Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist Church

🌿Serving Together🌿

Our young adults helped clean up branches and debris after the storm. It's a blessing to serve alongside such a dedicated group, showing love in action!

We're reminded that even in challenging times, we're stronger together. Thank you to everyone who lent a hand-your heart for serving makes a difference!

We hope you can join us this morning as we remember and celebrate our heroes.

Freedom of Christ

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day symbolizes liberation, the end of bo***ge, and the joy of newfound freedom.

In the same way, our faith in Christ grants us spiritual freedom. Galatians 5:1 declares, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Just as the news of emancipation brought hope and joy to the enslaved, the gospel brings us the good news of our liberation from the penalty, power, and ultimate presence of sin and death.

Juneteenth reminds us of the value of freedom and the sacrifice and perseverance required to achieve it. In Christ, through His sacrifice, we find ultimate freedom, a liberation that transcends all earthly chains, offering us eternal hope and peace. As we observe Juneteenth with gratitude for our civil freedoms, may we also be reminded to live out our spiritual freedom in Christ.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

A Praying Mother

A drill sergeant was frustrated in his efforts to make a soldier out of a certain recruit. The trainee lagged behind on marches, used any excuse to go on sick call, grumbled constantly about the food, and never made his cot properly. But one day, a noticeable change took place in the young man’s attitude. When asked to what he attributed the soldier’s change in attitude, the drill sergeant explained, "Threats and punishment didn’t work, so I had to resort to the ultimate weapon: I called his mother!"
We can never underestimate both the temporal and eternal influence that a mother has over her children. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s recognition of young Timothy’s faith as the product of the influence of a Godly mother and grandmother. In 2 Timothy 1:5,Paul said, “5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”
Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China, also had such a mother. By the time he was 17, Hudson had completely lost his faith in God and was living in rebellion towards his overly strict father. Hudson’s mother became convinced at this point, that the only thing she could do was to commit him to earnest prayer. So, during a short trip away from home, she locked herself in her room and for hours pleaded that God would extend mercy to Hudson. And then, all of a sudden, she believed that God had answered her prayer. Her heart turned from pleading to praise, and she worshipped and thanked God that he had, indeed, saved Hudson.
Meanwhile, Hudson had been at home. Bored and discontent, he began looking for something to do. He wandered into his father’s library and, though he pulled book after book from the shelf, found nothing of interest. Finally, he spotted a tract titled “Poor Richard.” He read the story, then came to the simple words “the finished work of Christ.” At that very moment, Hudson understood that Christ had done all that was necessary for salvation and the only right response was to accept that work by faith. Right there, he fell to his knees and committed his life to the Lord, promising to serve him forever. He soon learned that as he was on his knees praising God for his salvation, his mother was doing the very same thing, though many miles away.
A few days later, he and his mother were reunited, and he immediately exclaimed, “I have some news to tell you.” Before he could say anything more, she replied, “I know what it is! You have given yourself to God.” She explained that for days she had already been rejoicing in his salvation. Praise God for Praying Mothers!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Blessings,
Pastor Brian

The Bond of Peace

What if we could study people from the time that they were teenagers all the way into old age to see what really matters to a person’s health and happiness? For 85 years (and counting), the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked about 2,000 men and women for three generations, asking thousands of questions and taking hundreds of measurements to find out what actually keeps people healthy and happy.

Through all the years of studying these lives, one crucial factor stands out for the consistency and power of its ties to physical health, mental health, and longevity. It isn’t career achievement, exercise, or a healthy diet. These things matter, but one thing continuously demonstrates its broad and enduring importance: good relationships

In fact, close personal connections are significant enough that if we had to take all 85 years of the Harvard Study and boil it down to a single principle for living, one life investment that is supported by similar findings across a variety of other studies, it would be this: Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period.

Is it any wonder that healthy relationships are not only the key to our physical health and longevity, but to our spiritual as well? In Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul recognizes this and urges the believers of all ages “1 to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Join us this Sabbath as we explore the interdependence and interconnectedness that is essential to not only to the Spiritual health of every believer, but also to the collective Body of Christ.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

Painting Jesus

Leonardo Da Vinci, just before he commenced work on the “Last Supper” had a violent argument with a fellow painter. Leonardo was so angry that he determined to paint the face of his enemy, the other artist, into the face of Judas, and thus take his revenge by handing the man down in infamy and scorn to succeeding generations. The face of Judas was, therefore, one of the first he finished. And everyone could easily recognize it as the face of the painter with whom he had quarreled.

But when he came to paint the face of Christ, he could make no progress. Something seemed to be baffling him, holding him back, frustrating his best efforts. Finally, he concluded that the thing that was frustrating him was that he had painted his enemy's face onto Judas's face. He changed the face of Judas and was then able to resume his work on the face of Jesus and this time did it with the success that the ages have acclaimed.

Whether this story about Leonardo Da Vinci happened or not is up for debate. But one thing is for certain for us as Christians. When we move past our right to take revenge and make the first move towards forgiveness instead, we break the power of hatred and allow the love of Christ to have the last word. Ephesians 4:32 sums this up perfectly. It says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Blessings,

Pastor Brian