by George | Nov 27, 2020 | Community News
Give Thanks IN All Things
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thessalonians 5:18
“In everything give thanks…” But I don’t want to…
I’m upset that the Corona Virus is still here and seems to be getting worse. It troubles me that my son was exposed to the virus and now has some of the symptoms.
What if I get it? There’s so much work to be done.
We are contemplating not getting together with family because it’s too risky…
So, today I’m struggling with giving thanks IN all things.
I need to remember some basic truths.
- Giving thanks is God’s will. The verse ends with: “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
- Giving thanks was something our biblical heros did. Remember how that the disciples, after being flogged for preaching Christ, praised and thanked God that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name’s sake. Remember Paul and Silas praying and praising God at midnight? They were in jail, bound with chains with open wounds from the beating they received.
- Giving thanks ushers in the peace of God. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. I don’t know about you, but I sure need that peace.
- Giving thanks can be done even when things aren’t going my way. “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”Habakkuk 3:17-18 . So today, I resolve to give thanks IN all things… Even if I don’t feel like it. “Praise the Lord anyhow!” Happy THANKSgiving!
by George | Nov 23, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Wait On the LORD
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”
Psalms 27:13-14
I went to get blood work done the other morning. Getting there early is my goal, so I can be on time for work. To my dismay, several others got there ahead of me.
I hate to wait!
Honestly, I was going to try and do some writing as I waited, but I find it hard to think when I get frustrated.
It seems 2020 is a year of waiting.
We have had to wait, while sheltering in place, to be able to eat in a restaurant, attend sporting events and go to the movie theater, just to name a few.
We have also been waiting for the end of the of the Corona Virus.
Sometimes it can be discouraging.
The psalmist nearly lost heart, but he believed that he “would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.”
Then the psalmist urges us to wait on the LORD.
He also says to “Be of good courage.”
We could live in fear if we dwell on all the bad things happening around us.
The LORD reminded Joshua: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Finally, when we wait on the LORD and take courage in Him, He will strengthen our heart.
Isaiah tells us:
“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Remember that “… The joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
So, while we wait on the LORD, continue to pray that the LORD will vanish the Corona Virus.
Keep in mind the psalmist’s hope that he “would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
A better day is coming.
Don’t be afraid.
He will strengthen us.
May the joy and peace of God be yours today.
by George | Nov 19, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Be a “Stretcher Bearer.”
“And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.”
Mark 2:4
He was paralyzed. How was he going to go see Jesus for healing?
The only way to get there would be with the help of his friends.
This would not be an easy task. The paralyzed man was dead weight. He would have to be carried.
So they lift the man on a stretcher, which was possibly a thick blanket.
The Bible doesn’t say how far they had to carry him, but I imagine it was hard work!
Then they get to the house where Jesus is. Standing room only! And, there’s a crowd around the house.
I imagine that the friends were disappointed. But, something made them not give up!
It was the love and compassion they had for their friend. They had to try something “outside the box.” So they climbed up to the roof of the house, pulling their paralyzed friend up to the top probably with ropes. This too was no easy task!
Then they cut into the roof which might have been made of straw and mud. (Luke uses the word tiles.)
G. Campbell Morgan said that original Hebrew text conveys the idea that they tore into the roof. A sense of urgency!
Can you imagine being inside the house listening to Jesus, when the ceiling starts coming apart?
Then, a man is lowered into the room.
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.””
Mark 2:5
It doesn’t say that the reason the man is paralyzed because of sin, but Jesus knows that forgiveness is his greatest
need.
However, Jesus did heal the man of paralysis.
I’m sure the man’s friends were thankful for that. They sure didn’t want to carry him home again!
They… Not just one person. It sure would have been hard if not impossible for one person to carry, climb up to the roof and lower their paralytic friend to where Jesus was.
So, the question is. Who can we be a “stretcher bearer” for today? We can work together to help those who are weak.
Paul tells us to:
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
I Thessalonians 5:14
May God grant us the discernment to determine who needs our help today and may we work together to help them.
