The God of Miracles

We serve a mighty and powerful God. A God who has done the miraculous throughout history. In the Bible, we see moment after moment where God intervenes in a miraculous way. What about now? 

We continue to use this year's theme of "Seeing God With 2020 vision".  However, with how the Covid-19 virus has effected us, we can easily lose sight of God or maybe it makes us sit up and really seek God. Little did we know when we chose this theme that we would be facing such a world-wide destructive force.  Pastors everywhere are seeking ways to help their people find God in the midst of their fears.  And that is my intention as well.  

 Next, throughout April, I would like for us to look at the theme 

"The God of Miracles!" 

Today's Message

NO FOOLING!

April 2020 begins with April Fools Day 

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved 
it is the power of God.

You have heard it said, "I believe in miracles".  I don't say that anymore. It's not that I don't pray for miracles to happen.  I do.... but I've changed my faith-focus by stating more emphatically, "I BELIEVE IN THE GOD OF MIRACLES"!!  

The world might see this as blind faith and as foolishness just like Paul told the Corinthian church about how powerful the message of the cross was.  This Easter and the remainder of April, I invite you to look at the God of Miracles  with me and delight in our Miraculous Saviour, "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

I continue to pray for all of you to stay safe, healthy and be wise to see more clearly the God of miracles.  No fooling!! Stay tuned as we walk together and learn from God's word. I end this devotion with this quote.

  

The God of hope

The God of hope.

As the world around us grinds to a near halt and we spend so much time in isolation, and perhaps becoming a society of hypochondriacs (although understandable), I’m sure there is still an element of fear and uncertainty of our future.  However, I see some light peeking through the dark clouds of despair as I hear of people using their time to be with family or to show appreciation for our courageous people in the front lines of health care, governing bodies and much needed services.  I smile at those parents who are finding creative ways to do things with their kids that they couldn’t get time to do before or those who are making phone calls or email, texts or social media to keep in touch. 

I'm so grateful that Christian caring shines through the dark clouds…

Quote: “The great hope of Christianity is not that we get to escape all the suffering of the world, but that God is going to use us to be a part of his healing project…” Keas Keasler

With time on our hands, I find myself rather reflective.  For instance….. I’m so appreciative to have spring arriving.  I even got a bit of a tan being out in the beautiful sunny days we’ve been given.   I hear the birds singing and a few flowers poking their heads out of the ground and I reflect on how wonderful it is to see a new season finally arrive.  I encourage each of you to take some time to focus on the signs of spring and give thanks to the God of hope.

As I was growing up, music was a dynamic medium in our society.  As I write this, my thoughts go to a song that many of my age group and older will remember.  I leave you with this chourus to sing (or google it) and enjoy.                             
May the God of hope hold you safely in the palm of His hand.

Though April showers may come your way

They bring the flowers that bloom in May

So if it's raining have no regrets

Because it isn't raining rain you know, it's raining violets

And where you see clouds upon the hills

You soon will see crowds of daffodils

So keep on looking for a blue bird

And list'ning for his song whenever April showers come along.

FACING UNCERTAIN TIMES

What to do when you don’t know what to do!

Sunday, March 22, 2020

               

TEXT                      2 Chronicles 20: 3-4, 9, 12, 15

INTRODUCTION

                                Good morning dear church family and all who might be reading this. Today is Sunday, March 22 and I want to share a few moments of encouragement.  Like most Sunday's I am usually behind the pulpit of the Talbotville Church.  But of course I can only look out upon an empty church.  In my mind’s eye I see each one of you sitting before me.  As your Pastor, you are in my thoughts, in my heart and in my prayers.  I expect that you are keeping yourself and your family in isolation as a response to stopping the spread of the coronavirus.  Like you, I am alarmed and deeply concerned. 

I encourage you to keep in contact with family and friends through our technology and even though you need to “social distance” yourself, consider how you can give comfort and support to others in need as I know this church family has been in the practice of.  Look after yourselves, and look for ways to love your neighbour.

                Today, I want to encourage you to do one more thing.  Look toward God and pray.  

As your minister I have been searching for ways that I can bring comfort and encouragement to you.  As God often does when I seek Him, He inspires me with a scripture passage, so please give your attention to a story found in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. 

                               

BACKGROUND

In these verses, we find Israel under the leadership of King Jehosaphat in a state of fear.

They are under the threat of a vast army who are approaching to attack them. What was the Kings immediate strategy? He sought help.  And the people came to seek help.

In verses 3-4, we hear what the King immediately did, 

"Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

So let us learn from Jehosaphat what to do when we don’t know what to do!  

In verse. 9, the King begins with this prayer  ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.

Our Lesson

       We cry out to the Lord knowing He will hear us.  This King of Israel placed the situation and His people into the hands of God.  And as we pray for each other and our world, we place ourselves and each other into the hands of God.   

