For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

It is the first week of Advent, the week of Hope.

This morning’s message on Hope comes from Kiran. Click HERE for the Video

This is an excerpt from her 8th grade chapel entitled “Five Words”.  The full message can be found here

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

It is the first week of Advent, the week of Hope.

This morning’s message on Hope comes from Kiran. Click HERE for the Video

This is an excerpt from her 8th grade chapel entitled “Five Words”.  The full message can be found here

Psalm 62:1-2

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

It is Monday of Thanksgiving week.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I get up, make breakfast and start preparing for the meal.  We turn on the Thanksgiving Day parade and spend a quiet morning together. 

Whether it is just us or we have family over, it is a wonderful day.  Friday (black Friday according to the retailers), we purchase a tree from a local tree farm, and start to decorate for Christmas.  It again is a wonderful day of family life. 

Before any of this happens, however, is anything but peaceful.  As my wife and I are both clergy we each have multiple services to prepare before we can take time off and, of course, our daughter has homework to finish.  The days before a holiday can be quite hectic.

I’m sure things are similar for many of you, no matter what your occupation.  In today’s world, taking time off comes with a price, and that is unfortunate.

However, we can find those moments, and that is the point of Monday Morning Meditation – to take a moment before everything gets crazy and sit in silence before the Lord.

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

I pray you have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration, and that you can give yourself a moment for your soul to wait in silence.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

¹Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! ³If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? ⁴But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. ⁵I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; ⁶my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. ⁷O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. ⁸It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Are you in the depths?  In a way, we all are right now, with conditions constantly in flux, the holidays fast approaching, supply lines disrupted, prices rising, and the rest.  Honestly, you do not need me to remind you, do you?

This morning, listen to the Psalmist.  In the depths, he cries out to the Lord, his soul waits for the Lord.  And, he remembers the most important part – “For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.”

Steadfast love – a love that never changes (even if we mess up), a love that is consistent, constant and overwhelming.  You are loved.  Remember that.

As you enter into this new week remember these things.  Hope in the Lord, for God loves you and will redeem you.  Even if you are in the depths.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Our utmost thanks to all who have honorably served the United States military.

Thank you for sacrificing part of your life to defend our freedom.

Thank you to your families who shared your gifts with us as you served.

Thank you for all you have done for our nation, our communities and our lives.

May God bless you abundantly!

Matthew 14:22-36

²²Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

²⁸Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

³⁴When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. ³⁵After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, ³⁶and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

This passage always amazes me. Peter gets out of the boat.  He has the faith to try, but when the wind kicks up, he shows fear.  Sometimes I think Jesus got a little rough with Peter – out of all the apostles, at least Peter tried and of course he was afraid.  Have you ever been on rough waters when a storm kicked in? I do get what Jesus is saying – “I’m right here calling you to me – do not let anything stop you from coming to me, not even your fear.”

When was the last time you stepped out in faith and tried something different, difficult or even nearly impossible?  As you go through this week, keep your eyes open for those opportunities and step out in faith like Peter.  Maybe you will stumble, maybe you will succeed, maybe you will do both.  But you will not if you stay in the boat.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:  “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9

In the greater church, November 1^st is the Feast of All Saints, a day to remember all those who now reside with God (both those we know and those we are unaware of).  It is often a day to remember our departed loved ones.

In Mexican tradition, it is Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.  It is a day to honor those who have passed on and is celebrated with parades, food and special cookies called Sugar Skulls.  The celebrations are intended to remember that those who have passed are still among us (the biblical “Great Cloud of Witnesses”).

Other traditions around the world have similar beliefs (and most are around this time of year). 

There is something to these celebrations – death is not the answer, rather a gateway to the next life.  While it is always sad when a loved one dies, and we should mourn their loss, we also can celebrate their life and legacy, as well as their continuing influence on us.

So whether you celebrate with a Mexican sugar skull or not, take some time today to remember some loved ones.  Give God a prayer of thanksgiving for their continuing influence on your life and consider how you want to influence others.

Peace,

Pastor Bill