We see often see in Scripture the saints of God in times of suffering.   Adam and Eve suffered the murder of their son by his own brother.  Job suffered the loss of almost all he had. The faithful Christians in Revelation suffered and even in Heaven seem to question why they were not being avenged for their suffering. Hebrews 11 has a whole list of suffering saints.  We are faced with the question of why God’s children suffer if an all-powerful God loves and cares for them. Though that seeming dilemma is not the point of this article, a few quick notes may lead you to further help and study.

 

1.      Sin. We live in a sin-cursed world. Romans 8:22 reminds us that all Creation groans because of sin.  In addition, the consequences of our own personal sin often bring pain. The sins of others can bring heartache, too.

2.      Strangers. We are strangers in this world. Hebrews 11:13 reminds us that this world is not our home. This is not our place of rest. We can’t expect to be too comfortable here.  Heaven is our resting place.

3.      Sons. We are sons of God. Therefore God, as a loving Father, brings suffering at times to discipline us in order that it may yield the “peaceable fruit of righteousness” in our lives (Hebrews 12).

4.      Satan. Job 1 allows us to see that Satan and his minions are allowed by God to bring about hard times for God’s children in order to bring glory to God.  Always remember though, that God’s glory and the good of his children are eternally bound together. Our good does not suffer to bring God glory. 

5.      Selfishness. Although a derivative of #1 above, it still should be mentioned, because the selfishness of those we love (as well as those we don’t even know) can cause great pain.


So, Here Are The 5 Ways We Can Learn to Give Thanks Even When Life Is Hard
 

1.      Relinquish control to God’s sovereign plan, knowing that He is never out of control. Even with the problem of sin and evil, God overrules and works all things for our good as we become more like Christ.

2.      Rest in God’s wisdom and love.  God is all-wise. He knows the end from the beginning and is always acting in love toward us, His children. We often cannot see that when in suffering, yet we can understand it when we compare parenting to God’s love.  As a parent allows a non-understanding, crying baby to undergo surgery, an immunization shot, or other pain for ultimate healing or good, so God does the same.  As the parent would not love the child if he/she stopped the pain, so God would not fully love us if He did not allow what was best. 

3.      Run to His Word. God’s Word, the Bible, contains “all things that apply to life and godliness.” We open it to find the truths we need, and we depend upon His Spirit to lead us in applying it to our situation and to our hearts personally. 

4.      Reach out to others.  In the midst of our pain, it is helpful to serve others.  Serving helps us get our focus off of our suffering.  It is an encouragement to know that we have helped others and been used by God to bring joy to them.  Even during Jesus’ suffering on the cross, He was mindful of His mother’s needs.

5.      Share your burden.  Don’t substitute fellowship with others for time with God; but if at all possible, find a close Godly friend who will faithfully listen and point you back to God’s truth when your faith begins to waiver. Confide in your church family to find healing and strength. God works through the body of Christ, the church. If you don't have a church home, we would love to fellowship with you and strive to encourage you during these hard times. 

Download a Free PDF of Bible Promises Divided into Categories for Easy Reference.

Click Here



Other Articles You May Find Helpful

Failure Isn't Final

Struggling Teens and When God Ran

How to Stop the Yelling at Home


4 Encouraging Truths When God Says to Wait

4 Reasons Biblical Love Can be Extremely Romantic 

5 Phrases You can Give Someone to Change Their World.

Setting Goals and Moving Ahead for God's Glory

 Are You Biblically Wise?  Take this Assessment (Also good for assessing a teen son or daughter) 

Learn how you can have a relationship with God and eternal life


Here are few links to more info on our church or you can browse this website.


Read about our Leadership

What we believe and teach

Ministries and Programs

​1. Gift Card – Look for one that you know they will use. If you aren’t sure, get one at a department store with a lot of options for them. You can also send Amazon gift cards right through email. Click here for the Amazon ones. ​

​2. A Personal Letter – Even though most of us communicate by email or text these days, everyone still enjoys getting an old-fashioned letter in the mail. Take some time to write out what your friend means to you, stick it in an envelope, buy a stamp and use the USPS again. 

​3. Make a Top 10 List – Start at the top of the page with the phrase "Top 10 Things I Appreciate About John Smith.” Make your list.  They will love reading what you see in them that makes you appreciate them and they will know you spent some time to write it out. 

4. Send a Donation in Their Honor – If you know what their favorite charity is, send a donation in their name.  Maybe it is their local church, a food pantry or a children’s ministry. Ask them and then send a donation. Ask the organization to send them a notification and let them know yourself as well. 

​5. Homemade Cookies – Nothing says thank-you like something you bake yourself. Make a batch of homemade cookies to drop by their office or home.  Hint – Take them while they are still warm. 

​6. Breads – Speaking of homemade, make a bread (banana, cranberry nut etc.) and wrap it up in a nice foil and take it by. Make an extra and freeze it. Give that one too. They can pop it out when company shows up. Hint- If you don’t want to make the bread, check your local mega-mart bakery for their version. This also works for pies.
 
7. A Picture – Have a picture of you and your friend framed or made into a canvas print.  Most drug stores like Walgreens or CVS have great prices for these and can have them done the same day. You can also have a calendar made if you have a lot of pictures. If you friend lives at a distance, they can pick it up at their local store in most cases.  Here is a link to Walgreen's online Photo Gift Shop for some ideas. 

8. A Bible – You can order a nice Bible or pick one up at a local bookstore. There are many options to choose from. Some are expensive and some are inexpensive yet very nice.  Perhaps they would enjoy a good study Bible if they do not have one. This is truly a gift that bears fruit for years to come.
 
9. Take them out for coffee or frozen yogurt. This is a gift that is a treat for both of you. You’ll enjoy the occasion and they will too because you are together.
 
10. Invite them to a church service with you. If they do not have a church family, why not ask them to join you with yours? Take them to lunch or dinner afterwards and discuss it with them. This will make for great conversation. What better way to thank a friend than to introduce them to a relationship with God if they don't already have one?

What ideas do you have for letting someone know you appreciate them? Share them with us in the comment section below the other article options. ​

​Why a Christian Worldview Works Even in the Face of Unspeakable Evil
 
On Sunday November 5, at approximately 11:30 am a man walked in to the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX and killed or wounded at least 46 people. Many questions arise in the aftermath of tragedy.  In the early hours and days, the questions are often answerable. How many died? Who was the killer? What did the authorities do in response? What was the killer’s motive? However, these questions quickly give way to the deeper questions that seem to be unanswerable. We all wrestle with questions like these about tragedies.

• If God is good, why did he allow such evil, especially to people who identify as his children?
• If God is in control of all things, why didn’t he stop this tragedy before it happened?
• Why didn’t God allow the killer to be caught instead of just killing himself?

Although many of these types of questions are and will remain unanswered in detail, there are answers in the bigger sense. Though we may not understand the specifics of why this tragedy, why these particular people, or why this small church, we can understand from the Bible who God is, why evil exists and how God has victory over it.  Those answers come from what we call a Christian worldview.
We all have some sort of worldview if we realize it or not, and it matters!
A worldview is best described as the glasses through which we see and interpret all that is happening around us in the world. It attempts to tell an overarching story, to explain the universe in both grand and detailed ways. The story attempts to bring clarity and understanding to every part of existence.
A worldview:

• Tells of origins (Where did the universe come from?)
• Envisions a future (What is the future of the universe and our lives?)
• Constructs ideals (What does a perfect world look like for all people?)
• Provides rules of conduct (What is right and wrong?)
• Provides a source of authority (Who is in charge?)
• Gives a sense of life purpose (Why do we exist?)

Without a worldview of some kind, life has no meaning. There is no understanding of what is happening around us. Without meaning, living has no real purpose. Without purpose, there is no hope and reason to live.
We all seek to understand the world around us, especially in the midst of confusion, pain and tragic situations. From scientific questions to questions of good and evil, and why there is suffering we wonder why.  We seek guidance for decisions and meaning to life’s trials. We seek true beauty in art and wonder at the hate we see between human beings. These answers and more can be found through the glasses of our worldview.
God has provided an undistorted worldview through his word, the Bible, by communicating basic truths that are fundamental to every aspect of our life. This worldview brings clarity, purpose, and guidance for all of life.
Although there are many many worldviews that people follow, there are only two basic worldviews, a true one and a false one. The true one has only one definition. The false one takes on many forms. Let’s look at these two worldviews.
Firstly, let’s look at a non-biblical and false worldview summary.  Remember, there are many versions of this, but they all include the same fundamental points.

