Cry Out & Rest in His Promises...

“O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory, because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.  My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”  -Psalm 63:1-8

Have you ever lost something?  I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess you all have.  And you search and you search and you search and you ask your roommates or parents and you search some more and when you can’t find it, you cry...maybe not all of you have gotten to that point, but I have.  It is SUCH a bummer when you can’t find something and you’ve looked everywhere.  Have you ever lost your faith?  Probably... How do you search for it?  Do you try going to church, looking at scripture, praying, talking to your parents or friends?  How about crying?  I’ve been there too.  Where it literally felt like I was just barely hanging on.  My faith and God seemed so illusive.  I was angry and desperate and helpless and I cried.  Literally, fell to my knees and cried out to God.  Sounds dramatic, I know, and before I got to that point, I always thought the Psalmists were silly in all their lamenting and getting angry and crying out.  But I was at my wits end.  I didn’t know what else to do.  Afterwards, I realized it was exactly what I needed to do.  I needed to remind myself of my weakness.  That I do not have it all together.  That I have to rely on God and that I CAN rely on God.  Now, it’s not like I prayed and then TADA! all better.  No, no.  But I did feel better, and I rested better in the promise that even though I was clinging, He was holding me.

Prayer:  Loving Father God, thank you for holding us and for listening to us when we cry out.  Strengthen us daily.  Amen.

Welcome, winter wonderland!

Our first big snow fall of the year!  It is so pretty!  As I stare out my office window, I wonder to myself, what makes it so mesmerizing and beautiful?  After spending the last couple months surrounded by the dead of winter without snow, it seems this snowfall is all the more welcome, especially when compared to years past.  It is refreshing to look outside and, instead of seeing bare trees and dead grass, see this pure white, glistening blanket of snow.  It reminds me of what Jesus does for us in our death.  In Revelation, chapter 7 talks about all creation worshiping God at the end times.  "A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white." (verse 9)  It goes on to say in regard to those robed in white, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (verse 14)
So whether you appreciate or bemoan the freshly fallen snow, use this opportunity to rejoice in the promise of our Lord.  That in our death, we are brought to new life, through Him, washed and made clean in His blood.

First Thursday- Praise Him

Last night, we gathered in the sanctuary around a cross of candles in an attempt to dissolve the cares of this world while meditating on His awe-inspiring creation and His unimaginably, passionate love for it all.  We read Psalm 148 which talks about the heavens, the heights, His angels, the sun, moon and stars, the earth, sea monsters and all deeps, fire, hail, snow, frost, stormy wind, mountains, hills, fruit trees, all cedars, wild animals, cattle creeping things, flying birds, Kings of the earth, all peoples praising the name of the Lord.  I couldn't help but to notice that the candles making up the cross were dancing last night.  That sounds weird, but it is true.  The flames would not hold steady.  They would swell, shrink, sway to and fro.  They were dancing.  To me, it looked an awful lot like THEY were even praising God, dancing with joy to be in His presence.  So, I am making it a goal to be on the look-out for other things that are unexpectedly praising.  Some thoughts from our group last night were sunsets, sunrises, the stars, the ocean...

The New Covenant

“…wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’”

-Matthew 2:1-2

Just the other day, I learned that the wise men were Gentiles. Not Jews. So, I had to remind myself what the distinction between the two groups was exactly...
Jews are direct descendants from Israel (Jacob, Joseph technicolor dream coat’s dad). They were considered God’s chosen people. They regarded all foreigners as inferior and referred to anyone who was not a Jew as a Gentile. Promises made by God to the Jews did not apply to Gentiles.
Then Jesus was born. This promise of salvation, that came in the form of a little baby, was for both Jews and Gentiles. So everyone. The visit made by the wise men to the nativity is ever more important because it shows that from the very beginning, Jesus was their Lord and Savior too.
This is proven further when Paul later says,
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)
By sending His son to die for Jew and Gentile alike, God made a new covenant with all people. Remember that as you enjoy the potential of the new year. God became flesh, died, and defeated death, for everyone. For all of time.

Prayer: All loving God, Thank you for your saving grace and for being the Savior of the whole world. You are worthy of all our praise! Amen.