Time is Short

During this holiday season, we've received various Christmas/New Years letters from friends in different parts of the U.S. I've noticed a reoccurring theme. Many have stated how they believe time is short and that the world is in upheaval, as well as sharing their opinion that the signs of the times are increasing. 

I have felt this way for 2-3 years now, but my belief keeps intensifying as more time passes. However, it is one of those topics where you tend to ask yourself the question, is it just me or are others feeling this way as well. Well, with the letters we've received there has been a definite confirmation that, yes, people indeed are feeling this same way. 

Something I've appreciated in particular with a few of the letters is that those writing them have appealed to their readers to seriously consider where their spiritual life is at. One of them even offered Bible Studies within their letter if there might be somebody who feels they need to know Jesus better. 

So, my brother, my sister, where is your spiritual life at? Is Jesus your all in all? Is He your best friend? Are you living your life for Him? With the new year upon us, now is a great time to recommit yourself to our Savior and to rethink the direction our lives are going. "For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2)

Pastor Jason  

Family Traditions

 

Today our family took some time to spend time together doing something that we do every year before Christmas.  We went to a Christmas store to pick out our ornaments for the year.  We've done this from the beginning with our kids and it has created a wealth of memories.  Then, every year when we set up our Christmas Tree we get to go through all of those memories together.

 

The kids have always just been able to pick whatever they want within reason.  Grace and I on the other hand, try to always get something that represents major events or experiences that have taken place that year.  This year one of the ornaments Grace and I chose was a Colorado ornament which represents our first Christmas as a family in Colorado.

 

As we think about the past 10-11 months that we have been here we are already overwhelmed with all of the special memories and friends that have been made.  You folks are a very large part of that.  We want to say a very heart felt thank you to all of you for welcoming us into your lives.  You all have been so kind, loving, and accepting of us as individuals as well as a family.  THANK YOU!

 

We are so looking forward to making many more good memories and building upon the friendships that have already been started.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

  

Be Still

A couple weeks ago our family made a trek up to the mountains to select a Christmas tree. We've done this every year for as long as we can remember but never in Colorado. It was quite a different experience! We bought our permit, could only go on select dates and only to a very select area of the woods. Not only that but we were up there with hundreds of other people. We're used to going into the woods when we want, where we want, and never see another soul. If you get stuck you better have brought your shovel, if you get lost you better know which way the sun sets, if you get hurt well it'll be awhile before help comes. Needless to say I was a bit skeptical about how our experience would be. 

We chose an area to hike into the woods and saw several people coming out of the area and many others going in. After about a mile of hiking we got past everybody else and found ourselves alone. I sat down on a stump to take a break because hiking through knee deep snow can be tiring. As I sat quietly I could hear the wind blowing through the tree tops, I could see the mountain chickadees in the trees and could hear them singing to one another, the snow looked like jewels where the sun was hitting each crystal. An enormous feeling of peace filled my soul and I began to cry. 

As I sat there crying and basking in the feeling that God was so close this verse came to my mind--"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10. How many days do I wake up and as soon as my feet hit the floor it's go, go, go? Too many. God reminded me loudly in that moment that it's so much easier to hear His voice when we stop and take a moment to listen. In the book of Kings we find a story of when God revealed himself to Elijah. It says, "Then He said, 'Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." 

He is speaking to each one of us, are we listening? I pray that in this busy month of shopping, parties, family, baking, etc we all take time every day to stop and be still so we can hear that still small voice. 

Grace Logan

Consider Yourself Warned

Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. 

Israel had an ongoing bad habit of disregarding the warnings that God was continuously sending through the prophets. It's no different in the book of Amos. It was a time of wealth, luxury, and a booming economy in Israel. They're pictured in Amos chapter 3:12 (NLT) as lazily lounging in their comfortable beds and couches. Just a few verses later in verse 15 God reveals that He will destroy their winter and summer houses. They truly were in a state like we find in Rev. 3:18, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing". How much does this remind us of our day and age? 

God called a prophet to warn, rebuke, and encourage His last day people as well. Are we taking advantage of God's special counsel that was given? Or are we making the same mistakes as God's people of old? Are we ignoring the messenger? The things warned about in Scripture as well as through the last day prophet are upon us. Let us take heed.

Pastor Jason

The Faithfulness of God

Grace decided she would go through some old totes filled with papers from our days at The Black Hills School of Evangelism. Wow, so many memories. She came to me with a notebook full of written out prayers that I’d written back in 99. So, I proceeded to read through some of them to see what I was dealing with at the time. It’s truly amazing to think how many things we’ve experienced since that time, all of our kids, two bouts with cancer, and so many other memories both good and bad.


Anyway, what stood out to me after reading those prayers is God’s faithfulness in answering those prayers in my life even though I’d completely forgot that I’d ever prayed them. Many of the answers have come as a result of terrible and difficult trials while others have come to pass through the daily process of sanctification. I don’t say that proudly, but only to say that God is faithful. Many of the prayers were focused on Christian character and spiritual growth and were quite specific in some cases. When looking back I can see that God through His mercy and patience has taught me many of those things. However, I have no doubt how much further He wants and needs to take me in all of those same areas.


I have to ask myself the question, why does it surprise me? After all, it is simply a matter of the Lord fulfilling His promises. One in particular comes to mind. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”. (Phil. 1:6)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Even as a little boy I remember loving it. It may be partially because every seven years it falls on my birthday and I remember feeling special as a kid that a holiday would sometimes fall on “my” birthday.

However, the main reason it’s special to me is because it’s always been a time for family and fellowship. I’ve always loved the fact that family cone together and just spend time together while enjoying a bountiful meal. No other distractions, simply food and family.


It’s a holiday that seems a little more genuine. Maybe that’s because it’s not as commercialized as other holidays. The focus isn’t on getting gifts or candy, but instead just being thankful for what you already have and taking pleasure in those around you. I believe, in some ways, that this is a lot like how heaven is going to be. Psalms 100 is an excellent psalm to remind us of how much we have to be thankful for.


I hope you all have a wonderful and safe thanksgiving!!!

His Strength

This week I was texting with one of my family members who is going through a rough period in her life.  She's been leaving her family every week to go three hours away to college only to return on the weekends.  As you can imagine, she's having a hard time.  I know it would be difficult for me to leave my family each and every week.  As we were texting I let her know that she is a strong woman and that she will be even stronger by going through this.  Her response was, "I hope so..."  That got me to thinking, how do we as humans measure strength?  Do we measure it by the way we feel in the moment?  I know that's how I used to measure my strength and fortitude. But this was my response back to her, "We don't measure strength by how strong we feel. We measure strength when despite how weak we feel we keep moving and pushing onward and upward."  This is something I've been learning in my life.  Sometimes when we are at our weakest is when we are our strongest, because that's when it truly takes the most faith to keep going. 

 

Then I got to thinking, how does God measure strength?  This verse came to mind, "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.   We truly have no strength on our own.  Even when we feel incredibly strong, we're not.  God is the one who works within us to give us the strength for the day.  That is why we must lean on Him daily.  He says in Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

My prayer is that for those of you who feel weak today you will remember that you have all the strength you need from our most gracious Savior who is willing to give to you liberally.  He holds nothing back.  With His help, you can make it through this day.

 

Grace Logan (The Pastor's Wife)