Pastor Kristi Rhodes
Hillcrest Community Church of God
5994 18 Mile Rd, Cedar Springs

I am Pastor Kristi Rhodes, a new pastor to the Cedar Springs area. My super husband, Dean, and I are excited about following God’s journey to ministry in Cedar Springs.

As the month of February (the love month) comes to a close, we are reminded that expressing and showing God’s love never ends!  We are here for a purpose and that is to love God and love each other. We are to show the love of Christ especially to those who are unlovable, not only to those who treat us well. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. Those who are unlovable are the ones who surely need it the most. The Bible tells us in Luke to love even your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.

It’s too easy to join people in ranting about how evil the world has become and how the darkness is creeping in but we can’t blame the darkness because darkness is only doing what darkness does! The problem is not the darkness; the problem is the light. Light dispels darkness not the other way around. Have you ever noticed in a dark room how quickly the darkness flees when the light switch is turned on? Christians are to be the light of the world.  In a dimly lit room, the shadows try to blend in with the dim light but the brighter the light, the more obvious the shadows become. Has your light become dim? Have you allowed sin to creep in and dim your light? God said to let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.

May your light shine so brightly as you show the love of Christ to all those God puts in your path. By loving them with the love of Christ you are representing our wonderful Lord in the most beautiful light.

Let me leave you with these thoughts in God’s Word. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. This is God’s love. As you read, put your name wherever you see the word love. Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it’s not proud.  It’s not rude, it’s not self-seeking, and it’s not easily angered.  It keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.  Love never fails!