Pastor's article
A couple of weeks ago Nan and I were going to finish up some of our Christmas shopping. We got into Nan’s car, and she told me, “I need to get gas.” I acknowledged her request but in the process of going to the bank, I neglected to get gas. As we entered I45, I never even thought to look at the gas gauge. As we proceeded down the interstate going south realizing “OH NO! I forgot to get gas!” My first instinct was to say to Nan, “You forgot to remind me!” As we are traveling south, there are no exits and no turnarounds between Buffalo and Centerville. We were about 5 or 6 miles from Buffalo and much farther to Centerville. I looked at the gauge and it said we had 3 miles to empty! My natural response was to panic. What should we do? What could I do? The reality was to do nothing except pray and grip the steering wheel tighter. As Centerville got closer the gauge showed less and less miles to go. The gauge showed 3 miles to empty, then 2 and by the time we got to the Overton Fishery we had 1 mile left. As the nerves got shorter, my hands gripped tighter the gauge now showed no miles only the kind word, refuel. I know that!!! As the bell dings saying we are out of gas, we finally got to the beautiful exit (I was never so glad to enter Centerville) and cruised into Woody’s gas station. I literally said, “Thank you Jesus” and coasted to the pump.
As 2024 comes to a close, I must admit it has been a year where I felt like I was running out of gas. This year has been difficult to say the least for me personally. Nan and I have had several very close people to us die this year and all were unexpected. The toll of 2024 leaves me excited about seeing it go and welcoming a new 2025. I know every day is a blessing and for that I am thankful, yet sometimes the fear of running out of gas takes its toll.
It is in those times, it may seem it is best to just grab the steering wheel tighter, but it is more effective to just pray to Jesus. Just as relieved as I was to see a gas pump, we should be more excited to see what God is doing in our midst. God has blessed us with 13 baptisms this year. God has provided for us financially in the midst of a building program. God is also preparing us for future growth and to share the Gospel. We are seeing people joining our church and Sunday School growing as well. So as the year comes to its end, and we see what God’s is doing our response should the same as cruising into that gas pump, “Thank you Jesus!”
I am excited to see 2025, because I know God’s plan doesn’t stop on December 31, rather it just continues to come into full bloom. I expect to be in the new building, and I expect to see more come to know Jesus and become part of our church family. We must always be looking forward and thanking God for the past, even when it is hard, and seeking His will for the future.
As we look forward to 2025, I want to leave you with what I think is good advice for the new year. Paul, Silas and Timothy writing in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 tells us,
14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I pray that you have a great 2025 because I know that God’s plan is going to be better than we could ever imagine!
Happy New Year!
In Christ,
Brother Alan
Children's Minister's article
The subject line of the email did its job...it caught my attention.
"A RESOLUTION WORTH KEEPING"
No, Sonic, I won't be resolving to eat your burgers every week. But your catchy ad did get me thinking! What would truly be a resolution worth keeping?
Millions of people will be making resolutions as the calendar flips over to January 2025. A recent newspaper article listed these six as the most popular:
1.Save more money
2.Eat healthier
3.Exercise more
4.Lose weight
5.Spend more time with family/friends
6.Quit smoking
The article also stated that only 1% of people who make these resolutions are able to keep them through to the eleventh or twelfth month of the year.(1)
I would suggest that these resolutions were not kept because they were not worth keeping. In fact, I would go so far as to say they were resolutions that the resolver really didn't even want to keep. All six of those top resolutions require some sort of deprivation. To keep them, you've got to turn from things you like and turn to things that are "better for you." (Yes, even the family/friends one... Let's be truthful about how many times you've chosen to just stay home rather than go out, visit someone, drive hours to see someone far away.)
So what makes a resolution worth keeping? The benefits of keeping it must far outweigh the ramifications of breaking it. And since I'm really good at making compromises concerning myself, I'd suggest that a resolution worth keeping should possibly have great benefits for others as well. Who could those "others" be? Well, although I would sacrifice a lot for my spouse...I would do just about anything for my kids.
So...parents, step-parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles...have I got a resolution for you!
WHAT IF...in 2025...you resolved...to take steps to secure your loved one's eternity? The benefits of keeping this resolution far outweigh the ramifications of breaking it...salvation through Jesus Christ! Great benefits for others? Duh, ETERNITY IN HEAVEN! Ding, ding, ding! I think we have it -- a resolution worth keeping!
Are you up for it? What would it take? For parents of children, it might require you to make going to church a priority over the sports or other activities we tend to fill our weekends with. For parents of preteens and teens, it might require you to take a firm stand on church attendance rather than caving to choice. (You still make them go to school...why should church be any different?)
As parents of adult children we may need to have some adult conversations---about sin and our own inability to atone for ourselves...about God's love and forgiveness and Jesus' sacrifice for our sins. Grandparents, stepparents, aunts and uncles you can use your time to encourage Christ-like behavior, use bible stories to teach and have meaningful conversations of your own!
Paul closes out his first letter to the Thessalonians reminding his brothers and sisters that we do not know how many days are left before the Lord decides to return. He encourages them to "put on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." (1 Thess. 5:8) He tells them that God doesn't want anyone to suffer wrath but for everyone to receive salvation. And verse eleven is especially meaningful in the Message translation:
"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (MSG)
Make a resolution worth keeping this year. Resolve to grab a hand and lead someone to Jesus, to salvation, to eternity in 2025. No one left out, no one left behind.
In Christ,
Marie Dittmar