PASTOR’S MESSAGE

Greetings to you Beloved, in the strong and capable Name of our Redeemer Jesus Christ.

DISCOURAGEMENT AND DETERMINATION

This year has the potentials to be a most challenging one.  Perhaps someone somewhere says the same about every year.  However, in truth, the violence seems to continually abound in a most pervasive way throughout our communities.  Unfortunately, we could not get through a full night of the New Year’s celebration without not just one, but two individuals who purposed to devastate and destroy lives by weaponizing rented vehicles which ultimately resulted in their own demise.  One wonders whether or not this is indicative of what the coming year has in store; and that is only one social aspect.  Consider the vast array of diseases, particularly of a respiratory nature that afflict in a most contagious manner, demanding our preoccupation with vaccinations. We can also explore the economic, academic, as well as political ramifications of the new presidential administration and find ourselves deeply entrenched in the mire of discouragement.  But this is a prime moment for discovering the word of faith.

Our moments of discouragement grant us opportunities.  Sure, you can go down as the pressures of life weigh you down; but the good news is that Jesus came down and rose up so that we might have an answer for discouragement. Go ahead, peer over into the chasm of your pain, peril, and pressure of discouragement; then ask yourself what the Lord has said.  He says, I AM a very present help in times of trouble.  Friend, believe that today.  Let this be your decision for determination.  Resolve to say, I’M NOT DISCOURAGED BY WHAT I SEE, BUT DETERMINED BY WHO I BELIEVE!

Because of Christ,

-Rev. Orville K. Littlejohn, Pastor