New Years

Greetings Avoca family. 

I hope the Christmas season was enjoyable for you and your families.  For the Sears

clan, we enjoyed seeing the Christmas star, we dressed in our snowsuits, and

celebrated a white Christmas.  My little one Jackson always had some sort of

chocolate all over his face, and we got to spend time worshipping with our family. 

Now, as the tears of saying our goodbyes have dried up, and the weight loss

programs begin, I want to share with you what I believe God has laid on my heart

for our series kickoff into 2021. 

In Ephesians 6:12 we read that our battle is not against the things we see, but rather

the things we cannot see.    2020 was a year that was full of battles.  As 2021

approaches it seems as though that is not going to change.   I was recently

challenged by a song called “Surrounded”.   It is a song we do in worship, and the

lyrics of the song that we call the “hook” in music geekville say “this is how I fight

my battles” it goes on to say, “it may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by

you”.    Fighting, striving, battling, war…it is all part of our journey. This year has been

especially challenge for us as a church.   As I type this we are only meeting

virtually, that is challenging for us as pastors.  And if you are like me during this

season, I begin to meditate on scriptures like this and start to ask myself and the

Father questions.  Questions like:  If Jesus has already won, why sometimes does

all this just feel so overwhelming?  Lord, how do I even recognize the battle you

have called me to fight in?  What role do I play on this battlefield? Why do I still

have doubts even though I know my victory is secure? Those are honest questions,

questions that our heavenly father loves us to ask Him.  Because that is what a

relationship, with Him, is all about.

I am excited for 2021!  I am excited for our new series which is all about the battle. 

A series where we are going to look at the deeper truths of the reality of this war

that we are all living. A series I would encourage you all to invite friends or family

members to join with you.  A series to click like and share on your Facebook page. 

Until then Lela and I would like to wish you all a very happy New Year.  And we

pray that the God of our salvation would reveal himself to you in new and exciting

ways this upcoming year.  We pray that this would be the year of kingdom purpose

welling up inside of each and every one of you.  

- Pastor Jeremy