By Pastor Greg A. Steinke

The New Year has begun, and many things are before us. Some of which we don’t know, while others are plans, plans for vacations, plans for gatherings, birthdays, anniversaries, and many more. Just this past week, several of us gathered around to set our church calendar of those events that will be scheduled throughout the year. We could say that in our church, we are looking towards another chapter as we turn the page toward a new year.

With our pens in our hands, we began to write out what was to be expected while other events still lingered in the air as to when, or even if, we would move forward with them. It’s amazing that we wrote out the future of our church in hopes that we accomplish it.

Can I say that each of us is in a new chapter? This year, we face twelve pages once again in the chapter of 2025. Though we have written down what we expect, I believe the ultimate writer of the chapter is our Lord. Throughout this year, He will begin to write about our lives. We will become a book that others will read, and what they read is our life’s story. It is how God began to take control, how God began to pen down my every step and every direction, and how I followed, or even if I did follow. The Lord will not only pen down events in our lives by which we will face, but also how we face them.

I have read many books, some of them not so interesting, but when it comes to a biography of someone who has faced some enormous mountains in their life and how they overcame them. It is quite encouraging, and I hope that I can also follow their lead.

Many of the biographies I read are those of the Christian Faith and their utmost dependence upon God as their personal strength when they become weak and the guide when they feel lost. Upon reading, I, too, become encouraged.

Can I encourage each of us this year? As a Christian, one who is fully dependent upon God for so many things, we will be able to face the lowest valley’s during our journey this year with hope. We will be able to walk through the thick darkness that may seemingly prevail, yet with God as our Light, He will grab our hand and walk with us through the darkness until the clouds fade away and once again light will shine.

It is only by the grace of God that we will travel this year, and in each page of this chapter, we will see the wonderful love that our God has for us. Whatever may come our way, whatever we may have to endure, we know that we are not alone.

There is an old hymn that has been passed down throughout the ages. The author is unknown, yet the chorus of this hymn is touching and true at the same time. The chorus says, “Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”

As we start this year, may we grab the hand of our Savior and, with every step, find ourselves walking closer this year than we have, and at the end of the year, we will discover a pair of footprints that never left our side.

Pastor Greg A. Steinke

INFO BOX

Pastor Greg A. Steinke

Calvary Baptist Church

1045 Monroe Concord Rd.
Troy, Ohio 45373
Office: 937-335-3686

Service Times:

Sunday

Men’s Prayer Meeting - 8:45 a.m.

Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m.

Evening Worship - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night

Prayer Meeting and Bible Study - 6:30 p.m.

Kids4Truth Club - 6:15 p.m. 

(The nursery is available for all services)