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This Sunday we begin our last section of John as we look at John 17-21 in summary and see an overview of the entire section. Pray that God will bless and give understanding of this whole passage so we can move forward in learning God’s lessons for us. The Final Days of Jesus  is the title and we will look at the whole section to learn those days of Jesus that produced salvation and sanctification for all of us. In John 210:31, it says, and that believing you may have life in His Name. Life is in Jesus not in stuff and things we accumulate for our comfort. Even eternal life is not in doing things, going places, and enjoying heaven… it is in knowing the Father (John 17:3). We must always remember that we have been created to enjoy God and He is the highest joy.

Remember that baptism is coming on August 8th and if you are interested in it, please let me know and we can put it together for you. Also for the whole church, please prepare to bring food and have your kids swim in the pool as everyone will be coming to our home for a great day of celebration of proclaiming what God has done in our lives and those of our friends.  Also, please pray for Bobby Wood as he is having surgery today on his spine. 

As I was reading this morning in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, I again was reminded of the dangerous times they lived in throughout their lives in the first century. Paul wrote them, We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, (2 Thess.1:3). I was reminded that I am seeing this in you at Hope Chapel. I am seeing faith grow in your hearts and lives as you follow the Lord and the result of that is the love that is moving throughout the community of faith. Regardless of the path God has placed before us, He calls us to be faithful and loving, and you are doing that with your sincere care for one another. You open your hearts and hands to Bethesda, the Ukrainian church, offering them a place for them to worship together the God we all love. You willingly give up your security and comfort so that others can receive aid in their times of need with Spread Truth, Miracle Hill, and Mission Resource. You use your work as a place of Harvest, seeking to show Christ to those who are fearful in this world like Blest with Wheels. You love and support the Donnelly family as they move to places of warfare and chaos with Luke 249 Project with prayer and hope. You encourage Hope youth to learn and grow in their next generation faith by supporting the Olayo family and preparing for another ministry in Kenya in the future. You open your hearts to the Micronesian opportunity in nearby cities by loving the Charley and Rodriguez families well, who will go to spread the truth and love of Jesus Christ in the islands for generations to come. You are willing to sell all and live without, if God allows, so that all this can have support from your sacrificial hearts. Only God knows the rejoicing that will occur in His presence because of how you abound in your love for others. Blessed are You O Lord.

Come on Sunday ready to share what God is doing in your hearts and lives in our last service of the month with praise, communion, and testimony. Maybe bring some desserts to go with your coffee for others to enjoy as we listen to all that God is doing in our lives and hearts. (That last statement of dessert was just an simple idea of the Pastor with no authority or accountability to support it but only the knowledge that “manna” in Hebrew, מָן , is translated by some as cinnamon rolls.) 

A note for all of us to remember. When the storms come, the Holy Spirit still resides within to comfort and encourage, Jesus still intercedes for us with power and position, and the Father brings daily mercies to us with faithfulness and grace. We are never alone. Never. As you personally and we as a Church move forward with God’s peace and plan in our endeavors, consider the goodness of God, remember the real faithfulness of God, and trust in the eternal love of God for you and us together. In sorrows Jeremiah remembers and wrote (Lam 3:20-26) My soul still remembers And sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD. Hold on to this. The Lord is good and nothing will change that for us in all eternity. Compared to the length of eternity, which is unmeasurable, the time here, the sorrows, pain, agony, frustrations, and evil are measurable. THEY WILL END, but His Mercies will just be beginning. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

As some of you know and, in the announcements below, the Ukrainian church, Bethesda, wanted to support our Mission Trip to Kenya and asked to have a fundraiser this Sunday so they will bring food to sell to us after our Worship Service. All the proceeds will go totally to the Mission Trip in August as needed. They asked only that we bring cash or checks to purchase the items which include cooked & smoked meats, sweets, and other delicacies.

Please continue to pray for the sell of the building and the move to PGBC that God will glorify Himself and we will follow with open hearts and willing minds to do as He commands. Things are moving forward but there are many details that need attention, and we have people blessed in that area working on it. I am not one of them. I am thankful to God for you and tell Him often of my gratitude in allowing me to be your Shepherd/Pastor. God is good. You are kind. I am blessed. Much to do. Blessed be His Name