President’s Perspective
A Life of Gratitude for God's Will
Thank you to all the members who attended the Voter Meeting on October 20th! If you missed the meeting, suffice it to say that on behalf of your Council, we're certainly thankful for all the support you have given us throughout the years, especially as I wrap up my second term as President and hand over the gavel to Bob Schmidt in January. I'm grateful for absolutely everything the members of our church have done to support the ministries at Zion since 2019. We've accomplished a lot and we endured some serious "testing", (like the covid episode), but we have remained steadfast in our resolve to keep the foe behind us and enjoy a Christ-centered ministry. May God continue to bless us.
If we pause and take a look at our past and present conditions, we can't help but be thankful to our Lord for the blessings we've received from our first breath until this moment. Good, bad, ugly -- if we ponder all that has transpired, surely we have to admit our cups are full. As we press onward, we have the assurance we're part of a new covenant in Christ and no matter what the world would press upon us, we are "free" from the sin that might have destroyed us, because Christ is written on our hearts. The victory is won. In 2Cor. 3: 16-18, we read: "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Hopefully we'll become more and more like our Lord as time goes by each day and our thankfulness will be a result of that transformation so that when we celebrate a holiday like Thanksgiving, we're celebrating hearts that are Christ-centered and growing in that likeness each day!
We can find solace and confidence in knowing that God will not forsake us no matter the events that might occur in our lives or what the world might throw our way. The phrase, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" is a wonderful petition in our prayer. We can be assured that our God's "will" has been done and shall absolutely be "done" as history unfolds; be assured we, as devout Christians are part of that history! Luther writes that God's will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world and our sinful nature. We're chosen, blessed and saved. We will fight the good fight! So, we just need to keep the faith, keep praying and know as is written in 1 John 5:14, "And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will he hears us." Pray for the Christian church, our LCMS, District and Circuit churches and your home here at Zion. Let's pray for the lost souls -- for salvation for everyone who would hear and believe. Our country and the world needs that prayer. Our prayers are being heard and whatever the future holds, know that it is going to be just as our God "will" have it. Amen.
-- Paul Klemash
