1-8-2022

 Good Morning All,

       Romans 8:28; “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” 

    There is a TV show on the Food Channel called “Chopped.”  The premise of the show is that they start with 4 chefs and give them a basket of ingredients. They have 20-30 minutes to make a course for a meal using all the ingredients in the basket. After each round one of the chefs is “chopped” until there is one winner of the prize. The twist is what they put in the basket. One time the ingredients were octopus, duck, and animal crackers. They had to use these three, plus whatever ingredients were in the kitchen and make an appetizer.

     While the four chefs were struggling with this, the judges were critiquing everything the chefs did. Of course, the judges are a bunch of smug, know-it-alls and you would really like to see one of the chefs throw the basket at the judges and tell them good luck.  What they cook looks palatable, even quite appealing, but you never taste or smell it, so you never know.

    Life is a lot like an episode of “Chopped.”  Some days you get up and you wonder what the world has in store for you. We can head out the door without a care or problem only to have someone become ill, in a car accident, lose a job, a house, a friendship, a life. Sometimes they just sort of mash together. Trying to cook with octopus, duck and animal crackers may sound tough but try going to bed after you realize that you are now a single parent, with two small children, who now have no father, and you have no real marketable skills. Perhaps you wake up in hospital bed with no clue how or why you are there.  You can think clearly but the words come out garbled and your one side is numb. Some of the events that the world throws in a basket for us to experience can really cause our head to spin and our hearts to faint.

    Yet God promises to be there for us. He tells us that all things work together for good. It does not say all things are good but that they will work together for good. God takes the events of our lives and molds and shapes us to be his disciples. Sometimes that molding and shaping can hurt; we may not even see how it can possibly work to our good, but God has promised to do so.  In the end, we will have eternal life. Through all our trials and challenges, God reminds us that his grace is sufficient for us. He reminds us to cling to him and him alone. God alone is the source of our righteousness, of our salvation.

    Our hope is always with God. He alone will save us. He alone can; all other earthly props will fail. While it can be painful to live through, God will strengthen us by is grace and sustain us by his love. No matter what the events of this life hold for us; our salvation is assured through Jesus our Lord.

Father, we watch and see so many events and wonder why. We experience so many events and wonder why me. Give us your comfort, your hope, your Spirit of consolation. Hold us close to your heart so that we may know the safety and security of your love. Protect those who are being tested now.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret