Follow Your Lord!

I don't know about you but I for one am glad Election Day has finally come. The month and weeks of negative attack ads have been emotionally draining and I don't think I can listen to one more verbal assault coming from either side. I have noticed many people in this country including some of my clients have demonstrated increased anxiety as we hold our collective breaths waiting for the outcome. The division in the country has run very deep and sadly has spilled over into the body of Christ. Psalm 133:1 states, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live in unity." (NIV) The psalmist's statement almost seems unrealistic in light of what has been happening in this election year. Moreover, Jesus prayed in John 17 for His disciples in what is called His high priestly prayer prior to going to the cross, "I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one--I in them and You in Me--so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." (John 17:22-23 NIV) So what's going on? Why isn't that sense of unity among believers evident if we claim to be followers of Christ?

HARDENED HEARTS AND ENEMY LIES

 Some of the blame can be placed on our own hardened hearts. James 4:1-3 states, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (NIV) There are many believers who are fervently praying that their political candidate wins because they strongly believe that God agrees with their thinking and it is His will. While everyone has a right to exercise their freedom and vote their conscience, how about praying that the Lord help us to have gracious hearts towards those who disagree with us, even if the outcome doesn't go our way. Another reason for the division is we have an enemy who loves nothing more than to drive a wedge between brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus states in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV) Did you get that? Jesus brings life into situations not destruction, division, and death. Furthermore, the enemy of our souls distracts us with half truths that sound like good ideas or arguments but are not in line with the standard that is set by our only true guide book, the Bible. Jesus tells the religious rulers who were coming against Him in John 8, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When He lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar, and the father of lies." (John 8:44 NIV) Paul also tells us that Satan can masquerade as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Some of the political issues that believers are fighting and arguing over may sound right and good but are actually lies that have been twisted to sound like truth. 

TRUST IN THE LORD

So how do we start to move back to a place of unity? I believe by getting back to the source of our trust. The psalmist says it best, "Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7 NIV) Do we as followers of Christ believe this? We cannot deny as human beings that we have our likes and dislikes, as well as personal preferences towards people and things. However, we have a responsibility to reflect Christ to the world for that is our calling. Jesus commands us, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV) We are also called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) not darkness, doom, gloom, or destruction. Regardless of the outcome of the election, remember our hope doesn't lie in people, political parties, or Washington D.C. Lest we forget politicians, although they may exercise power and control for a season, are under the sovereignty of the true King of heaven and earth. Therefore, the choices they make and the decisions they exercise are seen and not hidden from the eyes of our Sovereign God. Jesus in His darkest hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, surrendered all to the Father when He declared, "Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42 NIV) Let's adopt the attitude of our Savior and let God be God. May His will be done not ours as we keep our eyes on the Lord and pray for our leaders and our country. 

Peace and Blessings!

Pastor Sheree

"Trust God and Do The Next Thing"

Recently, I received some challenging news regarding my current employment. I need to make a decision whether to continue my counseling with my current practice group or establish my own private practice. The director of our practice group has been talking to the clinicians in our four locations about his plans to retire in a few years. However, we assumed we had at least two years before we had to decide what to do after the practice closed it's doors. Apparently, finances have become challenging to the point where the director felt it necessary to make some hard decisions. As a result, the site where my office is located needs to be eliminated this year. My initial reaction was one of anger and then fear began to set in. The news took me completely by surprise and I began to think of the financial implications. My husband is planning to retire at the beginning of next year which leaves me as the sole income earner apart from his social security benefits. 

What was I going to do?

I decided to gather as much information as possible before making a final decision as to how soon to leave the practice. In the meantime, a friend had invited me to a concert with contemporary Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. The opening act was a fellow artist who has been a long time friend of Mr. Chapman's and his name is Geoff Moore. Before introducing a new song he had written for his upcoming album, Geoff Moore talked about his lifelong struggle with anxiety. He stated he had difficulty not being able to predict what was going to happen in his life in the future. A turning point came upon reading author Oswald Chamber's devotional book entitled, "My Utmost For His Highest." This particular devotional is a classic and has been a favorite standard of followers of Christ for many years. One line in particular became Geoff Moore's "saving grace" and has encouraged him during his times of doubt and fear. Oswald Chambers states, "When you don't know what to do, trust God and do the next thing. Take the next obvious step in front of you and trust God to lead you." Those words truly ministered to my spirit and helped me to take a new and different perspective on my situation. 

Abraham trusted God

I am reminded of Abraham who trusted God and left all he knew to go to the promised land although he lived there as a sojourner. (Genesis 12; Hebrews 11:8-9) As a result of his obedience we are told, "Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6 NIV) Abraham in essence did what Oswald Chambers encouraged believers to do, "trust God and do the next thing." What about you? Can you take the next step of faith in an unknown situation and trust God to be with you? As I prayerfully consider the next step to take, I can rest in the knowledge that God will go before me, leading me down the next path in my life's journey towards the kingdom of God.

Shalom,
Pastor Sheree