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18/06/2022

We don't often think about reading the Book of Lamentations. This passage, however, is one that we can all relate to at one time or another. My son died fourteen years ago and his burial plot is a very old one that had been in the family for over 80 years. He is buried in the front row of the cemetery and I drive by it almost every day and often several times a day. It's easy for me to remember the misery, the wormwood and the gall. I miss him and always will, but I have hope as does the writer of Lamentations because of God's loving kindness, and my faith in the promises of Christ that we will be reunited with Christ in eternity. My pain is mine and yours is yours, but there is no escaping suffering in life; and for some, hope is lost. There are those who will turn away from God for a time or permanently because they can't get past the anger, the pain or the hopelessness. The writer or writers of Lamentations knew pain. They had witnessed the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the murder or exile of so many of their countrymen and women. With all of that, they remembered the promises of God; the many times God had forgiven them and brought them back to their land. They had hope. When we are in pain, we, too, need to remember the times when God had been there in the past and believe that he will always be at our side to see us through the pain and bring us to hope.

16/04/2022

People today don't really know how to be content. People don't stay at the same address, the same job, or even in the same marriage for longer than a few years. We are so easily dissatisfied with our situation and we aren't willing to be flexible. Rather than changing our sails, we rail at the wind. We don't know how to just be content. Paul tells the Philippians in the passage that He is able to find contentment in all situations--in abundance and want, in hunger and satiation. In verse 13, he reveals the source of contentment: Christ, who strengthens him to be able to do all things. But most of us don't have the willingness to allow Christ to strengthen us in our discontent. We look for an easy way out of an uncomfortable situation and we weaken ourselves and our Christian walk in the process.

14/04/2022

This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday and we begin the most solemn week of the year – Holy Week. How will you walk with Jesus this week? Try not to let the last minute chores of Easter preparation get in the way of your Lenten journey. Think of the ways you can use each day to walk with Jesus along his way to the cross and to his resurrection. Our churches give us many opportunities during Holy Week to gather in prayer and remembrance. Beyond that, we need to decide what we can do in our daily lives.

Perhaps on Monday we can make an attempt to help someone, call someone, do something for a stranger. On Tuesday, perhaps we can take a minute and pray for those who have served as models of faith for us, both in our families as well as for those who have served in ministry. We might decide that we can fast each day of the week instead of just Friday. As Wednesday is traditionally called "spy Wednesday" we might think of someone we need to ask for forgiveness. Thursday is a great day to appreciate the Lord's example of washing the feet of his disciples and thank those who have served us. Especially we should thank parents and others whose care for us we take for granted. Friday we can think of those times when we have complained about the problems and pains of everyday life and offer them up as a small sacrifice when we remember the torture suffered on our behalf by Jesus. Saturday, we wait secure in the knowledge that Jesus has paid the ultimate price for our sins and has gained for us eternal life. Let us all walk together with Jesus this week.

Palm Sunday! The people shouted in joy as Jesus entered the city and then shouted for his death before the week was over.

13/04/2022

Sometimes it is just plain hard being nice all the time. Sure, it's easy when people are nice back. But when you face opposition day after day, sometimes you just want to give up. Ask any customer service representative how easy it is to be nice to people who only want to complain. The customer may always be right, but they aren't always nice. Yet a customer service rep must maintain a pleasant attitude--even in the face of an angry, cursing customer. That can't be easy. In this passage, Paul encourages the Galatians, who were a group of fickle people, not to give up the practice of doing good. He knew that it was a weary business, but he ensures them that it will eventually be worth it when they "reap" the benefits. He knew that, eventually, good does triumph over evil and that God's people are always rewarded for their faithfulness.

