Trusting God

Trust and Obey

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If this week has seemed to be out of the pages of some apocalyptic novel then you are not alone. The Psalmist David when he was surrounded by dangers that made him feel as if the mountains were about to be thrown down into the sea he said;

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 ESV

The hymns for this week include; Trust and Obey; Great is Thy Faithfulness and Rock of Ages. These classic hymns are for everybody, but since my principle ministry has been to those shut away behind the walls of a long term care facilities ; why not share these with someone now separated by the ongoing pandemic? God is a help in trouble and we are definitely knee deep in them this week. God bless and have a wonderful week everybody!

What Are You Afraid Of?

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The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.          Proverbs 29:25

In the book of Proverbs King Solomon warns us about the mental, emotional and spiritual fencing we build because of fear. We erect a fence of words to protect ourselves from what others might think. We run behind a wall of busyness to hide. We lean on our position in the community to protect us from what others might do. But while each of our barriers seem good in our own eyes, God tells us that they operate like hidden snares. A snare works because it is hidden along paths we usually walk. Just as a bird puts its foot into the snare to discover the trap too late we need to be watching!

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When I stopped this week to consider how I talk, I had to confess that sometimes I stretch facts because I am afraid of what others might think if they knew the truth. There have been times when I have omitted something in a document because I feared what might happen if every detail were known. Or I have failed to call a friend to apologize, because I was afraid of what they would say. These have all been snares in my life! I did not see them, but my loving Father in heaven did! He comes with His word, shows me the hidden snares and asks, “What are you afraid of?”

But instead of only disciplining me He gives me some good news in the second half of today’s verse; “But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe!” We do not have to worry what friends think, what neighbors say or what consequences we face; instead we can say, “But I trust the Lord”   God can free us from any snares. He will protect us and give us and keep us safe even in the face of our greatest fear!

 

All Things

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ESV

To be entirely honest the disabling helplessness brought on by this Covid-19 crisis rubs me like an ill fitting pair of shoes. It is frustrating being cooped up at home with important questions like, “How can one tiny virus turn our world upside down?” and, “How the heck can you shop on line for bananas?” On top of everything else I also stupidly walked into a chair leg and hence now have a broken toe. This morning as I look out the window I realize that I can’t bring in the garbage can, can’t trim the small tree in our back yard or even water my flowers. If you are like me hearing that word; “Can’t – can’t – can’t” is like the annoying jingle of a television commercial. It isn’t that I couldn’t ask for my wife to wheel our trash can back in and water the garden; it is that right now I am dependent and I really need someone’s help.

That dependence is what Jesus was pressing for His disciples to understand as He prepared Himself for His own hour of helplessness. Less than 24 hour later His hands which had once cleansed the lepers, would be nailed to a piece of wood; His feet which had walked on waves would be unable to take a single step and His head that had been anointed with perfumed oil would bleed from the piercings of a crown of thorns. The creator of the universe would hang suffering and unable to move in front of all the world and there He show us the power of His love and give us His life for us so that we could say:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me Philippians 4:13 KJV

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