant and chocolate is tasty but both are an inadequate representation of real love. The Bible tells us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Selfsacrificing love is the most amazing and beautiful attribute a person can display.
During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier’s fiancé had climbed into the belfry and clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. When she was summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell’s heart was touched and he said, “Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice. Curfew shall not ring tonight!” Our Daily Bread.
All mankind is under the death sentence, “the wages of sin is death.” That includes our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. We can’t stop the bells from tolling, Christ already made that sacrifice, but there are most definitely things we can do. Our words, prayers and actions can have a profound impact on the spiritual walk of others, either positive or negative. Often we are hardly willing to be inconvenienced, much less lay down our lives for others. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (I Peter 4:7, 8) “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) So this month, when calls for love are everywhere, let us act upon our wonderful Savior’s call to love those around us.
The first two Sabbaths I will be speaking, on February 2, the message will be “FREE REFILLS” I like free refills; however when I have the opportunity for them I am often tempted to over indulge. Jesus has a spiritual refill program in which it is impossible to over indulge. A far greater danger is that we under indulge.
Sabbath, February 9, the message is entitled, “OBEY” which is almost a dirty word in many Christian circles. I personally like the word, (especially when my boys “obey”). The Hymn expresses it beautifully when it says, “Trust and Obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
On Sabbath, February 16, Pastor LeeRoy Chacon, will be here, his message promises to provide a blessing.
Then on the February 23, Pastor Minner Labrador will be with us for a special Sabbath. Pastor Labrador is the new Church Ministries, Stewardship and Men’s Ministries director for the Southwestern Union Conference. He will share a message entitled “FROM HIS HAND TO YOURS” for the service. In addition he will share a special afternoon presentation. You won’t want to miss the blessing the Lord is preparing for our church family. I am looking forward to this weekend.
We have a rewarding month ahead and I am looking forward to our time together. Please continue to pray for me as I am earnestly praying for you.
God’s riches blessings,
Pastor Jeremy
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