5-6-2018

Good Morning All,

Joshua 1:9; “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  

    I got the opportunity to meet an extraordinary young lady a few years ago.  Her name was Karen.  She was 14 yrs. old and she is Down’s syndrome.  I had a little trouble understanding her, fifty plus years on the farm around loud equipment doesn’t help, and she was quiet.  She had an incredible amount of courage and faith.  She very calmly told of her faith, of the certainty that God had redeemed her. 

    One of the speakers at the gathering told the kids to see themselves as God’s child, before you see anything else, see that.  Don’t see the names and the labels that the world lays on you; see that you are God’s redeemed child.  This young lady did.  She readily acknowledged that she was different from most people but she knew God loved her and that was all that mattered.  I was completely enthralled by this young gal. She had reasons to be bitter; I am sure that she had endured more than her share of cruelty.  Yet she was very certain of her faith and held onto it with all she had.

    It is that kind of courage and strength that always humbles me.  She was very comfortable in who she was.  This came about because of her faith.  I don’t know if she ever asked God why she was the way she was; I would guess her parents had at one time or another.  Yet she was one of the most courageous individuals that I have ever encountered.  Her faith made her courageous.

   Often times, when we think of courage we think of the soldier who battles to protect and save his wounded comrades.  We think of the fireman who risks his life to save others.  These people are courageous but so is this young girl.  I suspect that for most of us real courage is just facing each day as it comes.  The struggles of everyday life can be overwhelming at times.  There are many times when we know we cannot handle the battles; fortunately, God gives us the courage to do battle.

     God has promised to be with us through all of our struggles, battles and fears.  He gives us the faith we need to face life with courage.  His grace is freely given to us and above all, he has given his Son Jesus, in order that we may be called “a redeemed child of God”.  That, above everything else, is how we should see our self.  When we are harried or hard pressed, we need to remember, we are a redeemed child of God.  Sometimes life will throw a lot at us and we will stagger under the weight but always remember you are a redeemed child of God; washed in the blood of the Lamb and claimed as God’s own.  So be strong and courageous, the Lord will be with you.

Dear Father, your mercies are new to us every day.  Give us the courage to face this world and all its pain and struggles and give to us that due sense of safety in your arms.  Protect us from all that the devil fires at us.  Especially give your Spirit to those who are in desperate need of your comfort.  Move us to reach out to them with your loving kindness.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret