Greetings children of God.
John 15:13-15a – “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends.”
The word “friend” gets used a lot today, and very loosely so. Many have “Facebook friends,” people they only know and are connected with on Facebook. How many “friends” do you have? Because the thing of it is, “friend” often gets misused for “acquaintance.” A friend is someone who knows you, supports you, cares about you, is there for you no matter what, and will hold you accountable. Many of the people we say are our friends don’t really know us or care about, and when push comes to shove, they aren’t there for us no matter what. How many “friends” do you have that you would lay your life down for? The chances are the answer is 0. But what about the other way? How many “friends” do you have that would lay their life down for you? My initial guess is you said 0, but that’s not true. We all have 1 friend who laid down his life for us, and that friend is Jesus. Jesus took the sins of all upon his shoulders and bore them on the cross, taking our place, sacrificing himself, in order that we all may live and have eternal, and abundant life in him. What a friend we have in Jesus / All our sins and griefs to bear / What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! / O what peace we often forfeit / O what needless pain we bear / All because we do not carry / everything to God in prayer. / Have we trials and temptations? / Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged / Take it to the Lord in prayer. / Can we find a friend so faithful / Who will all our sorrows share? / Jesus knows our every weakness / Take it to the Lord in prayer.
As of right now, we are planning to have a spring clean-up day this Saturday from 9am-12pm. If you’re able to come and help, that would be great. If the weather changes and it rains, we’ll reschedule for another day.
Angi is holding a painting fundraiser on May 9 for Victoria, our former custodian, to help with her finances as she had to retire due to a medical condition. There’s a sign-up sheet in the coatroom.
God’s blessings,
Pastor Tim