Help My Unbelief!

 For many people, the summer of 2021 was very challenging. We all expected the pandemic would be in the rearview mirror by now and we would again resume "normal" living. However, the pandemic appears to be lingering beyond our expectations. Covid-19 has taken up a lot of time and energy in people's lives but the challenge becomes even greater when we experience unexpected situations. This has certainly been true for me this summer. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has since undergone surgery and the prognosis is positive. However, the week before his surgery he was diagnosed with melanoma. Needless to say, this was an unexpected, unforeseen, and unwelcome situation. These circumstances have certainly challenged my faith. The struggle has taken its toll on me spiritually, physically, and emotionally. In my work as a mental health counselor, it has been difficult to encourage others while I am operating out of a place of personal discouragement. I am thankful for the many friends and family who have been praying for us. 

An Imperfect Faith

During this difficult season I am drawn to the story of the father in Mark chapter 9 whose son was possessed by an impure spirit. Prior to this encounter, Jesus' closest disciples had just witnessed the transfiguration and are now rejoining the others. In Jesus absence the father of the possessed boy had asked the other disciples to heal his son but they were unsuccessful. The father, quite distraught, brings his son to Jesus for healing. However, at this point the father's faith is on shaky ground. After explaining to Jesus the history of his son's dilemma the father says to Jesus, "But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us." (Mark 9:22b NIV) Jesus responds, "If You can? Everything is possible for one who believes." (Mark 9:23 NIV) The text goes on to tell us, "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24 NIV) Jesus subsequently goes on to heal the boy. The father's statement appears to be a paradox. How can belief and unbelief exist at the same time? What the father is actually asking for is more faith or a deepening of his faith. He is acknowledging that as a human being his faith is not perfect. The father is in need of Jesus' help not only to physically heal his son but spiritually and emotionally strengthen him. I can relate to this man's struggle. As a pastor, I receive no special favor from God and I am not exempt from trials. Life is not easy and our faith is often tested when we have no control over circumstances that negatively impact us and the ones we love. However, Jesus did not walk away from this man or his son. Jesus did not tell the father that because of his spiritual struggle, his son could not be healed. 

A Perfect Lord

We need to remember that like this father our faith is not perfect but Jesus is. Even the apostles in Luke 17 made a similar request like the father of this boy, "The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He (Jesus) replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." (Luke 17:5-6 NIV) So, I can move forward even in the uncertainty of what the future holds for us. I can rest in the assurance that Jesus will never leave or forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5) He will not judge me for what I perceive as an inadequate amount of faith. One of the members in our church family stated that he recently listened online to one of his brother-in-law's sermons. The point that stood out to him is a good word for us all. His brother-in-law preached that in times of uncertainty, "We don't know how but we do know Who!" May the Lord bless, keep, and sustain you in whatever difficulties and challenges you are facing or will face in the days ahead.

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Sheree

I am because HE IS!

Have you ever been to a yard sale? I find it fascinating to see just how many items a person has collected, some of which are unusual, other items appear to be outdated. Regardless of what I think, each of those items for sale holds a particular value in the owner's eyes. Perhaps it was a gift from a dear friend. Maybe it was something passed down from a parent or grandparent. Now the items are up for sale many times for mere pennies. Why is something that once held value being sold for next to nothing? The reasons may vary. The owner may be downsizing in preparation for relocating. The person may be in need of money and the yard sale is a quick way to make a few bucks. There's a saying that goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." This saying has significant meaning in those rare instances where someone will purchase something at a yard sale only to later discover the item belonged to or was the creation of a famous person. As a result an item seemingly worthless becomes exceedingly valuable and sells at auction for an unbelievable price! The item derives its value from the person who created it. 

