Pastor's Message
The story is told about a teenage girl who was
told that if she stayed out beyond a certain time, she would have to eat
bread and water at supper.
She stayed out too late, so at suppertime
she was given bread and water.
But as the family started to eat, the
father reached over and took the bread and water and gave his daughter
his own meal.
They ate in silence for a while, and then
the girl, with tears in her eyes, came over and put her arms around her
father’s neck as she said, “Daddy, I’ll never disobey you again.”
Something had happened to her on the
inside.
No threat of punishment could work a
miracle like that.
Only love could do that.
That is what the love of Jesus moved Him to do for
you.
He took upon Himself the punishment that was due
you for your disobedience.
Instead of taking the “bread and water”
that should have been yours, he took on the very sin that is yours and
suffered the punishment demanded – death on the cross.
In His mercy, God accepts that payment in
your place and forgives you for Jesus’ sake.
And our Spirit-moved response is, “Father –
let me live for You – according to Your will.”
That’s the way we begin this New Year.
In fact, that is the way we begin each new
day – in the forgiving mercy of our Heavenly Father.
That miracle of faith is yours – only by
God’s grace.
My prayer for each of you, dear people of
God, is that you live in that miracle – in each and every day God gives
you in 2012 – to the glory of God, the Father who truly loves you.
Serving Christ and His people,
Pastor Tim Dinger