December 27, 2020
Greetings and blessings to all of you. We are coming into a new year. Looking back on all that you have endured shout HALLEJUJAH…. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Come to me all who are heavy with laden. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest in your souls.” This new year Let the Lord be your Shephard. And you shall not want. As you read Psalm 23 with fresh eyes notice all the promises. Saints, God don’t owe you explanations. But He ask that we trust his promises. He said, “He will restore your soul. He said, “He will lead you in the path of righteousness…if you choose to follow Him. And He said, “even though you and I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death you will fear no evil. This past year we have experienced “the shadow of death”. With the virus and economic uncertainties and political unrest, etc. you may have felt like you want to end it. But God. He steps in with His promises. He said, “I am with you and I have a rod and staff that will comfort you.” Sometimes God has to use whatever he has to use to make us stay close to Him. For we have a tendency to go here and there. So, He has that rod (that I believe) He taps us with it in the form of conflicts, problems, challenging situations. Then He takes that staff to lead, guide and direct us as we go through the storms that {He allowed} for us to grow in Him. These adversities cause us to pray more, to trust more and to truly repent as we grow closer and closer to Him. And then you will experience that peace that surpasses all understanding. You will then understand how Paul said, “ we are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed.” The promises of God will and have sustained the practicing true believer for over 2000 years. When in Isaiah 53:5 he promised the Messiah as a suffering servant. He came as the baby Jesus. He promised in Zechariah 9:10 that The King will come riding on a donkey. Read Matthew 11…..that promise was fulfilled. Our Bible is full of prophecies that have been fulfilled. Our Bible is full of promises that gives us hope. This New Year let’s begin to lean on His promises and grow in Christ.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC