August 10, 2025
Better Late Than Never
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I don’t know how many of you remember but earlier this year a shared,
what I called, part 2 of my journey with the Lord. On that occasion I
played a song by my favorite duo DeGarmo and Key that stated my
heart's goal going forward from that point in my life. At that time, I said
somewhere down the road I would plan on sharing part 1, well today is
that day.
As it turns out the sermon I am sharing with you as the last one as your
Pastor is the one I probably should have shared as the first one. As has
often been the case I am going to share a song with you that the Lord
used to help to remind me of how the Lord brought things together in
my life at just the time I needed it. This song has been around for a little
while it was released in 2023. It is sung by the group NEEDTOBREATHE
with help from Carly Pearce.
In December of 1979 I came to a crossroad in my life in which I am
convinced I was truly faced with 2 choices. I am not going to go into the
specific issue that was going on at that time, but I will say that at that
point to much of the time it was all about me. God sent 2 angels to
speak to me; to try to get my attention, their names are Cathy and Tara.
I am not sure where I would be today if I hadn’t taken seriously the
warning the Lord gave me through those 2 on that evening.
When I really listened to the song, I just asked you to listen to, those
memories of that life changing evening all came back to me. I believe it
is really important for the man and woman of God to have at least a
couple of these different but similar things going for them as we seek to
live out the life God has given us.
If there is anyone else here today that has struggled or may be
struggling at this moment, I pray the Lord has, or will, give you what
you need to be victorious.
Hopefully you really listened to the words because the first that was
clearly there for me when I needed it most was Cathy. The first 4 lines
of the song says “you were always there to pick me up and tell me I was
good enough it doesn’t matter what I’ve done you pull me closer. At
just the time I needed Love and support and maybe sum blunt words
Cathy provided it. Even though they didn’t probably no it my whole
family was there in ways I needed as well. That continues to be true to
this day.
I am also thankful for my church family at La Place. I had always gone to
church rarely missing a Sunday but as a young adult to much of the
time I was just going through the motions. As the lord impressed upon
me to get more serious about my faith we had a Sunday School teacher
for the young adults that gave me just what I needed, Fern Doolin. I had
some great Brothers and Sisters in Christ that also attended the Sunday
School class at that time as well. We also had a Pastor who encouraged
me to seek out Gods direction for my life as well.
For me the third and most important thing that changed the direction
of my life is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When I think of this song
Fall On Me it speaks to me of how God never gave up on me even
though I no I disappointed him in many ways at that time. We have a
great God who never gives up on us. I don’t know how many of you can
relate to what I am sharing but what is so encouraging to me is that as
this song said “When you feel a little lost now don’t remember who you
are now you can run into my arms you can fall; you can fall on me.
This what God did for me back in 1979 and continues to do today. So
does my wife and family as well as did the La Place church for many
years and now you here it the Cerro Gordo church for the past 5 and ½
years. I want to again say Thank You to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
thank you Cathy and all of the family I have been Blessed to have. To
both churches that have shown Love and support through the years as
well as all the special Brothers and Sisters in Christ that the Lord has
used in a mighty way during my life.
To close this out this morning this is especially for the church here in
Cerro Gordo. The 2 essential things you need going forward from this
point now is to be there for one another as this song says and to make
sure Jesus Christ is at the center of everything you do. I am confident
that the Lord will continue to use you in a mighty way to be his example
in Cerro Gordo and beyond.
Instead of a closing hymn I am going to ask for your indulgence one
more time. I would like to have a song played that goes back over 40
years that speaks to the Love and respect I have for everyone of you.
The song is entitled Friends sung back in 1983 by two young stars of
Christian music Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
TODAY Larry and Cathy’s last Sunday—farewell potluck meal
after worship, meat and drink provided—All are welcome.
2:00 – 4:00 CUIC ice cream social, Born Park
August 17 Doug Larrick—message in song
Executive Committee and Search Committee after
worship
August 20 12:00 Women’s Lunch, meal provided
We need worship leaders for August 17, 24, 31, and Sept 7.
Please tell Carol which Sunday you will serve. Thank you.
First Sundays: Food Bank donations
Church phone: 217-763-8641 Leave a message please.
Keep in Your Prayers
Randy and Michelle West; Bill Traughber; Martha Wood; Stacie
Warren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and
Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell;
Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; David
and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo
Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of
natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian
church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in
the middle of war and violence; military and other services and
their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster
project workers; immigrants, the poor and needy, flood victims
and their families; those who will lose insurance and Medicaid
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Freeport congregation and
for the faculty, staff, and students of Bethany Theological
Seminary.
