|
<<First Name>>
“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more” - Psalm 71:14
Before we lost her to Alzheimers, my grandmother was the family historian. I remember fondly the times I spent as a child laying with my head on her lap, listening to the stories of family history no one else seemed to know. As a young boy, one story captured my attention more than any others. It was a war story, of a distant relative operating a tank in WWII. His tank had been disabled and the Nazis had captured his friends. This young man left the safety of his tank to save his friends, unfortunately that’s where his story ended. Even though I can’t recall his name, I still remember the sacrifice he gave fighting for our country and the life and freedoms of others.
Memorial day is a time in which we pause as a nation to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives while serving in the military. While we may have never met these men and women, we are grateful for their service and remember their family and friends in our prayers. Memorial day is also a time in which many of us pause to remember, or pay a visit to our own loved ones who are no longer with us.
Grief can be overwhelming. It comes and goes, and while our loved one’s story may have come to an end, our story continues. So how does one endure the loss? Hope.
Hope is powerful. While our losses may knock us down, it is hope that lifts us up. Hope has the ability to restore lives and our relationships. This week Pastor Doyal VanGelder will be sharing with us a message of hope as we wrap up our message series Bulletproof Spirit. Our law enforcement officers, first responders, and military veterans know all too well the pain of grief and loss. While the pain may continue to come and go, we don’t have to let it consume us. Hope can restore.
We hope you can join us this Sunday as we remember our fallen loved ones with hope.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Gordon
Upcoming Recognitions:
May 27th - Military Remembrance (Feel free to email us a name and/or picture of a loved one you would like remembered. Names will be lifted up during the service).
June 24th - Fire Department - Fire Rescue Days Community Service at Wagner Park
|
