Tag Archives: Trust

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on January 21, 2016
Tags: , Trust   

Clearing Out Space — Rev. David J. Schreffler

January 21, 2016

Getting involved in reading the bible in this New Year includes giving something or some “things” up for the coming year, and it also involves taking something on that is new. It almost sounds like the season of Lent where we either give up something or take something on as a devotional exercise as we prepare for Holy Week and the death and resurrection of Jesus. To include something new into your lifestyle and into your schedule may require you giving something up. You are almost a month into your process of reading the bible every day, and I hope you have taken this challenge seriously. What is it you have found that needed to go as you have taken on this new devotional exercise?

Each one of us has a problem we need to overcome or something about how we live our daily lives that needs to change or needs to go so we can get our lives more centered on Jesus Christ and the words of eternal life he is teaching us.

I relate it to my office at the church. I have a wonderful office here that, over the last two years, has turned into a dumping ground for all kinds of things. I have received tables and chairs, books of all kinds, various other nick-knacks and I have been trying to build a puppet theater, the process of which ended about 15 months ago because I lost my creativity. Between Christmas and New Years Day I determined to throw things out and try to find my desk again. After three days and several bags of garbage, I have found what I had lost so long ago – an office in which I am not embarrassed to invite strangers and members. It was hard letting go of some of the items, but they needed to go, because they were impeding with my movement into the future.

If you are finding it difficult to keep to your reading because other things are cluttering your mind and your schedule, determine what it is that needs to go, or to change, and get rid of them. Make the time and make the room for Jesus, the Word made flesh. You will find that you have not lost stuff as much as you have gained much needed space and room for a future with the Word of G-d.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:37 pm on January 14, 2016
Tags: , Trust   

G-d Likes New Things Too! — Rev. David J. Schreffler

January 14, 2016

Everybody likes new things – and coming off the Christmas season we have received our fill of new things. But even God likes new things, don’t you think? He created all things, but He also says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Even the beginning of the bible begins with G-d creating everything – and it was new.

We so far have focused our time on how we are trying new things, learning new things, and experiencing new things in reading the bible. The thing we need to talk about now is how Our heavenly Father wants to do new things in the lives of G-d’s children. In reading the bible, we receive the word of G-d who desires to teach us new truths, provide new opportunities for ministering to others, and take us to higher levels of worship and deeper levels of trust. Now, trusting G-d is not something new, but wholly relying on G-d’s mercy and trusting the promises of G-d may be something new for you. But, as humans we do not have a good track record for “Fully Relying On G-d”. From the time of the Israelites wandering the wilderness, to our own meanderings in this life, we tend to follow our own thoughts and feelings rather than G-d’s guidance.

Of course, I’m like that sometimes. G-d wants to do the new, the fresh, the challenging in my life and in my ministry. But often I try to hold on to yesterday’s comfortable. I don’t want to let go of what is comfortable and familiar—some old way of thinking, a certain way of doing things, my usual area of service to Him. I may miss new and exciting things G-d has planned for me if I don’t fully trust His guidance, even when He seems to be leading me down unfamiliar paths.

One of the best ways to keep our faith fresh and new is to develop and to keep going with the new habit of daily Bible reading. G-d’s Word is timeless—old and new at the same time. When we find something new in the bible, especially a new way to show our love to G-d or each other, I believe G-d smiles and says “Well done faithful servant”.

Pastor Dave