Daily Devotion

Dear Friends:
I watched on TV the inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama. At one point I was so overwhelmed I cried with a sense of hope and anticipation. I believe that we have a hard road ahead but the fact that our President was willing to tell us the difficult truth was reassuring. I watched like many of you with a renew hope! I watched history being made for very first time an African-American has been elected to the highest office in our country. What seemed impossible even 50 years ago has come to being in our day.

As I reflect on how we arrived at this day and I am reminded how far we have come! I hope and pray this is the catalyst for new unity in our country and around the world.

President Obama spoke about challenges and making hard decisions yesterday, financial, political, military, social and more. I for one am thankful that he is willing to be honest with what he perceives to be our weaknesses. These words remind me of the Apostle Paul who spoke of difficult times. We know that we are encouraged to live the high calling through Christ. We are challenged as well to look toward the scripture. Philippians 3:14 tells us, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God... Philippians 4:13 reminds us "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

In these challenges we can stand together knowing that we will endure with character, hope and a better day!

I believe we are called to bring this hope to change the world before us. We know that through our hope and the endurance of the trials we are building faith. Can we bring this kind of character to the community? I believe the answer is a resounding YES. I believe our ministry is needed now more than ever. People in our community need people like you to bring this hope in the midst of despair and loss. We can bring love and hope to those who are hurting. I hope today we will not forget the possibilities before us.

In Christ Rev. Terri