Churches

Good day dear hearts, I love you. Six days from now we celebrate and recognize our veterans. I'd like to thank all the veterans for the honorable work done over the past 250 years.

There appears to be an awakening in this country to God. Our younger generation is breaking away from many of the sinful pillars of our current culture. There seems to be the beginning of what I would consider Biblical normalcy. Get married, men and women that is, have a family, work hard and practice more of returning to the traditions of the Christian Faith in general. You made the move! You took the plunge and you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior and you made all kinds of resolutions to God about how you're going to change and walk in God's ways. This is where I'm supposed to say easy peasy, but I have to admit to you this is where everything begins and we see while transformation is good, sometimes we have to battle our way to get there.

As we begin our new walk we are on cloud nine but despite our best efforts to do the things God's way, we sometimes fall back into our old habits. Some people think when they give their lives to God they are automatically going to change. Not sin anymore, be a better person and go to church every Sunday. Despite our best efforts, we sometimes slide back into old habits. Remember, thanks to Adam and Eve we inherited sin and the nature to sin. The good news is, through repentance God's grace will give us a clean slate. Does that mean I can sin willy-nilly and just ask God for forgiveness? LOL no. As you work on your changes you will sin less and less.

As we work on overcoming sinful attitudes and behaviors we start our genuine repentance. I have said, and those who follow Christianity know that when you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit enters into you and becomes your conscience. When you are ready to make the necessary changes, you will find the Holy Spirit will reveal your areas of sin and convict you of wrongdoing. What I mean by that is your Holy Spirit conscience is telling you, "O that's not the way to go." What you do with that message makes all the difference. You can keep on sinning, which will break your relationship with God or take the next step, which is to be contrite. To grieve over your inequity is followed by confession to God. Genuine sorrow arises from the knowledge that we've sinned against God. True contrition will lead us to humble confession. Real repentance is complete when we wholeheartedly pledge to turn from our old ways and move toward righteousness. God knows we won't live perfectly, but He looks for a surrendered life that diligently seeks to obey Him. Paul the apostle uses strong language when telling us to turn from inequities in Colossians 3:5, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."

I mentioned God's grace is available to us and here is an example of grace explained by Jesus himself. When you have time read Luke 15:11-24 and these are the words of Jesus. I'm going to paraphrase the account. A young man asked his father for his share of his inheritance early so he may live as he chose. The father, brokenhearted gave it to him and the young man made many poor choices and squandered all his money. He went from riches to rags and found himself working to feed pigs. One day he came to his senses and recognized his terrible plight. His repentance began with an awareness of his wrong choices and the fact that his situation was due to them. Knowing that his difficulties came from unrighteous behavior, the prodigal son grieved over his mistakes and acknowledged his sin. As he comes to his senses, he realized his father's servants were living better than him. He realized he needed to go back to his father, seek forgiveness and ask if he could be restored to the extent of being one of his servants. The father saw the prodigal son from a distance, ran to him and embraced him with love and compassion. The son sought forgiveness and his father totally restored him. What a welcome the wayward young man received. Forgiveness and acceptance were extended. Forgiveness and mercy are extended to you as well. What sin are you struggling to overcome? Have you genuinely repented? Let the Holy Spirit empower you to change. God Bless.

Father, we ask your blessing on our little town. Send your Spirit and touch the broken-hearted, give peace to the sick, bless the poor. Please join us Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) at 12:00pm for a complimentary traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Do not spent the day alone. Pastor Vince Chiaramonte, 570-853-3988.