07/24/2019
I ran across something by John Piper, a well known preacher. He says that every day God is doing perhaps 10,000 different things in our lives but you will only be dimly aware of perhaps three of those things. The number is arbitrary but the point is absolutely right. We barely get a glimmer of all that God is doing in us, through us and for us.
Did you know that the northeast side door into the sanctuary has a peephole? The purpose of placement for that peephole is to allow the pastor and groomsmen at the start of the wedding to be able to have a look inside the sanctuary to see where we are in the wedding order. We can take a peek to see how close the time is for us to enter. (Actually any one of the men may look in the peep hole because whoever placed the whole was taller than me! ) When we look into that peephole, at best we can see a sliver of what lies on the other side of the door. We often mistake that “sliver” for the whole spectrum of reality. God knows what He is doing and is NEVER clueless, even when we don’t have a clue.
As we continue to study the story of Joseph as found in the Old Testament, we certainly see a man who certainly had to trust that God was in control throughout many difficult circumstances.
Each day I am working to lean into that strength of God and learning to trust Him more and more. It’s a journey...life is a journey...faith is a journey!!
God is great all the time!!! Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
Such A Rich Passage (Luke 19:1-10)
I reflected a lot on the passage about Zacchaeus because it has been written off as “been there, read that, little guy in a tree.” But it is so rich in getting to the heart of what it means to be saved by grace through faith—to live our lives out of gratitude rather than obligation.
The Power of Presence
This last Sunday I had so much more to share than time to share it. The last Emotional Management Technique was to stay present in the process. Just as Jesus stayed with the woman who was judged and found guilty by the angry crowd, we stay by our children and our friends, especially when they need us the most. Here a couple of examples...
What’s In A Benediction?
Last Sunday I used one of my favorite benedictions.
It was inspired by a saying from about ten years ago:
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
There are several powerful and evocative artworks that depict the scene from Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit... Some of the following have internet links, the others are worth googling. Enjoy!
The Gift of Ourselves As A Gift of Love
The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:
The Loss of a Great Christian Leader
The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)