Experience God with 20/20 Vision

As we begin the journey that is 2020, I am taking some liberty with the vision idea and that in this New Year we use all of our senses to experience God’s presence.

And, of course, we first begin with sight.  Genesis 2:9 says “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”  All around us is the beauty of nature.  Can you see God in nature?  Can you see the beauty of creation as a visual reminder of God’s presence in the world?

Yet we sometimes forget we, too, are a part of nature.  We were also created by the beautiful artist known as God and therefore we can see God in each other.  One of the themes I always teach is the “Imago Dei”, the Image of God.  For we were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), therefore we should recognize the image of God in all we meet.  Even if they are different, they, too, are created in God’s image.

When we look hard enough, when we open our eyes with 20/20 vision, we can see God’s acts through others, those “random acts of kindness”, those instances when we see Godly actions, those times when we see God in a smile, or twinkling eyes of children. 

This year use your 20/20 vision.  Look for the beauty of the earth, look for the Image of God in others, and be the Image of God by letting your light shine before others (Mt. 5:16).

Grace and peace,

Pastor Bill

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Rev. 21:1-6

We stand upon the transition from one year to another.  We are also entering a new decade!  The New Year is a natural time to consider changes in our lives.

As we begin a New Year (and Decade), we should continue to look for God’s new heaven and new earth – to wait with anticipation and hope for one day all will be restored – all will be made new.

And in the meantime, we wait with anticipation and hope for God’s intervention every day, for God is with us – that is His promise.

As you begin the New Year, consider your relationship with God.  Are you experiencing Jesus as Emmanuel?  Seek Him daily, offer your life to him daily, and realize that God’s dwelling place is truly among the people.

May God bless you abundantly in the New Year!

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Matthew 1:23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

For many this Christmas will be hard.  Some have lost spouses, or parents, or other loved ones.  Some are dealing with loved ones on hospice.  Some are facing questions about their health.  For all of you, I have good news.  God is with you.

For many this Christmas will be difficult.  Some are underemployed, or underpaid and struggle with their finances.  Some are seeking a job, while others struggle with their occupational calling.  For all of you, I have good news.  God is with you.

For many this Christmas will be difficult.  Some are in abusive relationships.  Some find relationships hard to develop.  Some are lonely.  For all of you, I have good news.  God is with you.

And I could go on.

We are about to celebrate the birth of Jesus and that makes all the difference.  Jesus is Emmanuel “God is with us” and he promises to remain with us (Mt. 28:8).

As we transition from the anticipation of Advent into the realization of the Incarnation at Christmas, cling to God’s promise.  God is with you.  God loves you. 

And may you find the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of Jesus Christ this Christmas.

Pastor Bill

I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.  Psalm 40:1-3

 It’s nine days until Christmas.  Many are scurrying about trying to get the preparations finished, and some are just starting.  It is a joyous festive time of year.  Or it is supposed to be.

Yesterday a sizable group from the church went caroling.  Unfortunately, due to a family situation, I was unable to attend, which is sad because I love to go caroling.  I was also involved in one of those “church conversations” that tend to leave pastors pretty flat after a really energetic worship service.   When I left the building, I was hardly in the Christmas spirit.

This time of year can be painful for many people.  For some, it is the first Christmas without a loved one.  For others it is a reminder of all we have lost over the years.  Many feel the financial burden of being underpaid, or seeking new employment only to be rejected.  Often health issues flare up in the season. People with food limitations cannot fully participate in the bounty of Christmas foods.  People with mobility issues cannot walk the live nativity, or the Christmas light displays and the list goes on.

Many may be in that “desolate pit” the Psalmist speaks of.

But the Psalmist never remains there. Even the Psalms of lament are filled with good news. Listen to what he says in verse 5: “You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.”

The good news of Christmas is this.  God is with us.  In our pain, in our grief, in our sickness, in our lament, in all of our condition, God is with us.  If you are in the desolate pit this morning, take some time to meditate upon Psalm 40, seek out a song of praise, and allow God to heal you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.  Ps. 130:5-6

We are in the season of Advent, a time of preparation, a time of waiting.  But people really do not like to wait.  What happens in a store with long lines?  People get grumpy (like me), people get impatient (like me), people look around to see if they are opening another line, or if a different line is shorter.

What about waiting for a return call, especially when waiting for medical news, or to hear from someone traveling in horrid weather?  We are anxious, we are nervous, we just do not want to wait.

But God knows that waiting is actually good for us.  God has us wait often.  The prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures spoke about the anointed one, the Messiah to come.  And they waited, never to see Him in their lifetimes.

When Jesus came and did not claim political power, even John the Baptist wondered if He was the one – John was waiting impatiently as he sat in prison.

We all have to wait for things.  Sometimes it is minor, such as waiting in that supermarket line, sometimes it is huge, like waiting by the bedside as a loved one returns to God.  But in all of this waiting, One remains with us.  The Psalmist said “in his word I hope” and that is huge.  For God’s word reminds us constantly and consistently that God will be with us.  His promise is to be with us “unto the end of the age.”  The Holy Spirit dwells within us.  The Son is called Emmanuel, “God with us” for a reason.

