Happy Wednesday during Snow-pocalypse 2020! This is our 36th online lesson dating back to March 18. Check out the library of the lessons by clicking here.
Prayer needs continue for such a long list of people both in and connected to our church. The Mitchells continue to work through things after Janie’s death and the services this past weekend. Betty Lenig also died from COVID complications and her service was yesterday. Please remember Pat Snook (her sister) and the rest of the extended family.
Sally Sheets goes back for her next cancer treatment next Wednesday, with two more coming until her next test and decisions on what comes next. Please keep her, Pastor Paul and the entire family in prayer. Sherilyn returns to Snyder County next week.
Our youth group attempt to take on needs of the community is in its second week. Please pray for Wendy and her son, who are expecting a baby any day. We were able to drop off multiple bags of items to Wendy’s home near the Jack’s Mountain Freeze thanks to numerous generous donations. Please pray for the family. We also dropped off more than 100 cards to the Graysonview Retirement Home last night. Thanks to those who contributed. Please be praying for the following people who are residents there and struggling with feelings of loneliness and fear surrounding the pandemic: Please be praying for these individuals who are separated from their families (only sharing first names here due to confidentiality: Judy, Phyllis, Ethel, Rachel, Elizabeth, Wendy, Frank & Marie, Elaine, Carol, Faye, Arlene, Betty, Leroy, Don, Sue, Ken, Frank, Linda, Doris, Ken, Clara, Orpha, Nancy, Anna Mary, Richard, Norman, Joan, Carmie, Dennis, Richard, Gerry, Kay, Jack, Kay, Mona, Clarence, Robert, George, Mabel, Connie, Patsy, Marty, Ann, David, BJ and Pauline.
Two new needs were given this week. Bill and Shirley Vance along with Marie Bingaman, older people connected with the Amber and Brent Ulrich family, are shut-ins living in Selinsgrove that could use some Christmas cheer. They have been added to our church caroling list for this coming Sunday afternoon. Also, Dale and Leatha DeLong of Mazeppa. Leatha is struggling with dementia and Dale is her main caretaker. Both are pretty much home-bound. We are looking to provide a meal and some cards of encouragement. I have their address. Please pray for each of these families.
If you have specific additional prayer needs, or know someone who may need assistance (even if that person is you), please reach out by emailing us: zaktansky@gmail.com
What an impressive, historic snowstorm, an exciting time even if you aren’t super thrilled about snow. One of the best parts of the snow is the cool view it provides. Things that once were dirty, grimy and scarred are suddenly covered in a pure, white blanket of blemish-less snow.
The scene doesn’t last long before things melt, before the snow becomes discolored and the imperfections it hides slowly return to view. Wouldn’t it be cool if the bright visual reset provided by a snowstorm could last a little longer? How long?
In terms of the dark blemishes of our sin, the washing effects provided by the salvation of Jesus Christ can be our forever-future if we strive to follow His lead. There are numerous references to such an experience in the Bible. From Isaiah 1:18:
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
From 1 John 1:7:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Jesus dying on the cross was the massive snowstorm that cleansed our sins. Unfortunately, we are still in the world, and we are still tempted by sin. When a blemish marks the otherwise pure snow of God’s salvation and gets in the way of our perfect relationship with Him, how are we to respond? Continue in 1 John chapter 1 to verse 9:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Our job is to live as spotless a life as possible following God’s instructions from His Word. When we falter, He is ready to help us return to His pure picture for our lives.
A well-known hymn centers on this concept, with lyrics including:
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Do you find yourself at a place where you need Jesus to wash some issues in your life? Bring your needs to God in prayer, be brutally honest with him about what you feel are your shortcomings and let Him take the lead in your transformation to a snow-like whiteness in your life. Let us know if you need help in this process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcTvtuuVU8
