Hope and Goodness - Advent Week One

Sunday, Nov 20:  Psalm 33:22 – Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Question to ponder:  How does God’s steadfast love relate to wanting the best for others?

Monday, Nov 21  1 Peter 1:13  A Call to Holy Living -- Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed

Question of the day:  What actions can we take to reflect the grace Jesus has brought us to give hope to others?

Do not be dismayed...

 Last week I was out walking with my little dog, Pinocchio.  He is a nine pound toy dog, and while he is always interested in other dogs, he is fearful of those dogs who are bigger, noisier and more boisterous than he is.  (Which describes pretty much every other dog around us.)  

We were happily walking along on a beautiful evening, enjoying the fresh air and the setting sun, when I saw this black blur in my peripheral vision.  Before I knew what was happening, a large, black lab had literally run over Pinocchio and was jumping all over me, putting my little dog at risk of injury and knocking me over.  I moved as fast as I could, trying to hold back this dog by its collar while picking up my own dog, but it took a minute and the fear had set in.  Pinocchio was afraid for the rest of the walk.

I had a feeling that wasn't the last I would see of that dog, and I was right.  The next day, as we were coming up to that same house, I picked up Pinocchio, who was already nervous, well in advance, and it was a good thing I did, because next thing I knew, here was that dog jumping on us again.

Refuge

 Many years ago, I was facing one of the most difficult moments of my life.  I felt alone, hanging on by my fingernails from the end of that rope that was constantly fraying and threatening to come apart on me.  I did what I often do in those moments, when there is only one place to turn for solace, and when I needed an actual answer, a real word from God.  I turned to God's Word, and the answer fell open to me.  I let the Bible open where it chose, and there was Psalm 91.  No doubt I had read it many times before, but it was all new to me that day, and it gave me a peace I wasn't able to feel any other way.

I love the entire Psalm, but verses 1-2 really say it all for me, and I come back to them again and again.

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

Fathers Day thoughts....

Never underestimate the power of a praying mother.  

Hannah prayed for her son Samuel, and her words resonate for me today.  In 1 Samuel 1:27  we read:

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him.

I am sure my mother spent a lot of time in prayer, between my brother and me, over the years.  Our lives have not been smooth journeys, and I am sure she worried plenty and those knees got a workout.  But she remained steadfast and faithful, and hopefully, at the age of 95, she feels her prayers were answered.

So what does this have to do with Father's Day, which we are celebrating today?  After all, fathers are very important, and they deserve a day to be celebrated and honored.  And I had a wonderful father for the first years of my life - none better.  People still remember him as an involved, active parent, a fun guy to be around, a ready help in time of trouble, a great person all around.  It is a comfort to know that he is remembered this way, especially since over the last 50 years, my memories of him have faded somewhat.

The joy of the Lord is my strength...

 A particular verse caught my attention during my pastor's sermon this morning, and I must admit, my mind wandered in its own direction.

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is my strength.  Nehemiah 8:10

Restored!

 Message given to my church on December 12, 2021

Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Amen.

Restored

Several years ago, I was asked by my friend to come and play piano at her church in the summer when the regular organist was not available to play.  It seems like a simple question, will you play?  But it was a difficult answer for me, because I had left a previous church after a painful breach, and had not attended any church in well over a year.  Although I occasionally watched a service online, I didn’t know whether I would ever attend any church again on a regular basis.  

My faith in God never wavered, God is and was at the center of my life, my foundation for everything - but my faith in my fellow Christians was definitely in question.  I was disillusioned, broken down, my desire to worship with others was destroyed.  Satan had, at least for that moment, won, but I didn’t realize it because I was lost in the wreckage.