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Why do bad things happen to good people? – Suffering with Jonah, Job, and Jesus
The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16–17 I’m sure we all know someone whose life circumstances just don’t seem fair. We might say, “they’re such a good person. Why do things like this happen to such good people?” Even within our own congregation, I can think of…
The Practice of Personal Devotion
Psalm 119: 147-149 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, That I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life. As a young man I heard over and over again the value and benefit of spending time with God. I was the oldest of seven children; Our house was busy…
Legacies
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of participating in my mother-in-law’s memorial service. As is true of most funerals, several people shared stories from her past. It was great to remember fun shared times together. I chose to spend my time looking to the future. I was thinking about the parable of the talents the other day. I thought about how the master gave varying talents of money to his servants. At the end of the parable the…
WAITING FOR THE LORD
Psalms 27:13-14 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Waiting is sometimes a hard concept to tackle. We have to wait for test results, wait in lines, wait for our next vacation. We just finished Christmas and we see through our kids how hard it is to wait to open gifts. The waiting can…
The Upside-Down Kingdom
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth…” (Matthew 5:1-5 NIV) Yesterday, I received my first “Happy New Year” card for 2024. My friend who sent the card filled…
SFNAZ Newsletter – January 2024
Click here to view the weekly devotional. SFNAZ ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW SERMON SERIES ~ Sunday, January 7th – 10:45am Pastor Wes will begin his new sermon series “The Blessed Life”. TITHING ENVELOPES Individual boxes of tithing envelopes are no longer available. The new tithing envelopes are available in the pew racks and at the information counter. If you are in need of additional envelopes, please contact the church office. Thank you for your continued support by the giving of your tithes…
Looking Forward to a Better Way of Living
We are almost to a New Year. It is exciting to be looking forward to 2024. Before we leave this Christmas Season, I have a new thought for each of us to consider. My text is Matthew 2:1-6 You are familiar with the story. It is the story of the birth of Jesus. The Magi came from the east and stopped in Jerusalem to visit King Herod. They asked the King where the King of the Jews was born. Most…
A Christmas Friendship
Ephesians 4:17, So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Galatians 2:14, When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it then, that you force Gentiles…
His Presence in Presents
Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn’t change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon. James 1:17 Think back to the weeks leading up to Christmas when you were a little child. The anticipation grew each time a new present appeared under the tree. For me, I’d sort, shake, try to peak and take wild guesses at…
SFNAZ Newsletter – December 2023
Click here to view the weekly devotional. SFNAZ ANNOUNCEMENTS CHRISTMAS LOVE OFFERING If you would like to bless our pastoral staff with a Christmas Love Offering, mark your gift “Pastors’ Christmas Gifts” and place it in the offering box. LIFE GROUPS Life groups will begin again in January and new groups will be starting. Be sure to watch church center to see which group God may be leading you to join. UPCOMING EVENTS 2023 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE No Midweek Activities December…
The Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55 (ESV) My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the…
Compassion
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless. Matthew 9:36 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 When you hear compassion what are the first few words that pop into your mind? I asked the kids that question this week and they all…