From the Pastor,
On Sunday, January 8, I shared a thought from the book “Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge. The subtitle is “everyday practices for a world gone mad.” Chapter 5 of the book is “Kindness Toward Ourselves.” What a vital practice this could be for all Christians.
The apostle Paul wrote of God’s kindness in Titus 3, “4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 God saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to God’s mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” {NRSV}
Since God is so kind, shouldn’t we be kind to ourselves and others? Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That’s a two-part commandment. We are to love {be kind to} ourselves and we are to love other people.
I pray that 2023 is a year where we are kinder to ourselves and others. May we choose to forgive so our hearts are healed and relationships are mended. May we forgive ourselves and say to the one who is in the mirror: “I am a child of God. God loves me and likes me.” Reminding ourselves of that would be kind indeed! In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Jim Simonds
336-682-9649 | pastorszion@gmail.com.