July 30, 2020

36 And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.” – Acts 16:36

So what is that hope that we wait for? 

(If you didn’t read yesterday’s message you may want to take a second and go back, as this follows from the same story).

We come back to that scene where Paul and Silas are in the jail because of an unjust society.  However, what happens in the night is surely a sign of the hope of God.  While Paul and Silas are singing hymns in the innermost cell of the prison, an earthquake comes and sets them free. The jailer rushes in when he realizes that the doors of the prison are now open, ready to fall on his own sword if they had escaped (his punishment would have been worse from his employers). However, what he finds is that everyone is still in their place. Though they were free they remained. The guard falls to his knees and asks Paul about how one can be saved. 

That very night, the one who had them in chains, turned, and now treated them as guests, bandaging and caring for wounds, inviting them into his home, sharing with them a family meal. This is the power of grace and hope.  It turns those who were once against us into friends.  It reminds us that though we may be on different sides at one moment, we are still one family.  This is the hope that I hope we can find as a society soon. That we are called to be one family in and through Christ, that God is the God of us all, and desires us all to find that which we can agree.

When sunrise comes the next day, we find that the city magistrates have heard of the unjust arrest and flogging and want Paul and his companion released. However, Paul pushes a little further brining to light his citizenship as a Roman. Roman citizens were to be treated with greater respect, receive just trials, and since Rome was the super-power of the day, no one wanted to disrespect Rome (especially if you had trade dealings with them). The magistrates come to the place where Paul and Silas are staying, and formally apologize to them.

In less than 24 hours, the entirety of this story flips. Paul and Silas who were beaten and imprisoned for unjust reasons, are released with an apology from the city officials. It may not cover all the actions taken against them, but despite their situation, the hope remined secure for these followers of Christ. They kept the hope of a better tomorrow, and so should we.  Always look for the hope of a better tomorrow.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 29, 2020

19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities… - Acts 16:19

You remember that story of when Paul and Silas were in the prison, and began singing hymns of praise to God? They start singing, and everyone in the prison is listening to them, they bound in chains, but that doesn’t stop them from singing praises to their God.

Paul and Silas were simply continuing in their current situation to do that which they knew in their hearts to be right. But why were they in jail in the first place?  We know that many times the apostles were put in jail because of their opposition to the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem, and some were in jail because they stood against oppression of the Romans.  However, in this instance, we find that the reason they are in jail was because of the owners of a slave girl.

As we read Chapter 16 of the book of Acts, we find that a young man named Timothy comes to the faith, and begins traveling with Paul. Paul moves on into Asia minor, to Philippi, and then to a smaller city called Thyatira. While they were in that city, a slave girl who had a spirit of divination, meaning she saw and understood truth, was following Paul around proclaiming that they were slaves or servants of the Most High God.  It seems that this would not have been anything to bother these apostles, that was there ministry, and that was their mission. 

However, they were also foreign travelers who wanted to be able to speak peacefully, and not cause any kind of ruckus. The preaching of Christ and the kingdom to come in those days, typically came of public places where all kinds of ideas and philosophies would be shared.  It was a safe place for persons to speak their peace, and as long as it remained peaceful no one bothered them.  This slave-girl was causing Paul and his companions to get a bunch of attention outside of the meeting place, and this made Paul nervous, and as scriptures puts it, “annoyed” with this girl.  Paul proceeds to cast out the spirit, which causes the slave girl’s owners to be upset because they seemingly had been making money off this girls gift. They have Paul and Silas flogged and arrested for causing a disturbance.

What is interesting about this story is that the reason for Paul and Silas to be in the prison is because someone outside the faith lost their means of wealth. A means which was based on cruel and unjust treatment of another human being – slavery.

While much could be said, and much has already been written on the injustice of slavery, I want to focus, here, on the response of the missionaries.

Paul and Silas, though they had done nothing wrong in the sight of God, though they remined righteous in their actions, were put in jail because of a human injustice, were beaten because of human insecurities, and were (like Christ) treated as the worst of criminals being put in the innermost cell, and fastened with chains in the stocks. Yet, they chose to continue praising God. They chose to continue singing, they chose to live into hope. This is the message we need to hear today.  That when the world seems out to get us, when the world is worried about itself, and its means, while the world is focused on things that are not eternal. We, those who follow Christ, should focus on what really matters.  We should continue to sing praises to God.  It isn’t always easy to do so, but God is righteous, God is just, God is eternal, and we who focus on the goodness of God remain focused on hope.  Let us continue in the hope that awaits us tomorrow.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 28, 2020

And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. – Acts 5:42

Following the same thought from yesterday, about learning new things each and every day, I’m drawn today to the story of the early church in the book of Acts.  Early in this book, the words seem to be a continuation of the gospel story. The physician, Luke, who wrote the gospel of the same name continues the story for a friend whom he is trying to convince of the truth of God found in the person of Jesus Christ.

