Lord of All

Posted on by Pastor Lou

Read
Luke 8:22-25. Verse 25 – “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Reflect

Luke records four different kinds of miracles Jesus did in chapter eight. First, he calmed a storm. Jesus knew when he crossed the lake with his disciples that they would encounter stormy winds and waves. So why would he send them out into danger? He wanted to test how strong their faith was. But the disciples woke Jesus to complain. Their faith was still young and inexperienced.

Second, he cast out demons. Though the boat crossed the sea safely, another problem was waiting — a man possessed by many demons. Because the demons made the man so powerful and destructive, no one could help him or even restrain him. He was restrained by chains and kept under guard. But the demons were no match for Jesus. He freed the man of those demons and sent them into a herd of pigs.

Third, Jesus cured a woman who had been ill for 12 years. She believed she could be healed if she just touched Jesus’ cloak, and she was! During his ministry Jesus healed many others — people who were blind, mute, paralyzed, lepers, and more.

Fourth, Jesus raised a dead girl back to life. She had been sick and had died, but Jesus took her by the hand and brought her to life again.

Jesus is Lord over all things. Physical calamity, demonic powers, illness, and even death itself cannot snatch us out of his hand (John 10:28). With Jesus for us, nothing can be against us (Romans 8:31). Jesus is Lord – Jesus is our Lord! Halleluiah!

Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for always being with us. Help us to have faith that you can overcome any threat to us. In your name we pray. Amen!

Certainty in Uncertain Times

Posted on by Pastor Lou

Read
John 1:29 John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Reflect
In lots of places around the world countries are reopening and exploring how far and fast re-opening can take place safely.  I am sure that “fear of the future and fear of the unknown” would be a clear number one fear with all the questions about the future on our minds these days as we face the threat of the coronavirus.

Two thousand years ago, the apostle John was also feeling uncertainty and anxiety about the future. In a vision God gave him, he saw a scroll with the future recorded on it. But it was rolled up and sealed. The uncertainty of the future reduced John to fearful tears. He said, “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside” (Revelation 5:4).

But when John finally wiped away his tears, he saw a Lamb which appeared to have been sacrificed but was alive and standing near the throne of God in heaven. And as the Lamb picked up the scroll, all of heaven broke into a joyful song with lyrics that went like this: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

That sacrificial Lamb next to God’s throne was Jesus, whom the Bible calls “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). At the cross, Jesus took your place and died for all of your sins. It’s a great comfort to know that the one who holds the future in his hands is the God who loves you so much he suffered and died and rose again for you!

But it gets better. The Lamb opened the scroll. He revealed the future. And it is good news! Life will not be easy. But through it all, the Lamb will be with you. Whatever comes, he will give you strength and comfort to get through it. And when death comes, he will share his victory over death with you and bring you to a life free of all danger and uncertainty forever in heaven. That is the assurance of our loving God, sealed by the blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Prayer
Lamb of God, comfort me in these uncertain times by reminding me that my future is in your loving hands. Amen

God is My Rock

Posted on by Pastor Lou

Read
Psalm 18: 1-5; 16-19; 30-31 Verses 30-31 – As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord?  And who is the Rock except our God? 

Reflect
Mwanza, Tanzania is the city where my family & I lived and worked during our two-year volunteer mission stint. The city is also known as Rock City with granite outcroppings stretched across the southern shores of Lake Victoria. When you observe how some of these massive boulders sit precariously atop one another you can’t help but see the creative hand of God in the formations. 

When the psalmist prays, “God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge,” we aren’t using an image of a small polished rock that we can put in our pocket. We are also not thinking of the rock as cold, hard, and unfeeling. 

When I pray, thinking of God as my rock I think of characteristics like strength, protection, shelter and unmovable. I find myself thinking of the safety of hiding in the cleft of the rock.  No matter what storms may come, how much our world is turning upside down there is nothing that can move that rock in whom I put my trust. This is why, no matter the reason, we can hide ourselves in the cleft of our protector, our God—our Rock—and he will provide shelter for us. He will keep us safe from the storm. 

Pray
O God, our Rock, we turn to you and give you praise because you are strong and powerful. We hide ourselves in you and thank you for surrounding and protecting us. In your perfect name. Amen. 

Are You Afraid?

Posted on by Pastor Lou

Read 
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? Vs. 1 (NIV)

Reflect
Have you ever been afraid? I remember looking at my young family while we were touring the countryside in Holland. We were on our way to Tanzania. We had no real idea of what we were headed for in Tanzania and this was a volunteer position. Suddenly I was terrified of the future on the inside, wondering what I had gotten us into. 

Fear is a fact of life, even for believers, and being afraid is a part of most people’s lives. Even David, who wrote Psalm 27, is described elsewhere in the Bible as being “very much afraid” (1 Samuel 21:12). 

Lots of children seem to have a fear of the dark. Parents are afraid about the future of their children. Many people are afraid of death. I am not afraid of death, but I certainly can think of manner of death and there are lots of those I do not want to experience. Fear does creep into our lives from time to time. 

I do not think we can eradicate fear from our lives, but I do believe we can keep fear in its proper perspective. The only way to keep our fears at bay is to turn to God and to remember that God is the stronghold of our lives. One way to accomplish that is to have God’s word tucked away in our hearts.  Like these words from Hebrews 13:6: “We say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’” We can also reread and repeat the words of Psalm 27: “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?” When we ask for God’s help and look to his Word, we can trust that the Lord will be our stronghold. 

 Pray
Lord, there are many things in life that create fear in our hearts. Help us to turn to you and to trust in you when fear creeps in and steals our joy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  

Do Not Fear

Posted on by Pastor Lou

Read
Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)

But now, this is what the Lord says, he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Reflect
The simple words of our devotional title are easy to say, but really, they can at times be very hard to follow. There are lots of fears in our world: fear of public speaking, fear of failure, fear of change or of dying. There are more simple fears as well: fear of heights or closed in places or spiders and all sorts of bugs or snakes. Truth be told snakes give me the creeps.

The world can be a scary place and I believe all of us have some kind of fear and those fears are something that we must face.

The Bible tells us, “Do not be afraid.” Again and again we read stories of God coming to his people with comforting and empowering words such as, “do not be afraid. I am with you. I will not forsake you. You are my child.” In the account of Jesus’ resurrection, both the angel at the tomb and Jesus, as the women raced to tell the disciples, begin their conversation with, “Do not be afraid …”

The women’s fear was very real. What they were encountering was a supernatural event. Jesus settles their fear by speaking to them, so they recognize his voice and his words, “Do not be afraid.” The power of the resurrection assures us that the Lord cares for his people and is with them no matter what the situation maybe.

Jesus death, resurrection and ascension assures us that he is always with us through his Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18-20).  We can have freedom from fear because we are never, ever alone. In God’s presence and strength, we can face whatever comes our way.

Pray
Lord, you are always with us. Remind us of your power and fill us with your courage to face our fears, knowing we are never alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.