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Cruz is our new Member Assimilation and Children's Ministry Coordinator and we are blessed to have him serve our body.

Let me introduce you to my family. Becca and I recently celebrated our 25 th anniversary. She has been homeschooling our four children from the beginning, Ethan, Christian, Stephen and Isabela, recently graduating our two oldest. We enjoy a good road trip, 26 states visited so far with a desire to make it to all 50 eventually. Everyone has an opinion about the best pizza around. We haven’t yet found any better than Dion’s, even better than NY style from Joe’s in Times Square!

I was born in Juarez, Mexico and immigrated to Anthony, NM at a very young age. It is not a cliché that this land offers immigrants like me tremendous opportunities that are not available in Mexico. I am certainly glad that it was here that I first came to understand the Good News and became the first in my immediate family to be saved by God’s grace. He has since saved both my parents and sisters and so has transformed our family.

I moved to Albuquerque to attend UNM and it was there that I came to understand more fully what it meant to walk in God’s grace. It was also there that I met Frank and Molly as fellow students involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, currently CRU. I loved the work CRU did for young students like us and so I decided to join the ministry upon my graduation. It was a pleasure to serve in that capacity for some years before God led me in a different path soon after I married the love of my life. She and I have since built a life dedicated to the raising of our now maturing family. It has been everything you can expect, beautiful, difficult, challenging, rewarding, filled with trials and joys- much like yours I suspect.

Through it all and in it all God has proven Himself faithful. Professionally, I have spent the bulk of my career serving in the retail and food service industry as general manager, director and district manager for the past 20 and some years. Again, through it all God has shown Himself faithful to provide both for our needs and opportunities to simply tell others who He is. I now find myself before you, thankful to be part of this local body to experience with you a life lived together in pursuit of God’s conforming us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. I look forward to meeting you, serving you and serving alongside you. Thank you.

Last week we took a look a loneliness and we asked the question what do we do?

Most importantly, much prayer – for yourself, your family, church, and community – all dealing
with these issues to one degree or another. Become a prayerful listener and a listening prayer.
(Psalm 32:7-8, 143:8)

Let us become more of a community where none of us is too poor that we have nothing to give, and none of us is too rich that we have nothing to receive. Let us have our eyes open to the needs around us and learn to know the joy of serving others, as unto Christ. (Colossians 3:23)

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:9-21)

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor to build him up.” (Romans 15:1-2)

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11-14)

Be aware, listen, pray, serve with joy. Be blessed as you give. (Acts 20:35) Be compelled by Christ’s love to no longer live for yourself but for Him who died for us and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

“We live in a lonely world now because we are disconnected, and we are disconnected because of an excessive emphasis on the word “I.” Roger Scruton writes that the world we live in is an intolerable din of “I this” and “I that,” with a loss of any wholesome sense of “we.” (The Wounds of Beauty by Margarita Mooney Suarez p.148)

Get your kids involved in a “serving” project and pray together for those you serve. It is exciting seeing God do His work of transformation, especially when you get to play a little part in the process.

Keep close to Jesus. Keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) We have been created to walk with Him, our Lord Jesus, Immanuel, through this life, then through the river of death into the Celestial City to be with Him forever. Across the years of our brokenness, God is stitching a story of redemption. He is faithful! And He will do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

The US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, has declared loneliness an epidemic.
60% of Americans struggle with loneliness and isolation - 36% chronically. Lack of social
connectedness is a problem that has been growing over the past 100 years, but especially so since the arrival of the cell phone, and then came Covid. This problem has had a devastating
effect on our health -both physical and mental. Those chronically experiencing loneliness have a
29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, a 50% increased risk of
dementia, and more than 60% increased risk of premature death, plus depression and anxiety,
addiction, and type 2 diabetes (CDC.gov/emotional wellbeing)

“We are all looking for that place where we belong unconditionally. This kind of belonging is impossible without authenticity and vulnerability – two super nutrients for community.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 23, 2023)

God knows all of this. He made us this way – in His image, with a need for and a love of relationship. Before the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created man, they had communion together; a perfect relationship of loving and serving one another – with great joy. The Word of life – eternal life – chose to make a way for us broken, wounded, sinful humans to have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ through the cross (1 John 1). His name is “Immanuel, which means God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:9-12)

Chris and I have been blessed to be in the “community of believers” since we were married. Our brothers and sisters in Christ have helped us go through many trials, as we all share in the sufferings of this broken world. From financial trials, to serious physical challenges, to heartbreaks and disappointments, we have experienced God’s faithfulness and provision for us,
often through the gifts and ministries of our community group.

These dear brothers and sisters in Christ have prayed for us, provided accountability, helped us raise our girls with their eyes on Jesus, and now encourage us in our last laps to finish the race well.

Like our dear neighbor and friend (and our daughters’ 3 rd grandmother), Mrs. Wright, would say when asked if she was lonely (because she lived alone and never went anywhere): “Lonely? I am never alone. Jesus is with me all day and all night. And we have an on-going conversation that never ends.” If you want to hear some testimonies about God’s faithfulness in times of despair and loneliness, ask William and Dolores Jiron, Joan Tallant, Kara Schug, or ask me more about Mrs. Wright. You will be lifted up by God’s goodness. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

So, what do we do, as the church, brothers and sisters in Christ?

It’s that time of year again.  Yellow buses practice their circuitous routes, stores brim with school supplies, and teachers adorn their rooms with inviting bulletin boards and welcoming smiles.  Back to school is officially upon us.

I ended the summer reading through the Psalms and Proverbs.  As I drank in the wisdom of these two books, certain passages in particular have encouraged and directed my hopes for my children as they head back to school.  These verses have shaped my prayers and given words to the longings of my heart. As my children spend less time in my presence, I am thankful that I can bring all my concerns and cares before the Lord in prayer.

Lord, I pray that my children would understand their need for Jesus and rejoice in the good news of the Gospel. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death (Psalms 68:19-20).

Lord, I pray that my children will love learning; that their hearts would seek to understand the world you have created.  The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly (Proverbs 15:14).

I pray that as they learn about your world, they would behold the majesty of your glory. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:1)

Lord, I pray that you would surround them with friends who make wise choices and encourage their faith.  Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (Proverbs 13:20).

I pray that their teachers would be wise and gentle.  The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Proverbs 15:2,4).

Lord, I pray that they would work with diligence and put forth their best efforts. The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied (Proverbs 13:4).

I pray that they would be thoughtful with their words and respectful in their replies. The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things (Proverbs 15:28). 

I pray that you would free them from the pressure of trying to be like everyone else by instilling in them the confidence to know that they are uniquely made by you.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well (Psalms 139:14).

I pray that they would receive correction well.  The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence (Proverbs 15:31-32).

I pray that they would share their faith with others.  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom (Psalm 145: 11-12).

I pray that when they do what is wrong, they would bear consequences that lead them to repentance.  I pray that when they do what is right, you would bless their obedience that they may learn to love your ways. The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his way (Proverbs 14:14).

I pray that your Word would be on their hearts and in their minds as they learn. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD (Proverbs 16:20).

I pray that they would be kind to others.  Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

I pray that you would give them the grace of self-control. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (Proverbs 25:28).

Lord, I pray that your grace would rest upon my children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalms 90:17)

I pray that you would protect them from all evil.  I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life (Psalm 121:1-2,7).

More than anything else, may their lives glorify you. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever (Psalm 86:12).

O Lord, hear our prayers!  Amen.

Kruger, Melissa "A Back to School Prayer" THe Gospel Coalition. August 2016

Sometimes we forget to just have fun.  To be light in spirit and let the joy of God's love run through us.  Have you been taking time this summer while the kids are home to "have fun" Is your vacation or down time joy filled? Focus on the Family's Jim Daly interviews Jim Burns for a good reminder to do just that.