• The universe came into existence by random chance or at best by means of an intelligent being or beings that we cannot know, understand or communicate with. There is no ultimate authority other than the most dominate being(s), which currently is humanity.
• Currently in this grand ever evolving process, man is the center of all things. man has no ultimate purpose except in some organic evolutionary way. He is on his own. The strong survive, the weak are destroyed, and the random, chaotic evolution of all things continues.
• Man should not be held to an absolute moral code, there is not one. Man should live in a way that is best for himself to enjoy life and survive as long as possible. After death, man will not be held accountable for his actions. Death is simply the end of existence. There is no future after death.

 
Secondly, let’s look at a Christian worldview.  You can watch this short video summary of a Christian worldview and then we’ll give you some reasons why this view works and makes sense even in the face of tragedy to the very people who hold this worldview.
 

So how does this make sense in the face of tragedy even to those who believe this worldview? How does it bring hope to despair and meaning even to hardship?
 
1. In a Christian worldview, God is creator and therefore he is the authority over all his creation. He sets the rules for his creation. He sets both natural law i.e. gravity which cannot be broken, and he sets moral laws which can and have been broken. The reason we even know right and wrong and that murder is evil is because God created life, gave it value and gave us moral law. Non-Christian worldviews cannot adequately account for these facts.
The reason we know what happened in Texas was a tragedy is because precious life was taken and the Evolutionary answers of survival of the fittest doesn’t add up! In the depths of our soul, in our emotions and conscience, we know it was horrific evil because we know what good and evil are thanks to God
.
2. In a Christian worldview, God has not left his creation to suffer under evil indefinitely. At great cost to himself, he sent his only son, Jesus, who is God as well, to suffer and die in order to conquer evil and provide salvation from evil. Jesus entered into our suffering. He himself was tragically murdered. However, His death and resurrection from the grave prevents evil from ever conquering good completely.  In a Christian worldview, God always overrules evil with good even though for the moment, as with Jesus’ death, evil may seem to win.

3. In a Christian worldview, there is hope because of salvation in Jesus Christ. He conquered death, rose again from the grave and now provides eternal life and the forgiveness of sins.  Not only is evil like that in Texas overcome, but our own sinful heart can be forgiven and our relationship with God can be restored. We personally can have victory over evil and sin in our own life. We do not have to be captive to our own sinful condition.

4. In a Christian worldview, we have the hope of eternal life. For those who have accepted God’s gift of salvation which is free to us but came at great cost to him, it is not death to die. Yes, that is right, it is not death to die.  When God speaks of death in the Bible, he speaks of eternal death which is separation from God in Hell for those who reject Jesus’ gift and do not believe in him. For those who do accept his gift of salvation such as those at the First Baptist Church, death is not eternal. It is a passage way to eternal life. The Bible says that for those who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ to be absent from this earthly body is to be instantly present with the Lord in Heaven.

5. In a Christian worldview, evil such as we saw in this situation is punished. Perhaps the killer supposed in his worldview that his ticket to freedom from the carnage he had caused by his evil actions was to kill himself thus ending life and entering a state of non-existence. No jail, no remorse, no guilt, no dread, he felt as many who commit such atrocities do, that killing themselves was the end. However, in a Christian worldview, this man went to Hell. He will stand before God in  the final judgement for his sin as we all will someday and then he will be condemned to eternal death in the Lake of Fire. There is no hope for him, no second chance. His fate is sealed. His worldview was horribly wrong in so many ways and at so many levels. Worldviews do have consequences.
 
What is your worldview? What are it’s consequences for your future? How do you process events such as these terrible tragedies? Do you believe that the universe happened from a “Big Bang?” Do you believe in the evolutionary process, the survival of the fittest, that life is random, futile, and meaningful only for the strong who survive? Do you believe that good and evil are simply cultural norms?  Do you believe there are no moral absolutes based on a moral absolute being who is designer, creator and ultimate authority, GOD? May we ask you to consider the Christian worldview. Use the resources below to learn more and consider God.

