What are you thankful for and about?  For many the answer is quite predictable.  We are thankful for life, health, and for the many blessings our heavenly Father has bestowed upon us.  We are thankful to Him for our salvation, for our relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank Him for our spouses, our children, grandchildren, etc.  Those answers are obvious.  The more probing question is: Are we thankful when things are not so pleasant.  The Psalmist gives us the answer:  “I will bless the Lord at all times:  His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  (Psalm 34:1)

In good times and in times that are not so good, we know that God is working a work in our lives.  In times of adversity our character is being developed and our faith strengthened.  In the down times of life, God demonstrates His awesomeness.  Hear the Apostle James:  “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for you.  For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”  (James 1:2-4 NLT)

Dear Ones, for this I give Him thanks.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

St. Paul says it so well:  “God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1Cor. 1:9)  He can be trusted to do what He has promised, namely, to “confirm you unto the end.” (v.8)

When the Lord called this Pastor to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He promised His perpetual presence.  All of you know folks, “…in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11.b)

As Pastor of Friendship, the Lord has graciously directed my steps.  From the beginning, the Lord has made it crystal clear that the members of Friendship are His people and are to be treated as such.  Love that is manifested by respect and dignity is the Friendship way. 

 The Apostle Paul has a message for every Pastor and it has been a blessing in my life.  1 Thess. 5:24 & 23:  “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”  Who will do it!  What God will do: “Now may the God of Peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” (NLT) Praise God for His faithfulness during these  years.  To God be the glory!

Dear members, thank you for your loving care, your compassion, and your constant followship!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

The months of July and August of every year are wonderful, amazing, extraordinary, and challenging.  By August 31, it is as if we have run the Houston or Boston Marathon.  Physically, we are tired (our bodies but not our inner person) but there is such a sense of accomplishment.  We can all join in the refrain “Look What The Lord Has Done!”  Perhaps Zechariah said it best in Zechariah 4:6: “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.”  When we consider all that we do during July and August, we know, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.”  The key words are “by my Spirit.”  It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. 

Be encouraged as we “work the works of Him who sent us.”

Pastor J. Amos Jones

“This too shall pass!” How often am I reminded of the words of this axiom. Particularly, when I am perched precariously in the chair in the office of my dentist do I remember that this is a passing experience. During the tough times of life, when we are confronted with life’s difficult challenges, when it appears that we are being swamped by the adversities of life, we need to be reminded that “this too shall pass.” Whatever the situation is, however dark the circumstances might appear, there is always hope and a loving God who is faithful. In tough times, it’s good to know that the Lord is our shepherd. He will feed us and gather us unto Himself. Like a shepherd, our God will carry us in His bosom. We can find great comfort in the sovereignty of God. As children of the most high God, we shall not be in need. We know that our God shall supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In the midst of whatever turmoil we are experiencing. He lets us rest in the sumptuous meadow grass and leads us beside the quiet streams. He restores our failing health. The Lord helps us to do what honors Him the most. During troubling times there are several things we must know and embrace.

Number one: We must be assured of His perpetual presence, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Number two: We must trust His leading. It is tremendously important that we understand the shepherd-sheep concept. In this concept, the sheep are totally dependent upon the shepherd. The shepherd provides the sheep with all that is needed. (Need I remind you that our God is Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides?)

Lastly: The Lord helps us do (and go through) what/that honors Him the most, “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.” (Romans 8:28 NLT) Good or bad, whatever happens, “This too shall pass.”

(We all love you so much.)

Pastor J. Amos Jones