By the Time you hear from me again, the Summer will be all but over. Spring will have come and gone. July 4^th will simply be a “Big Bang” in our memory banks. The Fall Harvest will be about ready to begin. We’ll all be a couple of months older and a VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION will be just a little over two months away. Time marches on. Time changes things. Time heals all wounds. Well, these are axioms we might like to believe about Time – and, perhaps, they are all true to some extent. One day Time will be no more – no more marching! One day all change will cease – no more Time! One day there will be no more wounds – all tears will be wiped away – sicknesses will be forever gone! One day. One day. But, for now, we have to deal with Time – its passing, changes, and wounds.

The Bible tells us to make good use of our Time (Ephesians 5:16). We all have the same amount of Time while we have life. Every one of your minutes has 60 seconds; every one of your hours has 60 minutes; every one of your days has 24 hours; every one of your weeks has 7 days – just like mine – just like every person on the planet. What are we doing with the Time that we have? How much of it is wasted? How much of it is lost on frivolity? How much of it is lost because of laziness – because of sin – because foolish choices? As followers of Christ we have Eternal Time – we have Eternity. BUT – in this life we are bound by clocks, watches, calendars, beeps and buzzes, light and darkness. May we all be challenged to take inventory of how we use the Time we have. Let’s be determined to make our Time truly count for Eternity!

Further, the Bible tells us that many things need changing (Ephesians 4:22-32). Some things will change without any help from us, but I believe God wants us to be intentional in our living and to work on changing things that we know need such. That was the Apostle Paul’s position when he wrote about things that we need to “put off” and things that we need to “put on.” Attitudes. Actions. Aspirations. Affections. How do we measure up in these areas when we compare ourselves to Jesus? Some things, indeed, take Time. Many things, however, take decisions! “Choose you this day . . . .” “Put off . . . and put on . . . .” “Forget what’s behind . . . .” “Press on!” “Run the race.” All this in the context of “keeping your eyes on Jesus.” Make a list of what needs to be different in your life, ask the Lord for His help, AND GO FOR IT!

Wounds can be physical, financial, relational, mental, spiritual, and so on. Whatever our wounds, God is the Healer! He deals in holistic medicine – holistic therapy. It’s by His Spirit. It’s by the Blood of Jesus. It’s by the Name of Jesus. It’s by the Word. In Time, some wounds will scab over, dry up, and disappear. BUT – the scars that remain – seen and unseen – can be devastating. The Bible says that Jehovah God is our Healer – Jehovah Rophe. “He said, ‘If you will listen carefully to the Voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give heed to His Commandments and keep all His Statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.’ (Exodus 15:26) Isaiah the Prophet (53:4-6) tells us that it is “with His stripes” (the Messiah’s Blood) that we are healed. He was wounded for us. His wounds cover our wounds and they become no more! Let’s all put Him and what He has accomplished and provided in the forefront of our minds and affirm that His Blood works faster than Time and leaves no scars behind.

Our Pastor: Rev. GTerry Steenburg