For those who have a Christian worldview, do not be discouraged even in the face of hard questions. God is in control. He does overcome evil with good. We are part of his plan in doing so. Share God’s good news contained in the Christian worldview with others. Share God’s love by reaching out to others and loving them. Pray for God’s help and strength for those touched by this and other effects of man’s sin, and look up for the Lord can come at any time.
 
Do you have questions? Would you like to talk about your spiritual life and relationship with God?  Contact us by clicking here or visit us for a service soon.

Click here for other helpful articles that can help answer questions about God, the universe, his relationship to you and more. 

We teach a Christian worldview in our Christian school -You can read more about it here

Check out these other helpful articles below on our website for more information about God.  ​

Many of us have good intentions when it comes to spending time with God. However there is often a long list of other things that can push this priority to the bottom of the pile. Family, work, school, sports, and other commitments can fill our days leaving little margin for the spiritual activities that really feed our souls. By not making time for God, we often leave ourselves empty, vulnerable to temptation, and without direction.

D.L. Moody, the nineteenth century founder of Moody Church and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, recognized his need for God and once said, “the only way to keep a broken vessel full is to keep the faucet running.” So how do we “keep the faucet running” in the middle of a hectic schedule?


Here are some practical suggestions:
 
Use travel time. The AAA Foundation recently conducted an extensive survey to better understand the characteristics of today’s American drivers. In this study they reported that the average driver spends over 290 hours driving every year. That is the equivalent of seven 40-hour work weeks! All of this time spent on the road can be an excellent opportunity for us to pray — with your eyes OPEN, of course! Storing prayer cards in the sun visor or console can provide some quick prompts to help you get started.
 
Multitask. If you can cook dinner while watching a Netflix show or helping one of your children review for a spelling test, then you can multitask. This means you should also be able to listen to worship music while getting ready in the morning or to pray while doing other projects which don’t require your full mental attention. You can look for natural connections to help you remember — like asking God to clean your heart while you are cleaning the kitchen or praying for a child to grow in God’s grace while you are doing an errand related to that child.
 
Rise and Shine. Although multitasking is great, ideally it is a good idea to prioritize some focused time with God each day. One way to accomplish this is by waking up a little earlier each morning to read the Bible and pray. The house is usually quiet then, and having the automatic brew cycle set the night before will allow you to wake up to the smell and the warmth of coffee. For most people, the key to getting up earlier is simple — going to bed earlier. It starts there — the night before. Nothing else compares to prioritizing and enjoying these regular blocks of focused time with Him!
 
Get some exercise. Look for ways to strengthen your heart while strengthening your body by filling your mind with truth while exercising. One way to do this is by listening to Christian podcasts or audiobooks while exercising. This is also a quiet time to talk with God in prayer.
 
Memorize and Meditate. Even in the busiest times, it is possible to use wait times to work on memorizing Scripture. A Scripture memory card can easily be stuffed in one’s pocket or bag so that it is available during down times throughout the day. This might be while waiting for a client, sitting in a doctor’s office, or passing time in the after school pick-up line. Memorization is more than simply recalling words; it is a great way to meditate on God’s Word! There are some great apps out there to help with Scripture memory.
 
In the Moment Prayers. God doesn’t care where you are or how noisy it is when you call out to Him. You can ask Him for wisdom and patience while in your favorite overstuffed chair in the early moments of the morning, while waiting in traffic, or while pushing a two-seater truck-cart down aisle 12 at Target. He is always present – always desiring to help and guide you.
 
Prioritize Church. Getting to church can be a challenge if it is not already built in to your schedule, but being with other believers and hearing the teaching of God’s Word is an important part of every believer’s life. Paul refers to the church as a “body” in which we all play an important role (1 Corinthians 12:27). By making this time a priority, you contribute your part to the body and to bringing glory to God.
 
