From Pastor Doug
Greetings,
It is Saturday morning. I'm the duty officer today for Comptche Fire Department, our chief is out of town. I am monitoring the county radio traffic as I do some morning chores. Within one hour there are calls for responses to two suicide attempts, and a stabbing, the last at a music festival.
We don't get too far into any day without being reminded that we live in a world that can be hard with sorrow and heartache. We need the real peace and joy that comes from knowing God.
Sing with Isaiah 27:2-3:
A vineyard of wine, sing of it!
I, the Lord, am its keeper;
I water it every moment.
So that no one will damage it,
I guard it night and day.
Set your heart on the promise that the Lord keeps us night and day.
Andrew Murray, in his book "Abiding in Christ" (1895), makes this point: Take from His own lips the watch word “every moment.” In that, you have the law of His Love and the law of your hope. Be content with nothing less. Do not allow your mind to think that the duties and cares, the sorrows and sins of this life, must succeed in hindering the abiding life of fellowship. Take rather, the language of faith for the rule of your daily experience. I am persuaded that neither death with it's fears, nor life with its cares, nor things present with their pressing claims, nor things to come with their dark shadows, nor height of joy, nor depth of sorrow, nor any other creature, shall be able, for one single moment, to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (See Romans 8:38-39)
In His Peace and Love,
Pastor Doug
From Pastor Dick
Dear Friends,
I have been preaching the Gospel and trying to win folks to the Lord for 58 plus years. And, one of the things I've been aware of is "things change". It happens to everything. Even to us. The only thing that doesn't change is the Lord, and, thank God, "He is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Some change is good. Pastor Doug is an example; Doug has always been a good man, as men count goodness. But, he was not a spiritual man. Then he met Christ, and change came. He is now my Pastor.
In my ministry, I have seen this happen over and over again. Men, women, youth and children let Christ into their hearts, and change comes. As Stewart Hamblin says in one of his songs:
"It is no secret what God can do
What He's done for others,
He'll do for you.
With arms wide open He'll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do!"
If you want change in your life, give God a chance.
Let Him show you what He can do with a life that's surrendered to Him. But, before He can do anything to change your life, you must open the door. GO AHEAD! DO IT! Say to Christ and mean it, "Right now - I invite you to come into my life."
Happiness Ahead,
Dick Coolidge
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
