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As we begin a new year, or any day for that matter, we have a tendency to look into the past year that has gone by and look into the future in order to consider what might be. Ever since sin has entered into the world life has been temporary. Nevertheless, as we look into the past we realize that God has been our help in ages past. Consider the words of Psalm 90 verses 1-2: "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Regardless of what the past has held in our personal life or in the generations before us, God has been there. In contrast to the temporary and uncertain nature of life God is eternal and has been a secure dwelling place.

In Psalm 90 verse 12 Moses asked God, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." We might be good at numbering days on a calendar, there are 365 of them. We may be good at numbering the days of the week, there are 7 of them. We might even be good at counting the hours and minutes of the day. But as God teaches us to number our days it leads us to realize how few of them there are on this earth. Ever since the fall into sin life is short. We have only a limited number of days on this earth. Therefore, it is important to trust in the Lord who alone is an eternal dwelling place. He has been there from generation to generation, from everlasting to everlasting. We will be wise when we put our trust and hope for an eternity of days in the Lord. Such a secure dwelling is only possible as we believe and trust in the Lord Jesus. Jesus initially had come into this world for a limited period of time, 33 years. He lived each day to perfection. He died upon a cross and on the third day He rose from the dead. After 40 more days He ascended into heaven and has promised to return and receive all who trust in Him to that secure dwelling place with God for eternity. So yes, Lord, teach us to number our days. For You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

In the meanwhile we also pray the words of Psalm 90:17: "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" We pray that God would look upon us with favor and bless our work both personally and as a congregation. We pray that the Lord would bless our hours and days of labor to the Lord. The work of our hands can include many different aspects of service we give to God, His church and our neighbor. It can also include our offerings as we bring the firstfruits of our labor to the Lord. It is an important part of our labor to bring a portion of our income to Him. We give our offerings and our days of service as we have been blessed, not according to perceived need, for the need is always great and there is always mission and ministry that requires support in the church. We ask that God would bless the work of our hands.

As together we begin another year, we look to the Lord, trusting in Jesus our savior to be our dwelling place for eternity. We ask that God would teach us to rightly number our days, realizing how short life in this world is and how long eternity will be. We pray that the Lord would look upon us with favor and bless the work of our hands in the year to come. Pray the words of Psalm 90 and trust in the Lord Jesus to be your dwelling place for all eternity. Blessings on the New Year, 2019!

Pastor Schoenfeld

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3) every human being has come into this world as a sinful being.  Our sin separates us from God.  Left to ourselves we would perish for eternity in hell (John 3:36 & Hebrews 10:26-27).

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

God loves you so much that He came into this world as a human being (Luke 2:1-20).   Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect life for you (Hebrews 4:14-16), suffered and died upon a cross for you (John 19), and rose from the dead for you (Luke 24).   Now our risen Lord will forgive your sin (1 John 1:8-9) and grant eternal salvation to you if you believe in Him.  

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”  Acts 16:31

When God blesses you with a living faith in Jesus you will have a place in heaven.  Such salvation comes not by our works but by grace through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-10).  

“And He died for all, that those who live, should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”  2 Corinthians 5:15

Now as those who have been given the gift of heaven we live no longer just for ourselves but to serve God and our fellow human beings.  (Ephesians 2:10)