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These Bible verses make it quite clear that we are never alone.
• Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. . . . [T]he LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
• Joshua 1: 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
• Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God is always with us. So how is it that we sometimes suffer from loneliness? A recent study revealed that almost half of Americans are lonely. At ELC are members who have recently moved here, away from family and friends. Others struggle with loneliness after the death of a loved one. For those who are homebound, the isolation is physical as well. Sometimes, that God is with us is just not enough.
Our triune God is a god of relationships, and we, made in his image, are likewise creatures of relationships. God recognized our need for human companionship as early as Adam and Eve. And Jesus recognized the importance of community when he said, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20). Evergreen Lutheran exists as an embodiment of God's love and rule on earth. It is a community that deepens our commitment to do what Jesus would do, to love and support each other.
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