To God's Beloved at Cloverdale Baptist Church:
He Is Risen...He Is Risen Indeed.
Wait a minute pastor, that was last week...at least our tradition is last week, you can wait another year until that tradition is back. Was fun to eat pancakes on Sunday (they were good thank you team) and have so many of you come to us and say, HE IS RISEN...knowing the response, expecting the response and delighting in the response. I love celebrating the Holy Week, with prayer, praise, weeping and the wealth of knowing what our God has accomplished...now back to real life.
And real life is not easy. Churches get blown up, families are torn apart by death or brokenness, sickness comes, and life goes on...I wish it were not so, that is why we pray for and anticipate with joy the return of Jesus. BUT FOR NOW, let us live our lives in light of the resurrection. Let us NEVER FORGET what Jesus has done as we become more and more a people who are filled with the joy that is inexpressible and glorious and unable to be stolen by life's circumstances because we know the Saviour. He is with us to the very end of the age, and that means He is with us TODAY! My prayer is that the joy of celebration of the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD will drive and define our lives! That we will proclaim that He is THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE to our own hearts as we struggle in real life, and to those around us who know Him and don't...Oh that we would know Him and delight in His salvation!
The Bible states that if Jesus did not rise from the dead we of all people are most to be pitied...why? That is pretty strong words. The answer is that our lives are so changed by the reality of the Risen Saviour, that if it was not true we should be pitied in the here and now. Would Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15:19 be true of us? If not why not? He is Risen! HE IS RISEN INDEED...and because of that nothing will ever be the same!
I am thankful to serve God and His people at a place where we treasure the resurrection! May we ever increase in our intimacy with the risen Saviour and impact for His glory!
He is AWESOME!
Keep informed by checking the bulletin, and asking questions. There is much going on, and as we enter the final stretch of the ministry season of spring, engage and delight in God!
May we continue to be a praying people as we seek God's will and God's glory together! Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel, pray that we would know and experience the love of God, pray that we would be unified because Jesus is more important to us than anything or anyone else! PRAY!
Missionary Update: Please pray for D & M, as they release the first YouTube videos, as well as for health and ministry wisdom. Take the time to get to know our missionaries (check church missions wall), and connect with them as we seek to join them in their struggle by praying for them!
Sunday Is Coming:
Title: Keeping The Gospel Central In All Of Life
Text: Hebrews 2:1-4
- Why is it easy to sometimes forget about the Gospel in every day life?
- How can we make sure we don't?
- As you read Hebrews 2, why do you think that we need this warning?
- What difference will it make in your life if you call to mind the Gospel every day, and live in the context of the great love of God and mission He has placed you on.
Delighted to have the opportunity to serve our risen Saviour, but serving you! Have a great week as you live conscious of the presence of the Living Saviour!
Pastor Rob