"Comfort"

 Every year I think about and pray for a word to focus on during the upcoming year. Last year's word was "rest" but I have to admit that last year was definitely not restful. However, the concept of rest can also focus on resting in the Lord in the midst of all the chaos and confusion that played out in our world last year. This concept of resting in the Lord was definitely needed in 2020. Many have verbalized a need for "hope" in 2021. The word I was given for the year is "comfort." I believe "comfort" is an appropriate word in the year ahead. In times of trouble and distress we all seek some sort of comfort. When we are sick and struggling to function we need the comfort of other's care or the relief we can experience from medication. When we have lost a loved one to death, comfort from the support of others can help us through our grief. "Comfort" is a very significant concept in God's word. 

God's Word Is A Source Of Comfort

The Old and New Testaments have many examples of the importance of comfort. In the midst of their struggles, Isaiah prophesied in chapter 40, comfort and deliverance for the Israelites through a soon to come Messiah. Many during this pandemic have experienced suffering and have sought relief. The psalmist provides encouragement during hard times and declares, "My comfort in my suffering is this; Your promise preserves my life." (Psalm 119:50 NIV) Moreover, one of the most familiar psalms speaks of God's comfort through one of the most fearful times in our lives--death, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4 NIV) Some versions of the Bible translate "darkest valley" as the "valley of the shadow of death." Both the rod and staff of the shepherd were used to bring comfort to the sheep through protecting them against predators and gently guiding and keeping the sheep close to the shepherd. Fast forward to the New Testament and Jesus in His person represented God's comfort to those who were in bondage to sin. In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, comfort is a part of the Beatitudes, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4 NIV) Comfort is not solely something we receive, but also something we give to others. God calls us to follow His example and be comforters as Paul states in 2 Corinthians, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV) 

An Ultimate Comfort Will Come

Our ultimate comfort will be realized with the creation of a new heaven and earth when we will no longer need comfort but we will be comfortable in the presence of our Lord forever as we read in Revelation, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4 NIV) Its a New Year and as in previous years, there will be triumphs as well as tragedies, pleasure as well as pain, celebration as well as suffering. We will all need comfort at some point during the year but there will be times as well when we will be comforters to others. I will wait with expectation upon the Lord to see how the word "comfort" unfolds in my life this year.

The comfort of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you in the year ahead!

Pastor Sheree

A "Captive" Audience

 The corona virus pandemic has certainly held the world hostage in 2020. Some may even say the virus has held us captive for a year. The after effects of being held in captivity can be devastating. The emotional and psychological damage can leave some people struggling to put their lives back together. Those who are resilient can move on with their lives while sadly others can feel there's no longer any reason to live and choose to end their lives. The Israelites knew what it felt like to live in captivity. For over 400 years, they were enslaved by the Egyptians until God sent them a deliverer in Moses. (Exodus 3) However, throughout the Old Testament, the Israelite people continued to experience various seasons of captivity related to their ongoing disobedience to God. At one point in time they were sent into exile under the Babylonians as a result of their failure to follow and worship the one true God.(Jeremiah 52) In Jesus day, the Israelites once again found themselves under oppression and captivity, this time from the Roman government. However, they had received deliverance by the hand of God many times in the past from their oppressors. Moreover, the Israelites had also been promised that one greater than Moses would one day overthrow their enemies once and for all. "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9 NIV)

"Holy Captivity"

 Ironically, the Christmas story is a story of captivity. The Son of God left eternity and became captive in time. He gave up the glories of heaven and became captive in a human body. He lived among His people and became captive to their suffering. He was nailed to a cross and became a captive of the sins of the world to save us. The world today remains captive to sin and its negative influence on our lives. However, the Christmas story continues to remind us that we don't have to remain prisoners to sin. "But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship...So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir." (Galatians 4:4,7 NIV) So in essence we have become a "captive" audience. However, our captivity is not that which restricts us and holds us hostage but rather we have become captive to the awe and wonder of the greatest gift we could receive, a baby born into our world to save us from our sins. I encourage you this Christmas not to be a hopeless prisoner to a pandemic but a captive to hope. For hope has a name--Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Sheree 

"We Will Give Thanks!"

Thanksgiving is a few days away and this year presents many challenges. In past years, there was no need to think about how we were going to celebrate the day. For those fortunate enough to be able to have their need for food, clothing, and shelter met, the typical scenario includes gathering together in groups of various sizes around a table overflowing with delicious delicacies. Thanksgiving was seen as one of the times during the year when we gave ourselves permission to overindulge. It is also a time of reflection where for some families the tradition is going around the table sharing reasons to be thankful. This year we can still overindulge except we have to make a conscious decision about with whom we will eat and how many people will be a part of the celebration. State governors and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are strongly recommending celebrations be numerically toned down in order to curtail the ongoing spread of the corona virus. The unwelcome interruption in our typical Thanksgiving traditions have prompted some people to question for what reason are we to be thankful? 

The "Great Hallel"

In Psalm 136, we find what is called a litany of thanksgiving. Psalm 136 is known as the "Great Hallel." The word "hallel" is from the Hebrew meaning "to praise." The structure of Psalm 136 is what's called an antiphon which is a chant set to music, typically recited by two groups. The Psalm recalls the beloved history and culture of the Israelites and God's faithfulness to His people. The repetition of the response "His love endures forever" is a call to the audience  to join and affirm what the Psalmist has composed. The call and response was most likely used as part of a worship service. Despite the current situation we are living through, there's always a reason to give thanks, especially to the Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore, I recommend consideration of starting a new tradition this year. No matter how many people are present at the table, we can focus on engaging in our own "Great Hallel" wherein one person serves as the "worship leader" and those gathered respond with affirmation. The following is an example:

Praise the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth.

We will give thanks!

From the rising of the sun until its going down.

We will give thanks!

For every breath and every heart beat.

We will give thanks!

For our frontline workers who are sacrificing every day.

We will give thanks!

For our government officials who are making the hard choices for our well-being.

We will give thanks!

For the gift of relationship.

We will give thanks!

For God so loving the world that He sent His only Son to save us.

We will give thanks!

For Jesus' resurrection which has conquered sin and death.

We will give thanks!

For God's promise that He will never leave or forsake us even in the darkest times.

We will give thanks!

For anticipation of the day of Jesus' return.

We will give thanks!

Praise the Lord, whose love endures forever.

We will give thanks!

No matter how long or short your personal "Great Hallel" may be, there's many things for which to be thankful. May God bless and keep you and your loved ones this Thanksgiving Day and bring comfort to those who are suffering and have experienced loss this year.

Pastor Sheree