God Is With You

Week of March 3, 2023

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV).

Many people harbor anxiety because the future is unknown, and consequently, people can become pessimistic and discouraged.  Be assured that your life and future are in God’s hands.  God is in control of every situation in which you find yourself.  He knows your needs and will provide for you and, for the asking, lead you every step of the way. 

As our faith grows stronger and as you start trusting Him more, you will have the calm assurance, even in troubled times, of how trustworthy God is.  He is the rock upon which you can build your life because His grace is sufficient to get you through each day.

So, whatever the circumstance you find yourself in and despite the problems that confront us, always remember that God is with you.  Place your faith and trust in Him, and He will give you the victory.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Our Heavenly Father Already Knows

Week of February 24, 2023

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:8 (NKJV)

Before you have a need and call on God, your Heavenly Father, He already knows what your need is. Jesus wanted His disciples to know how intimately God knows us and loves us. He told them to pray but assured them that before they did, the Heavenly Father knew about our situation. Prayer is not designed for us to inform God of our needs that He already knows. Why, then, should we pray? Well, it enables us to experience God more intimately. The more a child experiences the provision of their parent, the more convinced they are of their parent’s love. Often times a parent anticipates a child’s need before the child recognizes it and in advance, provides for their need. Our Heavenly knows exactly what we will face tomorrow and each and every day after that. He is preparing the provision in advance, and we usually end up admitting our God knew what was best for us. He already knows what’s best, but we still have the responsibility to ask. Ron Dunn wrote a book, and the title is what we should do since we have the responsibility to ask. “Don’t Just Stand There Pray Something.”

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Christ’s Gift To You

Week of February 10, 2023

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.  For there is no difference;”  Psalm 25:17 (NKJV)

Many people deny themselves the joy of a life fulfilled in Christ because they are convinced they are not worthy of it.  They have said something or done something in the past and now believe that they fail to experience Christ’s greatest gift to humanity:  God’s love.

It’s a great mystery that God has chosen us as His own.  His love cannot be earned.  We can do nothing to make ourselves worthy.  It is God’s gift to us, given by His amazing grace.

If you find it difficult to accept this fact, just think of the crucifixion of our savior.  He forgave a thief on a cross who turned to him at the last moment.  Regardless of who you are or what your past involves, the love of Christ, His forgiveness of sin and gift of eternal life is His gift to you.

God Bless, Pastor Rick