April 28, 2024

Dear Grace Family and Friends,

I’ll miss worshipping with you “in person” today.  Leila and I are at the beach for a few days of “R & R.”  But I do want to thank all who participated in our Church-wide Fellowship last Sunday.  The weather wasn’t great so we didn’t know how many people to expect.  I’m happy to report that a lot of you came out and enjoyed ice cream with the Pastor.  I love ice cream.  I hope we’ll have it in heaven.  Yet we had the best of both worlds by including fresh fruit with the ice cream.  I think many of us combined the two for a perfectly delicious treat.  Some expressed concerns about eating dessert before dinner.  From my perspective it’s probably wise.  Jesus may come before we finish our meal and we’d hate to waste the sweet stuff!  I think you know I’m being a bit facetious with that comment.  Those with children are rightly concerned that their little ones eat a well-balanced meal before allowing sweets to “ruin their appetites.”  But how many of us are guilty of allowing other things to “ruin our appetite” for the things of God?  We wake up in the morning and know we should spend some quiet time alone with The Lord.  But first we go to check our emails and social media.  They often distract us to the point that we never get back to our intended “quiet time.”  I’m not belittling email or even social media.  I utilize and enjoy them both.  However, neither is a valid substitute for Bible study.  Becoming more like Jesus won’t happen accidentally.  We need a disciplined approach to our daily Bible reading and prayer.   If you don’t have it, you need to make that a priority.  From God’s perspective, nothing is more important.  It’s the only way to truly “know Him.”  There’s no greater honor in life.  Do you?  If so, give Him thanks for that privilege.  If not, let this be the day that changes forever!  God bless you all!

Pastor Bill Hilley