Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! As the season of Christmas approaches, my heart overflows with gratitude for each of you and the extraordinary gift we share in being part of the family of God. This letter brings you joy and thanksgiving, reflecting the many blessings we have experienced together throughout this year.
Christmas reminds us of God's incredible love, demonstrated in the gift of His Son. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6). Through Jesus, we have been adopted into a spiritual family that spans generations and nations. What a privilege it is to call one another brothers and sisters in Christ, united by His grace and bound together by His love.
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we gather our thoughts and prayers in the wake of the recent election, I am reminded once again of God’s sovereignty and the unchanging call He has placed on our lives: to be salt and light in the world, united in His truth, and focused on His mission.
Amazingly, there are some who call for forsaking family members who may have voted for an opposing side in the election. Friends, family is a treasure that is not one that should be walked away from regardless of political differences, ESPECIALLY if that family is one who loves Jesus!
As we gather again to celebrate Thanksgiving, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy for our blessings. As you know, this election year has had no shortage of drama, division, and declarations.
I imagine you are like me in being thankful to God for the church we attend together as the family of God right here in this area. Even though we may have differences along the way on various issues, one thing stands strong to unite our hearts together, and that is the cross of Jesus Christ!
As we approach the season of Thanksgiving, my heart is filled with gratitude for each one of you and the unique blessings you bring to our church family. Thanksgiving is a time when we reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness, recognizing His hand in our lives, both in times of joy and in seasons of trial.
The words from Lamentations 3:22–24 (NKJV) resonate deeply with this spirit of thanksgiving:
We trust you are doing well and enjoying the blessings of the Lord in your life!
As we draw closer to the day that we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that without the Resurrection, we have nothing!
Paul, in his first letter to the Church at Corinth, wrote the following:
1 Corinthians 15:17–19 (NKJV) — 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
