To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Remembrance Day is very important to us as Canadians and as Christians. It is a day that we take the time to remember those who have gone before us and fought and gave their lives for our freedom. I am thankful as this is brought to mind, for the suffering and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers, who have given so much to help us to live in a free country! Take the time to thank someone you know who has fought for Canada, as well as the time to pray for those who are now serving our country on the front lines. I am thankful as a Christian for the free country that we live in, and the opportunity we have to follow Jesus, and His Word. I pray this will continue, as we live for Him, and encourage us as God's people to pray for our leaders in government to this end.
Remember!
Any time we are called to remember something as important as those who have and are sacrificing for us, it reminds us of the even deeper praise we give to God for what He has done for us in Jesus. He has purchased our freedom from condemnation through His life and death on the cross, and that is amazing. He is worthy of our never forgetting and living our life in healthy relationship with Him. He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving in all circumstances, and sadly we so often forget.
As you Remember, REMEMBER! Be thankful, and let it remind you to never cease to praise Jesus.
This week there was an election in the USA, if you noticed. We stayed up and watched it to the very end. It seemed to me an election of chaos, and immorality, that ended in shock. Honouring children (unborn) through the supreme court is worth celebrating (and continuing to pray for), and yet there was so much in this election that was disturbing to me as a Christian. Helpful for all of us as we pray for our brothers and sisters to the south is to remember who is actually in charge of everything! Daniel 4:17b states, "..to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men". God is Sovereign and in Him we TRUST, even as we see chaos around us we can trust Him fully! Pray, and trust, and serve...and together we will look forward to God using us in this lost and hurting world in a way that will bring honour and glory to His name. It is good to serve Jesus in the world, but not of the world, as citizens of a much greater Kingdom!
Four simple encouragements for you this week: 1. Pray; 2. Read Galatians; 3. Find someone around you from our church family that you can encourage and love, send a note, make a phone call, offer a service; 4. Find someone who does not know Jesus and share the Gospel with them with your life and lips. If all of us do these four things, it will be a great WEEK!
Sunday Is Coming:
Text: Galatians 2:1-10
Title: Entrusted With The Gospel
What are the characteristics of faithful servants of Jesus who are entrusted with the Gospel from this passage that we can learn from Paul's life?
How can we be humble? How do we grow in humility?
What is courage, and how do humility and courage work together as those who know Jesus?
How did Paul show this courage by opposing those who were against the Gospel?
What does it mean to remember the poor? How are you doing this effectively in your own life?
How can you help us in our pursuit of faithfulness as a church in being healthy as a family that is entrusted with the Gospel?
Have a great week, and REMEMBER to REMEMBER, both those who have gone before us, and are now fighting for our freedom, as well as the One who has given us eternal FREEDOM!
Grateful to Canadian soldiers, and eternally THANKFUL to Jesus,
Pastor Rob