The continuation of the story in the book of Acts tells of what happens after the resurrection, of the calling of the disciples to an apostolic mission. To go forth and share the good news in which they know that Jesus is raise from the dead and offers life abundant and eternal for those who believe.  Further we read early in the book of the coming of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence to lead and to guide, to offer comfort, counsel, and of course guidance to these new evangelists.  The story after the day of Pentecost is close in to Jerusalem.  There is much work to be done first in the city of God.

What amazes me about their story, is that the early church didn’t have buildings, or budgets. They didn’t have committee meetings (at least for a little while). When they did meet to discussed issues of the church for where they would go, to whom they would share the gospel, and what was acceptable behavior for a Christ follower.  But here’s the greatest part – in the verse above. Every day they met in the temple and at home, and never stopped teaching and proclaiming Jesus was Messiah. 

The very message that caused many of them to spend time in jail, yet they never stopped proclaiming.  It was a message that filled their souls to the fullest, it gave them life, purpose, and they lived into their calling to spread the gospel every, single, day.

These days we live in now, they still seem to run together, every day we await new news, different news, hopeful news. Each day I await word about whether or not we can reopen the church building.  However, I’m reminded that in our faith, though the building might remain closed to keep people safe, I still have a message to share.  We still have the love of God in our hearts, and it is bursting to share forth to others. We might not be able to meet physically, but that shouldn’t stop us from sharing the gospel when we can, how we can. Just because we are in the house, doesn’t mean we can make a call, send a note, or any number of things to encourage one another, to spur on one another to do good works, and to continuously proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 27, 2020

So I’ll keep reminding you about these things, although you already know them and stand secure in the truth you have.  - 2 Peter 1:12

There are times when I am studying the scriptures when I get to particular passages, and it kind of feel like I already know it, and there is no reason to look at it more in depth. This is especially true of those passages we base our life’s work upon, or passages that we have had memorized since childhood.  We might think we have already read these verse before, and how could something new come out of something so familiar? However, there is something to be said about repetition. 

Even when we think we know exactly what a verse in Scripture says, new situations and different life circumstances might give us an opportunity to see the same words in a different way.  I believe that it is for this reason that the disciples, and especially Peter when about speaking the same things again and again and again… to different churches, to different peoples,  he wanted to make sure that those he left behind would continue to grow in understanding and love. When he was gone, Peter wanted to make sure that people would not forget the intent of his ministry - to share the love of Christ.  He did not want people to simply forget the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of them, instead he wanted that power to grow, and become stronger, that the disciples that would follow would do even greater things than he through the power of Christ.

That being said, perhaps the best encouragement that we can have in studying scripture is to come across a new lesson in an already familiar passage.  It is an encouragement to read the same passage, or the same saying, and do so with new eyes and a renewed heart for deeper understanding. So, whether you have read something for the second time of one hundred and second time, you can know that God is still speaking His wisdom to you through the ages, from the Scripture.  God continues to shine new light into our lives.  He has not brought us yet to completion, but in His presence, He is pouring out wisdom, knowledge and love, that we might go into this would to share what we continue to learn with all whom will listen. In this way the message of Christ continues to spread, everlasting.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 26, 2020

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9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. – Romans 12:9-10

What could you accomplish if someone loved you with out condition? 

My hope is that someone in your life has shown you such love, perhaps a parent, a spouse, a friend.  Knowing that love has helped you do more than you could ever imagine.  However, there are people in this world, and I have known a few who haven’t known such love.  They have known the love of another person, but it has always been with a condition, that usually worked in the other persons favor.

Perhaps it was the parent who wanted their child to be successful, but when that child made a choice to do something else, the parent was unsupportive of such choice.  Perhaps it was a business partner who worked hard with you to build up a business, but decided they wanted to go a different direction, or where unsupportive when you needed to go a different direction. There are thousands of scenarios we could come up with were the love and respect were mutual until one decision changed everything. 

This is not so with the love of God. God’s love that is poured out on the cross of Jesus is truly unconditional. God’s love is meant for us to understand as seeing, knowing, and feeling the pain of our deepest regrets and mistakes, and choosing to sit with us, and help us up.  God doesn’t look at choice we made 15 years ago, or a few seconds ago, and decide, no more chances.  God gives us life and breath, and every moment of the day pours out blessing and love. God lifts us when we are down, and comforts us in our weakness.

God’s love in unconditional and genuine, and the call of the Christian is to learn how to utilize that love in the way we love others.  As Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, just as God’s love has been genuine to us, we should let our love be genuine towards God and others. To love one another, and have a mutual affection that goes out of our way to offer forgiveness, to offer counsel, to offer comfort, and grace, and mercy even to those whose choices we don’t agree with. 

In doing so, we truly become the body of Christ, sharing the love of God, unconditionally, with the world.  May we love someone more deeply today, and always. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 25, 2020

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands. – Psalm 138:8

Plans and purposes. They seems to go hand-in-hand. Each plan that is put in place has a purpose, and there is usually a purpose behind each plan.  However, not all plans live up to their purpose, and we all know that plans change.

