Pastor Kristi J. Rhodes  

Hillcrest Community Church

5994 18 Mile Rd. Cedar Springs, MI 49319

Everyone knows that November is a month focused on giving thanks.  We even thank our Veterans on the 11^th day of the 11^th month and rightly so. But do you know that the greatest way to honor our veterans is to not forfeit our freedoms that they sacrificed their comforts to defend? A very sincere thank you goes out to all our Veterans today, this month, and always!

And do you also know that in the same way, we give thanks to our Lord Jesus who gave up the comforts of Paradise to come and enter into humanity and be the sacrifice for our eternal freedom? And that the greatest way to honor Jesus is to not forfeit the glorious freedom from the bondage of sin that He sacrificed His life for.

Jesus came to testify to the truth, which sets us free. As Christ followers, when we go through life believing the lies of the enemy, still in bondage to the very things Jesus set us free from, we discount His sacrifice and His power to bring freedom.

The power of God is truly an amazing thing. It redeems our past; communicates, guides, counsels and empowers us in the present; and secures our future! Too often we beat ourselves up over the past or get stuck there, not allowing ourselves to enjoy our freedom and move on. Or we get too farsighted, wanting to know the future and what is way on up ahead that we can’t deal with or enjoy the here and now.

I was reading a devotion the other day called “Jesus Calling,” by Sarah Young, who talked about the times God brings a peaceful fog over our difficult paths in life, obscuring our view so we can only see a few steps in front of us.  It is in those times we turn our attention more fully to God.

She goes on to say that the fog is a protection for us, calling us back into the present moment. Although God inhabits all of space and time, we can communicate with Him only here and now. Someday the fog will no longer be necessary, for we will have learned to keep our focus on Jesus and on the path just ahead of us, trusting our past and our future to Him.

We bring the greatest honor and glory to God by trusting in His salvation and not forfeiting the freedom He died for. He now lives in every Christ follower and is with us always and He knows what He’s doing.

Ps. 73:23-24 NIV says, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

Let us bring the greatest honor with a very sincere and glorious thank you to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

Charter member Carl Paepke, Past District Governor Lynnwood Mast, wife Lion Jan Mast, Sand Lake’s First Vice President Guy Hayden, and Johh Monahan, soon to be District Governor.

On Wednesday, June 8, the Sand Lake Lions Club held an invitational, informative meeting for people to learn about Lions International. Lion dignitaries present were 1st Vice District Governor John Monahan, of Mt. Pleasant, who will become District Governor on July 1 for 2011-12, and past District Governor Lynnwood Mast and wife, Lion Jan, from White Cloud. Both gentlemen gave brief explanations of the Lions projects in which they are most involved. The invited guests’ questions were also answered.
The highlight of the evening was the surprise presentation of the “President’s Appreciation Award Medal” to charter member Lion Carl A. Paepke, in recognition of 30-plus years of serving. King Lion Erin Allen, who gave a summary of the life of service that Carl has lived made the presentation.
Lion Carl refers to himself as “just a farm boy” but he is much more than that. His whole life has been exemplary of service. He served in World War II, has served the local, national and international communities for over 30 years as a dedicated Lion, and serves as County Commissioner in Montcalm County.
He said, “I like people.” And he lives the Lion motto: “We serve.”