Brothers and sisters,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday as we read Scriptures and sang praises to God, we focused on the grace and hope we have in Jesus. Then from 1 Corinthians 7, we thought about marriage and singleness among believers. Life gets complicated sometimes. Marriage and singleness can also be complicated but both are honorable ways to live in following Christ. We are to seek God’s best for who He calls us to be. If we are married, we are to seek to have the best marriage we can have. We need to do whatever we need to do to have a good marriage that reflects Jesus’ love for His bride, the church. If we are single now for a short or prolonged period, we are to live with joy in that singleness with wholehearted devotion to God. We are to not live primarily seeking a spouse, but live primarily seeking Jesus and His Kingdom. If God leads a spouse your way, that will be great. If he does not lead anyone your way, that will be great, too. Do not consider yourself a second-class person or believer if God calls you to a single life. Marriage is good. Singleness is good if God has enabled and empowered you to stay single. Also from 1 Corinthians 7, we looked at the problem of divorce. Divorce is not good but sometimes even believers are affected by an unwanted divorce. If that has happened, we are to know that God gives His peace to help us through. God glorifies Himself through His children in both marriage and singleness.
Emmanuel Church and East Madison will host a joint Vacation Bible School with Emmanual church on June 24-28 from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM. A team from Missouri will be here to help us conduct this Vacation Bible School. If any of you would be able to help, please let me know.
During the weeks between Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day, we are passing out baby bottles for us to collect offerings for the CareNet Pregnancy Center of Dane County. CareNet does wonderful work of saving lives and helping women and families. Take a bottle and fill it with an offering to be returned next Sunday, June 16, 2024, on Fathers’ Day.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church