July 11th

Good Afternoon Meadowbrooke,

Our family is back from vacation, and I am super excited to begin a new sermon series with you in the epistle of James!

As you probably are aware, I was away with my family over the past two weeks.  My mother and stepfather treated our family (and other family members) to an Alaskan Cruise, and it was amazing.  Years ago, I saw pictures that friends of ours took while on a similar cruise in Alaska, and after seeing those pictures, I told Roimaw that if we ever did a cruise, an Alaskan Cruise would be the one I would love to experience.  There were two excursions we participated in where we took a canoe to visit and view two of Alaska’s glaciers; the picture of our family was taken in Skagway with the Davidson Glacier beyond us.  One of the comments from one of our sons echoed what we were all thinking and felling while on the cruise: “And to think that there are some who say that there is no God.” One of the verses that came to mind as we got close to the Davidson Glacier was Psalm 8, 

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, to do away with the enemy and the revengeful. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place; what is man that You think of him, and a son of man that You are concerned about him? (vv. 1-4)

Before leaving for our vacation, I decided to bring only my Bible and a book I have been reading. My prayer for our time together was to be able to hear whatever it was that the Lord wanted me to hear from Him, to be completely present with my family, and to make as much of our time on the cruise and in Alaska as possible.  Needless to say, I was able to hear from the Lord while away, we really enjoyed our time in Alaska as a family, the cruise was fun and enjoyable, and it was restful!  

This Sunday, we will begin our new series in James 1:1-11 (I encourage you to read these verses before this Sunday).  If you are feeling defeated, discouraged, or just looking for encouragement as you seek to navigate life as a Christian in this upside-down world, I believe our time in James will serve to help us all in our journey to work and live out the faith God has called us into.

Do not forget that next week is VBS (the church building is decorated and looks epic!), so if you have not done so yet... be sure to register your children and invite your neighbors to get their children signed up.

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday during our 9AM and 11AM worship services.

Grace,

Pastor Keith