Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
As I sit down to write this it is 3 degrees outside and the wind chill is around -10 degrees. The forecast doesn’t look much better for Monday morning with temperatures about -8 degrees. All I can say is --- Baby, it’s cold outside!
I’m not much on cold weather. It’s times like this that I dream about being in Maui and enjoying time on the beach. But the reality is that I’m in Pampa, Texas and God has placed me here for a reason.
My concern in times like this is that everyone be safe and protected from the frigid temps. It seems to me that we need to do something here to make sure that people who are not as blessed as most of us, have a place they can go to in times like this. Yet I’m not sure people didn’t know where they could go.
I know that some people, businesses and churches have done some things to provide for people at this time but I think we need to go beyond. It is important that people know that they can go somewhere to find food, shelter and warmth. At times it would seem that those in need don’t always know where they can go to find help.
At this point I don’t know exactly what the answer is, but I do believe that we can join together to find the right path we need to go down. I also know it won’t be easy and it will probably cost us to make the changes that need to be made.
Pampa isn’t the only community that has issues, but regardless we need to determine an answer to this issue for us. I know there are others that feel that something needs to take be done. We need to join together and let this be something that moves us forward in the coming days.
Today is Valentine’s Day and people all over are buying gifts, candy and other gifts for those they love. God’s love goes out to all people regardless of where they are, what they have or who they are with.
1 John 3:16 says – “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” I know that we often talk about the brethren as those who walk along side of us, but I believe that John was going further with it. He was talking about those who are around us who are in need.
Just listen to what he wrote in 1 John 3:17 – “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” That adds a whole new dimension to the things that people are experiencing during this time.
I realize that some feel they can make it on their own, but I still feel that we can do something to help in times such as this. The question still remains for me – ‘What can I do to help?’ On my own I don’t know of much that I can do, but if I can work together with others that will provide resources to help those in need, I will do it.
John wrote in 1 John 3:18 – “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” Did you hear that? …in deed and truth. We must go beyond talking about what can be done and actually make a difference in the lives of those in need.
I’m just wondering how many others are out there that feel they need to make a difference? Maybe it’s time that we get together and see how we can make a difference.
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, there IS something about that name!!
Christ only, always,
Bro. Paul
Brother Paul Nachtigall is the preacher at Highland Baptist Church. He can be reached at bropaul@centramedia.net.
