From the desk of Pastor Mark
Christmas Day will soon be here, Christmas planning is already in full swing, and as we progress to the close of the year I actually find myself looking well beyond that. The words of the song “If You Say Go” run through my head. ?If You say, ‘go’ we will go, if You say ‘wait’ we will wait. If You say, ‘step out on the water’ and they say, ‘it can‘t be done’, we‘ll fix our eyes on You and we will come. Your ways are higher than our ways, and the paths that You have laid are good and true. If You call us to the fire You will not withdraw Your hand, we‘ll gaze into the flames and look for You.? A song full of imagery and Kingdom truths that speak loudly to me. From Exodus 13:20-22 and again 40:34-38 the image of the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night as a guide for the whole nation of Israel as they traversed the desert. Matthew 14:22-36 is the story of Jesus inviting Peter to come to Him on a stormy sea, but it required Peter to walk on water. And the reference to fire comes from the story in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, in chapter 3, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were cast into a fiery furnace.
These images are all images of spiritual faith in action. And these are incredible examples when faith is spelled R.I.S.K. This is where we totally trust in God and ?walk by faith and NOT by sight? (2 Corinthians 5:7). We can look at these examples and admire them, or dismiss them as merely inspirational stories, but we all know people who have stepped out in faith. I want to draw our attention to the missionaries that we support. Mike and Glenda Miller in Honduras. Fred and Barb Adams in the Philippines. Reinhard and Cindy Moyer in China, and Ron and Ruth DeWitt in Louisiana, John and Tamara Erway on their way to Ghana, Africa. They are living examples with whom we come in contact. People with whom we can carry on a conversation. They aren‘t super human, but I think they are ordinary human beings with extraordinary faith. Yet they have stepped out in faith, have been tried by fire and simply keep their eyes focused on Jesus. 1Corinthians 1:27 says, ?But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.? Please remember our missionaries, Please support them.
Please pray for them, and please communicate with them.
As we begin this new part of our journey, may we be encouraged by God‘s word and may we be encouraged by God‘s examples among us. May our faith be strengthened, may we ?not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart? (Galatians 6:9). This will challenge us, but God has something mighty in store. I, for one, don‘t want to miss it. Will you?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
With much love,
Pastor Mark