Welcome to 2021

All better now right?

Of course it hasn’t changed just because the calendar did.

Last year was a tough year. Not just the pandemic, but so many things

I would say it was a dark time for our Nation especially

In the time of Joel, the land of Israel had been devestated

There were no crops, no vines; the animals and the people alike were hurting

It was indeed a dark time in the land of Israel

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.

Who knows whether He will not turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him,

Even a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God?

Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,

Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber.

Let the priests, the LORD’S ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar,

And let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance a reproach, A byword among the nations.

Why should they among the peoples say, `Where is their God?'”

You see, when the times were so bad, the people were to call diligently upon God

Today, more than any time in recent years, God’s people need to call upon the Lord

Today I believe that Christians have turned to everything but God to get better

The government, money, self, even denial.

We need to ReNew our hearts

Throughout history, when God’s people returned to Him, He blessed them

But….God does not want lip service!

He wants you to show Him you are serious about returning to Him

Gather the people and Sanctify the congregation

When was the last time you fasted, meaning denied food to pray?

We need to be the warriors for our Nation, and we fight by calling on God

We do that by denying self and calling upon the Lord to save our Land

I am calling for a church-wide fast.

Beginning at noon on Saturday 1/9/21 and ending at the end of service Sunday

In fact, we are going to consecrate ourselves by taking the Lord’s supper

Your Pastor and your deacons are planning to do just that next Saturday

In order to see this world saved, we have to consecrate ourselves first

You can begin today at the alter

None of this is possible until you give yourself to the Lord