Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:1-10

Since New Year’s Day, the lights have been going out and the neighborhood getting darker.  Some turned off the Christmas lights immediately, others through the past week (and, some still have them on). 

Over the weekend, we started to take down the decorations and the tree.  We removed all the ornaments and I was taking off the strings of lights when I found one last ornament – one that said Joy.

Joy.  It can be so elusive for many during the holiday season.  For some, it brings up the grief of loss, especially if it is one of the first Christmas seasons without a loved one.  For others, the ongoing crises in the world, the country, and even within our families and friends.  Health has been difficult for a lot of people I know, including a bout within our household before Christmas.  We were unable to do a lot of things we normally do, and that was sad.  We have some friends going through serious issues and know the season was not necessarily the “most wonderful time of the year.”

Yet there was that Joy ornament.  It spoke to me as I removed the lights, and took the tree outside.  While I am not feeling it right now, I know that ultimately joy awaits.  Isaiah reminds us that God will give us strength, God will uphold us.

If you are going through a joyless time, I am not going to tell you that a few scripture verses will fix it.  I will say, however, that God is still with you, God walks with you and you can turn to God.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

“Be still, and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10

The other night we had multiple appliances running and lately, our dryer is very loud.  We could not hear the television, and could barely hear each other.  When we paused the dryer, for a moment, everything was silent and it was wonderful.

This morning the snow is falling, there is very little traffic on our street and in the stillness, I am aware of God’s presence. 

Soon, the neighborhood will be filled with the sounds of the snowblowers, but for right now, it is quiet and peaceful.

It is in these moments we need to silence our thoughts and still our actions so we can be more receptive to God’s presence.

No matter where you are this morning, take some time in silence, reflect on God and find some peace.

Pastor Bill

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16

In yesterday’s sermon text (Luke 3:7-18), John the Baptist gives examples of how we should live:  repent, be generous and gracious, give to those in need, do not take advantage of others, etc.

The passage from Hebrews reinforces John’s teaching (as does much of scripture).  We are to continually give God praise and do good.  It is a simple way of life, a life of repentance, praise and care, summed up perfectly in loving God, loving our neighbors and loving ourselves.

As we quickly approach Christmas and a New Year, consider how you can continually offer a sacrifice of praise and do good to those around you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:2-6

“I will trust and not be afraid.” Powerful words from the Prophet Isaiah and yet it is our call, to trust in God with all our hearts and not be afraid. 

During our adult formation class on angels, we’ve been talking about how God sends angels to minister to us, to help us, to guide us and to protect us.  Sometimes we do not even know an angel was present, yet God sent one in our time of need.

Bad things will happen in life, we live in a fallen world, yet have trust in God and then give God the glory when the good things happen.

As you travel through this second week of Advent, take some time, give God some glory, and with joy, draw water from the wells of salvation for God is good.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:15-17

We are called to be peacemakers, we are called to live in Christ’s peace, we are called to peace.  And yet it seems so difficult.  The world is in crisis, there are wars and rumors of wars, there are active battles all around the war (including places other than Ukraine and the Middle East), and there are deep divisions among Americans.  We even see a lack of peace within our churches, our work and our homes.  Quite simply, we seem to lack peace.

How can you be an agent of peace?  How can I be an agent of peace?  It can be so hard, yet we are called to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.  One of the things I am striving to do over this season of Thanksgiving and as we enter into Advent is to strive for peace.  The first place to do this is within my own heart, for if I am not at peace within, I cannot show peace to others.

I ask for your prayers for me in this, and I will pray for your peace as well.

May you all have a peaceful and grateful Thanksgiving.

Peace (and I mean it),

Pastor Bill

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