Good Friday morning friends,
One day, after many years of marriage, an elderly woman asked her husband, “Dearie, do you still love me?” Looking up from his newspaper, he replied, “I told you that I loved you on the day we were married. If anything changes, I will let you know.”
As we head into Valentine’s Day weekend, the old Rod Stewart (no relation) song, “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” song comes to mind.
Valentine’s is a time when we pause to express our love to those we hold dear – to our spouses – to our children – to parents and to special people in our lives. Sometimes, it can be hard to find the right card and/or the right means to express our feelings. I recall shopping for a special wedding anniversary card for Karen, only to find that the inside of the card was a birthday card. Am I glad that I took time to read it thoroughly before purchasing!
In thinking about Valentines, I wonder when was the last time we expressed Christian love and appreciation for others? – to our pastor(s)? To our volunteer elders and deacons? To our volunteer ministry leaders? To those who serve behind the scenes? To those we serve?
Relating to our discussion of last week regarding “millennials” (BTW, thanks for all your feedback), I wonder – do we express love and appreciation to one another across generations? Seniors? Boomers? Gen Xers” Millennials? Gen Z’s? We do not compete. Each is called to reach their generation for Christ and to work together to reach all generations!
I believe that it is easy to take one another for granted in local churches. Many serve faithfully and only hear when something goes wrong. Some might feel that their ministry is not valued. Some might have gained a sense of entitlement, and expect to be served, rather than to serve others in Christ’s Name.
Jesus instructs us in John 13, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
In church, just like the disciples, we can forget who is serving whom.
As our thoughts go to Valentine’s Day, please give thought to expressing Christian love and appreciation towards those who serve – and also to those we serve in Christ’s Name. I desire that my prayers for you echo those of Paul for the Church at Philippi, found in Philippians 1:3-11.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Thanks for your partnership in the gospel, wherever you are serving! We love you in Christ, and long to see God continue his good work in and through you!
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Just three weeks until our LPD Conference on March 4,5 at White Rock Community Church, we are providing a COACH workshop. This will be a day of equipping in coaching and mentoring tools for discipleship and service. You can register by mail or online at our LPD Website under the Pastor Resources tab.
Please see the attached information, and plan to join us for the workshop on Friday, March 4, celebration dinner on Friday evening and a Saturday morning conference session and meeting. Please see the attached brochure and information. Conference registration includes the Friday COACH workshop and participant manual, so plan to join us for this and to learn and grow with your leadership team, and other church leaders and delegates from our district. Please note: Workshop participant manuals are available in Chinese!
Please continue to join with others in ministering to refugees:
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Upcoming Events:
May God bless and keep you as you look to the Lord, and trust him for his good work through the week ahead.
In Jesus,
Rob
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In 2016, our Lower Pacific District trust to continue assisting in the birth and revitalization of churches, we also step out in faith with local churches through providing financial support and seed money. To this end, we appreciate the gifts of many district churches and also of individuals. You can participate through both cheques and online through PayPal at our website. See LPD website for more info.
