October Pastor's Points
Dear Church Family,
I want to talk about God’s faithfulness this month because since last November, God has shown Himself to be so faithful to myself and our church family. Since last November I have felt the reality of all out spiritual warfare like I have not felt before in my 20 years of ministry. But in the midst of it all, God has shown His faithfulness to me and our church family stronger than I have ever felt in all of my ministry! In the midst of the battle we have seen more baptisms than we have had in the last few years and He is providing for us financially like never before!! God is so faithful! He is worthy of our trust!
I was reading the devotional, Our Daily Bread and in it I found the following story shared by Jennifer Benson Schuldt…
My little girl stood apprehensively at the pool’s edge. As a non-swimmer, she was just learning to become comfortable in the water. Her instructor waited in the pool with outstretched arms. As my daughter hesitated, I saw the questions in her eyes: Will you catch me? What will happen if my head goes under?
The Israelites may have wondered what would happen when they crossed the Jordan River. Could they trust God to make dry ground appear in the riverbed? Was God guiding their new leader, Joshua, as He had led Moses? Would God help His people defeat the threatening Canaanites who lived just across the river?
To learn the answers to these questions, the Israelites had to engage in a test of faith—they had to act. So they “set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before [them]” (v.14). Exercising their faith allowed them to see that God was with them. He was still directing Joshua, and He would help them settle in Canaan (vv.7, 10, 17).
If you are facing a test of faith, you too can move forward based on God’s character and His unfailing promises. Relying on Him will help you move from where you are to where He wants you to be.
Lord, we’re prone to quickly forget Your goodness
and care for us. May we trust You today and
into the New Year—whatever uncertainties we
face. You are the God who can be trusted.
Fear fades when we trust our Father.
I have learned this truth over the past several months. Fear fades when you trust in the Father!!
Trusting Him Together,
Pastor Alan