Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays people tend to have strong feelings about.  Some of us love it.  Some of us hate it.  And some of us wonder what all of the fuss is about.  There is no question that there are many businesses rejoicing each year when Valentine’s Day rolls around.  Restaurants, florists, jewelers, and more appreciate all the gifts of love that are purchased that day.  What is Valentine’s Day to you?  Is it a happy day?  Romantic?  Exciting?  Depressing? Disappointing?  Bittersweet?  Full of hope and expectation – or full of memories?

Valentine’s Day does not have to be defined by the parameters of romantic love.  It can be so much more!  It can be a day to celebrate the kind of love Christ told us to have for one another – thoughtful, generous, and forgiving.  It can be a day when we stretch ourselves to love even more than we have in the past.  It can be a day to remember that we only know how to love because God loves us first.

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day – full of joy, full of love, full of faith!  Blessings!

Here in Texas we have been going through a very long dry spell.  The whole state has withered under a scorching sun with far too little rain.  The lakes have dried up.  And it isn’t just the grass that has died, but crops, trees, livestock and wildlife have all suffered tremendously.  It will take years to recover.

Spiritual journeys can be like that sometimes.  We don’t have mountain-top experiences every day.  Sometimes we feel like God is far away, or isn’t listening, or doesn’t care.  At times like this, we long to quench our spiritual thirst.  When our faith is mature, the roots run deep enough to sustain us through periods of drought.  But for those who are new to faith, it can be a challenge.

Here at Woodforest we have just started a new Adult Study series on Practicing Our Faith.  Practice will not make perfect, but it will help grow our faith strong enough to withstand times of desolation, loss, or trouble.  If you want to grow your faith stronger, come join us on the first Wednesday night of each month, and for worship on Sunday morning.  Everyone is welcome!

When people look at a calendar and think of getting a fresh start, many of them immediately think of January 1st and the start of a new year.  There are resolutions and possibilities and hope.  But January is not the only month that overs us new beginnings and a fresh start.  The month of May does, too.

In some parts of the world, May is the season of spring – full of new life and energy.  The earth seems to absolutely burst with new life.  For students who are graduating, May often signifies the ending of their academic career.  But the end of one thing signals the beginning of something else as they turn their attention to entering the work force and the start of a completely new part of their life.

In the church, particularly this year, May finds us full into the Easter season, when we take seven weeks to celebrate the miracle of the Resurrection!  Talk about new beginnings!  Our faith in the resurrection provides us a fresh start every day, real hope, and God’s promise that is true. I hope this May provides a fresh start for you – in your life, and in your faith journey.  It’s never too late to start anew!

If you are tired of all the commercialism of Christmas, tired of racing around trying to find the right gifts, cook the right foods, and put up all of the decorations – why not take a break and come to Woodforest Presbyterian Church?  Here you will have an opportunity to remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  Our Live Nativity will be on Saturday night, Dec. 18th.  We will have live animals, a stable, and a manger.  Shepherds and angels and wise men will gather around Mary, Joseph and the baby as we remember the miracle of Jesus’ birth, and you can be a part of it all.  Or come to worship with us on Sunday morning, or on Christmas Eve at 7:00 pm, when we listen to the Scripture lessons once again, sing the songs that speak to our hearts, celebrate communion, and close with candlelight.  It will be a Christmas celebration you will never forget!  O Come, let us adore Him!

I wonder what Thanksgiving Day would be like if we approached it with intentionality?  I wonder what sort of crescendo of joy and humility and fellowship it would be if on the other 364 days of the year we awoke every morning giving thanks to God and literally counting our blessings – always adding one more, one more, one more.  I wonder what a feast for the heart and soul it would be if this day were only the annual culmination of so many days of Thanksgiving before it.  I wonder – are you willing to give it a try and find out?  There are still 12 days until the official Thanksgiving Day arrives.  Why wait?  Why not start now?  “….with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God….” (from Colossians 3:16)