Ahhhh.... Mondays!

Greetings one and all... may today find you blessed and enjoying life.

It's Monday again, and another busy week. I am reminded of the old proverb about taking time to stop and smell the flowers, and May is certainly the month to do just that.

I didn't get to post last week, so congratulations to the Prengers on the dedication of Charlie Mike. And more congrats to the Hernandez' on the baptism of Paul. And while we are at it, I had the privilege of baptizing my youngest son, Joel. A great week it was.

But today finds me headed to St Louis, our cross-state rival city, where I have meetings scheduled for today. Today's post might be a little short.

Yesterday was Mothers Day, so to all the mother's in our lives, I pray that yesterday was blessed and that you feel our love throughout the year.

I can't get a certain verse out of my head...

Titus 2:13
13 Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
NKJV

I like this verse... He is our blessed hope. All of the problems with dear old Mother Earth end with the appearing, the return, of Jesus. Paul would write that all of creation groans waiting for the day of release. There are a lot of problems, some man-made, some given by nature, some seem to spring up out of no where. But when Jesus returns all of those things end.

I like this verse... because He is our great God and Savior. It states in one verse that Jesus is not only savior, the One who went to the cross, but He is also God, the Great God. When you say "God", you imply certain things. Creative ability, miraculous power, universe-controlling... you get the idea. God is big. Jesus is that Great big God in the flesh of a man, and He took that flesh to a cross to pay for my sins, and your sins. And Paul tell Titus that same God, with all of that love and power, is going to return.

While I don't know the day that He will return, I know that He will return. It might even be on a Monday.

I pray that this week finds you incredibly blessed.

Pastor Craig

May is almost here!

Welcome to a rainy Monday morning! But despite the rain, everything is still good. I was taking my oldest son to school today, he remarked (sarcastically) how pretty the blue sky was, and wonderful the bright sunshine. I chuckled for a moment, but then it hit, the sky is still blue, and the sun is still shining. Just because I can't see them this moment doesn't take away the fact of their existence.

James 1:2-5
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. NKJV

Count it all joy... those are words not always easy to hear when it's raining and you want to see the sun... but the sun is still out there, just as God is still working in your life, even when things seem to be at their most difficult.

The rain brings life and nutrients to the soil, and sometimes problems and trials bring us closer to God who enable us to grow in Him.

Count it all joy...



Pastor Craig