Hello Church Family! I am Gail Achilles, staying connected to you through the Word of God! To all Americans, I hope you have a spectacular Fourth of July celebration! I know many of us commemorate this holiday with the love and respect we have for all citizens and our ancestors before us, and for the many freedoms we enjoy in this great country of ours.
Not only in America but the entire earthly kingdom has so much to praise God for including being the Creator of the whole world and its people, standing by the Israelites and bringing them to the promised land, for God’s rainbow of promises, sending Jesus to put death to our sins and rise again to give us a path to eternal life in heaven with God.
The Good Lord stood by our forefathers who along with other true patriots fought to bring freedom for all America. That was a time when most Americans put God first in their daily lives. Look: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (Preamble to the Declaration of Independence.
Our Almighty God was, is, and always will be present in our lives. Many Christians today have faith in God and put Him first and praise Him. There are, woefully, a growing number of people all over the world who are ignorant to His Truth, who just don’t care, and are not aware of God’s presence in their lives.
Sadly, we see in the media not only in America but all across the world that there are people who are lost in many ways, and they are trapped in Satan’s net. They not only cause gloom and doom but take down innocent souls along with their evil and hate filled antics.
I want to remind the entire human race that Jesus died for His Church, His followers, and He is coming back for His Church, and His Church must be ready to fly into glorious eternal life with Christ!
It is prophesized in Revelations 16:15 that our Lord will come for us without warning like a thief in the night!
ARE YOU READY? HAVE YOU COMMITTED YOUR LIFE TO JESUS?
The apostle John tells us as revealed by Jesus in Revelations 21:1-8 of a new Heaven and a new Earth:
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
These are some pretty heavy Bible passages. We need to realize God gave us the gift of free will out of dignity and respect for His Creation, but He also taught us right from wrong. The Choice is Yours!
Please join me in prayer: Almighty Father, We are grateful for Your Word and always keeping Your promises to us. We pray for Your Son Jesus’ power to spread the seeds of your truth to the ends of the Earth, so that all personkind can be filled with the love and wisdom of your Holy Spirit and put You first in everything we do. As we watch the earthly fireworks light up the sky this Fourth of July, let us remember that You Jesus are the light of the world. (In John 8:12 Jesus applies the title to himself while debating with the Jews and states: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. ... When I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.”) We thank You for the freedoms we enjoy, and the peace and happiness with You Lord leading the way. In Jesus’ name we are blessed. Amen.
Thank You! May God be with you!
Gail Achilles, Call Committee Chair and Council Secretary
