Hope in the Middle of Worry

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All our striving, worrying and stress comes from the mistaken belief that if we just tried a little harder or worked a little longer that we could win God favor. But Jesus Christ freely gives us rest for heart and soul as we discover in God alone our true acceptance and love and power to live for Him!

No matter what the world throws at us today or who wins the election – Jesus never changes. He is always the Good Shepherd and offers to be our friend. What is your answer to Him? This week’s song session includes Take my Life and Let it Be, What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Near to the Heart of God. May God bless you richly with His peace so that even with the world in chaos around us we can have a message of the hope of Jesus Christ.

Eternal Election

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In case anyone has missed it there will be among other things an election tomorrow determining who controls two of the three branches of our government. So I thought that today we need a reminder of who is in charge of the three branches of government in Heaven.

First we have seated as the Supreme Court Justice of the universe a judge whose appointment is for eternity. He never grows old or retires from office.

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:9

Secondly, unlike our representative who runs every two years we have a legislator who term of office began before the begining of time and whose decrees remain in effect for eternity.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8

Last of all but certainly not least we have a king, a CEO and supreme ruler whose term of office never expires and who is not running for reelection! Jesus Christ our Sovereign King of Kings and He shall reign forever and ever!

Snow Storms and Celebrations

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Our first home had a spectacular view from the top of a high ridge in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. However nice as that view was in Summer, we paid double for it in Winter. Can you guess where the snow piled up in drifts several feet deep? Yep you got it -right outside our front door!

Then in 1993 a snow storm attacked our state and we went through 3 days of everything being shut down and the roads being closed. But we discovered the sweet reality that as long as our wood supply was stacked safe and dry in the garage and Nancy had flour for baking bread we simply turned that storm into a time of celebration!

God offers us the same sweet reality and much more in today’s verse. Notice first He doesn’t say that storms won’t attack us but that when they do He has a blessing in store. We can trust Him because He is totally and perfectly prepared for whatever comes. The warmth of His love and His Living Bread from Heaven will always be in abundant supply and He will raise up a banner turning our greatest trials into our greatest celebration!