A New Day...

Last night we had our first digital “Prayer and Praise” get-together on Zoom as a church family. There was about a dozen log in and we communicated with each other through the internet. It’s not quite the same as gathering together but it was great seeing and hearing from the ones that came on board.

Because of the “Shelter in Place” order that is in affect, it would be very easy to become a recluse. Let me challenge you to avoid that. If you haven’t participated in one of these online sessions, let me encourage you to do so. Now more than ever, we need to stay close as a local church body and as the Body Universal.

It is also a great time, to kick start your spiritual journey to see what God wants to challenge you with.

Last night, I spend a few moments in Psalm 18. Interestingly enough, Psalm 18 is the first long Psalm that we come to and David speaks of God’s deliverance from all of his enemies and from King Saul. if you study David’s life, you will find that for all the battles that he was in, he was never injured. Pretty amazing for a man who made warfare his business. Now, David was not a perfect man but he was a man “after God’s own heart.” David begins Psalm 18 by telling the Lord how much he loved Him. I think that serves as a pretty good model for us as well. We should focus on telling God how much we love Him. By the way, how much do you love God? Interesting question isn’t it. You may never have thought about it or spend very much time thinking about it. But, I would challenge you to spend time thinking about and telling God how much you love HIm.

Until God allows us to see each other again, remember that I love you and look forward to the day that we can spend time together praising God with each other.

Pastor Mark

Taking the Land...

My family uses the “Youversion” Bible App to do our devotional reading. We have been group reading the Chronological Bible with Tara Leigh Cobb. It is published by D-Group and has an associated PodCast that goes along with it everyday. It is a great tool for group or individual Bible reading and I highly recommend it as a tool for your spiritual growth.

That being said, our reading took us into Joshua today. This is one of my favorite Old Testament books. The context indicates that the nation of Israel has wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they were disobedient the first time God directed them to the Promised Land and they didn’t go. Now, 40 years later, they stand on the banks of the Jordan River again facing the prospect of taking the land. Moses has been removed from the scene and the leadership mantle has been passed to Joshua. God told Joshua in 1:7-9…

“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success where you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

In a Joshua 1:6, God also says to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous…” Whenever God is moving us to the. next phase in His plan for us, we are always going to be fearful. It is expanding the box for us when we just got comfortable in the last box we were in. I am pretty certain that no one likes to have their boundaries or borders changed. We like the things that we can count on that have become the norm for us. Unfortunately, we live in a time when the “norm” is being redefined constantly. It seems that as soon as we think we have settled in, the boundaries change again.

The reason that God told Joshua to “fear not” is because Joshua’s trust was to be in God. You see, God never changes. He is constant. He said, “I am the Lord, I change not.” In these days of uncertainty, we need to keep our eyes on Him. He will never let us down.

Great words for today from God…

Remember, that I love you all and am praying for you. We will get through this and God will see us through.

Pastor Mark

My Refuge and My Fortress

My devotional reading concluded Deuteronomy today with the death of Moses. It also included Psalm 91 which is a prayer from the Psalmist in the midst of great times of trouble. It begins…

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” (Psalm 91:1-6)

This was written during a time when the Psalmist felt great stress over all the threatening things that were around him. Everyday, we are faced with new challenges. Yesterday, the Governor of Illinois issued the Executive “Stay at Home” Order that goes into affect today and initially lasts until April 7. What a dramatic change to our lives. People are feeling more stressed by the minute. Questions continue to arise: “Will I get the coronavirus?” “Will I lose my job?” “What about my family?” “How will this impact my financial well-being in the long-run?” And the list continues to go on and on.

It also raises the question, “What is going to happen next?” Let me be one of the first to assure you that it is going to be just fine. The church has faced difficult times before and God has always seen them through. The Psalmist declared his trust in a holy God as his refuge and fortress. He trusted in God because he knew that God would deliver him regardless of the circumstances. Now, more than ever, it is time to turn your attention to the God of your salvation. Go to His Word to seek Him. Reach out to Him in prayer to let Him know what you are feeling. And, trust Him even in the darkness. He is the Light.

The words of an old hymn ring very true:

“In times like these you need a Savior, In times like these you need an anchor; Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One; This Rock is Jesus, the only One! Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!”

Great words for the times we live.

Remember, I love you and miss meeting with you but I am praying for you and am here for you…

Pastor Mark

When Confused and in Doubt...

There is an old adage that goes…

“When confused and in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!”

I am not sure what good this does. When you have expended all of your emotional energy, the issues or situation that caused your reaction is still there.

We have all been there at one time or another. Maybe your personal crisis or breaking point has been financial, health, family, employment, or the loss of a loved one. Maybe it has been one that I haven’t mentioned. But the common denominator in all of this is that we all have been touched at one time or another by a crisis.

We now are facing a common crisis as a nation. It may or may not touch us personally but I am sure that you have already faced fallout from it that has impacted your life. Maybe you have gone to the grocery store and found empty shelves or you have had your doctor’s or dentist’s appointment cancelled. Maybe, you have not been able to visit a friend or family member or your job has been placed on hold in the midst of everything going on. You are spending more time watching the news and cheering for the job that government is doing or firm in your conviction that it is just another thing that they have messed up. Maybe your hope has been peaked because they said they were going to send you some money…

But, my question to you today is… “Where is your hope?”

In the midst of all this, the Lord is still seated on the throne. Maybe this is a wake up call to our nation and to us…

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

I believe that this is a call for a national revival and repentance. But, if we as a country don’t get it, how about us as individuals and churches?

My devotional reading today contained this passage from Deuteronomy 30:15-18: “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.”

Sounds like a lot of doom and gloom doesn’t it. But, I believe that it is time for us to quit playing at church and Christianity and rise up to really exalt the Lord in our lives today. Whatever we face, the Lord is still seated on the throne and He expects us to live everyday for Him. That means it affects the decisions that I make, causes me to want to spend time reading His Word, and spend time with Him in prayer for our nation, our president, our leaders, our church, and for each other.

If, there is anyway that the church can help you today, please call us. Also, don’t forget to be faithful to the Lord and the church in these difficult days.

Remember,

I love you and am praying for God’s blessings upon you during this very unique time in our lives.

Pastor Mark

Life has changed, how do we cope?

I follow several blogs each day. They contain great content and insights from people that I deeply respect. One, in particular, really grabbed me today and I wanted to share a portion of it with you today…

The section is called “Three Ways To Redeem Social Distancing” and it comes from the Denison Forum…

“Let’s close with ways the Christian faith can help. Spiritual disciplines patterned on the example of Jesus enable us to experience God’s presence in profound ways. Three are especially relevant to social distancing today.

PRAYER. Jesus began his day with prayer and solitude (Mark 1:35) and often prayed alone (Luke 5:16) and at night (Luke 6:12). But he also prayed often for others (cf. John 17:9) and with others (cf. Luke 9:28). He prayed according to the will of his Father (Matthew 26:39). And he taught us that we “should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1).

How are you using these days to deepen your relationship with your Lord in prayer?

SOLITUDE. Scripture says that Jesus “would often slip away to the wilderness and pray” (Luke 5:16). He encouraged his disciples to “come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). Setting aside a place for solitude follows his model as well (cf. Luke 22:39).

When will you next make an appointment for time alone with your Lord?

MEDITATION. This is focusing on a biblical passage, something in nature, or an event and asking God to speak to you through it. Scripture calls us to “meditate on [God’s Word] day and night” (Joshua 1:8; cf. Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:97). David told God, “I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:6). He also told him, “I meditate on all that you have done” (Psalm 143:5).

Will you take time today to listen to your Father?

Corrie ten Boom noted: “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”

To whom will you look today?

Keep checking our NEWS section for update regarding the church and scheduling. In this uncertain days, keep your eyes on Jesus and don’t hesitate to reach out if you are struggling…

Loving you all in Christ,

Pastor Mark