In verse 12, these next words from the King could easily be words for us today.  “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 

Our Lesson

        What to do when we don’t know what to do…. We look to God.

God responds through a priest to the congregation.  His words give great encouragement to us today as they did for the people of Judah facing uncertainty and fear.

Listen to what God Himself is saying to us in this verse 15 

"This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s."

Our Lesson 

God is bigger than this enemy.  Do not fear and do not be discouraged for the battle belongs to the Lord.

CONCLUSION:   So here’s what to do when you don’t know what to do.  PRAY!

The prayer Jesus taught his followers seems to me to be so perfect for us today. Join with me and pray.  

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

BLESSING

May God the Father speak softly his words of love, grace and comfort, May God the Son remind you how precious you are to Him that He gave His life for you, and may God the Holy Spirit indwell your being knowing He walks with you on this journey.  Amen!

Seeing God with 2020 Vision

Matthew 14:25-31 (NIV)

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

This has got to be one of my favourite stories about the Lord.  The reason it means so much to me is that I can very easily replace Peter with myself.  Try it for yourself.

Lessons I've learned and offer to you.

1.  Jesus walking on the top of the water is a miracle. Something I cannot do unless the lake is frozen.

2.  Jesus invites Peter into the miracle.  Despite his surroundings, the lake, the wind, the waves..... drowning.  Peter obeys the Lord and steps out of the boat in faith in the One who is greater than all there is to fear.   Peter made a choice to step out in faith.  I too have a choice to make when the Lord calls me to come to him, especially when my focus is on my surroundings.

3.  Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to sink.   There is a message Jesus is making and it comes in Peter's cry, "Lord, save me!"   And Jesus immediately reaches out to Peter and pulls him up onto the water with Him.  O what a peaceful moment for Peter, safe in the arms of Jesus.   Perhaps you are like me and Peter, when situations arise, we tend to take our eyes off the Lord and back onto what we fear.

4. And one more thing.  One of the 12 got out of the boat. The other 11? Likely still fearful but watching as Peter steps out into deep water.  When Jesus invites us to come to Him, be assured others are watching.  Like Peter, the Lord uses us, His followers, to inspire others to also trust Jesus.

5.  Take a moment and ask yourself, are you in a state of fear as you look at your surroundings. Do you find yourself sinking.  

6.  So Like Peter in our story:  Refocus.  Cry out to Him and He will lift you up.   My thoughts from these lessons go to this little song we sometimes sing, "TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS".

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Knock, Knock

Knock, Knock

There are two wonderful scriptures that are invitations for us from Jesus Himself.  The first is from Matthew’s gospel.  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ~Matthew 7:7

These are words directly from Jesus.  It is an invitation for us to knock at Heaven’s door.  The God who is greater than anything we face invites us to seek Him with whatever is burdening our hearts.  During this time of doors being closed all around us and we are told to isolate ourselves, isn’t it just like God to invite us to Himself.  His door opens to those who seek Him.  It is a good time for us to knock knowing “the door will be opened to you”.

The second verse Jesus states,

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” 

 ~Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

In this famous verse out of the book of Revelation, Jesus is being proactive.  He is the one knocking on the door of our lives, our hearts.  He doesn’t barge in.  He doesn’t break down the door.  He simply knocks, waiting for us to open the door to Him.  Notice, the door is without outside handle.  It must be opened from the inside.  When we do open the door to Him, we are blessed with His presence. 
We get to personally know Him and find genuine love and peace and joy. 

I think this is an opportune time for us to listen for his knocking and open the door for Him to enter.  After all, isn’t it fitting for what we are presently going through that the One who was able to calm the stormy sea is willing to be with us and is more than able to calm the storms we face?

I have to go, Someone is knocking at my door. 

May the peace of Christ be with you!

Knock, Knock, Knock

Knock, knock.  Who's there?  Orange.  Orange who? Orange you glad you have lots of time to be with family?   This is an old game that I remember playing as a kid and I hear children from time to time reciting a knock, knock joke.   Well, what we on planet earth are going through with keeping our social distance so the Corona Virus doesn't spread, is no joke.  As many organizations are closing their doors, our world comes to a near screeching halt.  Social media has increased greatly as people have the need to express themselves.  (Never thought toilet paper would be such a sought out commodity and talked about as if it was the new gold)  Butt, let me continue.  As the doors shut on many of our regular, taken for granted, routines of life, I wonder if this can also be an opportunity.
For what?  Glad you asked.  An opportunity to stop the busyness and simply be with one another. I recall one winter ice storm when power went out all over our area for several days. What I remember was time at my in-laws gathered around the kitchen gas stove keeping warm.  What you will remember about this time is whatever you make it.  Parents, you can show your children how to use this time as an opportunity to be together, not because you have to, but because you want to. And as they look back at this time, they will remember not as much about fear but of love and remember how they used the opportunity to grow stronger as a family.  And this is also a good opportunity for us to pray with thankful hearts for God's protection, peace and love.