New Year Promises

End-Time perspective: Talking about the end times is a subject that almost all people are interested in, but many either obsess over it or avoid it altogether. Biblically speaking, end-time passages are written in only partial detail, often coded in mystery until the events have come to pass. I think this is intentional. If God wanted us to know exactly how things would occur, he would not communicate through prophecy, using symbols to give us pictures of things to come. No, he would tell us plainly. But God is after more than just giving us the details of the future to help us plan. He wants to prepare people spiritually and emotionally to be ready for his kingdom to come. Mark chapter 13 outlines Jesus' words about the “last days” for the people of Israel with the destruction of the temple. Jesus fields questions about what those times and the times of the end will look like, and Jesus simply warns them about keeping a certain attitude regarding the end times. That attitude is summed up in one key idea at the end of the chapter. 32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[e]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Alert, watchful, sober-minded, on-guard, are some of the descriptions of how we are to live in the last days. We are to live with vigilance in the days we are on earth, knowing the end is near, and we do not know when our “last days” might arrive. Jesus gives us an attitude to adopt, rather than a roadmap to plan for his second coming. There is something about the condition of the soul that he cares about way more than merely telling us what exactly will happen. Jesus also reminds us that we are not to fear or be in a state of trepidation about life amidst unfolding calamities and tribulations. We are to stay focused on Him and fulfill his purpose for our lives. That purpose is singular–to share the everlasting gospel of Christ to the world in the last days. That purpose supersedes any other prerogative we might have in our lives, and guides us into the proper application of our prophetic understanding. So remain steadfast in sharing the good news of Jesus. And when life gets hard, anchor yourself to that good news that rescued you, and rescued me from this dark world. Pastor Troy Wallace

Seventh-day Adventists believe in the assurance of salvation, grounded in God's unchanging love and the assurance found in Christ's sacrifice. They see Christ as their anchor, a stable hope in a world of uncertainty. This assurance isn't based on personal feelings but on the unchanging truth of God's promises and Christ's righteousness. Here's a more detailed explanation: Assurance of Salvation: Seventh-day Adventists believe that salvation is a gift from God, not earned through good works. They emphasize the importance of personal faith and obedience to God's law as a response to his grace. Assurance is not about being free from all doubt or worry but about having confidence in God's promises and Christ's atoning sacrifice. Adventists are encouraged to persevere in faith, recognizing that the journey of sanctification is ongoing. Christ as Anchor: The image of Christ as an "anchor" in Hebrews 6:19 is a strong biblical metaphor for the stable hope that Adventists find in Him. This hope is rooted in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, which provides a sure foundation in a world marked by change and suffering. Just as an anchor holds a ship steady in a storm, Christ provides stability and assurance in the face of life's challenges and uncertainties. Key Points about Assurance: Assurance is not about being perfect but about having a firm belief in God's promises and Christ's power to transform lives. Adventists are encouraged to cultivate a relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, and acts of service, which strengthens their faith and reinforces their assurance. While assurance is a gift, it's also a responsibility to persevere in faith and live a life that reflects the love and grace of Christ. Blessings, Pastor Chris Camacho

Last weekend, as we reflected on the significance of mothers, we highlighted Mary as one of the most elevated examples of godly motherhood. She is one of the very few people in the Scriptures with an almost spotless record of righteous living and is called “blessed” among women. What’s remarkable about Mary is not her great feats of strength or her overcoming incredible obstacles to achieve something, but rather her willingness to accept and support the mission God gave her. What makes her stand out is her humble obedience. From Mary, we learn what a reverent fear of God looks like when the angel Gabriel first visits her with the announcement of her virgin conception. We then see her courageously accept this gift and submit to the plan God lays out for her life. As her life progresses, she takes on the role of an equipper—especially to her son Jesus—when he demonstrates incredible insight and wisdom rooted in the Torah. Later in Jesus’ life, we see his mother continually encouraging him to step into his mission, such as at Cana, when she prompts him to turn water into wine. Throughout Mary’s story, she demonstrates what real parenting should look like. Being a mom is a calling, and that calling involves equipping your children to accept God’s purpose for their lives and to live it out. I’m so thankful for stories like Mary’s, which help us understand what raising children in this world should look like—and what making disciples should look like as well. After all, it’s the same mission: to raise and equip a generation to reveal Christ to the world! Blessings, Pastor Troy Wallace

My brothers and sisters in Christ, we’ve all been called to run a race. Not a physical one—but a spiritual race. We don’t run for applause or comfort—we run to finish . The Christian life isn’t about how fast you start, but whether you endure to the end. Romans 1:8. "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." Your Faith – That is, your loyalty and devotion to Christ, YOUR CHRISTIANITY! Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel [a]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Hebrews 11:1-2 "Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony." Faith isn't just a belief; it's a dynamic life experience. It's about trusting in God's promises, even when we don't see them, and living in a way that reflects that trust. It's a journey of growth, where we learn to depend on God in all areas of life, trusting in His wisdom and power, even through difficult times. Faith as a Foundation: • Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God, allowing us to experience His blessings and grace. • It's confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we don't see, as described in Hebrews 11:1. • Without faith, it's impossible to please God, as stated in Hebrews 11:6. Faith in Action: • Faith is not just a belief system; it's a way of living. • It's trusting God's plan for our lives, even when we don't understand. • It's acting on God's Word and trusting in His promises. Faith and Trials: • Trials can be opportunities to grow in faith and endurance. • We can trust that God will guide us through difficult times, and even bring good from them. • Wavering in faith can hinder our spiritual growth and hinder our ability to receive God's blessings, as James warns. Faith and the Future: • Faith gives us hope for the future, even when we don't know what it holds. • It's a source of peace and joy, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. • It's faith that will carry us through this life and into the eternal life to come. Hebrews 12:1-2. "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." The Christian life is a race, but the finish line is certain. We must run with endurance, cast off distractions, and always look to Jesus. Hebrews 12:1–2 is a powerful reminder to us that we’re surrounded by a cloud of faithful witnesses. We’re called to throw off every weight, run with perseverance, and most importantly— fix our eyes on Jesus , the One who not only began our faith journey, but will finish it with us. Are you tired in your race? Distracted? Weighed down by sin? Come to Jesus today. Fix your eyes on Him again and let Him carry you through to the finish line. Friends, you may feel tired. You may be limping spiritually. You may have fallen under the weight of sin, guilt, or disappointment. But today, Jesus—the Author and Finisher of your faith—is standing at the edge of your life, whispering: “Don’t quit. Don’t look at others. Look at Me. Finish the race.” You weren’t called to just start the Christian walk—you were called to finish with Christ. Blessings, Pastor Chris Camacho

Last Sabbath we as a church got to explore the meta-narrative of the Bible– the big overarching story. Surprisingly, the biblical story follows a very predictable plot line comparable to almost every other compelling story out there! It begins with peace that leads to disruption, bringing about a tension that requires resolution. Then a hero arises to resolve the tension, and that hero is Jesus! However, many don’t read the bible in the lens of a big narrative, but instead often treat it like a manual, a lawbook, a devotional book, or some other resource. At its core though, it’s the story of God, and it’s the story of us. Like all good stories, the hearer of that story gets signals about what may be coming down the line. The bible does an astounding job, masterfully weaving in signposts of what will happen, and repeating cycles of events that retell the main points of the message. For believers, the cycle of events that keeps coming up is the journey of the slave to the deliverance that awaits in the promised land. Israel first encounters God as deliverer when they are rescued from Egypt, and begin their journey through the wilderness towards their glorious destination. But they stumble, and fail to achieve their true deliverance because of it. But Jesus comes, and he relives their story, never faltering in the journey, and realizes the complete deliverance of God, when his lifeless body returns from death back to life. With that salvation, He then offers to all of us that same gift, and a return to the tree from where the whole story of Scripture begins. The cross is that tree revisited– the opportunity to begin again with Jesus and live in his redeemed story. Will you say yes today to starting again with Jesus? Pastor Troy Wallace

Trust in the Lord to have a solid foundation. We all know that since the Garden of Eden, that there has been sin in the world. And with that, comes a multitude of attacks on Christ through us, one of which is trust. With all the world throws at us today, I believe the biggest struggle is with doubt, which imitates distrust. If the evil one can put doubt or mistrust in our beliefs, he then makes us question our Faith. A ripple affect from that is distrust in all other avenues of our life. One mistrust in our faith has the ability to contaminate the way we see the world. When we believe what social media has to say, instead of going to the Bible, or are unable to answer questions with a solid answer and understanding, we can then start to question our own biblical foundation. The Bible tell us in Psalms 125:1 “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.” But what does that really mean? I believe that means we need to have a solid and grounded foundation in our belief. Not just knowing the Bible but having a clear and solid understanding of what it tell us. Evil wants to break our faith, our foundation of truth, and wants us to question what we believe is true. By studying the Word, understanding our Faith and having trust in the Lord we can build a solid foundation of Truth and Faith. Just as we build the house we live in on a solid foundation, our spiritual house is to be built on a solid foundation of Christ, which means we need to trust Him. Let today be the day that you consecrate your life in the Lord and know His truth, as this is the foundation to our Salvation. Elizabeth

