Selective Hopelessness?

Our guest speaker for yesterday’s English-language services was Ronald Benjamin, a former member of Bronx Bethany’s pastoral staff who is now the senior pastor of Metro West Church of the Nazarene. He shared with us from the book of First Timothy. The passage he focused on is reprinted here as our reflection for today.

As I have been thinking about the passage and the sermon, the phrase “selective hopelessness” has come to my mind. It is a state I, and perhaps you, fall into from time to time. It is a state in which I have no problem praying in faith and assuredness for the needs and concerns of my friends (and even my enemies), yet when it comes to myself my prayers do not carry the same depth of assuredness. Could it be that I don’t believe God will help me as He has helped others? Could it be that I am so overwhelmed by my problems that my spiritual vision gets lost in a fog?

Yesterday’s sermon was a timely encouragement for me. Christ Jesus is the hope of the world… and Christ Jesus is my hope. Therefore, I can choose to be hopeful. My hope is that you, too, are a person of hope!

God bless you as you cling to Christ Jesus, the hope of the world.

First Timothy 1:1-17 (NET Bible)

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings, nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith. But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.

But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers – in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.

I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

Every Day Is A Day To Pray.

During last night's prayer meeting, Pastor Andy spoke from Acts 12.

"About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him. On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, 'Get up quickly!' And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists." (Acts 12:1-7)

There is a kind of prayer that dispatches angels and releases prisoners' chains.

"The angel said to him, 'Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.' Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, 'Put on your cloak and follow me.' Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, 'Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.'" (Acts 12:8-11)

There is a kind of prayer that God responds to via tangible evidences.  

"When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and told them that Peter was standing at the gate. But they said to her, 'You’ve lost your mind!' But she kept insisting that it was Peter, and they kept saying, 'It is his angel!' Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished. He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and then related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, 'Tell James and the brothers these things,' and then he left and went to another place." (Acts 12:12-17)

There is a kind of prayer that frees us to do the works we are called to do.     

A small community of believers gathered to pray last night at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene. God answered.

Do not doubt, but have faith and believe. God is working on behalf of His people throughout the world. Prayer is the work, and prayer works.

Lord, give us the grace to pray without ceasing.           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

On Second Thought...

After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:13-16)

In the account of the prodigal son, we see that his first response to crisis was to find employment in a land of famine. We are given a sense of the severity of the famine by the diet of the pigs. Carob tree pods were an inexpensive, fattening food commonly fed to pigs. They were also used as a food source by the poorest people of the land: Pods were cheap to acquire, and useful in preventing hunger pangs. However, Scripture informs us that the young man was not even able to get any pods.

What is our first response to crisis? Often it is to attempt to make our own way—even if the odds are against us, even if we are transacting in unfamiliar territory, even if our hunger (literal or figurative) remains, even if our employment stands in direct conflict with our personal ethic. There is an element of human nature that convinces us we can make it on our own, but going it alone carries a devastating price tag.

What a blessing to know that the story did not end there. After a period of time, the young man came to an epiphany. Wait! My father has an abundance of food. Though I have squandered my inheritance I will return to him, apologize, and ask him to let me work in his fields. (Luke 15:17-19, paraphrase mine)

Are you in crisis today? Don’t go it alone. Appeal to your Father. Return to the familiar territory of love, grace, provision, and peace.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even God our Savior. (Psalm 68:19)

From Reckless To Redeemed.

“I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) 

According to Jesus, the company of heaven rejoices when a sinner repents. It makes sense, then, that in the construction of our model for prayer, Jesus has instructed us to ask for forgiveness of our sins (see Matthew 6:12). We confess that we did something wrong, we are sorry for the wrong we have done, and we are seeking to renounce that wrong and return into right fellowship with our heavenly Father… and heaven rejoices.

In Luke 15, the elder brother stood outside of the circle of rejoicing. Why? Because he knew that his younger brother had spent money on prostitutes and riotous living. The elder brother, in his heart, had determined that there was no room for forgiveness.

However, the elder brother couldn’t stop the party. And the elder brother couldn’t stop their father from forgiving the younger brother. The father forgave the reckless son.

Repentance releases a powerful act of grace! The Father forgives the reckless one.

Are there persons you know who have repented and returned to the Father, and yet you have continued to harbor unforgiveness towards them? Today is a good day to forgive. After all, Scripture states that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven (see Matthew 6:14-15).

The reckless son, destitute and dirty, has repented and returned. Lord, give us grace to enter into heaven's celebration.

Having Sinners For Dinner?

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them. (Luke 15:1-3)

During this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Sam noted that the Pharisees and scribes were not complaining to Jesus directly, but Jesus heard their complaint. Perhaps some of us are in the same crisis: we see people drawing near to God that are not like us (or that we don’t like), we complain to our contemporaries, and in the act of our complaining we are heard by the LORD.

Our pastor asked a question that we would do well to reflect on today: Have we made a hierarchy of sins while we try to pursue holiness?

What is the response of the Pharisee? “Well yes, I sin, but at least I’m not as bad as that person over there.”

Sometimes we forget that God does not rank-order sinfulness. Scripture reminds us that “all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. We are justified by His grace” (see Romans 3:23-24), not by any thing we have done in our own strength.

In considering this, we don’t want to condemn the devotions of Pharisees and scribes. It’s wonderful to memorize Scripture, to be devoted to God and to godliness, and to be positive influences in the community. But it is never a good thing to seek to exclude others from the opportunity to learn about Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes made a particular judgement call: “Those tax collectors and sinners don’t deserve to get any attention from Jesus. They’re beyond redemption.” Wrong. On the contrary, everyone is welcome to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him.

What does Bronx Bethany say? We are a Spirit-filled community of love with a place for everyone. People from all walks of life are coming to hear the wonderful words of life from our Lord. Don’t despise His grace in drawing them near to hear… after all, “they” are we.

Have we made a hierarchy of sins while we try to pursue holiness?

Servant "Lieder"!

In yesterday’s sermon, Pastor Sam spoke on Luke 15. In discussing the chapter’s closing parable (the story of the prodigal son and his loving father), our pastor spent a moment talking about characters in the story who we often overlook.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.’” (Luke 15:22)

In this moment of profound joy at the return of his brother, the father’s first-born son chose to stay outside and sulk instead of joining the celebration. However, the father had servants around him who were capable of carrying out his commands. The parable makes no mention of delay, back-talk, or bitterness on the part of the servants. The prodigal son’s restoration to his family, facilitated by these servants, was not hindered by the attitude of the older brother.

And here we are today. How do we feel when our wanderer returns home? Do we rejoice in her return, or do we resent her transformation? Lord, make me a servant...

For His Purpose.

As we close this week, let's consider a thought shared by Rev. Dr. Donovan Thomas (paraphrased here): God works things out even when circumstances appear chaotic.

I hope this thought will be an encouragement to us all, particularly those of us who are in the midst of very trying circumstances. Take heart! God is faithful and He will walk with us. As our guest pastor shared, God comes through and meets people at their point of need... and we are included in the tally.

Our God knows, hears, sees, loves, and acts. Have no fear! The storm is breaking and the sun will soon shine forth.

Hear Here.

So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Donovan shared (paraphrased here) that Mary didn’t negotiate; she wanted what God wanted.

Some may ask, “How can I know what God wants? No angel has come to me.”

Before we consider that question, let’s consider where we stand. Are we fully committed to obeying the Lord we love, with gratitude and joy? Can we, like Mary, say “I am the Lord’s servant” without adding qualifiers or conditions? Do we want what God wants?

Some of us may have to grapple with the issue of trust. Do we trust that God, who made us, is able to make His will known to us? Do we trust that He will equip us to “hear” Him, in whatever ways He deems best?

If we are not sure of what our role is in God’s program, we can at least begin with the basics of our faith. If we are blessed to have access to a Bible, then we can know what God wants by reading His word. If we are blessed with gifts of grace, wisdom, or talent, then we can use those known gifts in the service of the church and the world. There is plenty for us to do while we wait for a specific direction from God.

Mary leaves us with a wonderful example. She was not looking for a Divine encounter, but her day-to-day life earned the commendation of God... and, at the right time, she was made aware of her assignment. Perhaps we, if we live as His word calls us to live, will also experience a Divine encounter that serves to clarify our purpose and calling.

Lord God, give us grace to hear You with our ears, our eyes, our hearts, our minds… speak, Lord. We are listening.

Favored And Fearless.

The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! (Luke 1:28-30)

It is interesting to note that Scripture records Mary’s initial response to the angel’s greeting as troubled. 

What is our response to the Divine proclamation of God’s favor?

I can think of a few reasons to be troubled. Perhaps there is a sense of unworthiness. Perhaps we are plagued with memories of past sins and hurts that we think have disqualified us from serving the Lord. Perhaps we are reluctant to be tagged as central figures in the plan and program of God.

But, here we are. And here He is, with a word for today: “I created you! I loved you before you were aware of My presence! I have watched you for years and I know your heart. And I have even given you a place in the work of My church. Don’t be afraid. Let Me work wonders in you and through you.”

Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.

Lord, open our hearts to receive Your commendation: not with fear, but with deep gratitude.

Don't Be Afraid! Don't Be Dismayed!

This past Sunday, Pastor Donovan shared with us (paraphrased here) that sometimes we ask for prayer but we aren’t sure what will happen; then, there is a “reconnect” and we are strengthened.

I had the privilege of experiencing this yesterday. In the morning I had an encouraging conversation with a dear friend of mine, and later in the evening I had another encouraging conversation with a colleague I had not seen in months. Prior to these conversations, I had been in prayer for myself and for others, and was feeling grossly inadequate—weak in my prayer life, weak in my own efforts to remain connected to Christ, weak in my attempts to accomplish projects that are taking much longer to complete than I think they ought.

In the conversations my friends and I had yesterday, the Lord reminded us of some things He had said and done for us over the past few months. I remembered the profound ways in which God has answered the deep prayers of my heart on previous occasions, and my soul regained confidence in His ability to make the impossible possible. Before sundown, my anxieties had subsided and I was fully freed to engage in worship at last night’s service.

Pastor Donovan shared a wonderful statement with us that we can reflect upon today: “Possibilities belong to us, but impossibilities belong to God.” What a relief! We take encouragement in the presence and power of our great God, with whom all things are possible.

 My dear ones, don’t be afraid! I still calm the winds and waves. Rest in Me.

A Heads-Up From The Real Service Planner.

At Bronx Bethany yesterday, we had the joy of seeing and hearing Reverend Dr. Donovan Thomas, our beloved friend and occasional guest speaker. Dr. Donovan, though, “enjoyed” an additional experience: the trepidation of having the Lord change his agenda on the spot. As he sat in worship for Sunday’s second service, the Lord instructed him to preach a different sermon than the one he had prepared and already preached in the first service. [By way of explanation, Bronx Bethany has a tradition of conducting "identical services" for the English-language services on Sundays.]

For ministers, this can often be a wrenching moment. Aside from the “lost work” of having prepared a sermon (and accompanying PowerPoint presentation) that God then tells you not to use, there is the concern of preaching without really knowing where the Lord might take you (and the accompanying risk of looking incompetent or under-prepared). We are blessed that our speaker obeyed God, and we trust that God had His own reasons for sharing different messages with each set of attendees.

That said, I am not sure how the Lord will have me approach the blog posts for this week. I don’t know yet if there will be posts from just one sermon, or from both. But I do know what He would have us do for today.

Today, I’d like to encourage us to read the Scriptures that were central to each message:

Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Habakkuk (First Service);

Luke chapter 1 (Second Service).

O Lord, our great God, You are never obligated to do the same thing in the same way. Give us grace to wait on You, ears to hear Your voice, and hearts to joyfully obey Your commands.

Another Look Into The 10-40 Window.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yesterday morning, Bronx Bethany was privileged to have a meeting featuring missionary Linda Braaten, whose service to the Lord is based in South Africa. Her ministry encompasses the entire continent, as she assists the Church of the Nazarene through writing, editing, publishing, and supporting the work of Christian adult education in African nations through the medium of literature.

In past decades, we used the term “10-40 window” to refer to the physical location of areas of the world which were hotspots for persecution. Countries like India, mainland China, North Korea, and several countries in the Middle East were commonly known to be hostile to Christians. Interestingly, and not surprisingly, our decades of prayer for the 10-40 window have been part of God’s plan to make inroads into these nations. And now, in spite of continuing persecution in parts of the Middle and Far East, many men and women are choosing to submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Northern Africa, though, was often left out of the 10-40 prayer equation. 

The continent of Africa, in recent years, has experienced extreme atrocities committed by its own against its own. But, in spite of the trials, revival is happening. There is a need for us to pray with urgency and with confidence that God, who loves His people, will be present to bring salvation and deliverance to those countries as well, for the glory of His name.

Our prayer agenda for Africa centers around three key areas:

• Prayer against the agenda of Islamic extremists, whose intolerance of religious difference has led to the division of families and the deaths of individuals who believe in Jesus as Lord and Christ;
• Prayer against the “prosperity gospel”, which supports pagan notions of the role of gods as mere suppliers of fertility and economic well-being as opposed to God being the source of our spiritual well-being above all else;
• Prayer against an animistic worldview, which purports that one can be “Christian” while continuing to maintain worship and lifestyle choices that run counter to the word of God.

For some of us, the challenges of our own lives have served as a barrier to our taking the time to pray for others… but perhaps we can break through the barrier today.

Lord, help us to spend some time today praying beyond ourselves. Give us grace to point the world to You, through the power of prayer.

The Specter Of Cornelius, Pre-Christ.

So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the person you’re looking for. Why have you come?” They said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.” So Peter invited them in and entertained them as guests. On the next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting anxiously for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.” (Acts 10:21-26)

Prior to conversion, Cornelius held certain character qualities that seemed to be Christian. He was a respected leader, he was righteous, he feared God, he prayed, and he was loved by the people of God.

Prior to preaching the gospel of salvation to Cornelius and his family, Peter gave Cornelius a “mini-sermon” before the sermon: “Cornelius, get up. Your worship is misdirected. I am a man just like you; there is no need for you to be falling at my feet.”

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Sam shared with us (paraphrased here) that God does a radical and transformative work in us to change us: it is the work that changes a Cornelius.

The Cornelius spirit is perhaps the hardest to transform, because on the surface it appears that no transformation is necessary. The Cornelius spirit is found in our nice friends who never curse, who come to church when we invite them, who support every initiative with encouraging words and financial support… but they have not yet submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And, until they submit themselves to Him, they are lost.

God, in His mercy, directed Cornelius to one man who would bring a saving word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter was faithful in delivering the word. Cornelius and his household experienced salvation.

Has God sent you to save a Cornelius? Or, are you a Cornelius?

The Specter Of Unforgiveness.

Pastor Sam shared a very important thought with us this past Sunday (paraphrased here): God has shown me grace; who am I not to show His grace to others?

"Who is a God like You: one who forgives sins and passes over the rebellion of the remnant of His inheritance; He does not keep hold of His anger forever, but delights in showing loyal love. You will return and have mercy on us; You will conquer our evil deeds; You will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18-19)

"For if you forgive people their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)

One of the points in our mission statement, "to experience forgiveness of sin", is carried out by both the Lord and His Church. Matthew 6:14 informs us that forgiveness is a tandem process. We who seek forgiveness from God are also mandated to extend forgiveness to others. If we do not forgive, then we are not forgiven. It's that simple.

Forgive swiftly! Forgive freely! Trust God regarding the future of relationships scarred by rebellion: some (like Peter) may be fully restored, while others (like Judas) may be lost forever. It's okay! The Lord has promised that He will "instruct us and teach us in the way we should go" (see Psalm 32:8). It is safe, and right, to open our hearts and spirits to His perfect counsel.

God does not keep hold of His anger forever. Neither should we. Forgive. No "if"s, "and"s, or "but"s.

Lord God, give us Your grace that we might experience this powerful, liberating, tandem state of being forgiven and being forgivers.

The Specter Of Selfish Sainthood.

Our mission is to be a Spirit-filled community of love with a place for everyone… (from the Mission Statement of Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, emphasis mine)

“Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49-50)

In the Scripture passage above we see that the disciples had taken on a veneer of exclusivity, which Jesus had to correct. Yes, I chose you Twelve, but understand that there are others who I have empowered to do My works. Don’t prevent them from serving Me.

Pastor Sam shared, and I paraphrase, that we must not forget that God has accepted us as His people. Because God has accepted us, who are we to reject others who He has accepted as His people? We have been accepted in order to be accepting.

• Are we giving our fellow Christians, even those who are “not one of us”, space and place to serve God?
• If we perceive fellow Christians as “not one of us”, then what criteria are we using to understand them?
• What is God’s criteria for classifying who is or is not Christian?

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7)

The Specter Of Counterfeited Spirit-Fullness.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When Pharaoh says to you, 'perform a miracle', then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh', and it will become a snake." So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians did the same thing by their secret arts: each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. (Exodus 7:8-12)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam warned us that the element of Spirit-filled power can be counterfeited. Just as Pharaoh's magicians counterfeited the powers demonstrated by Moses and Aaron, there are also men and women in our day who are able to perform the miraculous, though not through the power of the Holy Spirit.

How do we distinguish authentic Spirit-fullness from its counterfeit?

Our pastor shared, and I paraphrase, that when we are Spirit-filled, the character of God subsumes our character. How does God characterize Himself? Pastor Sam referenced John 3:16: There is an essential self-sacrificing quality, the love of God, which undergirds the power to do the miraculous.

Further, Pastor Sam noted that this love which comes from God must be produced in us by God Himself. On our own, we have neither enough skill nor enough will to make it happen. It is the Spirit of God who empowers us to love the unlovely, to love ourselves, and to love Him.

Today, let's look into the proverbial mirror. What reflection do we see? Is it the love of God poured into us and pouring out of us, so that we can authentically demonstrate His power? Or is it something else?

Lord, send Your Spirit that we might look like You, live like You, and love like You.

Addressing The Specter Of Mission Creep.

Pastor Sam returned to the pulpit of Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene yesterday, following a nine-week sabbatical leave. His sermon, which was in essence an inaugural statement of his next phase of BBCN ministry, reminded us of our mission and purpose as members of this local church.

At the heart of his sermon was the concern of “mission creep”: that is, the danger of drifting away from the call and role that God has assigned to us as individuals and as a community of faith.

Our pastor noted two key questions concerning mission:

Who has God called me to be?

What has God called me to do?

The order of the questions is of paramount importance. Our pastor shared (and I paraphrase) that if we do not know who we are, then we will not know what we are to do.

Who are you? Are you aware of who God has called you to be? If you are not aware, then today is a good day to ask God to tell you who you are. His word asserts that He has distributed gifts to all His people by the Spirit of Christ (Ephesians 4:7; First Corinthians 12:7). No one has been left out.

Lord God, help me to find my proper place in Your great kingdom… teach me who I am, that I might know where I belong.

Who Threw That Glove?

I own a small (very small!) collection of scripture memorization cassettes. At the time I bought them (back in the 1980s), the "praise and worship" music genre was still relatively new and radical, and some brave composers turned dozens of Bible verses into catchy choruses in order to facilitate the memorization process. But time marched on, the "new" became the "archaic", and my cassettes were relegated to a shrine-like clear plastic box, occasionally taken out for the sake of nostalgia.

On a recent road trip, I pulled those cassettes from the shrine so that I and my husband could listen to them as we traveled. This time, though, my nostalgia was interrupted with two questions from the Spirit of God: "Why did you stop memorizing My word? Why not start memorizing it again?"

As much as I want to say "I don't know", I do know the answer to the first question. I stopped memorizing because no one was challenging me to memorize, and I didn't have enough passion to engage the process outside of a dare.

The second question has brought me to a kairos moment. God has painted me into a corner. I cannot think of any reason why I should not re-embrace the work of hiding God's Word in my head. My prayer is that as I memorize and meditate on these timeless truths, His Word might miraculously be transferred from my head to my heart.

Perhaps the Lord has also asked you to draw closer to Him in some fashion: Scripture memorization, prayer, silent retreat, increased giving, community service, or some other form of devotion. If He has, I hope that your answer to Him will always be a quick, joyful, authentic yes.

Lord, give us the grace to be and do as You direct.

Mission Of Mercy.

Pastor Althea noted, perhaps prophetically, that the criticism poured against Jesus often originated from the community members deemed most wise and holy: the Pharisees. In Matthew 9:13, Jesus gave them a directive: Those of you who teach and lead others, guess what? Your hard work is falling flat; you have chosen to ignore the very ones who God wants you to rescue. Go back to study hall and reflect on what it means to be merciful.

Has the twenty-first century church, awash in technology, education, and performance, forgotten the value of mercy over sacrifice? Are we willing to go back to study hall and learn?

Matthew was doing a necessary work. Taxes had to be collected, and there had to be tax collectors who knew the language and culture of the people. But when Jesus passed by his desk, Matthew left the tax collection business in favor of the Jesus business.

On next Saturday, Reverend Linda Braaten will be at Bronx Bethany to share with us in fellowship and ministry. Here is a quote from her concerning her ministry:

"God confirmed His call on my life to Africa only after I resigned from my position as executive director of the charitable organization serving the victims of Chernobyl in Belarus to simply sit at the feet of Jesus."

Pastor Linda was doing a necessary work... a sacrificial work... and Jesus passed by her desk. She followed Him.

Where are you on the mercy-sacrifice continuum?

Oh, I Need Thee!

"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13)

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea shared with us that there is a danger in thinking that our years of faith in Christ are sufficient reason for us not to need Him anymore. She said (and I paraphrase), if we think we're okay "on our own", then there's no room left for Jesus to do anything for us.

Our Lord says, "I have not come to call the righteous." Those who have declared themselves healthy have declared themselves exempt from experiencing God's power. Where does healing begin? It begins with the evidence and admission of need: a need that can only be supplied by God Himself.

God is eternally here. Let us draw near to Him, with all sorts of prayers, for all sorts of healing.

Check, Please!

"But when Jesus heard this, He said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'" (Matthew 9:12)

It is interesting to note that, although the Pharisees addressed their inquiry to the disciples of Christ (in Matthew 9:11), it was not the disciples who responded. Christ Himself stepped in to speak on behalf of His followers.

We who live life in the community of faith are so blessed! We have been called to follow Jesus, and we have answered the call. We have traded out our traditional employ and have submitted ourselves to the Lord, and as a result we have this privilege of being protected and defended by Him. There is no longer any need for us to defend ourselves: our Defender knows best what to say in any and every situation.

Lord God, place a guard on my lips that You might be free to speak.

Induction. Period.

"The Pharisees noticed this and they inquired of Jesus's disciples, 'Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and notorious sinners?'" (Matthew 9:11)

About twenty years ago I was at a church as a guest concert participant. Before the program started, I ran into an old friend. We greeted each other with a hug, did a little catching up, then parted ways. An audience member then urged me to come over to where she was sitting. She said, "You should not be so close to that person, he is not well. He is very sick." I knelt down so that I could look her in the eye, and I said, "I know he is sick. And I also believe that God has the power to heal him. Do you believe that?" As I walked away, I suddenly realized that her first statement was an indication that, whether she believed or not, she was not in a healing mindset: she was in an isolationist mindset.

In titling her sermon "Outsiders", Pastor Althea captured the crisis of the church. She reminded us that we who are now "in" were once out, but at some point we were touched by the grace and power of Christ. We were converted, healed, and delivered. But, sometimes, we forget our past. We carry on our love-fest with Jesus without concern for the lost souls who need Him as desperately as we do. Such is the epitome of hoarding: denying the Balm of Gilead to the sin-sick soul.

The Pharisaical indictment rings as loudly now as it did in Matthew 9:11: Why associate with outsiders? The answer? It is what our Teacher did for us. None of us were born into the kingdom of God by our physical birth or pedigree. Someone reached out to us. We were offered a chance at spiritual birth, and we said yes to Jesus. Amen! Let us make room for countless others to hear the gospel and to have opportunity to respond to the call of Christ.

Is there any person on the planet undeserving of the opportunity to be introduced to our Lord Jesus?

Intentional Invitation.

"As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners arrived and began eating with Jesus and His disciples." (Matthew 9:10)

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea made a salient point (paraphrased here): There is no real accolade in self-boasts of being a Christian forty years, when in deed one is still conducting their spiritual life as if they are a selfish infant. Conversely, there are those in the community of faith who have only been Christians a short period of time, but who are faithful, evangelism-minded, and maturing rapidly.

We see the latter in the life of Matthew. Canon asserts that he, at some point after his conversion and call, invited Jesus to dinner. It seems that Matthew was intentional in including other tax collectors and persons deemed sinners by the local community. According to Matthew 9:10, "many" of these people came to the home for food and fellowship.

What does it mean to be called by Jesus? There is the aspect of leaving where we are in order to follow where He leads (discussed in yesterday's post). There is also the aspect of not keeping good news to ourselves, but being open and eager to include as many persons as possible. The Christian faith is grounded in community. Matthew understood this.

One drawback of the hymnody and lyricism of the past two hundred years is that it has reinforced focus on the Christian walk as individual experience, yet not as much focused on individual salvation as a gateway to salvation for families and communities. God so loved the world. Let us heed the example of Matthew, who bore the cost of feeding the "many" so that they, too, could access the saving presence of Jesus.

Lord God, help us to understand that You take interest in the souls of the lost. Give us grace to introduce them to You, by whatever means You allow.

The Apex Of Employ.

In yesterday's sermon, Pastor Althea spoke from Matthew 9:9-13. Today, let's reflect on the first verse in the passage.

"As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, 'Follow Me!' And Matthew got up and followed Him." (Matthew 9:9)

Our Lord has the right to interrupt our workday. Jesus did not wait until Matthew was on a break from the tax collection booth; He addressed Matthew as he was seated in his workplace- a place despised by ancient Jews because taxes were collected in service to Rome. There are instances when Jesus chooses to call followers not from the staid, secure community of faith, but from the arenas assumed least likely to produce viable candidates. Matthew, you are sitting in the place of sell-out, but I know your heart. You are worth calling.

Our Lord has the right to intercept our career track. Even as I type this I know that some readers will have a problem with this point, but here is the truth: Our brilliance at a particular task or skill is not sufficient proof that God wants us to spend a lifetime in that task. Take a look at Bronx Bethany's pastoral staff: lawyer, teacher, scientist, business professional, et cetera, all called by God to leave their secure/well-paid/academically appropriate employment in order to proclaim the word of God full-time.

We have to respond immediately to the call. Matthew, according to Scripture, responded to the Lord by getting up from his place of employ and leaving it to follow Christ. There is nothing in the canon that suggests there was a discussion, nor a gap in time, nor hesitation, nor regret. Matthew, by his actions, indicated to Jesus that the answer to the call was yes. Yes, Lord, You have called me and I will walk with You, right now.

The interesting thing about the call of Christ is that the one called is free to say yes or no. Sadly, not everyone was like Matthew. Some, like the rich young ruler, walked away from the call of Christ. Others responded to His call with requests to delay following.

Fast-forward to 2013. Jesus has stopped by your desk, and mine, with a two-word request: "Follow Me." I told Him yes. What is your response?

A Prism Of "Ism"s.

A blessed Saturday to my readers who remain in the faith! Here are a few "Pastor Joy-isms" for today (paraphrased from this past Sunday's sermon). May her words- which flow from the word of God- be a source of reflection, contemplation, and assurance for you.

• God caused unlearned men to become linguists.
• Are we broken over our brokenness?
• The first public appearance of the apostles started a Christ Revolution.
• Reluctance to take risks is replaced with reliance on God.
• Victory is assured when we remain in Christ.

Beyond The Sing-Sway-Shout.

As we wrap up our reflections on Pastor Joy's sermon, let's take away an alliterative reminder of "Prerequisites for the Power of Pentecost":

• The disciples were penitent. They were sorry for their own sins, they understood the painful but prophetic role that Judas played, and they procured his replacement in obedience to Scripture.
• The disciples were positioned. They took measures to be on one accord, resting in holy interpersonal relationships, and they remained unified in prayer and purpose as they waited for the promise of the Father.
• The disciples went public. After they were filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples immediately began a ministry of preaching, healing, and speaking the truths of Christ to everyone from pauvres to sociopolitical powers.

Who embraces Pentecost? Ordinary people walking in obedience to our extraordinary God. May we be found in their company.

The Look Of Acts: Is It Seen In You?

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Joy noted an important evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. She said: “When the Holy Spirit is in control, we are moved from cowering and complaining to conquering.”

We see this in the life of the disciples. Prior to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they were found bickering over position (see Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46) and hiding in fear of man (see John 20:19). In contrast, the apostolic experience in Acts was marked by fearless, victorious action (see Acts 4:13).

Scripture exhorts us to live in the same way.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Shine as lights among the people of the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15)

“In everything we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loves us.” (Romans 8:37)

Lord Jesus, give us the grace of Your Spirit, so that we might walk unencumbered and unafraid. We anticipate victories this day because of Your work in us and through us.

Accord That Cannot Be Broken.

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Joy noted that the people who were waiting for the Father’s promised Spirit were “in one accord” (see Acts 1:14). Their oneness in spirit and purpose was necessary before the Holy Spirit came.

What were the evidences of the oneness of the community? Our pastor used the examples of stewardship of self and of personal relationships.

Stewardship of self. God sends His people as gifts to to the world. Our love for ourselves, if solid, will facilitate our love for our neighbors.

Stewardship of interpersonal relationships. The Acts 1 passage indicates that the gathered community was on one accord. There was no indication of  hidden agendas, posturing for position, or disagreement over the process by which they would wait.

The disciples had been through extreme crisis. They saw their Lord Jesus falsely accused and crucified, they experienced the shock of His resurrection, and they experienced the emotion of watching Him ascend to heaven and leaving them to wait for the Holy Spirit. But, in spite of their personal emotional upheavals, they chose to band together in agreement. They understood that Jesus’s word to them was true, and they followed through on His word by endeavoring to remain in oneness of spirit.

What about us?

Pastor Joy shared that if we are struggling while we are waiting, or if we are in strife-filled and fractured relationships, then there will be an absence of the spirit of unity which is necessary for the Holy Spirit to dwell in and among us.

Today is a good day for us to do a self-check concerning our relationships. “As much as it is up to you, be in peace-filled relationships with everyone you know.” (see Romans 12:18)

Amen. Lord God, we long to live in unity with Your people. Give us grace, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, to be and become a community on one accord.

Power Trip.

In her “introduction to the sermon introduction”, Pastor Joy shared a wonderful statement concerning the power of God:  No iPhone or iPad alarm woke us up this morning. The I Am woke us up.

As we contemplate Pentecost, we must be in a position to acknowledge that, as Psalm 62:11 says, “power belongs to God.” This is what God has said concerning Himself. And Jesus said to His beloved disciples, Wait for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit…the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power (see Acts 1:4 and 1:8).

Our pastor noted that Pentecost, for Christians, is an evidence of unstoppable, God-led, God-infused power. It was God who empowered unlearned men to become linguists. It is God who empowers us to become what we were not. Why? Not for us to show off “our skills” for our own glory (because in fact these are not “our skills” if it took a miracle of God to set them in motion), but for us to speak of His wonderful works in order that others might be drawn in to His glorious kingdom.

Today is a good day to thank the Lord for His promise of power, the glory of His kingdom, and the privilege of participation in His Divine work.

Lord God, thank You! Continue to awaken us, by Your power, to Your power.

Acts, Naturally!

As yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, several churches took time to reflect on various passages in the book of Acts. Here at Bronx Bethany, Pastor Joy spoke on Acts chapter 2, verses 1 through 13.

For today, let us re-visit the Scripture passage with the following questions in mind:

• Am I willing to wait, patiently and prayerfully, until God delivers on His promise to me?
• Between the Resurrection and the Ascension Jesus was seen by several hundred people, but on the day of Pentecost (according to Acts 1:15) there were approximately 120 persons waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Why do you think there were so few witnesses waiting for Him?
• The passage tells us that those who received the Holy Spirit were able to declare the wonderful works of God in languages they had never previously studied. Do you have a testimony of God’s Spirit equipping you to say (or do) things that you, on your own, did not have the knowledge to say (or capacity to do)?

Acts 1:1-13 (NET Bible)

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem. When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 

Completely baffled, they said, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!” All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others jeered at the speakers, saying, “They are drunk on new wine!”

"Rich" Memory.

As we close out our reflections on this past Sunday's sermon, let's take a few moments today to remember a few of the things Pastor Richie shared with us.

• In Ephesians 5:1-20, we are encouraged to "live wise lives".
• Proverbs 31:1-9: King Lemuel's mother could exhort him to godliness because she was a godly woman. We cannot tell people to go where we have not been.
• Psalm 90 and Ephesians 5 teach us to make the most of the time we have.
• There is no middle ground: God does not deal with grey areas. Either we are with Him or we aren't.

Lord God, how we thank You for Your word of truth, poured out to us faithfully by the men and women You have called to lead us. Please help Bronx Bethany so that we might always be found in the center of Your will.

Lifestyles Of The Rich And Righteous.

Instead of using a traditional Mother’s Day text, such as Proverbs 31:10-31, Pastor Richie instead focused on a rarely-read Scripture passage: Proverbs 31:1-9.

In that passage, King Lemuel is given advice by his mother. At the heart of her counsel is a caveat that our pastor summarized (paraphrased here): either we can focus on exercising our rights, or we can focus on doing what is right.

In King Lemuel’s time, it was the right of kings to amass wealth and women, to live in excess, and to oppress their subjects. But the mother of King Lemuel had a different ethic, and she passed it on to her son. Although sexual promiscuity and alcohol consumption were present in many king’s palaces, Lemuel’s mother warned him that such behaviors would actually serve to ruin his rule. Specifically, such behaviors would lead the king into a lifestyle of oppression and subjection of the disenfranchised.

Those of us who are authentically Nazarene (not just attending a Nazarene church, but in fact subscribing to its tenets) can say, Well, I don’t drink alcohol, and I’m not a king, so this really doesn’t apply to me. But what other rights are we holding to that, though legally sound, are not ethical? Are we harboring anger and resentment towards others? Are we reluctant to give of ourselves and our substance to the work of the Lord? Have we, especially in these times, chosen to hoard our resources instead of helping those who are in worse situations than we?

What behaviors are we clinging to which, though within our rights, might serve to ruin our testimony?

Lord, help us to relinquish our "rights", so that we might do what is truly right and good.

One Richard. One Pour-er.

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Richie shared (and I paraphrase) an allusion to Second Kings 4:1-7:

God can pour out His Spirit. Do we bring empty jars?

There is no debate as to whether God is capable of releasing His presence and power into a community of faithful believers. He is, and He does, and He shall. Our Lord Jesus has promised the Holy Spirit to us as the Person who would 1) remind us of His word and His will and 2) empower us to do His works.

In that regard, is there such a thing as being “too full” of the Holy Spirit? Can there be too many reminders of the word of God, or too many encouragements to submit to Him, or too much of His power to heal and save lost souls?

Questions to reflect on:

• Why does the Bible call for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-21)?
• Why does Scripture admonish us to not quench the Holy Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19)?
• Does your life and lifestyle indicate that you are filled with the Holy Spirit, or that you are filled with selfish ambition (Galatians 5:19-25)?

Like that widow, here we are

With every borrowed empty jar.

Our deep need: Your complete filling.

Our consolation: You are willing.

Rich. Soil. Water. Growth.

“Sometimes we don’t cultivate the environment in which the Spirit can come.” – Pastor Richie

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Richie reminded us that we play a role in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our heart thoughts and actions have a direct correlation with our corporate experience of the Spirit of Christ in the midst of us.

Jesus says, “I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but He will not allow anything you don’t allow. I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. Whenever two or three of you come together in My name, I am there with you.” (Matthew 18:18-20, Contemporary English Version, emphasis mine)

A question for today: When we gather together as a community of faith, are we gathered together in the name of Jesus? It’s a tough question, because often we have a myriad of reasons as to why we’re “showing up.” There is the dreaded phrase, “I have to…” – I have to sing, I have to dance, I have to drop off this package to so-and-so, I have to set up Communion… Are we surprised that when we view corporate gatherings as obligatory exercises, the Holy Spirit of Christ is not experienced in His fullness?

The name of Jesus is a source of salvation, healing, deliverance, and power (see Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:7-10; Mark 16:17-18). In the moments when we gather with no other agenda but the praise and worship of our glorious Savior, an environment/atmosphere is set in which the Spirit of the Lord can be with us. His presence [as our senior pastor (Pastor Sam) shared with us some years ago] is an indicator that He is present to act, working wonders in our midst to the glory of His name.

That's the place where I'd like to be: with His people and in His presence. How about you?

Lord Jesus, forgive us for our treating time in Your house, and time with Your people, as pained obligation instead of privileged honor. Help us to re-frame our understanding of what it means to gather together for corporate worship and prayer.

Glossa Presses Pause: Saying Goodbye To The Gracious Lady.

Dear Readers,

I am sorry to announce the passing of my mom, who died in her sleep very early on May 3rd at the age of 83. Arrangements are:

Funeral:

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Gethsemane Baptist Church

771 Fairmount Place

Bronx, New York 10460

Viewing: 9:00 a.m. and Service: 10:00 a.m.

My mom was a gracious, generous woman whose life poured forth compassion and justice. She was down-to-earth and had a witty sense of humor. She deeply loved the Lord and was a committed instructor of His truths. I and my family miss her, yet we are (at the same time) so happy that she is now in the presence of the Lord she loved... and loves.

Because of my role in working through final arrangements concerning my mom, I have chosen to pause from uploading sermon reflections for a short period of time. While I am away from Glossa Water you are welcome to look at my older posts, which go back as far as 2008. With the Lord's help, I will be back to blogging soon.

Thank you for your prayers.

Love,

Genise

The Oil Is Still Pouring.

This is my concept of the widow in Second Kings 4:1-7: She is an unseen resourceful woman nearing the end of her resources. She is the good steward of the little, remaining diligent while slipping into expiration. Hers is a household abundant in faith, yet in desperate need of God's miraculous presence and power. Her oil cruse is not a new one, but an old container whose oil she has been rationing for a very long time.

May I speak prophetically? She is you. I am she.

We are diligent and careful. But we are nearly empty, and needing to be filled again: not from our own storehouses, but from the supply of our Prophet, Priest, and King.

Holy Spirit of Christ, eternal Supplier, pour Your oil into us.

(Image Copyright 2000, Genise Reid.)

"Cruse"-ing...

One of the points made by Pastor Joy in this past Sunday's sermon was (and I paraphrase), The widow knew something about the prophetic community; she did not ridicule Elisha's instructions.

What was the widow asked to do? A few things that seemed odd:

• She was to acquire jars from all of her neighbors.
• She was to close the door behind herself and her sons.
• She was to pour oil from her small jar into every container she had acquired.

What happened as a result of her doing what was asked of her?

• Her obedience transformed her from a widow buried in debt to a local businesswoman.
• Her obedience saved her sons from slavery.
• Her obedience served as proof that she trusted the counsel of God through Elisha.

Pastor Joy noted, The widow trusted God for a miracle, and she had to do her part. If the widow had not carried out the prophetic instruction, nothing would have happened.

Fast-forward to 2013.

What crisis situation(s) are we facing?
Have we sought the counsel of God through His Word?
Is the Lord asking us to act on behalf of the miracle we need? If so, what has He asked us to do?
Are we obeying His word to us, or are we dismissing His counsel as ridiculous?

Problems As Promptings.

What do we do when a problem arises?

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Joy shared (and I paraphrase): Problems are promptings from the Holy Spirit to pray: they are opportunities to appeal to our God, who does the impossible.

Here is where we find the dividing line between mature and immature Christians. The immature Christian, in the face of crisis, will engage a number of actions before "getting around to" prayer. Persons who claim to be Christian, but who routinely choose to address crisis situations through every means but God, should not be surprised that their crises continue.

Jesus has said that with God, nothing is impossible. There is no better option we hold than to talk to Him, hear Him, and obey Him. He is the Problem-Solver.

Who are you talking to? Who are you listening to? Who are you appealing to?

Land Of A Thousand Sound Bites!

One of the joys of hearing Pastor Joy preach is that there are usually at least a dozen "sound bites" to chew on for the week. So, today, I am happy to share a few quotes, Pastor Joy-isms, from this past Sunday's sermon (Second Kings 4:1-7). May they be a blessing and encouragement as we go through the day.

• "Sometimes the prayer doesn't go through because we don't know the Word." 
• "Position yourself in Word-instructed prayer."
• "We can live on Miracle Avenue."
• "The flow depends on the capacity."
• "The Lord has given us unlimited power to be overcomers."

Amen!

Blessings and Peace,
G.

Alliteration Station.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Joy shared four things that God does on behalf of His people:

• We experience God's providence.
• We experience God's provision.
• We experience God's protection.
• We experience God's promises.

As I have been reflecting on these glorious gifts we receive from the hand of God, the word that has come to mind is bliss. We experience profound spiritual joy as beneficiaries of the grace of God.

Bliss in the midst of crisis. Some years ago, Don Moen wrote and produced the song "God Will Make A Way". It was a song birthed out of deep pain and sorrow. In modern Christianity we tend to associate the goodness of God with the absence of troubles... but He is good even in our troubles, even in our crises, even in our losses. One of the distinguishing features of the mature Christian is that he is able to rejoice before seeing the manifestation of God's promises, protection, provision, and providence.

In order to experience providence, there must be desire.
In order to experience provision, there must be lack.
In order to experience protection, there must be danger.
In order to experience promise, there must be loss.

During the sermon Pastor Joy noted that, in desperate situations, our inclination is to first go to whom we know best. I pray that, for all of us, God remains our first, best, and sole resource.

May we experience Him today, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.