Dear Brethren,

This will be the 5th Sabbath we've been unable to meet in our local congregations for Sabbath Services. The dramatic impact that COVID-19 has had on our lives continues to remind us how fast things can change.  In January, many of us first heard about the virus that came out of Wuhan, China. We saw pictures on the news of entire cities being shutdown.  If you're like me, you never imagined that it would ever reach the U.S.

Then in February we began to see reports of confirmed cases of the virus in New York and Seattle.  By March it reached our nation's neighborhoods and this insidious virus began impacting our individual families, our communities, local businesses, schools and churches.  What we face is daunting, but I'm encouraged and inspired by many of you who are reaching out to one another with everyday acts of kindness. Thank you for continuing to call, write, drop off meals and pray for one another.      

Despite what is happening in our world, I hope you are focusing on the importance and the meaning of the Days of Unleavened Bread. What a blessing we still have the ability to connect with each other in order to celebrate and to reflect on the meaning of this annual Feast. 

As we continue to examine ourselves, put out the leavened bread typifying sin and feed on the unleavened bread of life, Jesus Christ - let us not get discouraged. God is there to help us. 

As we journey toward the Kingdom of God, Jesus promises He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). It was no different for the children of Israel. On their entire 40-year journey to the promised land, despite the tests and trials, God never left them nor forsook them. He performed miracle after miracle and let them know He was there and was their God.  As one person said -- although God freed them from the bondage of slavery, they still had to go through the wilderness testing before they reached the Promised Land.

Notice Nehemiah 9:19, "Yet in your manifold mercies you did not forsake them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to provide them light, and the way wherein they should go." 

Also notice Exodus 13:21-22, "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

How encouraging! God was with them the whole time, leading them 24/7. Leading by the cloud by day and by the pillar of fire by night.  It is the same for us today. How reassuring to thoroughly realize that Jesus said: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20).

And so we too "can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Let's make it our goal to remember God is always with us so don't ever quit. Let's learn from and embrace the things He is teaching us this Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread so that we may hear near the end of our spiritual journey, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord".

Have a blessed Sabbath,

Dave