Dear friends,

It’s been hot. It’s been dry. It’s been busy. The time went by quickly. Summer’s almost over and now all of that is behind us. Time to move on.
Time to move from where we were into where we are. For many in our fellowship, 2005 has been difficult. Health concerns - losing a loved one - family issues - the drought - changes at work - changes at church - social concerns - the war in Iraq - the price of gas - oh my, the list can go on and on.
Yes, it’s time to move on.
I see all of these things - these issues and concerns and worries - as anchors. They have incredible weight. Dealing with these major issues - and many that I haven’t mentioned - can seem like having an anchor tied to your heart. Now don’t get me wrong... Anchors are good things to have when the storms are raging. They keep us from drifting to and fro. And they keep us connected to our source of strength.
But when the sea is calm, so often we find ourselves still clinging to those anchors, when we should be moving on. If we don’t move on, those anchors which bound our hearts in the past can become incredible burdens that we’re not willing to give up.
We can go through life carrying one anchor, then another, then another - until the point that our lives are so heavily burdened that we can no longer move on. We remain stuck where we are, even unable to lift those anchors to God, who freely takes them away.
What is it that burdens you?
Are you willing to let that burden go? Or are you anchored to that burden?
God is willing - and able! - to take that burden, that anchor, from you. You no longer need to be tied to what’s holding you. He can give you the freedom to let it go so you can get on with the next step in life!
Friends, we all have our troubles and worries and burdens and concerns. It’s up to us: We can hold onto them until they begin to weight us down, hindering our relationship with God and one another. Or we can give them up to God, and move on.
It’s NEVER easy to walk away from an anchor - a burden - that’s kept us held fast. It means walking by faith. Trusting that God is stronger than that anchor from which we’ve just let go.
Yes, maybe it’s time to move on. The sea ahead looks calm. God brought you through the storm. Now get rid of the anchor that’s keeping you tied to the past.
Marcia and I wish you a renewed walk with Christ this month,

Pastor Jon