Dear City Calvary,
Gabe is our dog. He's a big, loyal, lovable yellow lab and
an important member of the Aydelott family. We brought him home as a
mischievous little puppy and now he's a 10 year old kind gentleman. On
Saturday, Gabe was limping and we noticed a growth on his right front leg.
A trip to the vet confirmed that he has bone cancer and needs to be put
down. As you can imagine, there are many tears in our house as we must
say goodbye to a very dear friend.
I begin my letter with this sad story to remind us all of an
important truth - everything in this world will pass away. As we read on
Sunday, in 1 John 2:17 "The world and its desires pass away, but the
man who does the will of God lives forever." Did you catch that?
The world (the world system that is apart from God) and it's desires pass
away BUT the person who does the will of God will go on through all eternity.
If that is so, then how should we live? John tells us two
verses earlier in verse 15: "Do not love the world or anything in the
world." Why? Verse 16: "If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him." We can't have two lovers.
Jesus put it best when he said in Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve
two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will
be devoted to the one and despise the other." We either love God or
we love the world.
How are we to love Jesus? Well that is between you and Him
but we can definitely speak the five love languages. (Gary Chapman's book
on marriage - The Five Love Languages.)
Words of affirmation -
Praise and worship Jesus
Acts of service -
Serve God. How will you serve the Lord this year?
Giving/Receiving Gifts -
What we give - tithes and offerings, time, etc.
Quality time -
Time alone with God. The new year is a great time to begin again on your
time spent with the Lord in prayer and the word. What is your plan for
2015? Read through the Bible. Dedicate yourself to getting up
early.
Physical touch -
Jesus said, "as you do this to the least of these you have done unto
me." We can be Jesus hands and love people. Who around us does
Jesus want to touch with His love -through us?
Next Sunday, we read of John's warning about those who would lead
believers astray. Read ahead - 1 John 2:18-27. Below is a picture
of Gabe at the doctor's office on Saturday. He's dying of cancer but
still has his big smile.
Blessings in Jesus,
Pastor John
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