1-1-2020

Good Morning All, 

      Isaiah 63:7; “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”

    Did you watch the ball drop at Times Square?  Did you sing “Auld Lang Syne”?  Good for you if you did; welcome to the club if you didn’t.  New Year’s Eve has come and gone, and New Year’s Day is upon us.  And yet not just new years day but new decade day; what will the next decade hold?  Will it be better, the same or worse?  What does the decade hold in store?  Unless God has a different plan, in the coming decade, I will retire and have a grandson who is a senior in high school.  I expect there will be births and baptisms; weddings and celebration, funerals and mourning; really, more of the same the only difference is which one impacts you most directly.

    As we look back, many will probably say “good riddance” to this year and this decade.  There was plenty of turmoil, struggles and pain; yet, we continue forward one day at a time.  Some may wonder why or how.  “How do I move forward; I have lost the one I love?”  This will always be a struggle and a battle.  So, we do what Isaiah tells us, “recount the steadfast love of the Lord.”  Isaiah is telling us that in the midst of pain and sorrow, recount the steadfast love of the Lord.

    I once had a person tell me that the life of a Christian is really one of two prayers.  When all seems good and happy, we pray “Thanks be to God.”  When things seem dark and gloomy, we pray, “Lord have mercy.” I think, in actuality, we pray both at the same time, all the time.  This world is broken and in need of fixing.  Yet this fixing will only occur when Jesus returns so there is always suffering and pain somewhere; so, we pray, “Lord have mercy.”

     Yet God has shown us great love, he sent his Son to die for us that we might be a people who have hope.  We have eternal life in Jesus and the knowledge that, when the fixing is done, we will stand with Him in the newly perfected creation with all believers ready to celebrate the perfect future; but until that time, we wait.

    If waiting is difficult, I would encourage you to recount the steadfast love of the Lord.  Starting today, make a journal of God’s steadfast love for you.  Start with the truth that you are a redeemed, baptized child of God, then list the beauties and glories of this day and then do it again tomorrow always recounting the steadfast love of the Lord.  Always look to the blessings that God has given you; even in the depths of your pain, sorrow, suffering and anguish; God has declared you to be his redeemed child, one who has eternal life and an heir in His kingdom.  Recount the steadfast love of the Lord; it will sustain you.

Father, in our pain help us to always see your grace.  In our sorrow, lead us by your Spirit to cling to You.  Guide us this new year to be ever watchful for your mercies, new to us each day.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret