Pastor’s Thoughts Aug. 4,2024-Aug 20-2024
An old saying goes, “When I don’t understand God’s hand, I can trust His heart.”
Someone once asked Mrs. Einstein, “Mrs. Einstein, do you understand your husband’s Theory of Relativity?” She said, “I do not understand the Professor’s Theory of Relativity, but I understand the Professor and that is all that matters.”
Many times, the best help is not the answer to the WHY but a WHO… not a REASON but a RELATIONSHIP… not a PRINCIPLE but a PERSON. There is nothing like the PERSON and PRESENCE of God…especially during perplexing times. I still believe the most dangerous prayer anyone can ever pray is, “God if you are real, show me.” “God is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 —Michael Sprague
GOD KNOWS WHAT LIES AHEAD: “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.” Psalms 139:16
I closed my eyes in prayer as the pastor quoted this Scripture over my infant niece. I so anticipated God’s plan for her and how He would hold her hand and guide her through each day of her life. When she was eight years old, I held her as we wept over her father’s untimely death. As I held her, I realized that God’s promise was just as real then as it had been at her birth. To this day God had been ahead of both of us…and He already knew our need, our hurt, our anger and our doubts. He was still there holding our hands. What a comfort to know that while our future may sometimes look unclear at best…and futile at worst…God knows precisely what lies ahead. The disastrous things that come to us in life are the result of fallen humanity living on a broken planet. But through it all…God’s hand is still just as steady…and He will faithfully lead us. ❤️ –Jack Hayford
YOUR LIFE IS SACRED: Every hour of your life is a sacred gift from a God who loves you!
Every moment is packed with eternal possibilities. As one of God’s precious children…you live under the light of God’s smile…and you’re flanked by guardian angels. You have a reserved and secure place at the Table of Grace and home in heaven that will take your breath away
May you have the wisdom to number your days that you may gain a heart of wisdom. May you lift your gaze from what you can see so that you can envision what you cannot see…face-to-face fellowship with Jesus…life eternal…holy habitation…joy abundant…and laughter down to your toes. You will lack nothing…possess all things…and never have another insecure day as long as you live. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, that is your inheritance in Christ Jesus. Live like it’s true today! ❤️ Psalm 90:12 (NIV) Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. –Susie Larson
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7 This verse speaks of the profound security and peace we find in God. In the midst of life’s challenges and difficulties, God is portrayed as a refuge…a place where we can find shelter and safety. David, the psalmist, acknowledges God as his “hiding place,” a source of protection and deliverance from all that threatens him. The imagery of God as a “hiding place” emphasizes His role as a safe haven where we can retreat from the dangers and pressures of the world. It’s a reminder that, in times of trouble, we can turn to God…who offers us not just physical safety but spiritual and emotional peace. This protection is not passive but active, as God surrounds us with “songs of deliverance.” These songs symbolize God’s victory over our trials…a celebration of His power to rescue and restore us. They also remind us that deliverance is not something we achieve on our own, but something God graciously provides. As we go through this day, let’s rest in the assurance that God is our hiding place. No matter what challenges we face…we can trust that He is with us…offering protection and surrounding us with His deliverance. This truth should inspire us to seek refuge in God continually, bringing our fears and anxieties to Him in prayer. Let’s also take time to reflect on the many ways God has delivered us in the past…allowing those “songs of deliverance” to fill our hearts with gratitude and confidence in His continued care. Today, may we walk in the peace and security that comes from knowing God is our protector and deliverer! ❤️ –Cathy C. Charles
WORSHIP THROUGH IT:
This looks impossible
But You’re the God of impossible
And I’ve seen Your faithfulness all over my life
I need a miracle
And You’re the God of miracles
Some way, somehow You come through every time
I know my God can do it
So, I’m gonna worship through it
Before I see my breakthrough
I’m gonna choose to praise You
I will sing hallelujah to the One
Who can do what the world says can’t be done
I know my God can do it
So, I’m gonna worship through it
In the middle of my no way out
In the middle of my don’t know how
I hear You whisper to me peace be still
This is why I believe
You will deliver me
You always have and You always will
You always have and You always will
I know my God can do it
So, I’m gonna worship through it
Before I see my breakthrough
I’m gonna choose to praise You
I will sing hallelujah to the One
Who can do what the world says can’t be done
I know my God can do it
So, I’m gonna worship through it
I won’t wait til the rocks cry out
I’m gonna praise You
I won’t wait till the walls come down
I’m gonna praise You
(Gonna) Lift my hands right here, right now
I’m gonna praise You
Oh God, I praise You!
