Rev. Ray and Pat Amos

Every good gift is from our unchanging God.

God cannot give a bad gift. Our life is a gift from God; what we do with it is our gift to God. There are many things that seek to cheapen and even destroy the gift of life. It is time to reclaim and appreciate the beauty of what He has given us.
There is a house that Pat and I think is especially beautiful. It was someone’s home place, quaint and small. It seems that the next generation enclosed it by building a larger house around it. They retained their precious memories, and yet kept up with the modern needs of a home. Few people can do something like that, but we all can honor our past heritage as we press on with today.

People refurbish old houses at great cost. Sometimes it is a historical place, other times a place of much sentimental value. I have seen houses practically taken down to the foundation and rebuilt all new again.

There are homes of great worth that depreciate quickly because of neglect, and rubbish all about it. The same thing happens to people’s lives; and often reaches across the yard fence into the lives of neighbors.

Do we really understand what Christianity has to offer in a world where human life is often treated like worthless property? First we can remember that at the completion of creation God said it was very good. It still is. Life has not gone bad; people have taken a bad view of life. We must also remember that Christ is in the restoration business.

I see signs around town that say, “Will buy houses in any condition.” That is the message of the church: Jesus will buy back any life in any condition. We call it redemption. No life is beyond His ability to restore. He will completely remove the rubbish of sin; and replace the damage that it has caused with new hope, happiness and peace. Even the finest houses need repair from time to time. Look to Jesus, “Is not this the carpenter…” (Mark 6:3a).

Grace and Peace, Rev Ray