13/04/2022

08/04/2022

Dr. Jim Clark tells the story of an operation he had to perform on a young girl. She needed blood, but the hospital was out of her blood type. The doctor approached her twin brother, who had the same blood type. Dr. Clark explained to the boy that it was a matter of life or death and would he be willing to give his blood to her. The boy sat quietly for a moment, then got up to say goodbye to his parents. After the nurses took his blood, he asked the doctor, "So when will I die?" He had given blood believing that he was giving his life for hers. Both children were fine, but what an incredible story. His love for his sister was so great, that he was willing to die for her. In this scripture, we see the same love: a love that would "die" for a friend. Jesus has this kind of love for us. But there was no misunderstanding when He gave His blood. He knew full well the incredible price He would pay. He did it anyway. In this world we live in, we share heroic stories of people who paid the ultimate price to save another. We find them inspirational because they are rare. This kind of love is rare, but it is exactly this type of love that Jesus has for us, that He gave His life so that we might have ours.

06/04/2022

Jeremiah was trying to do God's work. He was charged with encouraging the people to return to God, to stop worshiping idols, to turn away from evil or they would be destroyed. So they decided to kill Jeremiah. God warned him about their plan. So appropriate that this comes as we are nearing the time when the chief priests and the Pharisees were plotting against Jesus. None of us likes to have someone point out our faults. Most of the time we don't act out of anger, but there are times when people have actually lost their jobs or their lives for being "whistle-blowers." Jeremiah did not stop prophesizing; he continued to work at bringing the people back to God. Have you ever been in a situation where you knew there was wrong-doing, and you had to make a choice whether or not to tell those responsible about it? Knowing that there can be repercussions for acting, would we have the courage to act? It is not easy to speak truth, and yet that is what God expects from us. When we believe we need to speak truth in any situation, the first thing to do is pray, and trust that God will provide the words as he did with Jeremiah.

30/03/2022

Lord, Help me be light that shines brightly in the darkest places. Don't let me cover my light out of fear or intimidation or shyness. Let it shine so that all may see the work You have done in my life. Amen.

30/03/2022

We all need healing, but are we "blind" to where we need healing the most? Bartimeus in today's gospel knew what needed healing and who he needed to go to in order to obtain healing. Physical needs, such as Batimaeus' blindness, are obvious, but spiritual, emotional or psychological healing can be hidden even from ourselves. Those whose specialty includes marketing or advertising are well aware of this and use this to create a need for their products in us. Sometimes it is hard to see what we really need – or hard to admit it. Are we still carrying pain from a betrayal, a loss, an unfulfilled need buried so deeply that we are afraid to open the wound? Are we suffering from an addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling or our phones? We are told there is a new "condition" called FOMO, the fear of missing out of something. These addictions can take away from our families and even our ability to hold down a job, Doctors know that wounds sometimes need to be opened in order for healing to occur. Jesus is the Doctor who knows were our deepest wounds are found and is waiting for us to come to him in order that they may be healed. Bartimaeus knew this. We need to have the faith in Jesus to bring our wounds to the light and love of his healing power, but first we need to have the courage to face them. Let's take advantage of every opportunity to ask for healing. Jesus is waiting.

26/03/2022

Our human vocabularies are vast. Most adults know 20,000-35,000 words in their native language. Avid readers probably know substantially more. That's a lot of words! But even with those vast vocabularies, there are moments when words elude us. Sometimes this happens when we pray. Sometimes our need is so great that we cannot find the words to express it in our own language. That is when the Holy Spirit steps in and intercedes for us. He searches our hearts and our minds and sees what we need. He translates that need directly to God, in a language that only God understands. In a sense, the Holy Spirit becomes a "code talker." His transmission by-passes our human brain and his code--the "wordless groans"--is unintelligible to the Adversary. In this way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we don't know how to help ourselves.

26/03/2022

Lord, let us seek to lead others to know you. We cannot force them to turn to you in repentance and faith. We know they must turn willingly. And we know that it is you who sends preachers out to preach your Word to the lost, and that it is you who brings men dead in trespasses and sins to life that they might convert to you. Let us seek to be used of you to turn many to Christ, knowing that "he who wins souls is wise. " (Proverbs 11:30)

22/02/2022

God has gone to the ends of the earth to make sure that you will always know that, no matter what, He has got you covered. He will keep you at rest, He will strengthen you, and He will see you through the tough times. In everything you do, every trial that you face, and in every challenge, that comes your way, you should know that you have no reason to fret or worry. God is with you.