I was talking to a friend at church yesterday, looking out the storefront to the parking lot. We watched people going about their Sunday morning business at the neighboring stores. He said, “I think people know this is not right. Things aren’t like they are supposed to be. There is something going on.”
I agreed.
Jesus calls us to discern the times in Luke 12:
54 Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?
My prayer is that each of us will be encouraged, emboldened and ready for these days. We live in thoroughly exhilarating times. I think that Esther, Daniel, the Disciples (even Judas), David—they would all tell you that they lived in exciting times. God knit you together for this time and we are so grateful that you support the cause of life and Christ. Thank you. It means so much to us, and it makes this work possible.
Despite the promises of adversity for God’s people, we rejoice in knowing that we are part of something with deep eternal significance. May that give us hope and keep us pressing in and on.
At Life First, we know that to be effective at serving Him in the pregnancy center world and to be faithful to rescue children and share the gospel with moms and dads, we must daily challenge ourselves to rely on Christ. Because of your support, we rejoice in the incredible opportunity we have to build the Kingdom in this increasingly dark world.
We observe daily that these are very difficult and unpredictable times. How much more shaken are those who do not know the Lord, the ones the Lord sends to us to whom we minister? Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, is about twice as likely as Americans over 25 to battle depression and feelings of hopelessness. The generation that we minister to is the most depressed, suicidal, alcohol and drug addicted generation in American history. They are looking for purpose and meaning. That’s a lot of people, and many of them will find themselves involved in an unplanned pregnancy. We pray that they come to Life First’s pregnancy medical centers, First Care Women’s Health.
I pray that we (that includes you!) do not get discouraged. With immense challenges come immense opportunities. We can’t focus on the storm. We may need to take cover, but we have to focus on the opportunity and see God in it. We remind ourselves of this when the 10:30 appointment comes in with unsurmountable challenges, and the 12:30 appointment’s circumstances seem even more bleak. God is the only One who can make a way. We praise Him that He uses us. And we praise Him that He uses you.
We invite our friends to join us as we unify around two central themes:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24
May God grant each of us wisdom, endurance and obedience to be used fully by Him in such a time as this.