Spend Quality Time with Other Believers. The Bible includes many admonitions directed at the things believers are to be doing for “one another.” These include encouraging, praying for, building up, serving, and more. We cannot be doing these well unless we are spending quality time investing in friendships with other Christians. This does not mean that Christians only spend time in deep, serious talk. Instead they share life and laughter together often making it easier and more natural to talk about the things that deeply matter.
 
Serve. Philippians 2 explains that Jesus Himself came to this world as a servant, and in the same way, every believer is instructed to use the gifts God has given to serve others (1 Peter 4:10). Serving can be little things like helping people throughout your day or it can be done in a more planned way by regularly serving in a certain ministry through your church. By humbly giving of yourself to bless others, you offer a gift of worship to the Lord (Ephesians 6:7).
 
Ending the Day. As the day comes to a close, it is good to take a few moments to reflect back over your day. This is a great time to confess any sin which God brings to your mind and thank Him for the many blessings He brought throughout the day. When areas of concern come to mind, give them to the Lord asking for His wisdom and strength.
 
If you are not already in a regular habit of spending time with God, choose one or two these suggestions and get started this week. You were made with a desire to relate to God built deep into your DNA, and by making time for this important priority, you will find great fulfillment in the love He desires to pour into your life.
 
We hope that in your busy schedule, you’ll take a “day of rest” as God did. A great thing to do is make that day Sunday and make worship part of that time. We hope you’ll take some time to join us for a service. We would love to have you.

Learn more about our church here. 

Watch a video about some of our folks...

Get some answers about visiting our service.

Watch some videos about how to have a relationship with God...

People love the world of the Charlie Brown comics and holiday animated specials because the creator of Peanuts, Charles Shultz, understood what makes us human. Shultz invested the characters of his Peanuts microcosm with the qualities that make us human. 

Charlie Brown’s characteristic phrase was “Good Grief!” But is there such a thing as good grief? Most definitely. Can feeling bad about things we have done, a kind of grief, be good? The Bible surprises us with this:

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

Here are three reasons why the grief of guilt can be good:

A capacity for feeling guilt means that we are human.

“In many things we offend all” (James 3:2).

Feeling guilt means that we are healthy humans.

Psychology has a term for people who do not feel guilty: psychopathic. This is not a new idea. Ephesians 4:19 speaks of people “who, being past feeling” plunge into depths of evil.

Guilt also motivates us to change.

Guilt, like physical pain, is not a goal; it is a guide. Guilt is God’s guide to joy. It tells us to move away from one thing and to another.


So, if guilt, like pain, is not the destination to get stuck in, how do we move on?

The present

Make right whatever you can make right.

Make things right with God.

Repentence is not things we do to make up for our wrongs. People get hung up here. Repentence is just the desire to turn back to God. All normal people feel guilt, but most people just go on their way and bury that feeling along with all the other baggage of their lives. God’s purpose in designing guilt (yes, it is a gift designed by God) is to motivate us to turn back to Him. The creator of life has the plan for making life to be beautiful and good. Again.   If you have never put your trust in God as your Savior and don't have a relationship with him, that is the very first step.  Learn more about how to do that by clicking here.

 

Make things right with people as best you can.

There is a time and manner for talking to someone to acknowledge that you were wrong. Talking is better than writing. It’s hard, but it is more personal. Often, people are surprised by the positive welcome brought by their attempt to make things right. Talking is also better because the goal is to make offenses right, not to document them.

The past

Some things can’t be made right. The offended person may have died. There may be financial matters you cannot presently repay. Do what you can; commit to do what you can in the future. Let the rest go. If God will not bring it up again (Hebrews 8:12), why should you?  

The future

The Apostle Paul understood guilt. In his youth, he thought he was doing God a favor by “entering into every house, and [arresting] men and women, committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). Yes, the young Paul, before he was converted, was responsible for even the death of people who followed Christ. In the New Testament book Philippians, he wrote, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14). With that balance, he could encourage others to “Rejoice in the Lord [always]” (4:4).

God has a way of bringing good wherever He enters the equation.

Need help with these ideas? God did not make us to be the Lone Ranger. Eagle Heights is a group of very fallible people. We understand what it is to realize when we have done wrong. We also have experienced God’s mercy and grace as we have made things right with God and others.

We do not look down on people for human frailty: we have plenty of it ourselves. We believe that God has called us to share with others the joy of responding in a biblical way to the “good grief” of guilt.

There is hope and there is help. 

Other Articles You May Find Helpful

Failure Isn't Final

Struggling Teens and When God Ran

How to Stop the Yelling at Home

4 Reasons Biblical Love Can be Extremely Romantic 

5 Phrases You can Give Someone to Change Their World.

Setting Goals and Moving Ahead for God's Glory

 Are You Biblically Wise?  Take this Assessment (Also good for assessing a teen son or daughter) 

Learn how you can have a relationship with God and eternal life


Here are few links to more info on our church or you can browse this website.


Read about our Leadership

What we believe and teach

Ministries and Programs

Why do we need strength from the Lord?  
Is trusting in the Lord for strength just a crutch for weak people?
How does the Lord give us strength anyhow?
Am I strengthened even though I feel weak?
Does the Lord strengthen us physically or only spiritually?

Wednesday Evenings at 7PM

Join us for our new series on Sundays as we discuss the Biblical concept of strength from the Lord.

Here are some verses to prompt your thinking and encourage you as you begin to meditate on this:

​Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   (Read More...)

Psalms 18:32-34 - [It is] God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.   (Read More...)

Philippians 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.

Hebrews 4:15 - For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

1 Chronicles 22:13 - Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

Other verses we will consider  - Isa. 30:15, Isa. 58:11, Mark 12:30, Romans 4:20, Ephesians 3:16 and more.

You may also be interested in the book. The Strength You Need by Robert J. Morgan. 

Often we enjoy Christmas more than Easter.  There are many reasons, but in reality Easter is more important.  True that we wouldn't have one without the other, but here are 15 life-altering results of the resurrection (which we celebrate at Easter) from 1 Corinthians 15. We know that these results are forever valid because Jesus Christ conquered death.

Because Christ rose:

1.      We know that the sharing of the Gospel is not in vain, because it is true and truly effective for all who accept it.

2.      We know that our reliance and confidence in Christ for salvation from hell is not in vain.

3.      We know that we do not have to live a miserable life, even in the face of bleak circumstance and trials.

4.      We know that the results of Adam’s sin, such as evil, sickness, hurt, and harm, are only temporal; and the end for those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ is always victorious.

5.      We know we are legally justified before the Judge of the Heavens and Earth.

6.      We know that the eternal Christ is the eternal substitute who took our punishment before God the Father. Since Jesus has conquered death, there is no chance in eternity that the fact of His substitutionary punishment for us can ever change. We know that we have eternal, secure, abundant life through Jesus Christ.

7.      We know that we have complete forgiveness of our sin, covering for our shame and guilt. We do not have to expect God’s wrath or punishment for our sin.

8.      We know this is the one true God and Savior of mankind, since He is the only God who can claim resurrection from the grave. Although He was most certainly killed by the brutality of Roman crucifixion, since he was God, He rose up from death and lives again. He was seen by over 500 people in various places - people who, for the rest of their lives, testified to seeing the risen Christ bearing the scars of crucifixion.

9.      We know that those who die with faith in Christ are not dead but alive with Him in Heaven. Those who, while living, accept the Gospel will see them again and live with them for eternity.

10.   We know there is hope for victory over our temptations, sinful struggles, and spiritual death.

11.   We know there is a new body awaiting us in Heaven, a body without the results of sin. This is an immortal body, one with no pain, disease, or sickness. It is a body that never dies or deteriorates.

12.   We know that death, that great enemy, is defeated. It is swallowed up in victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

13.   We know that, although some Christians are tortured and killed for their faith, our future hope is sure. As an alternate translation of Martin Luther’s hymn states: “And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife, Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won; The kingdom ours remaineth.”

14.   We know that we can be steadfast and unmovable in our beliefs, conviction, and doctrine.

15.   We know that we can be aggressive and encouraged with our service for the Lord, because our labor is not in vain.

Join us on Sunday morning at 9:30 for a sermon from Pastor Franseen entitled, “Behold the Emptiness of Easter” and/or at 10:45 for our Easter Celebration service we are calling “Behold the Lamb of Easter”. Come celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ not only died for our sins, but rose again victorious over death and the grave. We have hope because he lives!

You'll enjoy and be encouraged by a morning filled with choir music and inspirational readings that will cause hope to rise in your heart. You too can join in, if you'd like, during our congregational singing.  We will conclude with an encouraging message of good news from Gods word, the Bible. We sure can use good news these days right?  

He lives! We have salvation, forgiveness, and hope for the future because He lives! Come celebrate with us at Eagle Heights Baptist Church.  

“I’ll have a blue Christmas without you. I’ll be so blue just thinking about you.” And so the old song goes. ‘Tis the season that is hard when you are lonely. Loneliness can come from many sources. Perhaps it hits because of the loss of a loved one, because a single person is looking for a special someone, or because a family member can’t be home for Christmas. No matter the reason, loneliness can be especially painful during the holidays.
We hope this short article will provide you with some help and insight from Scripture.
 
When feeling lonely, remember the following:

1. It is normal and human to feel lonely. Remember that Adam felt lonely in the Garden of Eden even before sin came on the scene. He had perfect fellowship with God. He had everything he needed, and yet God himself said in Genesis 2:18 that it wasn’t good for man to be alone. God created us with needs, including a need for food, shelter, clothing, and others.

2. Some may flippantly say that God is enough. 

Often, people will counsel a lonely person to just “enjoy God….Spend time with him. He is all you need, so you don’t really need anyone right now.” We see from the previously mentioned passage that this isn’t really true in most circumstances. In fact, we read in 1 Corinthians 12:21 that none of us should say that we don’t need others. We do! God has chosen to meet the needs that He, in perfect wisdom, created us to have. He has chosen to meet those needs through His gracious provision of other people.

3. When all else fails, God truly is enough.

Even though God created us with needs, told us to not say we don’t need others, and told us that it is not good that man be alone, there are also passages which address situations in which we are alone and there is nothing we can do to change it. In cases like that—in times when we find ourselves separated from others, perhaps in the middle of a dark cold night—God really is enough. Reach out to Him. Tell Him of your pain. Read His Word, sing songs of praise, pray, and consider Romans 8:35-39:Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. Beware of diversions that aren’t positive in the long run. 
Jack Zavada mentions three such diversions in his article on loneliness. He says beware of (1) buying too much, (2) becoming overly busy to the point of exhaustion and breaking down physically, or (3) laying in bed all day feeling sorry for yourself.  None of these, or any other tactic that is selfish in nature, will solve the problem.

5. Reconsider your talents, spiritual gifts, and opportunities.

Referring back to 1 Corinthians 12, each of us has been given special abilities and experiences through which we can serve others. Reconsider yours. Take a spiritual gifts assessment. (Click Here for a free online spiritual gifts assessment.)  Ask God to give you new opportunities by connecting you with others through meeting their needs with your God-given gifts and abilities. We would love to have you become part of our church and help you connect with others in ways you could serve the Lord and build new relationships.

5. Find a community of believers in a good church if you don’t have one. 

God has created us to interact with other people, and His design for us is to do that within a local church. If you have a church, tell your leaders about your struggle with loneliness and ask for help in becoming more involved. If you’re not part of a good church, find one. We would love to have you visit our church to see if it may be a fit for you. Look for other places in your community where you can connect with others by way of helping them. In reaching out to others, you will find God meeting your needs for companionship. Consider local nursing homes, children’s homes, shelters, food pantries, and so on.


6. Open yourself up to new relationships. Perhaps you had a loss, you suffered a painful relationship breakup, or you are simply feeling sorry for yourself. Move ahead with expectant hope in God’s grace and mercy. Remind Him again that you are lonely. Ask Him to help you with the grief, mistrust, or hurt you feel. Lay it at His feet as often as you struggle.  Don’t go out looking for a friend as your main priority. Instead, go out to be a friend and trust God to connect you with the right people.  


We know loneliness is a hard burden to bear. We want to help if we can. Drop by for a visit to our services soon. Remember that loneliness is normal, and that if God doesn’t provide companionship at the moment you feel you need it the most, He will provide soon. And remember, if you are in God’s family, you can rest in His unchanging love for you as His child. 
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