Hello to you all,
Welcome, and take a moment to sit, reflect, and think about the past year. We are already in the middle of 2021 and “YES” things are slowly getting back to a familiar normalcy that I pray will continue toward no restrictions. I reflect on the past year as a learning experience and how we all had to live differently, do church in a different way, and be with family another way. There were many firsts and changes in our way of life, obstacles we had to maneuver, and yet we came together in many challenging ways. The one constant that never changed is GOD throughout the year. I have asked at all the churches for people to come and tell where GOD, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit has touched their lives. We learn and see GOD in many ways. I feel sharing is another way of understanding the way GOD is engaged in our lives. It has been an unusual time in all our lives and yet we keep moving forward.

How have you kept putting one foot in front of the other to keep pushing ahead? What are our coping mechanisms, how well we tolerate things, persevere, and look ahead each and every day? Do we feel we have done this on our own or by the grace and hand of GOD? As I sit here and reflect on my life and how if it were on my own, I would not be where I am today. I would not be married to a wonderful, GOD centered lady. I would not have listened to where GOD is calling and leading me. I WOULD NOT BE HERE!! How about you? If it were not for GOD, where may you be today? Do we have to think hard or do the thoughts and memories overflow with GOD? Do we wrestle with GOD like Jacob that night? We are the ones who, when the time comes, will be standing there looking into the eyes of Jesus. When I think about that moment, I hear Mercy Me sing “I Can Only Imagine”. I put myself there at the feet
of Jesus, paralyzed, amazed and in awe! Then my mind turns to thoughts about other people here on earth and how will they react? I think of those that only want to put people down, point fingers, complain, and belittle. Why?

Is the feeling of jealousy and hatred that strong or is it some other evil? Can we put our finger on it? When we are only about ourselves, where is GOD? Where is the hope, the joy, the peace? Where, now, is the Love that Jesus talked about every minute of his ministry on earth and then resurrected up to the Holy Spirit? Have I got you thinking yet, or have you stopped reading and moved on? Is life about us or about GOD? Only you can answer that for yourself. I know as I live and breathe that my life is slowly becoming more about GOD and less about myself. I do not kid myself either because I am human. I sin and make mistakes every day, but GOD through the SON forgives and forgets those short comings. Why is it so hard for us to do the same? Can you imagine what standing at the gate and gazing at Jesus is going to feel like? Will it feel the same way as when we look at a close friend or a stranger? We have witnessed and dealt with a lot this past year and yet here we are, day after day, living. Who are
we living for? May God shine on us all and lead us to the promised land of milk and honey. Can you imagine what it will be like to live in eternity covered in the fullness of GOD? Thank you for sharing this moment with me to reflect and think about all we have sacrificed this past year and yet GOD has been there through it all. GOD never leaves us. It is us who does the leaving. Let us not leave GOD. Live each day more and more for GOD and less and less for ourselves. Now, “think about it.” Amen.

Love and Laughter
Pastor Paul†