March 1, 2024 – Forgetting

“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Luke 6:27-36

“We all do it, probably every day. We have no idea that we’re doing it, yet it has a huge impact on the way we view ourselves and the way we respond to others. It is one of the reasons there is so much relational trouble even in the house of God. What is this thing that we all tend to do that causes so much harm? We all forget. In the busyness and self-centeredness of our lives, we sadly forget how much our lives have been blessed by and radically redirected by mercy. The fact that God has blessed us with his favor when we deserved his wrath fades from our memories like a song whose lyrics we once knew but now cannot recall.” (“New Morning Mercies”, March 1; Paul David Tripp)

I have never been good at remembering people’s names. It is not one of my stronger gifts. As a pastor I find this fairly distressing – forgetting people’s names. And the more you worry about it, the worse it gets. Too many people daily forget the blessings G-d has bestowed on all people – those who acknowledge them and those who don’t. The scriptures state that G-d “.. makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45)

Of course, this is not license to forget to thank G-d daily for all that we have. Forgetfulness is not an excuse. As such because G-d remembers us daily, we should make it a habit to stop and thank G-d at some time in the day for all the blessings G-d has given to us.

Pastor Dave

March 2, 2024 – Waiting

“For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So shall your descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore “it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:13-22

“Waiting on God is not at all like the meaningless waiting that you do at the dentist’s office. You know, he’s overbooked, so you’re still sitting there more than an hour past your scheduled appointment. You’re…now reading Family Circle magazine. You’ve begun to read the article titled “The 7 Best Chicken Recipes in the World.” When you’re…getting ready to tear a chicken recipe out of Family Circle magazine because the recipe sounds so good, you know that you have been waiting too long! But waiting on God is not like that. Waiting on God is an active life based on confidence in his presence and promises, not a passive existence haunted by occasional doubt. Waiting on God isn’t internal torment that results in paralysis. No, waiting on God is internal rest that results in courageous action. Waiting is your calling. Waiting is your blessing.” (“New Morning Mercies”, March 2; Paul David Tripp)

We are told that it was faith that encouraged Abraham to continue even though he had not yet received what G-d had promised. It was faith that helped Joseph endure the circumstances his brothers sold him into. It was faith that encouraged Paul to continue on his journeys even though he encountered so many difficulties. Abraham had to wait – Jospeh had to wait – Paul had to wait. But G-d did not forget them nor forsake them.

Waiting is never fun, especially when you are anxious, in a hurry, or scared. And yet there are times in our lives when we must wait. But we are called to use this time in preparation, for our time will come to move, to act, to love, and to give. And that waiting will have been a blessing.

“Waiting is a sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief.” (Max Lucado)

Pastor Dave