Memorial

Week of May 26, 2023

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  Mark 14:9

We may assume that our expressions of devotion to God are small and insignificant but in God’s eyes they hold great value.  Our love and dedication to Christ create memorials to God for further generations.

This woman performed an act of love for Jesus.  She did not do it to impress Jesus’ disciples or to gain praise from Jesus.  She simply sought to express her love for Jesus.  She did not do anything spectacular but Jesus was so moved by her selfless loyalty that He said this is worthy of remembrance from now on.  We don’t know what acts of love He may choose to honor through our lives.  Abraham could not have known his willingness to sacrifice his son would be memorialized.  David would not have known that his walk with God, his example, would bless generations to follow.

God can take your faithfulness and begin a spiritual legacy and make it a blessing for others for years to come.  This is why it is important that each and every day we express our love and devotion to Jesus.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Everything Has Its Time

Week of May 19, 2023

Solomon tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes 3 that everything has its time. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (3:1 NKJV). Well, when we come to verse 7 of the same chapter, it also says, “…A time to keep silent, and a time to speak”. Sometimes we speak when we should ask God to put a watch over our mouths and keep the doors of our lips. In other words, to keep quiet. At other times, we ask God to give us the boldness to speak up for those who so desperately need to experience a touch from God. You are a vessel that God can use to reach someone in your sphere. It may be to lead them to Christ, maybe to invite them to church, to encourage them in a time of discouragement or grief. Each day ask God to allow you to be that vessel He can use to reach a person that has a need in their life.

What an honor it is to think that the God who spoke it all into existence will also use us as His earthen vessels. There is someone God has ordained for you to reach out to. Not only will that person be touched at possibly a very critical hour of their life, but also you will receive your own blessing. The satisfaction and joy of knowing God has used you to help another person at just the right time when they needed someone the most.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

With The Same Fervor

Week of May 5, 2023

“Truly I tell, among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”  (Matthew 11:11, NKJV)

John the Baptist’s role was to decrease in importance, and Jesus’ ministry was to increase. John 3:30 John allowed his disciples to leave him in order to follow Jesus. His ministry lasted about six months before he was wrongfully imprisoned and executed. Yet Jesus said that no one who had come before John was any greater in the kingdom of heaven. Moses had parted the Red Sea, Elijah had raised the dead and brought down fire from heaven. Isaiah had written a book of scripture, yet in the brief time of service granted to John, he had matched them all for greatness in their kingdom work! Incredibly Jesus said that we have the opportunity to be even greater in the kingdom of heaven than John the Baptist.

To serve God in the smallest way is an honor far greater than we deserve. John was given less than a year to complete his assignment, and he did so with all that he had. We have the opportunity to allow Jesus to do His work through our lives. Our mandate is the same as John’s, to lift up Jesus and deny ourselves. Service to God is a great privilege. May we do ours with the same fervor that John the Baptist did his. 

God Bless, Pastor Rick