Skip to main content

Sunday is Coming

 

Romans 5:4-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.  How glorious Easter is – Alleluia, HE IS RISEN!!  We are people who have hope because death was defeated.  The resurrection of our Lord is the most important element of our faith.

I know that all of us experience tragedy and loss.  I have hopefully been able to provide some comfort to some of you who have experienced grief and loss over the years I have served you as pastor.  It is no secret that our family has suffered another terrible tragedy.  You have been with me through the death of my great granddaughter, the death of my grandson three years ago, and now, another grandson has died.  We are devastated.

Our church is a family.  The only way we can share each other’s burdens is if we share our needs.  I have reached out to you as your pastor during my times of grief and I want you to follow my lead.  I am here to pray with you and serve you through your difficult moments. 

I am practicing what I preach.  I am grieving many things right now.  I am lamenting and crying out to God in my own pain.  I have found God faithful but in these moments of grief, it is hard to do anything but lament.  I know that God will see me through, and I also know the journey is hard.

There is a saying you may have heard.  It is Friday (referring to the death of Jesus on the cross).  But Sunday is coming (the resurrection)!  Maybe that is the message for all of us.  We have been through a season of Fridays.  We have all had losses this last year.  We have missed hugs and connection.  But Sunday is coming.  Because of the resurrection we can go on.  Death has lost its power.  Resurrection will come.

We will likely sing “Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow” over this season.  May this be our reality and our anthem.  It is true.  Regardless how deep the pain or how hard the “Fridays” are – we have “a hope that will not disappoint us.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Til The Storm Passes By

It’s almost fall.   Labor Day, the official end of summer is here.   Kids are already back in school.   Soon we’ll be drinking pumpkin spice, talking about Halloween, Turkey Shoots, and then Christmas.   This year is going very fast.   We had all hoped that 2021 would be better than 2020, and maybe it has, and maybe it hasn’t.   Depends on who you ask.   Whether one is worse then the other doesn’t really matter.   It’s rough right now. The last Sunday of August we prayed about Covid, Afghanistan, the devastating floods in Waverly, Hurricane Ida and a host of other local concerns.   I sometimes feel at a loss to know how to pray.   I feel ineffective.   As I prayerfully considered this writing for the Pastor’s Pen, I considered all these things that we as a country are dealing with and I watched the whipping winds of Ida tearing through Louisiana.   I feel overwhelmed as a pastor for all the needs we have in front of us. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Time Travel

I went back this morning. I went back to Salem. I am missing worship. Not the quiet pensive variety but deep holy worship. As I went back, I heard a strong voice leading in prayer. It started like this: Most Gracious Heavenly Father. The voice grew. The responses followed with a rhythm like the falling of dominos in a row. I knew this sound well. There were whispers of thank you Jesus. Or praise you God. Or oh yes God. As the leader’s voice swelled so did the response. Soon it was a cacophony of harmony. Hands were raised. Tears flowed. Heaven came down and was orchestrating the sound of worship. Needs expressed out loud at the same time. Adoration exclaimed. Quietness settled but there was no amen. A word of exhortation or adoration proclaimed. It came from the back or the side of auditorium. The anointed voice was heard. Hearts and heads bowed as they we absorbed the Holy Spirit’s work. Responses came. Some knelt. Some grieved over sins. Some expressed j...
Post a Comment
Read more