One of the often quoted Scriptures to reassure us of plans, is form Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, ‘declares the Lord,’ plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  While reassuring most of the time, this year has been very troubling. In this year of 2020, that we will one day look back in hindsight, and say it was as perfectly clear.  We have found this is the year of cancellations, the year of changed plans, the year of deciding what’s the best plan, and here in the middle of it, I admit I just sit confused.

This past week as school systems released plans of children to return to learning, decisions had to be made about between plans that will allow in-person, or choices to make arrangements for students to learn at home. However, within these plans there is the possibility that all students will need to learn at home.  We have made plans for church to reopen, but that plan changed as well, we don’t yet know when it will change back.

We plan and prepare, not knowing what each day will bring, however our purpose is still secure.

When we read the praise of Psalm 138 we find that when we give over our plans to God, our purpose in life is to simply live and praise in His presence. We do walk though trouble, but our purpose to live in the steadfast love of God has not gone away. If this, I find that maybe the translators should have seen more “purpose” than “plan” in the book of Jeremiah.  For during that troubling time, Jeremiah’s time, the people of God fell to the attacks of Babylon, and where exiled from their homeland, enslaved to another.  However, God continued to work his purposes through those who remained faithful.   

In the same way, we may live in a time of ever-changing, ever-cancelling plans, but if we live into God’s purpose, we will prosper, and we will be assured of a future full of blessings and hope.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 24, 2020

Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. - Psalm 51:12

I love the concept of joy. For the longest time in life I was enthusiastic about talking with others about the joy that they had in life. I think of joy as so much more than a feeling; it is a state of being.  Joy is what helps us find the silver lining in every cloudy day, and gives our spirit’s the motivation to continue on, even when we are being pulled down every step of the way. 

I love the concept of joy, and the psalmist teaches us this understanding of often needing to be restored to the “joy of Your salvation.” 

This restoration is for us to be restored to the very point in which we were ensured of the salvation offered by God, and for us, in Christ. We come back to that moment when we were ensured of the eternal promise of heaven, and all the joy that flows from that place.

Then, there is the second part of this verse - “give me a willing spirit.”  Joy becomes the easy part, it is the gift part. After we are reminded of the joy, comes my part; being willing to give, serve, or live into a calling that is greater than me.

In this teaching, it is easy to receive blessing and find joy.  If we open our hearts and minds to understand we would see that every moment of every day is a blessing because we still have life, and breath, and people who love and care about us.  However, sometimes we just aren’t as willing to want to do anything.  Especially in times such as these, when we don’t feel as though there is anything to do.

Though we have joy, we meander around, and get by doing as little as possible, and give only when it is expected of us.  But what if we were to pray this prayer every day? What if we were to ask God to give us a “willing spirit?”  For God to enliven our spirits to be willing to live each moment as a blessing. It might mean we starting doing things we don’t, necessarily, want to do, but we know we have been called to do. In doing so, we may receive even more joy.  Because what we truly find, is that joy is part of the spirit of God that is enlivening everything we do, if we would be aware of the blessing in it.

May God grant you a willing spirit to serve and to give as He is calling you to bless others as you have been blessed with joy.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 23, 2020

Compassion and forgiveness belong to the LORD our God, though we have rebelled against Him. - Daniel 9:9

Have you ever found yourself in a debate with yourself?  Usually this is an internal dialog about something you are thinking about doing; and I know it seems odd to talk about the things that go on inside the mind, but if you think about, we do this quite often.  There is something that comes up, some decision that needs to be made, some opportunity on which we should act, and we have to make a choice.  Usually these are simple things, in which we might debate and then go with something that sounds fund, or in our current climate safe.  However, there are occasionally times when we need to debate whether a decision falls within our character as a Christian.

These types of situations are not often, nor are they the norm, however, we do make them. We choose to live into the character of the Christian every day, or to not.  When I find myself in such conundrums, often it is when my rebellious side seems to pipe up.  Not that I have some crazy rebellious streak, or have a desire to do things that are seemingly crazy. I do, however, have a desire to go against the grain sometimes; to do something that might make people think: “that’s odd.”  The truth is that many of us feel the same way, sometimes. We don’t want to always take the easy path, or the path everyone expects us to take.  So we often debate with ourselves because sometime we want to be the rebel.  Of course, it is in our nature to rebel against what is right.  At least that is the case until we embrace God, until we embrace the one who is compassion and forgiveness. We tend to rebel against God, until we find our home is God’s presence.

After we embrace Christ love in our lives, we think (and we should think this way) that we can now, with Christ’s help make right decisions.  We can claim the identity that we have in Christ.  However, as in my life, I have striven to embrace more of who Christ wants me to be, when I come to those times where I debate the choice I want to make on a situation, I’m going more against the grain of society than I am God’s will.  I don’t know why that is, but I find that being the rebel means doing something that God has asked, it means doing something that will make people think I’m odd or crazy, or different in some way.  That is because to the world outside the church, doing what God has called us to do seems a little odd.  

We, as people called by God, called out of sin and death and into compassion and forgiveness should be a little rebellious. However, our rebellion is to deny the world, and choose a better way.  We need to embrace the opportunity to do something different, as long as it shows the love of God, in us, and towards others.  By doing so, many may see our good and joyful works and praise our Father in heaven.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 22, 2020

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him. - Colossians 1:13-14

The greatest news for the imperfect person (yours truly included) is that all faults have been forgiven. This is the very nature of the power of Christ, to forgive sins, it’s the beginning of our faith, the forgiveness of sins, it is the freedom to know peace found in the forgiveness of sin.  What a release of burden it is to know that everything that we have done wrong in our lives, every mistake, every short-coming, it has all be forgiven and wiped away.  Yes, even that time that you don’t want to talk about.  That is the good news of the Resurrection of Jesus, that through him, we have been accepted and secured to be a part of His Kingdom.  Why would we not want to share such news?

Like other things that we have and others don’t, we sometimes have a hard time with sharing. It seems to be a human trait not to share. I’ve watched it happen with children in my own family, and even though we teach about sharing, they still have trouble. So, like anything else with salvation, we accept that the burden has been lifted off of us, but we aren’t as willing to lead another to help lift their burden.  We need to remember that this is our task as members of Christ body, the church.

Thomas a Kempis writes: Remember we are all members of Christ, reborn in baptism through the grace of the Holy Spirit, redeemed by the passion of Christ, bathed in the blood of Christ, fed with the body of Christ, educated in the words of Christ, confirmed in the miracles of Christ, motivated by the examples of Christ…One God has created us all, fed us and set our course, called us to one and the same beatitude; and he renews that call daily.  How? By exhortations from without, through contrition from within.  The same God has promised to see us through to the eternal reward ceremonies, with standing ovation from all the heavenly citizens.  If therefore we’ve been unanimously called by God, redeemed for one price, drunk from one Spirit, then let’s love and help each other.

After all, what we say to one another can both lift up and destroy.  We have the power to help others with their burdens if we simply share with them the greatest news we have ever heard.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 21, 2020

I died to the Law through the Law, so that I could live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I don’t ignore the grace of God, because if we become righteous through the Law, then Christ died for no purpose.  - Galatians 2:19-21

Have you ever caught yourself saying all the right things, but not really living them?  It is easy for us to do, because most of us grew up hearing: “Do as I say, not as I do.”  Because of this, we have found that it is pretty easy to ignore the things that we don’t think apply to us, and go on living our lives.  We know all the rules, we know all the right things to say, and we know how we are supposed to love God and our neighbor. However, living that out isn’t always easy, nor is it our main focus. We think these are great theories for life, but practicing them is out of touch with reality.

As Paul is writing this letter to the gentile Galatians he talks to them about a fellow Jew named Cephas.  Cephas has been sent out to spread the gospel message to the gentiles as a companion of Paul’s.  Unfortunately, Cephas fell into what so many of us do when we get around people who don’t follow all the same rules and laws we do.  Cephas began to act and live like they lived.  He began to break his Jewish law, but continued to tell the gentiles to live like the Jews.  Paul takes this opportunity to teach a little lesson.  That lesson is - we should be bound to the Law, but the Law never could save a life; therefore, if we die to the Law, that is if we die to the idea of doing right for the sake of being right, then, we can have life and live forever through Christ. 

Paul’s message is that we should not ignore the grace that God gives to save us from the way we live.  It is only by God’s grace and the righteousness of Christ that we are saved. The salvation God gives through Christ brings us back on point with eternal life, remembering that Christ died for sinners, those who had not lived by the law, in order that they might find something greater in idea of loving one another as Christ has first loved them. 

This is done through the cross, not that we would sin more, but that we would strive to live better, and know that grace can cover even our mistakes while trying.  God’s grace will cover it all as we seek to live in that perfection of the Law, which is seen in the love poured out on the cross.  That’s not something we should ignore, but something that we should understand that as Christ forgives me (which is often) I, too, should offer forgiveness, and lean in when I’m called to love my neighbor; because it is our actions that speak greater than our words, or as that one song says: “they will know we are Christians by our love.”

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 20, 2020

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. - 2 Corinthians 7:1

There is a saying, that we use as part of our United Methodist Culture. We may not utilize it all of the time, but I’m sure you will remember this as you read. The leader says: “God is Good…” and the congregation will respond: “All the time.” Following, the reverse will be said, as if to remind ourselves of this infinite truth of God – “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

It’s easy for us to say things like this when we believe that is true, when the oil of joy (Psalm 45) is being poured over us.  When all is right in the world; however, there are other times, we say this as if we really need that reassurance. When darkness is covering us. When grief overwhelms us. When we are battling the forces and principalities of this world. When nothing seems to go as it should. When we are down and out, and ready to give up.  These are the times, all the more, we need the reminder that God is good all the time…

Shauna Niequist (Daughter of Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek)  has a great little book entitled Present Over Perfect.  While this book is more a series of essays, one particular essay has captured my heart over and over again. The essay is entitled, “Oil and Vinegar.”  In this essay, Niequist remarks that our life, and especially our prayer life is like a bottle of oil and vinegar sitting on a table at a restaurant.  The two are separated, the vinegar has risen to the top, and the rich oil has settled and is waiting at the bottom.  In order to get to the riches of the oil, you have to first pour out the vinegar. 

In our prayers before God, we desire the riches of the oil, but so much of our life is filled with vinegar.  We need to be reminded, that if we are to achieve the perfect holiness (the oil), purifying ourselves of everything that contaminates the body and spirit (the vinegar), we have to pour out the vinegar first, we have to give to God everything, and I mean everything. We give to God our grief, our fear, our worry, all that is not good in us. We do so, that we can then salivate, and enjoy the riches of the oil that God gives as we live in His Holy presence, because all the time; God is good.

The goodness of God is sometimes mixed in with the vinegar of life, but that richness is what makes life enjoyable. May the richness of God’s love, mercy, and grace meet you today and always. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 19, 2020

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Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is withing me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits – who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live… Psalm 103

This Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s goodness is one of my favorites.  On days when I don’t think I can keep going, on days, when I am discouraged, this psalm has always brought me comfort.

The encouragement we find in knowing that our souls bless the Lord, is knowing that our love for God is reciprocated.  It helps us to remember and to see that God is offering us blessing after blessing each and every day. I’ll confess, that sometimes I don’t see those blessings, some days seem dark and gloomy in the soul, but if we are willing to search, God is still there. As we recite or read through the words of this psalm, I hope we notice how God’s eternal mercy and grace are ever present with us. God’s eternal majesty is known from everlasting to everlasting.

We are called to live a life in his steadfast love because of its renewing effect on us. We understand that we are only dust, but out of dust we have life, and the joy of being like little children the arms of a loving, heavenly, father.

I don’t know about you, but when life gets overwhelming, and things are not going as anticipated, it is wonderful to know that the Lord is still in control.  On this day of worship, let us sit back and enjoy the blessings of the lord, and let our hearts sing: “bless the Lord, o my soul…”

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 18, 2020

How happy those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered!  How happy the man whom the Lord will never charge with sin! - Romans 4:7-8 (cf. Psalm 32:1-2)

Forgiveness is a wonderful thing! Forgiveness is the one thing that none of us deserve, yet everyone who asks receives, especially when we think of the enteral forgiveness of sin because of Christ. God’s Forgiveness allows even the guiltiest of person to be at peace and have happiness (blessedness) because they can be forgiven of all wrong doings. 

Forgiveness allows us to reclaim the image of God in which we were created. We know that we are created in the image of God, and that we have fallen short of that image, but eternal forgiveness, I believe, is what helps us reclaim that image, the image that is built on love. This love, found in forgiveness, unifies us with both God and one another, as we both offer and receive forgiveness. 

However, how is that we can receive forgiveness from all sin, yet still feel full of guilt?  Sometimes we allow guilt to keep us from understanding what our faith is trying to get us to truly believe; that we have been forgiven, and that God no longer remembers our sin. Psalm 103 claims, “he has removed our transgressions as far as east is from west.”

In our hearts, we should have peace because we have invited the Holy Spirit to cleanse us of all wrong. Yet, sometimes in our minds we harbor doubt which keeps us from the knowledge of the peace that is in our hearts.  Since we live in an age where we follow the knowledge of our minds rather than the passion of our hearts, we have a hard time believing that our heats are telling us the truth; that we are forgiven. 

The doubt in our minds can be our worst enemy as we strive to draw closer to God.  This doubt leads us to fear God in such a way that we are afraid of judgment, rather than a reverent fear that leads us to worship.  The way we combat such doubt is to constantly renew our minds (Rm. 12:2) by reading the Word, meditating in prayer, and helping our hearts once again be the center of our whole understanding. 

Just like a sail boat can be powerfully moved by the wind in the sails, it is the small rudder that keeps the boat on course.  In the same way, our minds are a powerful muscles that allow us to process, think, reason, and understand the world and the things beyond; yet, we should give control over to our hearts, the place where the Holy Spirit resides. In giving that control to the heart, we may truly have the peace of forgiveness, and understand how happy we can be when we are no longer charged with sin, we are free.

The next step, then, is to give as we have received.  Then we will truly know how happy is the heart that knows forgiveness.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

July 17, 2020

All you who wait for the LORD, be strong and let your heart take courage. - Psalm 31:24

Waiting seems like all we do anymore. Waiting to see if things will get better or worse.  Waiting to know when we can go out next, or if we can send our kids to school. If you have ever been in a waiting room, anxiously desperate to hear from a doctor about a loved one, you know how difficult it can be to wait. 

Waiting is not something that we want to do with our time, but it is how we spend most of it.  We probably we spend more time waiting than we care to admit.  So what should we do about all this waiting around?  Honestly, I believe it depends on what we’re waiting for. 

When we are waiting to reach a certain age to do something, or waiting till there is enough money for something than our wait may not be worth what we are waiting for. There are new adventures in life popping up all the time and if we wait we might miss something.  Young couples always seem to say they are waiting till the right time to have children when there will be enough money, or stability in jobs – if that is the case, the “right” time might never come.

There are joys that wait for us, however, if we simply start living, and stop waiting, sure there will be struggles, and right now things we cannot do. However, hope helps us mange beyond the struggles to find the true joy. The joy in the things that we can do. Joy in the little things of life, the simple blessings that have not disappeared even as things are closed temporarily.

What brings us to the other side of waiting?  When waiting becomes the necessary, such times are never easy; yet we can wait and pray, and find the joy of God’s presence in our waiting.  It is for this reason the psalmist tells us to be strong and let our hearts take courage.  For when we wait with such great anticipation and hope, we are waiting on the miracle of the Lord’s presence with us. 

God promises to always be by our side, and that when we pray with a grateful heart, God hears our prayers and answers us. His answer may come in His time, yet we trust in Him, even in the waiting.  We are God’s people, and wait for His answers, His love, and His presence.  When we seek the Lord, we sometimes have to wait, and in our waiting, it can seem like dark and trying times, but just as mourning turns to dancing, when the morning star arrives, we are at peace, and all our worries and fears can cease.  Pray without ceasing, so the bible says, but never forget to stop, and listen, and wait for the presence of God with you.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Daily Encourager – July 16, 2020

…”Do all that is on your heart, for God is with you.” - 1 Chronicles 12:17

Encouragement is perhaps the most underrated gift a person can ever receive or give.  We all need encouragement.  These past months have made that need especially evident. Being encouraged gives us a hope that we didn’t know we needed.  Encouragement helps us to get through tough times, and reminds us that we are not in this life alone.

I know that I have underestimated encouragement from time-to-time.  Growing up in an encouraging home, I never had to worry about much of anything as long as I tried and gave my all in everything I did.  The love and encouragement I received from my parents kept me motivated to always do well, and to take on every challenge that was in front of me.  Although, I do have to admit there were (and still are) times that I feared not giving my best and disappointing others.

All in all we need to remember to be encouraged; to live our heart’s desire.  I do realize that my heart can sometimes lead me in many different directions as once, and I find myself perplexed at what is the most important.  In these times I have to stop, pray, and allow God’s Holy Spirit to take over my heart, and lead me in the path God ordains.  Psalm 37:4 proclaims that God will grant the desires of our hearts; yet, there is much more to receiving these desires than simply desiring them. 

God has called us to take delight in Him, and to serve, love, and obey Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Essentially, the idea is that our whole heart’s desire, and the encouragement of those desires should lead us to follow God’s ways more closely.  Some might think this as unfair, because if God only grants what I desire, when I desire Him alone, then God sounds pretty selfish. 

Even if we feel that way, it is our own hearts getting in the way.  God is a jealous God, desiring for His people to love Him above all else.  Yet, God is also a generous God, giving all that we need to live abundantly joyful lives, even when we are not following Him completely; for even sinners are given air to breathe, food to eat, shelter to live.  God does not discriminate with His generosity; yet, we find that some people live this life with abundant joy, while others are miserable all the time.  So, what is the difference? 

The difference is found in those who do not give back to God; who forget to turn blessing into praise.  Those who are miserable don’t give thanks for what they have been given, they don’t allow God’s love to lead and direct their lives, and they live quite selfishly themselves.  We sometimes lack the encouragement to do what is upright in the Lord’s sight, and find ourselves doing everything on our own.  We cannot make it in this world on our own.  We need God’s love, grace, and encouragement. When we offer our best back to Him, He can and will do so much more with it than we could ever imagine.  God is the greatest encourager of all, and when we seek Him first all things that bring true joy are given to us, and our heart’s desire is filled by His amazing presence.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Daily Encourager - July 15, 2020

Daily Encourager - July 15, 2020

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  - 2 Timothy 4:17-18

Faith is a wonderful, powerful thing for those how possess it. Faith helps us in our discouraged times, it uplifts us in our difficult times. Faith moves us every closer to the one in whom we have faith, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul had a faith that the Lord would stand by his side, give him strength, and see that the message he was given to proclaim would indeed be proclaimed. In the past, I’ve wonder what it would take to have a faith like that of Paul?  To be so in love, so devoted, and so sure of God that we believed that nothing that came against us could ever hurt us.  Paul did so much more than believe that God was by his side, he knew God was by his side.  Paul knew exactly what his calling was, and he didn’t stray from that mission, even against opposition. God continued to motivate his faith to proclaim the message of abundant and eternal life to the Gentiles (or nations). 

If only our calling was so simple, that we didn’t have to pick and choose what God was calling us to do, but simply to have the faith to go out and do that simple task.  Wait!  That is our calling…

Like the great cloud of witnesses that has gone before us, we have been called to go and do something about our faith, something simply, to share it. We do not have to wait until we fully understand, but once we realize that we are on a journey that goes with Christ, that we are in this Christian walk we walk with others, and invite them to join us on a journey to living in a better kingdom. Not once in scripture are we told that the faith that we have is for us alone, but that it should be shared with all those whom we come in contact with; faith is communal. 

The problem is we are afraid.  We are afraid that we will offend someone, or make them angry because of the message we share.  We are afraid of being in community right now, and are cautions with those whom we congregate.  However, we who have faith recognize we are still connected in this journey.  We still have a message to share, love, compassion and grace to offer.

We can play it safe, but we still have this message of our faith, this relationship with God to share. Our faith is not something to be kept secret. Our relationship with God is not just for secret alone prayer; our relationship with God is something to be shared.  God is not a secret and we should not be secretive about the kingdom God is offering in faith.  If we want to have the faith of Paul, we have to be encouraged to have the boldness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The Lord will rescue us in our greatest times of need.  God will deliver us safe, and we can live without fear knowing that we will be taken into His presence in the heavenly kingdom.  It may be difficult in our current circumstances, but I have faith to believe we will get through.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Daily Encourager – July 14, 2020

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.- Psalm 27:5

It would be nice is there were no pain. It would be nice to never experience suffering.  It would be wonderful if life was always good.  Some have found that positive thinking is the way to trick ourselves into making it through tough times by trying to keep our mind on the “bright side” of things.  Others have abused substances to become numb to the feelings of pain.  And others, still, have found ways to suppress the pain and trouble of life.

I’ve heard stories of people who had faith leaders tell them that if they really believe in God, then they wouldn’t experience trouble, and that life would be okay, even during trails. Yet, even as a person of faith, I’ve experienced my fair share of trouble, hardship, and difficulty.  I don’t think it means that I lacked faith during those times, and I don’t think I needed pray harder, or believe strong. In those times when we are in the middle of something troubling in our lives, we are not okay, and we need to hear the words that even if we are not okay, that is okay. 

No one can tell us how we feel enduring our current circumstances, the feelings we have in that moment are validated, we are allowed to be scared, angry, upset, frantic, any number of feeling. We are allowed to feel. I fully believe, and even more having studied the scriptures that every feeling imaginable is represented.  In fact, many of feeling we have in the middle of times of trouble are expressed beautifully in one book, the psalms.

In the psalms we see the emotions of fear and anger, as well as relief and elation. The psalmists remind us that people of faith are real people. Real people who live in a real world, and face trouble that, from a psychological standpoint, elicit a response similar to our own.  What I’m most drawn to, however, is the reality that these songs express to God those feelings, and knowingly expect God to do something about it.

They psalmist confess that they have done wrong, but we don’t hear them whine that God should have treated them better, or that they deserve to be in their position. No, what we read in the psalms are the words of people who know that God will save them, even as they have done wrong. Because they know, in faith, they are still God’s people.  It’s not an entitlement either. Their response is one that believe, completely, in a faithful God, a God in whom they place absolute trust. 

But how can they trust this God? What has this God done for them? They trust God because of personal experience, and/or the testimony of someone they trust. It’s why the apostle Paul writes: “if God is for us, who can stand against us?” (Romans 8:31).  He, like people of faith have always known, and even now know, God meets us in our times of trouble.  We may not be free from trouble, but God’s presence like a tent, or like a high rock will lift us up in the midst of trouble.

May God lift us higher and higher for he is the rock of highest magnitude.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Daily Encourager – July 13, 2020

Whoever is thirsty should come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, just as the scriptures said, rivers of living water will flow out from within them. - John 7:38 

One of the things I lose sight of in the Christian walk is the need to rely on the ever-flowing stream of God’s love. A stream that moves in and out of my soul, and the soul of every christian.  Sometimes our focus simply looks at what we have at that moment, and we make the determination that I can’t give any more, there is no way I can commit to one more thing, I’m stretched too thin.  We forget that even in our weakness, God is still all powerful. We forget that if it is Him who is calling us to such a task then He will provide the time, energy, resources to make it happen.  That is why Jesus tells his disciples that if they would believe in him, they would have the rivers of living water flow into and out of them.  It is not an idea that this living water comes from a finite reservoir and once we use up our portion that’s it, or there is a limited supply.  Instead, this is the living water of God’s love that is never ending, which never runs dry, it cannot be explained or understood, it simply comes.  The more we rely on that never ending stream the more we find that we do not work out of what we have been given, but out of what God has that He keeps sending our way.  We simply need to just go with it, and not question whether the stream in good enough, but simply rely on God to use us in such a wonderful way. 

One of the ways God uses us is to influence others with this living water, I find the words of Oswald Chambers enlightening on this aspect of influence this is what he says:

Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.

I hope our lives might become the inspiration others need in order to receive Jesus and let the living waters flow into them. I hope our lives reflect the love of God to others in such a way that we are instruments of God’s mercy and peace. I hope even as we are again apart, we can continue to be lifted up and filled up by the never ceasing waters of God’s love.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Daily Encourager – July 12, 2020

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 “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:8-9

One of the greatest promises I find throughout scripture is the promise that God is with us. We relive that promise in our faith celebrating Emanuel at Christmas, the living God through the resurrection at Easter, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives at Pentecost.  All of the major celebrations of our faith point us to an ever-present God.

The presence of God in our lives calls us, as believers, as Christians, to be present with one another. We call that incarnational ministry.  It is the ministry of being present. As God is present with us, we are present with one another. We share in life’s ups and downs, joys and concerns. Knowing that we have one another by our side, helps us to know the God that is with us, and is on our side.  We need to know that presence of God as we navigate, especially, through the trails that this world throws our way.

The world in which we now live, with the realities of a deadly, harmful virus has disrupted that presence greatly. Now, we no longer feel safe being around one another. We are experiencing another spike in cases, and because of that, we are again closed to being together in worship.  The last message I received from our district superintendent, Jason Gattis stated: “Bishop Taylor has decided to close in-person services (indoor, outdoor, drive-in) for churches in Knox and Sevier Counties.  The closure will be through July and the conference COVID Task Force will reassess on July 28th.” We are not the only counties that received notice like this, I’ve heard from ministry colleges all over the conference who received similar messages from the superintendents.  We, again, find ourselves apart, for several weeks, and we do not yet know when we can be together, again.

Now, more than ever before, the familiar words from the apostle Paul come to mind. Long a part of evangelists have called the “romans road to salvation,” we hear how salvation is as close as the words on our lips and the belief in our hearts.  However, I want to take us a little deeper in our understanding.

Just previous to this verse, Paul is talking about the salvation of Israel. He is speaking as one who has been a religious leader, a pharisee among the Jews. However, he states that their zeal for God is misguided because it is not based on knowledge which he now has. He looks at the old ways of belief, that from Moses righteousness comes from following the law. That is, if you live the perfect interpretation of the law of God, you will be saved.  But faith says the law is flawed, and the only perfect perfection is Christ. So do we ascend up to Christ, or descend to bring Christ up, because he is dead therefor in the ground, or in heaven?

The best response to this is, “neither.” Christ is in heaven, but Christ is God, and the best knowledge is that God is with us, therefore, Christ is with us.  Christ is calling us together, binding us in perfect love, in perfect community, and does so even when we are unaware.

We continue to be told by those in power that we should not be together, that we need to keep our distance from one another, and that out of care for one another, the church building needs to remain closed.  We can become very disheartened by this news.  However, the other way to look at it is this.  We are apart because we care for one another in community.  We are apart, yet God is continuing to pull us together in spirit, by His Holy Spirit.  We are apart, but the gospel is still alive in us.  We are apart, but ministry is still happening because of us.  We are apart, yet we are living out our salvation in love because we know our God and our community is a close as a word on our lips, as close as a heartbeat.  Their love for us, and our love for one another does not end at the doorsteps to the church.  Instead the church of Jesus Christ is alive and doing well inside each of us. 

Friends, I know how hard it is for us not to join together in the sanctuary, but our true sanctuary is open, our hearts are open to worship the living God no matter where we are. May our lives bring praise to the one who is always present with us.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Daily Encourager – July 11, 2020

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.  Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.  - Psalm 116:1-2

In our darkest times, when the whole world seems to be caving in around us, it no longer matters how close of a relationship we actually have with Christ; we will cry out to God.  Even people who barley believe God exists, in times of true desperation, will call out. Desperation puts us all on the same playing field, where we need help, and the only one that can help us is someone greater than us. 

I believe the scriptures, when they say, God hears the cries of those in need, God listens and anticipates our cries that we need Him, and God is faithful to answer.  We don’t always receive the help or answer we expect, but God does answer our cries of desperation, and for that reason alone, we have reason to give thanks.

God’s faithfulness to answer us makes Him dependable, and that’s what we often seek most; someone whom we can always depend on, no matter the situation.  Even if it’s someone we simply what to listen to us as we whine about our current situation, we can count on God to listen, and His promises through Jesus Christ say that he will always be with us, never leaving or forsaking us.  I believe this to be true, and know that God is lavishing his love on us in our times of need as well as our times fullness and joy. 

I am reminded of the song Your Love is Everything, by Chris McClarney. I hope these words speak to us as a prayer, today:

“When I’m dry and thirsty Lord, and I’m crying out for more I know I can trust in Your love.  In the darkness in the night, when I’m starving for the light I know I can trust in Your love.  You keep no record of my sin, You don’t remember all my shame.  Your love heals every disease, Your love fulfills my every need, Your love is everything to me, Your love is everything.”

God’s love and presence is with you now and forever, cry out!  He is listening.

Grace & Peace,
Sam