O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror. My soul also is struck with terror, while you, O LORD — how long? Psalm 6:1-3

Have you had those days?  Times when things just seem so wrong or chaotic that you feel like the psalmist and wonder “how long O Lord”?  I have.  There are times when I pray and pray and feel like God is not listening or willing to answer my prayer. 

The psalms take us through the normal human emotions, including some depressing verses such as these.  This is a great reminder that the scriptures are more than old stories from a land far from us, they speak to us and our condition.  Psalms such as 6 remind us that we all have doubts from time to time and often these times of darkness can often lead us to a greater spiritual awakening.

If you are praying “How long, O Lord”, hold on for God will respond.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

Psalm 91 has often been called the “Soldier’s Prayer” as a WWI Army Commander gave his soldiers a prayer card with this psalm.

It is a helpful passage of scripture for us today as well – serving as a reminder that our trust is to be placed in God for it is God who provides us all we need.

As you travel through this week, spend some time in the shelter of the Most High.  Find comfort and solace within God’s shadow.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

⁶Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ ⁸He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. ⁹If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'” Luke 13:6-9

In this parable, the gardener asks the landowner for a little more time to tend to the tree.  He was asking for a second chance.  We serve the God of second chances, a God who offers forgiveness and mercy in the midst of a society that often rejects. 

The good news of the gospel is just that – God offers us mercy, God offers us multiple second chances, so go out today with your head lifted up, feel God’s mercy and be at peace.

Pastor Bill

³³“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. ³⁵Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. ³⁶If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.” Luke 11:33-36

As I read this passage, I thought a lot about a recent class in our ongoing bible study on angel.  We explored the fallen angels, the demons, and their influence on today’s society. 

This passage is very serious – how we look at the world, at each other, can indicate our spiritual health.  Are we looking at each other with the light of Jesus or are we looking at each other through darkness? 

In a time of political upheaval, a contentious election, fears (on “both” sides) and trepidation about the election day itself, we need to fill ourselves with the light of Christ and then put that light onto the lampstand so all may see.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

Sometimes things get out of hand.  You are running late, the traffic is worse than normal, someone keeps texting you and you reach your boiling point and snap.  It happens.  We all fall victim to our own tempers at different times.

The good news is our Lord is gracious and merciful.  God is slow to anger (and that is very good news because if there were anyone who should be angry at us, it is God). 

As you enter into this week, try to be slow to anger, find love even for the driver in front of you, and aim for compassion.

And if that fails, remember God is merciful so be merciful as well, even to yourself.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
          your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. Psalm 89:5

For some, the Aurora Borealis was visible in our area last week.  Others commented on a recent sunrise and we, again, had the opportunity to watch a beautiful sunset with a crowd of people clapping. 

It is amazing how something as “simple” as a beautiful sky can change our moods and disposition.  Yet if you think about it, the heavens are praising God’s wonders.  As people clapped for the sunset, I could not help but think how they are giving God praise (even if they do not believe in God).

Nature is an excellent sign of God’s providence.  The earth springs forth fruits and vegetables, the trees give us a stunning display in the autumn, the sky provides a light show beyond any fireworks.  Walking through the woods can heal us as much as sitting by the side of a body of water.

As you travel through this week, take some time to enjoy this season, be outside, get fresh air and look around for you will see God’s handiwork.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:4-5

There is a saying “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”  Yet, sometimes we are to do the same thing over and over in the hope that something happens.  We are called to pray repeatedly and continually.  We are called to reach out to people who may not be interested in God. 

In this passage, the fishermen had been out all night with no luck.  They have done the work, yet now Jesus calls them to cast the nets out one more time.  As the passage continues, they catch so many fish the nets nearly break.  Jesus uses this miracle to show Simon Peter that he and the others will soon fish for people.

The difference between the men fishing all night long without any catch versus Jesus calling them out one more time?  Jesus is with them, and they are following what He tells them to do.

In your journey this week, listen to what Jesus is calling you to do, be obedient and watch the results.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

¹⁰And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” ¹¹In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Luke 3:10

We have been going through the house and packing up things we no longer use.  This includes clothing, DVD’s (yes, even video tapes), toys, books and anything else.  Some things go directly to people we know, others get donated.  It is a long process, but we need to thin things out.  It is amazing how many things one can collect over time.

In response to their baptism, people begin to ask John “how should we live” and John gives them some simple instructions.  If you have extra, give it to someone who has need.  If we all did this, even if only to clean out our closets, we could meet many needs in our communities, although there is a much better reason.

There are a lot of needs out there.  There are many struggling with many things and we can all help.  If we take the attitude of sharing what we have without judgement, we are doing God’s work.  This same attitude can then grow beyond your and my household, affecting all peoples of the earth.

Do you have an extra coat?  Share it with one who has none for that act of giving can move mountains.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

²¹“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ ²²But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:21-22

Jesus is telling us something important here.  The commandment says “Thou shalt not murder” but He extends that to far more.  Jesus is saying we need to work things out with each other, to reconcile with each other, or perhaps to love each other.

This is where Jesus takes the law and applies it to our hearts.  It is so far much more than following a bunch of commandments and statutes, it is about our relationships with each other.

In this politically volatile season listen to the words of Jesus.  Watch your anger, work things out, reconcile and above all, love one another as He has loved us.

Peace,

Pastor Bill