Pastor’s Thought of the Month (Page 2)

Water

By Pastor Steve Gibson We will be rapidly moving from spring to summer in the next month or two. Unfortunately it’s likely to be another deadly summer for some in the deserts of Arizona.  A few summers ago, one lady’s death hit closer to home for me. She was hiking a trail I often hike. It’s not a particularly long hike for…

The Least

By Pastor Stephen Gibson February tips the scales as the littlest month. We might say it’s the least of the months, but its importance can be measured only in light of eternity.  Luke 19 records the story of Jesus’ visit to Jericho and His interaction with Zacchaeus. The tax collector was a little man. This word is often translated least in the…

Pray

By Pastor Stephen Gibson Hopefully it would be difficult to find a believer who doesn’t agree prayer is important. Jesus directed His followers to watch and pray. He taught them to pray. He demonstrated what it was to live a life of prayer. His prayer in John 17 is the longest prayer recorded in the New Testament. We would agree on the…

Watch and Pray

Pastor Stephen GibsonDecember 2022 This year is swiftly passing into the history books. What of eternal value have you seen God accomplish? Have you grown in your relationship with your family? Have you grown closer to the Lord? Have you reached out to someone with the good news of salvation? Have you gained a fresh eagerness to welcome the return of Jesus…

Harvest

Pastor Stephen GibsonOctober 2022 Jesus said: The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV). Jesus is interested in the harvest, because Jesus is interested in people. He cares whether they are saved or lost. And His vision is for a plentiful harvest. His…

Labor Days

Pastor Stephen GibsonSeptember 2022 This month is the one we associate with Labor Day, a day that ironically many people have a break from their regular work. It tends to mark the end of the summer travel season and the transition to the season of autumn. We recognize some institutions from the Garden of Eden, especially those of marriage and the Sabbath.…

Dependence or Independence?

Pastor Steve GibsonJuly 2022 Do you give thanks for being free? Do you savor liberty? What a blessing that there were people who had a dream for this nation to be a place where we could worship God as we choose. And they acted on their dream. We still benefit today from the efforts they invested in valuing freedom. Still, we recognize the…

Psalm 107

Pastor Stephen GibsonJune 2022 We drove through the alley, found an open space to park, and climbed the stairs to the second floor of the old building. I held the door for my sister and her children to go inside. I took a deep breathe. Yes, the familiar aroma of spices and baked goods was as inviting as ever. I had been…

Waiting

Pastor Stephen GibsonMay 2022 When Rebekah left her village with Eleazer on the trip to meet and marry Isaac, Genesis 24 tells us she was sent off with these words ringing in her ears: May you be the mother of thousands of thousands (verse 60).  So somehow I don’t picture Isaac and Rebekah sitting up late evenings around the fire debating how…

Power

Pastor Stephen GibsonApril 2022 What is the most underused reservoir of power in our world today? Wind? Fire? Water? Oil? Something else? Luke 1:17 gives us one answer. It describes the ministry of John the Baptist, as a life marked by the spirit and power. We learn from verse 15 that even from birth John was to be filled with the Holy…