Friday, May 29, 2020

The dear folk who are the Poca United Methodist Church have blessed your pastor’s heart by your faithfulness in this time of the coronavirus pandemic.  You have shown your love and care for one another by your earnest prayers, your telephone, internet, and facebook messages, financial contributions to your church, and your regular enquiries about each other.  Your cooperative spirit has made it possible for the Gospel to be communicated over the air waves.

The Apostle Paul in his brief letter to Philemon expresses for Philemon the sentiments which are in my heart toward you.

“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.  I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, (and sister) have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”  (Philemon 1:4-7)

With the Psalmist we pray:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage us as You listen to our cry.
I trust in Your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in Your salvation.
Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my
Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.
Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.  Amen.

–Pastor John