I know my God can do it
So, I’m gonna worship through it
Before I see my breakthrough
I’m gonna choose to praise You
I will sing hallelujah to the One
Who can do what the world says can’t be done
I know my God can do it
So, I’m gonna worship through it
—lyrics from “Worship Through It” (Feat. Chris Brown) by Tasha Layton
How do we look at others? How do others look at us? The truth is we will never set our eyes on a human being that Jesus did not die for. We will never meet someone beyond the grace of God. People are one humble prayer away from being our brothers or sisters in Christ. Let’s look at people like Jesus did…and really care.
Some empty person needs you today! ❤️
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 God is good, and He’s in control of everything. But that does not mean bad things won’t happen. Thankfully, trials often drive people to the Lord. And for those of us who are already His followers…God uses difficult circumstances to mature our faith and conform us to His image. In His omniscience and wisdom, God will allow trials to touch our life so we can grow from the experience. Growth—whether in compassion, trust, or knowledge—is good. If we could peek behind the scenes of our circumstances, we’d see the Lord sovereignly working toward His ultimate purpose. Romans 8:28 affirms this: “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” On occasion, we see immediate positive results from trials. But other times, we must wait months or years (or until heaven) to fully understand what God was doing. Suffering and evil are inevitable parts of a fallen world. But we have assurance that the Lord is in control of the universe…including the tiny corner we occupy. When He permits bad things to happen…we can be sure that He will continue to provide comfort and guidance as He shapes us into the people He wants us to be. ❤️ –Charles Stanley
2 Timothy 2:13: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.” This verse is a powerful reminder of God’s unchanging nature and steadfast love. Even in our moments of weakness, doubt, or failure…God’s faithfulness remains constant. His character is not dependent on our performance; rather, it is rooted in His very nature. This truth brings us immense hope, knowing that God’s faithfulness endures even when ours falters.
The phrase “He remains faithful” emphasizes that God’s faithfulness is an essential part of who He is. He is inherently faithful, and He cannot be anything else. This means that no matter how inconsistent we may be in our walk with Him, His promises and love for us remain secure. God does not abandon or forsake us when we struggle; instead, He patiently upholds us and continues to work in our lives. This is a profound expression of His grace, which we can rely on…even when we fall short.
As we step into this day, let us rest in the assurance of God’s unchanging faithfulness. When we face moments of doubt or feel overwhelmed by our own inadequacies…we can take refuge in the truth that God remains faithful. Let this knowledge encourage us to return to Him, no matter how far we may feel we have strayed. His arms are always open, ready to receive us with grace and love.
Today, may we walk in the confidence that our relationship with God is secure…not because of our own faithfulness…but because of His unwavering commitment to us! ❤️—Cathy C. Charles
DON’T THROW IN THE TOWEL: Perhaps the most memorable image of Hurricane Ike from September 2008 was the famous yellow house, the only house left standing in a neighborhood of Gilchrist, Texas. This little peaceful and serene seaside community of 200 homes was known for its colorful houses, sidewalks, beautiful landscaping and retirees. After Ike, it looked like a bomb exploded. There was nothing left to suggest there was civilization there except for one lone house that stood strong and defied the wind and the watery wrath of the storm. This was one house out of 200.
The owners were Warren and Pamela Adams. Warren was an electrical designer. He added additional fortifications to retrofit the house when the foundation was initially laid and the house was built in anticipation of the hurricanes of life. He hired an engineering company to oversee the contractors. In the end, it was shocking to see only one house standing, but the backstory of the faithfulness of the builder shines light on the ability to stand.
Such is the story of our lives. Jesus told the famous story of two men who built homes or should I say built their lives. Outwardly, both looked strong but it wasn’t until the storm came that the individual foundations were revealed. The exhortation from this story in the Sermon on the Mount was to build our homes/our lives upon the rock and not sinking sand. Jesus is that Rock.
All our homes/lives will have cracks and scars from the storms, struggles, and seasons of life. Yet, we will stay intact if built on Jesus, our firm foundation. As I like to say, we may shake upon the Rock, but the Rock will never shake under us.
Stay steady today in the storm my friends. God is faithful. He started a good work in you and will finish that work. He is able. He is a rescuer … sustainer … deliverer … keeper. Get to know who God is and who He says you are. Get to know His voice and be careful of the counterfeits of the enemy. Be less impressed with the famous and more impressed with the faithful. Abide in Jesus and don’t be afraid to speak His name and His deeds of faithfulness to you. ❤️
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25—Michael Sprague
IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM: Moses gave every possible excuse to convince God He had made a wrong choice: “Who am I to go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11), “What if they do not believe me?” (Exodus 4:1), “I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). God was patient with Moses, but finally He had enough.
Exodus 4:11-14 “The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’ But Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it.’ Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses.”
Moses would later be described as “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:2). But as he stood before God and received his initial assignment for battle, his “humility” was nothing more than a self-absorbed lack of faith. Moses looked at his own abilities and didn’t see how success was possible. He failed to see the Creator of the Universe who promised to walk by His side.
Our Christian walk is ALL about God working through us. OF COURSE our abilities will seem too small; of course the enemy will seem too big! The seemingly impossible steps are all part of His plan. Our Heavenly Father desires an intimate and passionate relationship built on absolute trust, so why would He ever lead us in a direction that did not require our complete dependence on Him? The assignment may seem impossible, but His call is our greatest assurance of victory; “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31).
When God is truly Lord of our life, it’s false humility to believe we cannot follow where He leads. Let’s allow His glory to so completely fill our vision that we can boldly follow because we KNOW…it’s all about Him! ❤️–Steve Troxel
“for we walk by faith, not by sight”2 Corinthians 5:7 This short yet powerful verse encapsulates a foundational principle of the Christian life. It reminds us that our journey with God is one of faith…trusting in His unseen promises and His guidance…rather than relying solely on our physical senses and worldly perceptions. Living by faith means trusting in God’s character, His promises, and His plan for our lives…even when we cannot see the full picture. Our faith is grounded in the assurance of God’s unwavering love and His perfect wisdom. This kind of faith calls us to move beyond the tangible and visible…embracing the spiritual truths that God reveals to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit. It is a daily choice to place our confidence in what God has said…rather than what our circumstances might suggest.
As we navigate this new day, let us be encouraged to live by faith in every situation we encounter. Whether we face uncertainties, challenges, or blessings…our response should be rooted in our trust in God. This faith empowers us to step out in obedience, to take risks for the sake of the Gospel, and to find peace amidst life’s storms. As we live by faith and not by sight, we align ourselves with God’s greater purposes and experience the fullness of His presence and provision.
Let’s pray for the strength to trust Him more deeply and to walk confidently in the path He has set before us…knowing that He is faithful to guide and sustain us! ❤️
—Cathy C. Charles
TRUST AND MOVE ON: As the Israelites approached the Red Sea, “Pharaoh and his officials changed their mind” (Exodus 14:5). Every chariot in Egypt was sent to bring the Israelites back. With no escape route in sight, and the Egyptian army closing in, the people cried out to God. Moses tried to calm the people, “The Lord will fight for you: you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14). But being still was not in God’s plan.
Exodus 14:15-16: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.'”
We must diligently seek His will in stillness and prepare our life to follow where He leads; “be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10). But we cannot allow our stillness to make us immobile: “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The conditions will never feel perfect, nor will we ever feel fully prepared; beware of a never-ending mission analysis which paralyzes us from action. In the end we must remember: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). There will always come a time when God expects us to demonstrate our faith in what He has provided. Let’s prepare for that time by drawing near and learning to trust in HIS ability. Let’s live with an active faith such that when we know His power…know His provision…and know His direction…we are able to trust and move on! ❤️ –Steve Troxel