From the Pastor's Desk

I hope you had a blessed week. Whether it was a good one or a more challenging week, I encourage you to pause, as we enter into the Sabbath, and praise God for His goodness, even if you had a challenging week. The reality is friends, that God is always good and faithful even if we don’t see it, even if we feel stranded in the vast ocean of life. The scriptures tell us that His mercy endures forever, that His love is immeasurable, that our sins are cast to the depths of the ocean and that He is close and personal.

So, imagine standing at the edge of a beautiful, vast ocean, with waves crashing against the shore and the sun setting in a breathtaking display of colours. The sound of seagulls fills the air, and the salty breeze dances around you, filling you with a sense of wonder and awe. In this moment, you feel connected to something greater than yourself, something powerful and timeless. This is how I imagine the kingdom of God – vast, beautiful, and overflowing with love and grace.

As a follower of Jesus, I am continuously inspired by the urgency with which Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God being at hand. He didn't speak about it as some far-off concept to be pondered in the distant future. Instead, He called His followers to embrace the kingdom of God in the here and now, to live it out in their daily lives with passion and purpose. Just like the ocean before us, the kingdom of God is vast and full of opportunities to experience its beauty and power. It calls us to dive in, to explore its depths and discover the treasures it holds. It beckons us to be bold and adventurous in our faith, to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the unknown with courage and trust.

Living out the kingdom of God means more than just going through the motions of religious rituals. It means immersing ourselves in the love and grace of God and allowing it to transform us from the inside out. It means seeking justice for the oppressed, healing for the broken, and hope for the discouraged. It means being a beacon of light in a world that is often shrouded in darkness. So, I challenge you, my friend, to embrace the kingdom of God with the same sense of wonder and awe that you feel when standing at the edge of the ocean. Dive in with all your heart, mind, and soul, and allow the love of God to wash over you and fill you to overflowing. Let us be ambassadors of the kingdom, spreading its message of hope, love, and grace to all we encounter.

May we all be inspired by the vast beauty and power of the kingdom of God, and may we live it out with passion and purpose in our daily lives. Let us be a reflection of God's love and grace to a world in need, shining brightly as beacons of hope and light.

Yours in Christ,
David Peñate