Today you may be waiting for something.  Hope in God’s word, for there you will find the promise.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Isaiah 40:3

The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed these words in the 8^th century B.C.  John the Baptist echoed them at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  They are ancient words that continue to have great meaning and significance to our lives as followers of Christ.

We have begun the season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas.  Advent is a time of preparation, a time to prepare to receive again the Christ Child, and to prepare for His return.

But as I said in worship yesterday, preparation is not about stockpiling food and water for the “end times” rather we are to prepare ourselves to both expect God and say “yes” to God at all times.

Look again at Isaiah’s words:  “Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”  Don’t just expect God to crash your party, rather make it easy – give God a straight access to your all.

As you travel through this Advent season, be prepared for God.  Expect God.  Say “yes” to God.

Peace (Hope, Joy and Love)

Bill

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Ps. 106:1

It was one of those Sundays when I tried something different.  For many pastors, trying something different can fill us with anxiety.  What will the congregation think?  Will they participate?  Or will this go over like a lead balloon?

It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving so I used that as the theme.  Normally I ask people to call out things they are thankful for, but for that particular Sunday I did something different.  In each bulletin was a sheet of paper and I asked the congregation to write down what they are thankful for, and place them in the offering plates.

The Ushers were instructed to take them and hang them up on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

And there was a problem.  So many people participated that there was not enough room.  The Ushers hung them on the board as well as the doors and a few on the walls.

Thanksgiving is an important holiday that, unfortunately often gets overlooked by Christmas.  But Thanksgiving, as a holiday, reminds us that thanksgiving, as a way of life, is crucial.  Giving God thanks for all of our blessings forces us to stop and think about those blessings.  And to see the blessings we often take for granted.

Studies have shown that gratitude makes people happier – people who keep journals or make lists of what they are thankful for are happier, more optimistic, more energetic, and nicer than those who do not.  In other studies, those who keep their gratitude lists exercise an average of 90 minutes more a week, sleep better and have less pain.  Gratitude actually can retrain our brains – changing neural pathways so that we can better deal with stressful situations, and even helps our hearts be healthier.

As you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner, take some time to truly look at the many blessings of your lives.  And do the same on Friday.

Peace,

Bill

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Mt. 16:13-20

Wouldn’t it feel great to receive a verbal blessing directly from Jesus?  Doesn’t that sound good as Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!”  Wouldn’t it make your heart swell to hear Jesus say that to you?

We all need positive affirmations in our lives.  They keep us going.  And studies show that on average it takes five positive statements to overcome one negative one.

Perhaps we cannot hear directly from Jesus (although, by now you should know I would argue this point – if we just listen for God, God will speak), we can be Jesus-like to others and bless them.  In this day and age of negativity, of social media that spends more time tearing things down than building them up, we should be more like Jesus.

As you go through this week, start handing out blessings.  Bless everyone you encounter.  Find something positive to say to them.  Ignore the negatives and seek the good.  Become Jesus for others.

Peace,

Bill

Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

This passage often leaves people scratching their heads.  After all, why doesn’t Jesus immediately want to help this distressed woman?  But if you read carefully, you begin to see Jesus is engaging in some witty repartee with her.  He says “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” but she doesn’t take this for the final answer.  She engages with Jesus.  She continues to try her best to enlist the help of the One who can help.  And her faith is rewarded. This woman is a Canaanite (IE:  not a Jew) yet ultimately Jesus helps her – because she has faith that He will.

How often do we give up after one prayer, one time of asking, one instance of “help me, Lord?”

Do you ever find yourself praying as a routine rather than a belief that God will respond?  Is your prayer life ever dry and repetitive, but without belief?  It happens to many of us – we get so stuck in a routine that we forget to stop and consider what prayer really is at heart – a conversation with God (and as any good conversation goes, we need to listen to the other party at least as much as we speak).  And we must be faithful and persistent, knowing that God will, in some way, answer our prayer.

Peace,

Bill

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Mt 5:4

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Ex 13:21

You might be wondering what these two passages have to do with each other.  And honestly, they are not related.  Except for one thing.  They are both reminder of God’s presence.

Yesterday (11/3/19) was All Saints Sunday, a day on the liturgical calendar set aside to remember those who have gone before us.  There is a long history of Christians remembering the dead, and that history extends into Judaism as well.

Jews practice something called “Yahzreit”, which includes lighting a candle on the anniversary of a person’s death, or at significant times in the Jewish calendar.  It is a way of honoring those who have gone before.

Notice the candle – the flame – the light.  Now I turn to the passage from Exodus.  God’s presence was known in the pillar of fire.  As long as those wandering in the desert saw that pillar of fire, they were reminded of God’s presence.

And as Christians, we believe that the dead in Christ are not truly dead, rather they are in God’s presence, so lighting a candle of remembrance is a way of reminding us that God is present with us, and our loved ones are present with God, therefore we are blessed – even when we mourn.

Yesterday we lit candles in memory of our departed loved ones.  Yesterday we had a prayer of thanksgiving for their lives, and we gave God all praise and honor and glory.

And the flames reminded us that God always goes with us.

Peace,

Pastor Bill