RaptureChrist Newsletter January 1, 2021

V RaptureChrist Newsletter
January 1, 2021

Hope

Question for you. Do you feel some despair in our crisis?

Hope in Times Of Crisis

How should you react when it feels like the very earth is shifting beneath your feet? Life has become un-level in the current pandemic era. Not only are we experiencing a shift physically with stores and restaurants closing, keeping us from communal activities in our cities or towns but also spiritually with churches closed to large gatherings.

I think we all have asked, "How do I maintain hope when everything is changing on us?"

Remember, there is one thing that never changes - GOD!

The writer of Hebrews says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Jesus does not change in times of war, times of plague, or in times of unrest. Although it seems the world is spinning out of control, the believer must keep our focus on one thing, our savior.

Jesus is our answer. He will help us in our time of troubles, for dark days are ahead for us. I expect that more plagues are near.

This does not mean you ignore the times we are in. You do not ignore washing out hands or staying six feet away from one another to keep the virus from spreading. You should be the embodiment of Christ among the sick, the poor, the doubting, and the fearful.

You should be hopeful, but you should also embody hope by serving your neighbors, delivering food, checking on the elderly and those most vulnerable. Even ordering take out from your local restaurant says, "I will not hide or go away, I'll support others around me".

There is being hopeful and then there is living hope. In living hope, you become more hopeful. Hide your own self and the dread will find you. Live in a way that your neighbors will recognize the hope that is in and you, in turn, can point to the One in whom you have hope.

New Year

Fellow brothers and sisters, there is a lot to ponder on as we commence a new year.

I do hope that God will help us. He says:

Revelation 21:3-7
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.

Truly, this has been a terrible year. I look forward to a time when God is with us. He will take away all our pain.

I ask that you have faith for God will indeed comfort us.

Isaiah 11:1-9
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse,

and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and strength,

the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

And He will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what His eyes see,

nor will He decide by what His ears hear,

but with righteousness He will judge the poor,

and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth

and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

Righteousness will be the belt around His hips,

and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb,

and the leopard will lie down with the kid;

the calf and young lion and fatling will be together,

and a little child will lead them.

The cow will graze with the bear,

their young will lie down together,

and the lion will eat straw like an ox.

an infant will play by the cobra’s den,

and a toddler will reach into the viper’s nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy on

all My holy mountain, for the earth

shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

as waters cover our sea.