Country Church Music - From the Heart

Greetings dear friends and family,

Destinations. Daily we go about our lives heading to various destinations. If our destination happens to be further away or unfamiliar we can simply Google it and find directions as to the best way to get to there.

Our lives are filled with earthly destinations. But what about our final destination? What must we do to reach it? Are there directions?

Through Jesus’ death and glorious resurrection we have been given the gift of a final destination that surpasses all understanding. There is nothing we can do to earn it. It is a gift that was given purely out of love, God’s love, a love that knows no bounds.

No, we can’t earn it, but we can show God our thankfulness. We can live our lives with joy and gratitude, reaching out in love to one another. The Bible is full of directions and guidance to help us do just that. No Googling necessary, just opening up our Bibles. There we will find life giving/life saving directions for our souls.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. Ephesians 2:8-10

Let us pray: Loving God, you have given us a gift that we do not deserve. Out of love for us you gave your Son so that we can one day be reunited with you. Help us to live lives of grace and mercy, lives devoted to doing good works to bring glory and praise to you. In your everlasting name we pray. Amen.

With love and prayers from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

Day by Day is the title of a song that was sung at our worship service on Sunday. At times we forget to take life day by day. We try to reach back into the past or see into the future when instead, we should be focused on the present.

Yes, we can learn from the past, but we cannot change it. And it is good to plan and hope for the future, but yet we must not dwell on it or be anxious about it. When we do we miss what God has planned for us right here, right now. We miss those special moments when God is at work in our lives because our focus is not on him.

Each day begins a new journey and we are not alone on our journey. Day by day, step by step, Jesus walks with us. He knows the way. Trust him.

Thomas said to him, “Lord we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:5-7

Let us pray: Loving God, help us to see that Jesus is the way. That we must let go of the past and not try to reach for the future. Instead we are to reach for the hand of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. And that hand in hand, step by step he will guide us home to you. In your everlasting name we pray. Amen.

Love and prayers from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

I had been pondering what to share and nothing felt right. I happened to check my e-mail and there was a greeting from a pastor friend who is serving in Egypt. It was wonderful to hear from him. Thousands of miles separate us, yet we can keep in touch by merely typing a few words.

As amazing as the far reaching abilities of technology are, even more so is the reach of Jesus’ love. His love is so powerful, so vast, that it forgives, renews, strengthens, and enfolds us all. His perfect love knows no bounds.

No technology is needed to be connected with Jesus. We can keep in touch with him by simply whispering his name.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Let us pray: Gracious God, your love for us knows no bounds. Fill us with an abundance of your love, so that others can see through our actions and words the joy of knowing you. Help us to focus on the cross and to whisper the precious name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give your rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I am beginning with the words of Jesus this week. As I was sitting here praying and pondering, it was those verses from Matthew that awaited me when I opened up my Bible.

Jesus and Jesus alone bore the heaviest yoke of all. By suffering and dying on the cross he broke the yoke of sin. And now he beckons to each of us to come and lay our burdens at the foot of his cross and to become yoked with him. It is a yoke of love, God’s love. It is a yoke that can never be broken.

Let us pray: Gentle Jesus, you call to us to come to you with all our burdens and yet so often we try to go it alone. Help us to feel the yoke of your love, and to trust that you walk with us every step of the way on our journey home. In your everlasting name we pray. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane