Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

First Sunday of Advent – The Prophecy Candle – Hope

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Malachi 4:5-6

Four centuries these last words of Malachi echo across the land of Israel as they wait and look, while continuing to place their hope in God’s promise of the coming Messiah.  Even in the midst of silence the flicker of hope continues to burn. They wait for the promised Elijah to proclaim the Messiah.

G. K. Chesterton wrote that: “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all…As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.”

Such was the night that Gabriel, the angel of the LORD came to Zechariah, announcing that he and Elizabeth would give birth to a son who would be named John. Though they are long past their childbearing years they kept a flicker of hope burning that God could use to keep His promise. They would have a son in their old age but not just a son. He will be the one who would “make ready a people prepared for the LORD.” Finally, after four hundred years, the prophecy candle would be lit.

A few months later Gabriel makes his way to Nazareth with another birth announcement that would rock the world forever. In this small, politically insignificant village, he made his way to an unmarried young woman. Mary hears the words, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

Hope is often found in the most unusual ways such as this illustration from a large city school system that had a special mentoring program for kids in the hospital to help them keep up with their school work. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child’s name and room number and talked briefly with the child’s regular class teacher. “We’re studying nouns and adverbs in his class now,” the regular teacher said, “and I’d be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn’t fall too far behind.”

The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, “I’ve been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs.” When she left she felt she hadn’t accomplished much. But the next day, a nurse asked her, “What did you do to that boy?” The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. “No, no,” said the nurse. “You don’t know what I mean. We’ve been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He’s fighting back, responding to treatment. It’s as though he’s decided to live.”

Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: “They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?”  (Bits and Pieces)

Yesterday, as we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent, the first candle on the Advent wreath was lit. However, in this challenging year, it is an important one: it is the Prophecy Candle – Hope.  It is important to reflect upon this candle of hope as we struggle with the impact of 2020 on our lives, our families and our world. In a dark world, one candle’s light is similar to a floodlight through the dark night. God wouldn’t send his son to offer hope if we were dying without hope, would he?

“There are no hopeless situations: there are only people who have grown hopeless about them.” -Clare Boothe Luce. To followers of Jesus, Christmas is the very essence of hope as we experience God coming into the world, “Emmanuel, God is with us.” (Matt 1:23)

This Advent season pray:

For attentiveness to what truly matters, without being distracted by trivial things.

For opportunities to encourage others who may be without hope.

For the grace to rest in the midst of the uncertainty and unrest in your life

For hope that comes anew each day through God’s love and grace.

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Historians debate whether this was the first proclamation or executive order issued by the new President George Washington but it was definitely one of his first official orders. President Washington issued a proclamation on October 3, 1789 establishing a day of Thanksgiving. Washington recognized that this young nation needed to stop and express thankfulness.

Thanksgiving is truly a unique holiday that has only one purpose: to give thanks. There have been countless changes in the United States since that first proclamation was issued but one thing hasn’t or shouldn’t change: the need to give thanks. In an article by Hollis Miller, he asked kids what they were thankful for. Here are a few of the responses from the kids:

“Ceiling Fans.”

“Hot Wheels.”

“Thankful that her brother isn’t a monster because if he was, he would eat her.”

“Gas.”

“Shoes, Getting new shoes. People who make shoes.”

“Toilet Paper.”

“Cookies. Lots of cookies.”

“I’m thankful for snowmen, daddy and quesadillas. “

At least Daddy ranked higher than food even if he could not outrank a snowman.

I can be pretty confident in saying that 2020 has been a stressful year.  On Thursday you may ask, do we have anything to give thanks about? What will you be thankful for?  Maybe it would be helpful during the days before Thanksgiving during your daily prayer time and devotion to take some time to meditate upon thankfulness. Allow God to reveal to you those things in your life for which you can express thanksgiving. It is always helpful to write those thoughts on paper as a reminder for the next day.  Hopefully if you are able to gather around a table with family this year, you can share your thoughts of thankfulness.

If 2020 has been a challenging year in which to be thankful, imagine writing your thoughts from a dark, dingy prison cell. Paul did just that as he wrote to the church in Colosse, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” Paul, writing with a chain around his leg, was still able to give thanks for the Colossians.

Paul should have been worried and stressed out but he tells the church to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful….” singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

I can’t help but imagine that if Paul were writing to the church in 2020, he would still write the same closing encouraging words.  “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Instead of stressing over the unrelenting wave of negative news, spend time praying for others and yourself. Instead of being downcast, constantly look for those things for which you are thankful. Instead of focusing on what has been lost in 2020, find those things that you are thankful for, like family, health and life itself.

Thanksgiving is a lot more than turkey, football and parades. It is a day to slow down long enough to truly be thankful no matter the circumstances.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.” Colossians 3:15

It is fast approaching two weeks since the elections, yet some locations are still counting ballots, others are in the midst of doing or planning recounts and lawsuits are being filed. If you had asked me last Tuesday night who won, I would give you the same answer as today, I WON!

I won because I am alive, in good health, just had a good meal and am blessed with a wonderful family. Unfortunately, not everyone around the world can make this statement.

I won because I live in a nation where all citizens have the freedom to cast their vote regardless of race, religion, economic status or birthplace. Unfortunately, there are nations where is not the case.

I won because I will not let a politician, political party or political direction come between me and my family, me and my fellow church members or my trust in God. Unfortunately, not everyone in our nation fits in this category.

I won because I know lasting change will not result from the actions of those same politicians, political parties or political directions but instead is a result of the transformed lives of individuals like you and me who follow Jesus.

I won because I refuse to be pulled down into the cesspool of anger, hatred or despair. It’s a nasty place to live.

I won even though there are issues which I strongly disagree with that will probably require me to pray harder, work harder, become more involved and voice my concerns more often.

I won because even though some bad decisions will be made from those elected, there will be some good decisions made for which I can be thankful.

I won because the God I serve will always be greater than any politician, political party or political direction. My fate is not in their hands but in the hands of one who loved the world enough to give His only Son that we could have everlasting life.

I don’t know which candidates you wanted to win or lose on November 3 but I hope post-election you are still telling your family members you love them, that you are enjoying your daily times with God and that you are not allowing fear to overwhelm you. Maybe you also are even in a place, regardless of the poll numbers, that you can say, I WON!

“Send us out all over the world so that everyone everywhere will discover your ways and know who you are and see your power to save. Let all the nations burst forth with praise; let everyone everywhere love and enjoy you! Then how glad the nations will be when you are their King. They will sing, they will shout, for you give true justice to the people. Yes! You, Lord, are the shepherd of the nations!” Psalm 67:2-4

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

Why don’t you stop and ask directions? Only married couples can fully appreciate this question! Let’s face it, very few of us want to admit that we don’t know how to get somewhere. All of us have been lost at one time or another and finally had to stop to ask.  Unfortunately, once you get directions, you may still not know where you are going.

While living in Kenya, I often observed people asking directions to the Karen area of Nairobi, named after Karen Blixen of “Out of Africa” fame.  The answer was simple enough, “You turn at the intersection with the big tree in the middle of the road.” However, if you followed your own directions, when you do get to the intersection with the big tree to turn right, you realize there isn’t a tree. Yes, there was a tree at one point but it was cut down years ago. Yet those familiar with the area and the tree continue to use the tree as the landmark for turning.

If you need directions, it is always better to get someone to guide you who knows the way. An old Ugandan proverb sums it up well: “If the owner of the land leads you, you cannot get lost.” This is why Abraham could trust the “owner” of the land when he heard the command to leave the land. Abraham wasn’t asked just to move houses; he was to leave country, culture, people group and family. He didn’t know where he was going, just the command – “Go!”.

Abraham could have stayed in his comfort zone and continued to live life as Abram. He had land, money and prestige. He could have enjoyed his retirement years.  He didn’t know what was ahead, except he had faith in the owner of the land. He had complete trust that God would lead him to a new home. Abram believed God’s promise of:

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you.

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;

And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Gen 12:2-3

Abram packed his bags, loaded his possessions and with his family left their home and set out for parts unknown. The journey wasn’t easy. Abram made mistakes on the way and didn’t always display the qualities of a godly leader, but God saw in him a man He could use. Abram knew that the only way forward was to follow the “owner of the land” on his journey.

Life would have been easy for Abram if he hadn’t moved, yet he would have missed the blessing of being a great nation. He could have stayed Abram but generations who followed would not have been blessed. Yet God kept working in Abram until that day when God was able to say, “no longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.“ Gen 17:5

Centuries would pass. Wars would be fought, fields planted, crops harvested, marriages performed, babies born and deaths suffered.  Yet the promise continued, the blessings poured out and people worshiped the true God. Finally, the day would come when the writer of Hebrews would pen the words, “By faith Abraham, when called…. obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Heb 11:8

Ernest Blandly and his wife, Eliza, heard that uncomfortable call and immigrated to the United States in 1884, following the call to live in the Manhattan, New York slum called “Hell’s Kitchen.” There he would write the hymn:

“I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,

Take thy cross and follow, follow me.

Where he leads me I will follow,

Where he leads me I will follow,

Where he leads me I will follow,

I’ll go with him, with him all the way.”

What about you? What about me? What will we do when we hear our Savior calling? “Where he leads me I will follow” may often seem difficult and challenging, yet we go because we trust the owner of the land to guide us, we will never be lost.  As we yield to Jesus as our Savior and Lord, our identity is transformed and we respond to Jesus’ promise that, “when My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. “John 10:27

God is great,

Pastor Lynn