By Pastor Steve Squires
Seems introductions are in order. My name is Steve Squires and I’m the new pastor at Community Church of Santa Rosa Beach. I know you have enjoyed the writing of Pastor Pete Hyde over the years. It is my hope that you find the same enjoyment in my writings as well. Thanks to Pastor Pete for making this process smooth. He is a very generous and great man. I’m a better person for knowing him.
A little bit about myself. I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area, but spent much of my adult life in New England. I’ve been married 25 years to my wife Melissa. We are blessed to have two teenage daughters (I know, pray for us!). Melissa is a professional artist as well as an elementary school teacher in Freeport. We are excited to be in Santa Rosa Beach and serve the surrounding area.
As many of you know, parenting is a tough, but rewarding job. Just when we think we have it figured out life throws us a curve-ball and it feels like we are back to square one. I guess we are all students in one way or another.
Some of my fondest memories of the girls is when they were young. Of all the activities we shared, going to the mall was among the most nerve-wracking. I was constantly afraid that in the big crowds I would be separated from them as they gleefully ran down the concourse trying to get away from me. While they were having a blast my anxiety was going through the roof.
Being separated from them was what I feared the most. I would do anything to avoid it. We all have separation anxiety at one level or another. We don’t like being separated from our loved ones or even from things we love. When we are separated from a loved one we experience so many emotions: sadness, loss, anxiety, etc.
Oftentimes, many of us feel separated from God. For whatever reason, we feel like there is a chasm between us and God. The good news is that this feeling of separation is exactly that- a feeling. As I mentioned, I have been married for 25 years. Marriage has its ups and downs. Nevertheless, no matter how I “feel” about my spouse or how my spouse “feels” about me I know for a fact (truth) that my spouse loves me. Truth overrides feeling.
The truth is that in the person and work of Jesus God came close to us. Through Jesus we are brought near to God. This gives all of us confidence. The one thing that we cannot be separated from is God and His love for us. There is nothing that can take away that confidence. We need to live each day knowing we live in the richness of God’s love.
Dr. Steve Squires, Senior Pastor
Santa Rosa Beach Community Church
850-267-2599; srbcc.com
Author: SWal Life
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