Sunday Words of Encouragment May 24, 2020

Our church met again online. The plan is to have church in person next week to celebrate with a Pentecost service. My husband and I will probably continue to attend online since his health is so precarious.

After lovely worship (Nothing Else Will Do) Pastor shared his message titled “Better Together”, still based on Romans 3.  Pastor noted that some people don’t like the food on their plate to touch, others don’t mind and some like to mix their food together. Mixed up can be good, like chocolate chip cookie dough.

Many things are Better Together. A team needs to work together to be truly successful. On Memorial Day we remember those who worked together to keep our country safe. People have a need for each other. During this time of separation the statistics are indicating a high level of depression (four months equal the numbers for all of last year), and domestic violence has increased by nearly 30% during the past few months.

The Church is essential, not because any politician says it is or isn’t, but because God said it and created it to be essential. The church is needed. It is always safe in a true church family. Believers have Assurance. “Thy rod and staff comfort me.” Psalm 23.

This world needs what the healthy church has. All people are made right by accepting Christ. We need to put Christ as the head of our lives; put our faith in Him. We cannot succeed in God’s plan with a watered-down faith. Faith is more than just a basic belief. It should be more: in every moment, every breath, every heartbeat. Our faith, and assurance give us the freedom to live as God wants us to - with abundance. Romans 3:24.

It is time to come back together and be better together. The world cannot afford for the church to function at less than full capacity. We need peak capacity of the church to share the light and love of Christ. Every person in the body serves a purpose.

We need to put our faith in Christ. Live for the one and true God.

This is an older hymn that popped up in my searching today and I think it fits our current situation.

A Verse for Today:
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

My Father God, and Lord Jesus Christ, I give You praise and thank You that my life is in Your faithful hands.