Given that over the next two days (Thursday and Friday) we will be celebrating the lives of two beloved ones who have gone to their eternal reward with the Lord, I have been thinking a great deal about life and how we are to live, and what is it about certain people who touch us in special ways due to how they lived their lives. There is nothing in the ministry of the church that is more of an honor than being with one another in times of grief, loss, and sorrow. To see the people of the community of faith rise up in such supportive ways as we support families and friends who gather near and far is something that I never take for granted as your pastor. This is one of the ways that we help define who we are and how we live - in our response to brothers and sisters in Christ who are going through the pain of losing a loved one.
One of the things that gets me thinking at times like these is to hear the stories of the friends and families who gather to celebrate these lives. Hearing again, or for the first time, family stories, inside jokes, and all the other wonderful things that are shared between loved ones is so richly rewarding. That is why I want to ask you as you read this to consider a question that I hope you have thought of before: When your friends and families gather to celebrate your life, what will your story be? I want to challenge you to do everything you can to make sure that your life's story is a life of faith, a life lived solely for the glory of God.
I know you may read this and think that you know this already and this may seem like a 'yeah, I know that' message, and I want to encourage you if this is your reaction to pause for a moment and realize that we cannot take this life we have been given for granted. We cannot allow ourselves to just assume that we live a life of faith because of what we do - we must be vigilant about making sure that we live a life of faith because of who we are: new creations in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
One of the things that gets me thinking at times like these is to hear the stories of the friends and families who gather to celebrate these lives. Hearing again, or for the first time, family stories, inside jokes, and all the other wonderful things that are shared between loved ones is so richly rewarding. That is why I want to ask you as you read this to consider a question that I hope you have thought of before: When your friends and families gather to celebrate your life, what will your story be? I want to challenge you to do everything you can to make sure that your life's story is a life of faith, a life lived solely for the glory of God.
I know you may read this and think that you know this already and this may seem like a 'yeah, I know that' message, and I want to encourage you if this is your reaction to pause for a moment and realize that we cannot take this life we have been given for granted. We cannot allow ourselves to just assume that we live a life of faith because of what we do - we must be vigilant about making sure that we live a life of faith because of who we are: new creations in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
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