by George | Jan 23, 2021 | Community News
But God
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”
Ephesians 2:4-5
Every morning, I put on my headphones and listen to the daily Bible reading when I go walking. When the speaker got to this verse, he seemed to pause, and the inflection of his voice changed, seemingly to emphasize the importance of these two words “… But God…”
Verse 1 tells us: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,”
Then, verses 2 and 3 describe the depraved, sinful state of man. It’s so bad that Paul said we were the “children of wrath.”
Things seemed pretty hopeless! Then, a Hero appears.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…”
God is rich in mercy… Because of His great love for us.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Because of His great love for us… He loves you more than you will ever comprehend!
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19
Our sinful state seemed hopeless, until God stepped in.
“But God…”
The events of this year leave us with a hopeless feeling….
“But God…”
Keep praying specifically for your needs, knowing that the God of our salvation will step in for you and answer your prayers.
“But God…”
by George | Jan 20, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Get Away
“So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”
Psalms 55:6
The postman puts the mail in the box. He sees a basketball in the yard. “I bet I could make that three point shot like I used to.” he thinks to him self.
So, he picks up the basketball and makes his best shot. Unfortunately it hits, and breaks a garage door window. The owners of the house frown at the embarrassed postal carrier.
The announcer says, “Wanna get away?”
We laugh at commercials like that, but there’s some truth in them.
Sometimes troubles in life make us want to get in an airplane or just drive somewhere. Anywhere. Just to get away…
David felt this way. He has trouble with his enemies. If that wasn’t bad enough a “friend” betrayed him.
It kind of seems weird that David, the mighty warrior who faced Goliath when he was a youth, would think of fleeing.
Dr. Ryan Cook said: “David’s heart expressed not the courage of the man who had faced down giants but the timidity of a bird.”
It’s a normal human reaction to want to split, but you don’t see David getting on the next plane to Hawaii.
David gives us a remedy.
- Prayer.
“As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me.”
- God will hear our prayer. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.” Psalms 55:17
- God will carry our burdens, and help us.
. “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalms 55:22
So, when things get tough and we “wanna get away”, but can’t, remember: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
Psalms 46:1
by George | Jan 17, 2021 | Community News
Peace Be Still
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
Mark 4:39
Imagine you are watching the ocean waves crashing into the shore. The waves suddenly get larger, and you can hear the wind howling.
Then, the waves become smaller and smaller. The wind becomes silent and starts to blow gently…
I was really angry about something… My voice became louder as I complained to my co workers standing nearby. One of them said calmly, “Peace, be still.”
I knew exactly why he said that. There was a storm brewing in my life, based on something so important…. that I can’t remember it now…
“Peace be still.” He uttered these words as a prayer that Jesus would calm the storm in my life, just as He calmed the storm long ago.
Jesus had said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.” Mark 4:35
So, their destination was never in doubt, or it shouldn’t have been.
The disciples became frightened in the midst of the storm. They awoke a sleeping Jesus and said “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38
Sometimes we forget that God is leading us to the other shore. We forget that He will never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
We tend to put our minds on the storms brewing, and before long we feel a storm brewing inside of us, and our soul becomes like the turbulent waves of the ocean. Waves of fear, anxiety and anger…
But the Master says “Peace be still.”
May the peace of God which passes all understanding fill your soul today. You WILL get to the other shore…
