News Letter for a Red Hot Summer!

You are soo.. cool! Not exactly what we are hearing this time of year, unless you are at the beach with us. Yes, God still has His giant air conditioner turned up. The ocean is still in the 70's and a very effective coolant. I don’t know. Some things are just meant to be. We are meant to be hot in the Summer! I am one person who is not complaining. I remember only too well how cold the winter was and you just can’t put on enough clothing to get warm. Someone just reminded me that there are only 8 more weeks of summer! Bummer! I could go for 8 more months of summer! I love the sun, the sand, the surf, the people! There is such a great energy on the boardwalk. It seems like every year there are more people out there running, walking and biking! It’s great! People are becoming more and more aware of the joys of exercise. Paul said that physical exercise profits a little. Regarding finances, Ben Franklin said, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” but Jesus said, “What does it prophet a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.” Yes, it is time for a summer spiritual tune up! Paul put it this way, “Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. …Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:3 &10) Don’t you just love the way Paul tells us to change, to become a completely different person? We, Christians, get a hold of this contrast between us and Christ, dark and light, imperfect and perfect, broken and whole. Then we start to work on trying to make the perfect Christian. We dress up in our Sunday best, put on perfect smile, pretend we never sin, and try to talk like we think we should talk. If we are lucky, it lasts for the hour or more that we are in church. Is that what God want from us? After all, we are only human and sometimes not very good at that.

Well, here is what I get from the Word or God. What we can’t do, He can and will do! (Psalm 34:4-6), "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles." (Note: if you want to get really blessed, read all of Psalm 34). There is something inside of me that desires to be holy. I really want to be all that God sees in my heart. But as hard as I work, discipline myself, and try, I am still just Steve. But then there are those times, when I get those glimpses of heaven, when I see the face of Jesus, when I smell the aroma of anointing and I know that if I keep calling, knocking and believing that one day I will be like Jesus.

When things get tough, the road is rough, everything seems tough, it is not time to give up, it is time to call on the Lord, Abba Daddy, to come and help. It then becomes clear of all the help that is available to me- the Sacrifice of the Son, the Power of the Holy Spirit, the Promises of the Father, the Angels that are sent to help me make it here in the natural and lest, we forget, the encouragement of the Church body. Of course, if you are not going to church or not a part of the Body of Christ, it is very easy to become discouraged.

Be encouraged! Jesus and The Way of Life Church are praying for you and believing all good things from the throne room of God for you! You are not alone! You will make it! “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Rom.8:29). A promise to stand on!

We are having such wonderful testimonies from those who are applying the promises of God to their lives. We have been giving out cards with Promise Scriptures to be read three times a day and it is working. (Colossians 3:16) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”

It’s summer!! What better time to get back into God, to seek His face, to go after Him with all your heart, soul and body! There is such a Joy in just hanging out with Jesus. Come to the beach, sit with Him and just love and receive love from the One who loved you and gave His life for you.

Have a happy, Spirit filled summer!

Pastor Steve & Dianne