Faithfulness "The crying need today is for people of faith to live faithfully.” Richard Foster God is faithful. It is his nature and character and as his people he expects us to reflect his faithfulness. The Christian life is about living by faith and in faith. It is by faith that we seek to live a life true to God's call to us. In our own faithfulness, we act on that call, trusting that God himself is faithful. Faithfulness in prayer: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 I encourage you to pray daily trusting in God's faithfulness. Pray for the people of St. John’s, for our life together, and for our ministry in the communities of Grand County. Pray for the other churches in our community, for our diocese, and for the church throughout the world. Pray that we might be faithful to the gospel work to which we are called. Faithfulness in study: We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Set aside time each day to read and study the scriptures. There are many guides available to help structure your study. For some, the daily lectionary provides a way to read a little bit of scripture every day. Please talk to me if you would like some suggestions. Faithfulness in worship: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 It is a good thing when God's people gather to worship, and I encourage you to make our times of worship a priority. When we gather, we are reminded of God's mighty acts, his faithfulness to his people and above all his love poured out to us in Jesus Christ. As we are faithful in coming together, we find that we are formed individually and corporately into the likeness of Christ. Faithfulness in giving: The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. Psalm 24:1 Finally, I want to encourage us to be faithful in our offering of ourselves: our time, our talent, and our treasure. This giving is a natural extension of our faithfulness in prayer, study and worship. We give not out of duty or obligation but out of gratitude that the One who called us into being claims us as his own and as precious in his sight. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:19 that “all creation is straining to see the children of God come into their own.” This “coming into our own” is not something we muster up out our own power. Rather, it is a life of faithfulness that is empowered by the Holy spirit working in us. And when, in this power, we steward our lives by faith in answer to God's call, we offer a powerful and counter-cultural antidote to an anxious world. Blessings,
Matthew+ Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP p. 236) | 
