Cherish Each Moment

Greetings in the Name of our Lord,

Isabella J. Parker says this about life, “Life is fragile; cherish each moment as if it were a precious gem.” 

I often find myself consumed by the schedule of the day. Making my way from one task to another. Happy just to check another “to do” off my list. When I least expect it, the days are interrupted with the fragile nature of life. These moments bring me back to how precious life is - an unexpected beauty… a gesture of love… a heartbreaking loss. 

This weekend we faced the unexpected loss of Angelica Romero, 51 years young, with three children and a loving husband. Jose and Angelica have been cleaning and setting up our building for nine years. In the two years I have known her, she always met me with a smile on her face and a happy greeting of Buenos Dias. This week, as I have walked the worship center, classrooms, and hallways, I can feel her presence and her smile. She will be missed. Keep Jose and his children in your prayers. 

In the quiet moments of this week, I have prayed that God will not let the hectic schedule that I keep get in the way of cherishing each moment. We all have faced the unspeakable moments of grief that bring us back to what is truly important in life. The touch of one who cares. The kind word in a time of discouragement. The beauty of God’s creation. Life is wondrous, and those we love are to be held close.

The Good News of our faith in Christ is that this human existence is not the end. There is a day when we will be united with those we love. There is a day when all the unanswered questions of this life will be answered. As Christ followers, we live under the promise of eternal life… a resurrection more glorious than we can imagine. For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Amy and I will be with family this weekend, so we will miss you in worship. Pastor Jana will be preaching. It will be a day of celebration for all that is precious in this life. I will miss you and pray for you this weekend. 

Remember… God loves us more than we can ever know, especially in the weeks like this one. 

Pastor John Allen

P. S. Sunday is the last chance to RSVP for the 30th Anniversary lunch. Click here now.