Hello FBC Friends & Family!
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)
There are times when I’m out coaching baseball, that I see the dark, gloomy clouds overhead, and start looking for shelter! There are also times when the bright, hot sun is beating down on me that I start looking for a shadow, or shade, for relief! Good ol’ Oregon weather – if you don’t like it, wait 5 minutes and it’ll change, right? We often have much more serious things that we are concerned about than getting rained on or a little overheated in the sun. And no matter what is concerning us, we have a shelter – the Most High. I love that. There is no one higher; there is no one above God. He is The Most High, and we can dwell in His shelter. When we do, we abide (or dwell) in the shadow of the Almighty. I love that too! Remember when Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will bear much fruit”? To abide is to dwell with in an intimate relationship. We have the unspeakable privilege of abiding in Him – abiding in the shadow of the Almighty, the most Holy, the most powerful, the most loving, the awesome God!
Tomorrow (Friday) morning, Alan, Zsuzsa, and Zach Blake will be heading off to serve in Ukraine for a month! Please, please, please, be in much prayer for them. May the Lord use them mightily in His service, work powerfully in their hearts as they serve, and bring them back to us safely so we can rejoice together in what God has done there. Thank you.
This Sunday we will be blessed to have Jessica Taskinen sharing with the adult Sunday School classes and in the worship service. Please be sure to be here and listen to and encourage one of our own as she shares about her life and ministry.
During the worship service, I will be preaching on Revelation 13:1-10, “The Beast from the Sea”. Not a pretty picture – but one we need to understand. Please read that ahead of time with a prayer that God will speak to us powerfully through His Word.
We will also be remembering our Lord’s sacrifice for us as we gather around the Communion table together and share in the elements. May we come with hearts prepared as we examine ourselves in the light of His truth.
Following the worship service, we have a special business meeting for all members and any others who wish to attend. Members will be voting on a couple items being brought by the Trustees, having to do with the completion of the parking lot expansion. I will also sharing an update from me and the elders regarding what I shared at the last business meeting about potential associate pastoral staff.
Finally, I’d like to ask you again, to consider fasting and praying tomorrow (Friday) for our church family. I know Jesus said to not let anyone know when you are fasting, so I’m not telling you this so you’ll look at me and be impressed in any way. I’m the man saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” But there are numerous occassions in Scripture where the leader or leaders of God’s people proclaim a time of fasting and prayer for various reasons. Tomorrow I hope to fast (as much as possible) and pray for FBC. I’m asking you to consider doing the same. Maybe if you’ve never fasted before you want to try starting with fasting from one or two meals. Or maybe you can do a “liquids-only” fast. Whatever the Lord puts on your heart, please do so. For some who may not be able to physically fast from food, maybe there is something else (media, TV, cell phone, sugar,…) that you can fast from and focus your heart on praying for our church. These are important days for us, and we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. “Our battle is not against flesh and blood…” Thank you for seriously considering joining me in a time of fasting and praying for FBC. If not tomorrow, would you choose another day – Saturday or Sunday?
Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty…
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael