9-18-2018

 Good Morning All,

       2 Corinthians 1: 3-4; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

    When I was a youngster, we use to trade baseball cards.  We would trade for our favorite team or our favorite player.  A Mickey Mantle card could get you two or three other cards.  A Harmon Killebrew could get you four or five cards.  I liked Tony Oliva and Jim Grant.  We would trade at what we thought were “equal” values.  There was nothing in writing or long studied manuals, just kids trading dreams.  That is really what it was; we would trade for the player we wanted to be like.  We were all friends so we helped each other out.  If I had someone else’s favorite player, I would trade him for mine or else a group of cards so I had something to trade later.

     Maybe you have this type of relationship with your friends and neighbors now.  We do with some of our garden produce.  We might trade some dill for some pickles later.  We usually trade pretty freely with our vegetables and tomatoes.  We are pretty willing to let them go.  Some of our neighbors are pretty quick to share asparagus so it works out.  We give and take; it is on the ebb and flow.  Sometimes we have lots to give and sometimes we get a lot.  It is neat because we all win.  We get the stuff we want and don’t have to throw away our “extra” stuff.

     We do the same with our faith life.  God comforts us so we can comfort others.  The amount of grace that God pours out upon us is beyond our measure but sometimes, our heart misses some.  Sometimes our pain and sorrow is so great that we lose our trust and we fail to see God’s love around us.  Sometimes we need a little boost.  Sometimes, things are going pretty well and we meet someone who needs a little boost.  I like to think of this as the “grace exchange” program.

     I experience it often.  Sometimes when life feels a little rough and I need a boost; someone will come along and offer God’s grace.  They will tell me that they are praying for me or that they really appreciated the visit or whatever.  I can’t begin to count how many times I have come away from a shut-in visit where I felt uplifted from my visit.  I often feel I get more out of these than those I visit. 

    So as you go about today, try to give a little grace to those who need a boost.  Share God’s love by listening to them or by offering a comforting hand or just stop and pray with them.   Someday you will need the boost.  If today is your day to need, ask for it someone will offer it.  God’s grace is sufficient; his delivery is through our brothers and sisters in Christ who God places in our life to be a comfort and a help.  So be one and use one.

Father, your grace is poured out upon us with tremendous love.  Often we miss it but you continue to send it our way.  Be with us when we need it and help us to find those who are struggling at this time and in need of your mercy.  Guide us to them and help us to pour out your grace to all.  In Jesus name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret