We are now entering into the month of May. We are nearing the end of the school year, and soon we will be entering into the summer months. I do not know about you all, but I am tired. It has been an overwhelming few months, or at least it has been for me. There have been multiple health issues within my family. My grandfather, Bill Stender, has been in and out of the hospital. My stepfather, Mike Pierce, received bad news and has an important decision to make for his health. My wife, Eileen, has been dealing with a pain in her leg. So, all of that has just been a lot, and I want to thank you all for your continued prayers. Then, Lent and Easter are just busy times. The rainy weather also does not help anybody's mood. Life has just been busy, and I just need a break. I need to take a breath.
One of my favorite passages in scripture that we hear around this time of the year in the season of Easter or around Pentecost comes from John 20:19-23. This text reads:
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
This text is very important to me, because it stands as a reminder of the peace that Christ brings into our lives. It stands as a reminder for me in these busy times to stop, take a breath, and receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples as they were hiding in fear after Jesus’ resurrection, and Jesus breathes that same Spirit upon us too. When we receive this Spirit, we receive the peace of Christ. We are put at ease. We are given the opportunity to take a breath and remember that Christ is with us. Things may sometimes be hard and tiring. However, the good news is that Christ is with us throughout it all, and because of this we can be at peace. We can allow the Holy Spirit to energize us so that we can be who Christ has called us to be. So, as we enter into the summer months, stop and take a breath. Receive the Holy Spirit and be at peace. I pray that you all have a great summer, and that you always remember that Christ is with you. Amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
One of my favorite passages in scripture that we hear around this time of the year in the season of Easter or around Pentecost comes from John 20:19-23. This text reads:
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
This text is very important to me, because it stands as a reminder of the peace that Christ brings into our lives. It stands as a reminder for me in these busy times to stop, take a breath, and receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples as they were hiding in fear after Jesus’ resurrection, and Jesus breathes that same Spirit upon us too. When we receive this Spirit, we receive the peace of Christ. We are put at ease. We are given the opportunity to take a breath and remember that Christ is with us. Things may sometimes be hard and tiring. However, the good news is that Christ is with us throughout it all, and because of this we can be at peace. We can allow the Holy Spirit to energize us so that we can be who Christ has called us to be. So, as we enter into the summer months, stop and take a breath. Receive the Holy Spirit and be at peace. I pray that you all have a great summer, and that you always remember that Christ is with you. Amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