To be bold in your faith, To be bold in your faith, as encouraged by the Bible, means to stand firm in your beliefs and convictions , even when facing opposition or fear, and to share your faith with others. It's about having courage to live out your faith authentically and without shame. One of the biggest excuse that keeps us from talking about Jesus is fear. Society today, wants to silence the voice of truth. They want everyone to be politically correct according to their standards and will try to shame anyone who steps out of there imagined paradigm. And because of that we are afraid to talk to someone we don’t know. We are afraid of how they will respond. We are afraid of looking foolish or saying the wrong thing. We are afraid of getting into a conversation that will go over our heads. Fear paralyzes. In Acts 3-4, Peter and John were headed to the temple in Jerusalem to worship when they encountered a man who couldn’t walk. Sensing the prompting and power of the Holy Spirit, Peter reached out his hand to this man and miraculously healed him. While everyone saw this miracle as a mighty movement of God, the religious leaders were not so excited. Peter and John were quickly called before the high court and interrogated by the very men that had plotted the death of Jesus. You would think that in this intense and intimidating situation Peter and John would cower in fear — but they didn’t. Acts 4:8-13 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The Name of Jesus Forbidden 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. NKJV My Brothers and Sister, the Holy Spirt can make you bold and He will lead you to do radically courageous things. Now far from being fearful or quiet, Peter and John became bold. They boldly spoke the name of Jesus. On the out side it may appear that they were reckless. The Bible says that they declared that Jesus died and rose from the dead. They even radically proclaimed that Jesus is the only way to salvation. And their boldness was shockingly noticeable! Look again at Verse 13: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John … they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Peter and John were common, ordinary men standing before the most learned and religious men of their day. They certainly didn’t have the education and knowledge that the Pharisees and religious leaders had, but they did have one thing boldness because they were filled with the Holy Spirt. They were courageous and unafraid. That is what God wants from you and me a courageous boldness to step into any situation and declare the hope we have in Jesus. And it is God who will supply the measure of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be bold and courageous. Now afterward, Peter and John were warned and released. And quickly they ran back to the other disciples and they all began to pray. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness,” (Acts 4.29 NIV). Notice they didn’t pray, “Lord, protect us from these leaders,” or, “Lord, help us be wise in how we react to these threats.” They prayed for boldness to speak unashamedly and fearlessly. God desires to fill us with the Holy Spirt so that may live a life of Boldness for the Lord. May He who is above all fill you with His Glory that you may be a bold beacon of light in this dark world. Maranatha God Bless, Christopher Camacho “The greatest work, the noblest effort, in which men and women can engage, is to point sinners to the Lamb of God.” GW p.18

Science has told us that a human body can only last about 7 days without water. But what does it mean to "need" water? Needing water isn't just washing ourselves in it, soaking in a pool, or rinsing it over our bodies. We have to drink the water, we need it inside of us. As we drink, the water becomes part of us, not just inside us, but it actually becomes part of us, hydrating us on a cellular level. Without it we get dehydrated, sick and sometimes even die. Such is the Holy Spirit. You cannot just be around Him, hear about Him or even just read about Him. You need to consume Him. What does that mean? That means you have to INVITE Him into you. Allow Him to consume you, on a spiritual level and a cellular level. When Mary got pregnant with Jesus, the Holy Spirt was in her, on a much more intimate level than anyone has ever been. She was growing a child, the Christ child inside her. We need to imagine ourselves the same, as the Holy Spirit is to live IN us. We are to ask Him to transform us, to change us, to mold us into the Christ like child God has intended us to be. What does that mean for us? Well just as water binds to us and helps us live, so should the Holy Spirit. Binding to us doesn't mean to just ask for Him to live within us, but to become one with Him. On a much deeper level, as water binds to our cells. Just like when you have drank the water, it stays within us. But you can't just drink water today and expect it to last everyday. We need 8 - 8oz glasses a day. Just like we need to ask for the Holy Spirit to bind to us, we need to ask every day, if not many times a day. And just like hydration, it takes work. We have to continue to drink the water of our Lord & King. We need to allow Him to do His job. If you drink water that is made into juice, it isn't as pure and effective as if you drink pure water. We have to filter our water, just like we need to the Holy Spirit to filter out the sin by asking the Holy Spirit to help us.. Matthew 7:7 KJV Tells us: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" You need to seek out the Holy Spirit, invite Him in, Let Him be your living water and most of all, let Him hydrate you and wash away the sins of our human nature. I will drink of His Spirit...... will you? Elizabeth

For some of us, as a child, life has dealt us challenges that make us feel like nothing we do will ever amount to anything. Sometimes we are born into families where we are even rejected. I know all to well what those things feel like. Growing up always brought obstacles and hurdles that seemed insurmountable, even just existing was somehow not good enough. When you grow up the “outcast, the one talked about, the one talked down to and ridiculed, you grow up believing that you will never be worthy enough for the Lord. Even to the point of being disowned and thus feeling unwanted nor needed by those you call relation. But just as the Bible says, God uses all things for His good. Those same people may one day need you. Rather God needs you. And those who rejected you are now coming to you for help and aid. In the book of Judges it speaks of such a man who also went thorough that, Jephthah. From before birth his family thought less of him then others and I am sure growing up for him was challenging and difficult. Wanting so bad to just be accepted and belong. As he got older he was actually shunned to the point that he fled to another land. But we know that God always has a plan. And His plan was later to use Jephthah to help the Israelites conquer the people of Ammon. 1 Corinthians 1:26 tell us that: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:" KJV So when you think that you are not worthy by man, Remember you are still worthy to God. And only through Him can we accomplish great things. And God chooses those who are less chosen to do and accomplish great and mighty things, for His Glory. Elizabeth