FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART February 12, 2024

The NFL season has come to an end, with the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl. For some of us, the season ended early with our favorite team losing in the first round of the playoffs. Although, there were many teams that didn’t even make it to the playoffs. So, once again, we can look to the coming year with some measure of hope.

Now that the football game is out of the way, we can focus our attention on the other exciting date on this week’s calendar. I am talking about Valentine’s Day, which will be on Wednesday this year. This is a time for us to express our love to those who are very special in our lives. Valentine’s is a day to demonstrate with actions the feelings of our hearts that we we profess with our words.

However, I am mindful that for many people this will be a lonely holiday. There are some who have lost the love of their life. There are some who never found that special relationship, or who found one that did not end well. Some folks are still seeking the person who will share their heart and life. Some relationships that were once loving have grown cold and distant over the years. For many hurting hearts, this will not be a happy holiday. Rather than being a day of candy and flowers, it will be a time of tears and sadness. We need to be mindful of those who will be lonely on Valentine’s Day.

As I shared in our Children’s Sermon this past Sunday, we use the word “love” to describe a variety of relationships. I gave the examples of football, candy and family. I do enjoy watching football and eating candy, but those feelings pale in comparison to my love for my family. When the Bible speaks of love, it is describing God’s “agape” kind of love. We read in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus commanded His followers to show this same kind of love towards one another in John 13:34, when He said: “love one another; as I have loved you.” As this season of expressing love approaches, I want to assure everyone who reads this that you are loved. You may not have a special person by your side, but God placed in your life His shepherd to love you and lead you. I love you all with my whole heart forever!

Serving in love,

Bro. Jim