Dear Church Family,
Valentines red hearts and chocolates again decorate the aisles of even our grocery stores. The advertisers proclaim loudly and clearly all sorts of ways you can spend money to show just how much you do love someone, and the more you give, obviously, the more you love. Well, in a twisted way, they do have a point. Not about gifts, cards, flowers or candy. Although there is nothing wrong with giving tokens of love and affection, true love can’t be purchased with money. It was and is revealed in the greatest gift ever given. No one has ever given more than what God gave us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV
God demonstrated that true love is about the gift of yourself, your attention, your time, your energy, your thoughts, your desires, YOU. Emanuel, Jesus, gave us all those things, by stepping down from the throne, laying aside His royal robes and crown to be born into poverty, to be clothed with the weight of the sins of the world, and crowned with thorns. He showed true love by walking out of the assembly of adoring angels in order to face the hate-filled rage of a mob calling for His death. Why? Because Jesus and the Father loved us so much they could not let us perish without a fight. There is no greater demonstration of true love. I am so grateful for the Love of God and the Love that is God. The only valentine He wants this year is you.
We are in a war with the odds seemingly stacked against us. We are under constant assault from the outside by the world, by the Devil and his angels. We are undermined from the inside by our sinful nature and desires. Well, there is wonderful news; God is fighting for us! Come Sabbath, we will study “Against All Odds”. Let’s say with Paul.
“…If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Then on Sabbath, February 8th Pastor Lee-Roy Chacón, our Texico Conference President, will be visiting us to present a message of love, hope and challenge “Do We Obey God or Man?” This is going to be a great Sabbath. Don’t miss out! We are saving our All-Church Fellowship Lunch for this special occasion.
Our worship theme for Sabbath, February 15, will be; “God is Love.” What is love? The concept of love as revealed in God has been under attack by the Devil for ages. Romance novels, fairytales, movies and society all twist and misrepresent love. It is desperately important that we base our understanding on the Book of the One who IS Love.
“The Doubting Hero.” Is that possible? Can God use me even when my faith is struggling? On Sabbath, February 22, we will find hope and comfort as we again remember that even one of Jesus own disciples was called “Doubting” Thomas.
I appreciate knowing, as I am praying for each of you, that you are praying for me.
Sincerely,
Pastor Jeremy McCombs
Lubbock Seventh-day Adventist Church
PS: Our Church Bulletin is posted weekly on our church web page at www/lubbockadventist.org. Also, many of you, like me, have discovered the “Donate On-Line” feature on the left column of the home page.
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