3-22-2024

Good Morning All,

      Matthew 17: 20; “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

      I like to think that I am pretty unflappable. Not much phases me, I roll, pivot, duck, weave, whatever and keep going. However, there was a time when I was flummoxed. I had the incredible honor and privilege of baptizing my grandchild.  There is absolutely no greater joy.  I really wanted it to be special and I had a grandma and a great grandma that wanted it to be special.  Now, every preacher born desires that every service, every time the Gospel of Christ is preached is special, but this was my first granddaughter and even at one month old she has grandpa wrapped around her little finger, so I really wanted it to be special.

    As part of the Baptismal rite, we print out the rite using the candidate’s name where appropriate.  So, when her name was to be in the prayers, we insert her name where it belongs.  This is to make this a very personal and special experience.  As I was reading the rite, I turned the page, and it was blank.  I turned the page and another blank page.  I remembered seeing the last page as I assembled the book, but I didn’t go through it page by page.  I am beginning to sweat; I have been quiet long enough for everyone to notice.  I turn the page, another blank page; time for plan “B” so much for the perfect service.  I knew the part we were on, so I just kept speaking and reached for a hymnal and finished the rite, a little (or maybe a lot) kerfuffled. 

    We finished the service, took the pictures so I went back to the book with the rite in it.  I knew I printed it; I was positive, yet there were blank pages, so I looked and there were three blank pages, then the page that was supposed to be there.  I only had to turn one more page and everything would have been fine; I only needed to have the faith that I had printed it, but I gave up and turned away and made my granddaughter’s Baptism a little less special.

    Faith like that.  We know God is there; he always is but as we turn the pages of our life sometimes the page looks empty, and we panic.  Maybe we go back to God a couple of more times, but the pages look empty so now we really panic.  All we really need to do is to keep going to God, to keep faith in his promise; all we need is a little faith, but we panic, and we seek plan “B.”  Any plan that does not rely entirely on God and his grace is really no plan at all.

    God has promised to take care of us and to comfort us.  Yet even more than that; He has promised to change the hurt to joy, the sorrow to gladness, the cries to laughter.  This process has begun, and it began with the birth of Jesus.  We are continually being restored and healed by God’s grace.  Sometimes, sin clouds our view; sometimes sin weakens our faith.  Yet God continually keeps calling us back, bringing us healing and hope.  It only takes faith to turn the next page.

Father, there are times when I need your help to turn the next page in my life.  Give me the courage and the faith to know that all things are in your hands.  Be with those who are worried and fearful; give them peace and hope.  Heal them, Lord.  In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret