Pastor Mark's January Letter

Dear Church Family,

In a recent letter I made the exact emphasis above, but I feel impressed to make this emphasis once again.  And the emphasis is very important because with every turn in life, with every opening of a newspaper, with every news broadcast on the television, with every ... there is always something that catches our attention; something that is falling apart. Something that is a description of violence, hatred and the reality of death.  It is easy for even a Christian to become overwhelmed, discouraged and depressed. I know many of you are struggling right now for many different reasons. But I remind you of the good news as we find it in the Person of Jesus Christ and in the Scriptures.

God has the power and ability to make everything new. Some of you reading this are feeling discouraged about the circumstances in your life, or in the relationships in your family. Please take a minute to pray. Focus on what the Bible says (NOT necessarily what you feel).  The Bible tells us that God makes everything new. Sometimes this is because God takes all of the mess and the problems, and orchestrates these things into something that truly brings honor to His name. It is so very important for us to live in an attitude of hopefulness because Jesus is alive and nothing is impossible with God.

With this good news, it is very important for us to believe that God can do great things in one another. The Bible says that some people quit meeting with fellow Christians and discontinue in fellowship. I can assure you that this is completely contrary to the teaching of the Word of God. Christians are imperfect people who have problems, but they need one another and God instructs us to build up one another with encouragement ... and to meet together.                                                                      

And God tells us to forgive one another just as God in Jesus Christ has forgiven us. One of the most powerful ways that God makes everything new is through the forgiveness and encouragement offered by one Christian to another, and by the unconditional love that Christians extend to those who have not even come yet to believe in Jesus Christ.

Do not listen to the enemy's lie that you are worthless and that everything is falling apart, or that someone else is worthless and not redeemable. Instead, listen to the truth of God's Word that Jesus Christ paid the price for sins and that He can weave everything together to bring honor to God, AND this while directing people's hearts to trust in Him. If it were not for this good news then I would feel hopeless and so would you.  But I am praying and believing that God will do mighty and awesome things through His people in this new year. I am optimistic that nothing will stop the advancement of the good news that there is always hope in Jesus Christ.

I want to encourage you that there are people who love you; people who truly trust in God and who want to be alongside you through whatever you're dealing with. We do not stand just individually before the Lord; we stand with one another. And together we pray in Jesus' name for God to give healing, hope, encouragement and salvation. We pray - as God's Word says - that all things will work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).   Do you believe this for yourself? And do you believe this for others?

May God gently and continually make everything new with the passing of every day in this new year.

Sincerely in Christ's love,

Pastor Mark