February 2015

From Steve’s Desk:
February has never been one of my favorite months. Though it is only 28 days long,
except on leap year of course, it seems super long to me. I am usually ready for the
cold and snow of winter to be over. I long for the warmth and light from the sun to
brighten my late winter mood. But as each day of February passes, I am, little by
little, filled with hope. The hope of March! March brings with it the hope of change
in weather, in landscape and in mood. Hope is a good thing to have in the midst of
our dark and troublesome times. Titus 2:13 says, “…waiting for our blessed hope,
the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” As we wait, we
can have a force greater than ourselves. We can have the armor of God to protect
and empower us. I Thessalonians 5:8 says, “But since we belong to the day, let us
be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope
of salvation.” We can be saved from the despair and stress of this life with a hope
of what is to come. It is the foundation of our faith as found in Hebrews 11:1, “Now
faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hope!
Hold on to it! February will pass into March, if the Lord wills. Let hope give us the
power, the courage and the strength to endure! March is coming!