Our Value Comes From God Our Creator

God has a lot to say about our infinite value and worth. In Psalm 139 we read, "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV) emphasis mine. Each and every person is uniquely created by God. His signature is imprinted all over creation. When the psalmist acknowledges that he knows full well that God's works are wonderful, it is because the psalmist has come to understand that he is one of God's wonderful works of creation. In fact Paul states in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV) The word "handiwork" is literally translated "work of art." Perhaps you've heard the expression, "God don't make junk!" This expression is very true for every good thing He creates is a masterpiece. In our culture and in our world, we tend to place value on an object or even a person based on appearances. Is the object new or used? Is the item cheap or expensive? Is the person young or old? The implication being if we deem something useless or worthless it no longer holds any value. If we consider a person too old or infirmed, physically or mentally challenged they are seen as no longer useful to society. Objects that are perceived as no longer holding value are often thrown into the trash or given away. Likewise, people who are seen as useless are often isolated or locked away in a facility. However, nothing that God creates can be labeled useless or without value and that includes human beings. As the psalmist declared in Psalm 139 because God created us we are fearfully and wonderfully made! The idea behind being fearfully made is not about something to be afraid of but rather conveys the idea of awe and wonder that the God of the universe could create in such indescribable and diverse ways. 

God Delights In His Creation

In my counseling practice I make it a point to tell every client if they remember nothing else from the session to remember they are valuable because they exist. God does not have to create nor is He forced to create anyone or anything. He delights in creating as we read in the Bible from the book of Genesis, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1 NIV) Additionally, the phrase "And God saw that it was good" is repeated 5 times in Genesis 1 ending with "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." (Genesis 1:31 NIV) when He saw the completion of His creation. God was expressing His approval, endorsement, and personal satisfaction of His work and the pinnacle of His creation was humanity. (Genesis 1:26-31) If this were not enough, God reinforced our value in sending His Son to die for the sins of the world and grant us eternal life. (John 3:16-17) I encourage you, the next time you find yourself questioning is there anything special about me? When the judgmental comments or the negative attitudes stir up a sense of worthlessness, remember this is not a yard sale or an auction where your value is determined by the highest bidder. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Sovereign God and there is nothing more valuable than what He has created. Therefore, you can confidently and boldly declare "I am because HE IS!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Sheree

Another Man In The Fire

In today's world it seems like hope has become an unrealistic ideal. Nowadays when someone is questioned in the midst of a difficult situation and asked if a resolution can be found, the answer is often "I hope so." The response appears to lack optimism or belief that there will be an end to a particular challenge. For example, the ongoing covid pandemic has left many people physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted and feeling like the pandemic will never end. There are many voices calling us to follow this person or that program to find the answers to our problems. Even the recent journeys into space by Jeff Besos and Richard Branson appear to suggest that space flight is "the final frontier" as the old Star Trek television series declared. The thinking is that if technology is able to get to the point of rocketing people to other planets, there is hope for the human race.

INTO THE FLAMES

 In the book of Daniel chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Jewish men who were set to watch over the affairs of the province of Babylon. The King at the time whose name was Nebuchadnezzar, set up an image made of gold on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then decreed that everyone should bow down and worship the image. The penalty for non-compliance was death in the form of being thrown into a blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego soon found themselves in a difficult situation as they refused to follow the King's decree and remain faithful to the one true God. The King summoned the three men giving them one last chance to comply. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood firm declaring to the King, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your Majesty's hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV) Notice the firmness of their response in the midst of a situation in which their backs were against the wall. There was not a sense of "I hope we get out of this dilemma" or an attempt to try and negotiate with the King. The fact of the matter was even though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego may perish, there was only one King they served and to whom they would bow down. King Nebuchadnezzar's fury at their response was matched only by the heat of the furnace which he ordered to be heated seven times hotter than usual. The flames were so intense that the soldiers who were ordered to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace were killed by the intense heat and flames. However, to the King's amazement a fourth person whom the King described as "looking like a son of the gods" was walking around in the fire. (v.25) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ordered to come out of the furnace and they exited unharmed. King Nebuchadnezzar then issued a new decree that any people or nation who spoke anything negatively against the one true God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble for he declared, "no other god can save in this way." (v.29) The King then promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 

HOPE IS ALIVE

The challenge for us is how do we react when faced with impossible odds? When a season of life seems like it will never end, where do we turn? When we are figuratively speaking "facing the fire", where is our source of hope? There is "another man in the "fires of life." His name is Jesus. He stands with us when others are against us. He supports and upholds us when the bottom drops out from under us. And even when we are staring death in the face as did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, there is another who walks with us through the "valley of the shadow" and delivers His followers safely to their eternal home. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 NIV) Rejoice! Hope is real and alive in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior for no other god can save in this way!

Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Sheree