Liberty Vineyard family,
Over a month has elapsed since our beloved senior pastor, John Trotter, passed into the arms of Jesus. Many of us have experienced being ambushed by grief, being overtaken by emotion, yet also being surprised by hope and restoration. It’s good to remember that the Lord is with us both in the light and in the shadows. God is, even though we may forget sometimes, always good, always faithful, always present. Pastor Nancy encouraged us to pray these words from Scripture this morning: Hosea 6:1-3 (NRSV) – “Come, let us return to the Lord, for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Let us press on to know the Lord, dear brothers and sisters! This morning’s rains reminded us that no matter what we’re going through, God is with us.
Matthew 18:20 (NRSV) – “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NRSV) – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Psalm 100:5 (NRSV) – “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations.”
God invites us to respond to his goodness, steadfast love, and faithfulness by gathering together in the name of Jesus, making disciples of all nations, and remembering that Jesus is with us.
Let us also press on to invite others to “come and see!” Allen gave a powerful message this morning on God’s generosity and invited us to consider how we can practice and plant seeds of generosity in others. I especially appreciated this gem: “Generosity begins in the heart that loves so much that it needs to share what it has with others.” Let’s consider what it is that we have somehow received or gained (whether time, love, material goods, expertise, helping hands, a listening ear) that the love of God compels us to share with others. We might need a new perspective to recognize one of the many faces of generosity.
With you on the journey,
Karen Sculley
Associate Pastor, Liberty Vineyard Church
(404) 388-0518
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