Happy New Year, Grace family!

For the past couple of days, as 2019 has come to an end and 2020 has begun, my social media feed (like yours, I’m sure, if you have one) has been filled with reflections of the past year – high highs and low lows and everything in between. Joyful blessings and heavy trials, just like every other year. Despite all the “See ya’ 2019!” sentiments I’ve seen expressed online, 2020 will certainly come with its own set of trials, temptations, and burdens. The things that weighed most heavily upon us in 2019 did not magically evaporate as the clock struck twelve and the ball dropped.

Until Jesus returns and makes all things new, our task remains the same.

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Praise God that Jesus has once and for all borne our greatest burden on His shoulders at the cross! But that doesn’t mean we are promised burden-free lives. Thankfully, God doesn’t intend for us to run alone. This Sunday we will consider Galatians 6:2.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

We need one another, Grace family. I am amazed and deeply grateful for how I’ve seen and experienced this at Grace over the last 18 years. By God’s grace, let’s excel still more!

This Sunday Kenny Clark will be preaching and Jordan and Joyce Weaver will be leading our time of sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare and for Grace as we run the race set before us in 2020?

And don’t forget our evening Lord’s Supper service at 6pm. Neal Hardin will be giving our communion meditation. Please pray for him as he prepares, too.

See you Sunday. Come hungry!