First of all, I want to say thank you so very much for the kindness you showed me and my family through the Christmas season. The cards and gifts truly blessed us, and we appreciate it so much! I can honestly say that there is not another church I know of that I would rather serve as pastor. It is a blessing to get to serve alongside such a wonderful group of people!
As we are starting 2023, remember our goal is 24 baptisms, and I want to encourage you once again to be praying for at least two lost people daily. Pray that God will soften their heart and prepare them to hear the Gospel. Pray that God will surround them with people that will be a positive Christian witness to them. Pray that God will open doors for you to be able to share with them. Pray that God will give you the patience to know when and how much to say. You don’t have to unload everything on them at once. Remember, it is God who saves, it is our privilege to tell the about Jesus.
As we seek to be a witness to others, we need to ask God to make us clean and useful vessels. Psalm 51 has a great prayer for us to pray and ask God to make us right before Him so that we might be useful to Him.
NAU Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
When we desire God’s presence our hearts must be clean. As we witness to others, we need God’s presence, and we can know that He will sustain us. I pray that the joy of our salvation would shine through us so that others see our joy and are drawn to Jesus in us. May we be a light for Him as He shines brightly through us.
