When tragedy hits.

Within the last couple of weeks we have been exposed to the tragedy in Haiti due to the earthquakes and now in our own church family when 20 year old Raymond Huffman was killed in an auto accident due to icy conditions. We tend to respond one way when the tragedy is far away and another way when it is close up. That is OK to do so but the key is to respond and do some self reflection so we will respond in a manner pleasing to God. In Haiti the imagines are before us and we ought to ask How can we help? For most of us it is praying and giving. For some of us it might be a trip to Haiti down the road because the rebuilding of Haiti is not going to happen in weeks but in years. Let us allow God to guide our response.
With the tragedy within our church family our response ought to be reflected within a relational model. This can be done via a phone call of support and prayer, to sending a card, to helping out with the luncheon after the funeral, to giving on going support in the days and weeks to come. Here our help ought to be personal. This will make a huge difference in the healing process for the family.
May God help to love on people and respond to tragedy in ways pleasing to the Lord

Pastor John Backes

Prayer

There are many New Year's resolutions one could make but none bigger then to improve one's prayer life. God clearly hears the cries of His people. Over and over Israel fell into sin and idolatry which brought about the judgment of God upon them. During the time of the Judges this happen over and over but every time Israel was in trouble and begin to cry out to the Lord for deliverance God showed up and brought the help they needed. Unfortunately this is the only time that some people pray is when they are in trouble. May this be the year that we pray and ask for His favor and blessings when things are going well not just when we are in trouble. This would bring improvement for many people in the area of prayer. Another area to see improvement is to pray for others more then for yourself and your immediate family. Do we see the people around us the way God see them? Lord help us to see others the way You do and then help me to pray for them as You would pray for them. Strengthen our hearts and hand throughout this year to pray and seek God's favor upon His church.