TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
I’m looking forward to our worship this coming Sunday morning at 10:00 at the Community Center! I’m grateful for the special group of people God has brought together at Crossroads … and for the newcomers we’ve been seeing in recent Sundays. I especially appreciate the range of ages we have within our church family. I’m glad that our church family is actively involved in our community. I often like to remind myself during the week of the many places, in Nevada and beyond, where you work and are having an impact as a child of God. We have a lot of young people who have graduated from high school in recent years and who are now in various places working out God’s plans for their lives. Let’s keep them in our prayers! It’s great to be part of an active, growing church!
The sermon this Sunday will be from 2 Kings 5:1-14, the story of Naaman, a captain of the army in Syria (just to the north of Israel) who was healed of leprosy in a simple yet powerful way. I would go so far as to say it’s one of the most important stories in the Bible in terms of what God wants to communicate to us. I hope you’ll join us Sunday. Maybe you would like to read ahead!
I’m always grateful when, in my personal reading of the Bible, I come across some encouragement from God. Sometimes it seems that He speaks a very personal word — words like these:
Psalm 35:27
The Lord be magnified who delights in the prosperity of HIs servant.
Psalm 33:20-21
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in You.
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psalm 18:19
He brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
I know that if the Lord “delights” in me, it’s not because of anything I’ve done; rather, it’s an outflow of who He is — loving, generous, forgiving, powerful.
Also, this word from God from the middle of Jeremiah, a difficult and somewhat ominous book:
Jeremiah 31:25
“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.”
I’m sure there have been many times when you’ve felt weary. Have you ever described your situation — or the state of your spirit — as “languishing”? It’s not a word we use often, but it’s an apt description of what we feel sometimes, physically, spiritually, and otherwise. What a gracious God to know about our weariness, What a good God to promise to come to the aid of those who are weary and languishing.
While I wouldn’t say I’ve been languishing, the past couple of weeks have been very busy ones. I’ve been enjoying working with the Nevada High School girls tennis team. It’s a learning experience for me and a wonderful opportunity to interact with a new group of students, staff, and parents! Last weekend, as some of you know, I had six of my children and spouses, and five of my grandchildren in town to meet up with Sam and a friend of his from Texas. Today is the 38th anniversary of my marriage to Diana Decker, so my mind has inevitably filled up with many memories of a special day and special person … and all that has happened since then!
Life happens quickly and with sudden impacts. We need the Lord, and we need the special fellowship that comes from being together in worship. I hope to see you this Sunday!
Tom