by George | Sep 19, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Over My Head
“My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:20-23
Reading an old Peanuts comic strip the other day, I found something very relevant for the situation we are in today.
Linus: “Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you were in over your head?
Charlie Brown: “That’s happened to me a lot lately… As soon as I get up in the morning, I feel I’m in over my head!”
Anxiety over the increased number of Covid cases, vaccine mandates, mask requirements… So many concerns…
Coming into the office this morning, I discovered that a co-worker had been crying.
“I feel so stressed… I just want this thing to be over.”
I’m in agreement with her sentiments…. My prayer every day is for the Lord to remove the Covid virus, for healing for folks that have it and that people would draw close to the Lord.
Jeremiah was distressed about the situation in Israel. Many had been killed or died from famine. Others were taken into captivity in Babylon. The temple had been destroyed, and the walls of Jerusalem had been torn down.
In the midst of his distress, he remembered the faithfulness of God.
“My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:20-23
God is faithful… Because of this, I have hope that in His unending mercy and love, He will hear our prayers for relief. God will answer in His time and way.
Peace.
by George | Sep 7, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Clogged Vacuum
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
I decided to vacuum my car this weekend. Plugging in the machine and turning it on
I began the process of ridding my car of crumbs and dirt.
One problem. The vacuum wasn’t working very well. I kept trying to make it work. Nope, same result. I thought about putting it up, and waiting until I take the car through the carwash. I could borrow their vacuum. Someday.
Instead, I decided to find out what the problem was.
I unplugged the vacuum and unscrewed the hose.
A clump of hair, a bread tie, and a cap from a 2 liter soda were the culprits.
Once I got rid of the blockage, it was amazing how good the vacuum worked!
In a similar way, sin can clog our prayer life. It hinders communication and communion with God.
Here’s a few verses about this subject:
“If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;”
Psalms 66:18
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2
It can even affect our marriages…
“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”
1 Peter 3:7
But, take heart, there is forgiveness available for us!
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
So, if your prayer life seems to be clogged like my vacuum was, God provides a way to “un-clog” it, and restore fellowship.
by George | Aug 31, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Failed Starter
“And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.”
Acts 7:24-25
Oakland A’s relief pitcher Andrew Chafin calls himself a “failed starter.”
He’s referring to his lack of success starting ballgames earlier in his career. Because of this, he was moved to the bullpen, and Chafin has found success since then. Last night, he successfully finished the ballgame, earning a save.
Moses could be considered a “failed starter.” When he came of age in Egypt, he saw the cruelty and injustice against his people. Moses was determined to do something about it. (He does this seemingly without God’s direction.)
“Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
Exodus 2:11-12
The next day, two of his brethren were fighting. Moses tried to break them up. One of them said:
“But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”
Exodus 2:14
It was known. Pharaoh came looking for Moses. So, Moses flees for his life.
Instead of the bullpen, Moses goes to the sheep pen. He becomes a shepherd.
But God isn’t finished with Moses. From the burning bush, God calls Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land. Moses is very hesitant, but God was firm with him.
“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:10
Also, God promises to be with him.
“And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”
Exodus 3:12
God clearly wasn’t finished with Moses, and He’s not through with you.
So, if you are a “failed starter,” remember that you are still on the team, and God has plans for you, a hope and a future.
