Devotionals
Growing Weary March 2022
Most of our life involves extended, tedious, mundane activities, not huge spectacular events. Getting married is a big special event...living with love with your spouse is a drawn out, lifelong work of daily self discipline and extended effort. Having a baby is a big event but then comes that long tedious process of caring for and training the child to maturity. Getting the job you worked hard to prepare for is a big event. Then comes the daily grind, the routine slog up the hill of success.
How do we keep from getting discouraged at the slow progress, and stretched out process involved in most of the activities of this life?
After the writer of Hebrews highlights the lives of many O.T. “heroes “ of the faith he gives this advice to those growing weary in the long marathon of life.
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses... let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Who marks it out?-God. He has put us right where we are in this particular situation.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...
Consider all you are doing as service unto Jesus. It is for Him, that He might get glory from our lives.
...who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let’s keep glory in mind. It is not here that we receive the greatest joy. We are living for the celestial kingdom. We are not home yet. This is not all there is.
...3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Let’s remember that the cross preceded the crown. That Jesus faced lots of opposition on the way to glory and so will we.
In this life we all grow weary. It will help us to persevere if we remember: our race is from God, we are living for Jesus, we are bound for glory, and the Lord whom we follow had to suffer in His race too. Pastor Doug
gods love
Valentine’s Day makes us focus on romantic love. There’s nothing wrong with
romantic - erotic love. Just read through The Song of Solomon! But the love that
characterizes God, and therefore should be in us his children, is a willful,
sacrificial, giving kind of love. This is a commitment to always do what is best for
the object of your love. In John’s first letter he mentions love over 30 times!
Here’s just one passage from 1 John:
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who
loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not
know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He
sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is
love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning
sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love
one another... God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
1John 4:7-16
From this one section we learn:
- We are commanded to love each other. (it’s not optional or based on feelings)
- Loving is a basic and essential mark of the Christian ( it’s not an add on feature )
- God shows His love by sending Christ to die for us. (our love should have that same sacrificial quality)
- God’s love for us should motivate us to love in turn. (we must first experience this love in order
to express it)
- We are to “live in love”. (it should not be an occasional but a constant attitude in us)
May the God of love give us hearts of love for our Christian family and the world.
emulating patrick
There are a number of tales and legends regarding Saint Patrick that are not true. Archeologists have confirmed that there were never any snakes in Ireland. We can also reject the transforming of his walking staff into a living tree as well. But there are some historical truths about this man that we should honor and emulate.
About the end of the 3rd century, at the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped from Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland. During his six years there as a shepherd- slave he came to know and love God. He truly believed and embraced the faith that he was taught as a boy back in Britain. After his escape he studied and prepared to return as a missionary to the very people who had kidnapped him! He then spent the rest of his days bringing the word to the lost pagans there seeing many converted to Christ.
His willingness to endure much hardship out of love for those who were his former enemies reminds us of Christ.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
This willingness to suffer in order to get the gospel to the lost is in the heart of all true Christians and missionaries. Paul urges Timothy to follow his example of enduring abuse in order to get the gospel to others.
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Tim 2:8-10
In the power of the Spirit we too should strive to get the gospel to those still alive around us and around the world as Patrick did in his day.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
Groaning and Longing for Spring
About this time of year in this “land of crab apples” [Cheetowaga] people either take off for Florida or just groan and long for winter to end. The difficulties of this world “under the curse” are brought home to us who live in northern climes. Winter is a reminder that we are people banished from Eden. But it’s not just the cold, miserable weather that makes us groan, it’s also: aging, disease, crime, cruelty, evil, natural disasters, and death.
In Romans chapter 8 Paul is considering the wonderful work Christ has accomplished for us and in us by His Spirit. But he is honest about how our hearts still long for the total transformation of all things by Christ.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 8:22
However he doesn’t want us to groan without hope. He wants us to have a confident assurance that glory is on its way. The total redemption of the entire world will soon come in glory like Christ’s glorious resurrection body!
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 8:18
Although we have to go through the winter of a fallen world now we know, because His Spirit indwells us, that we will all soon be in the land of eternal spring!
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 8:38,39
Rabbits, Eggs and the Empty Tomb!
A child in our Sunday School recently asked what Easter had to do with the resurrection of Christ. He associated the day with candy, dyed eggs and the “Easter Bunny” but not with Christ’s resurrection. This confusion easily happens in the minds of children who are naturally more impressed with these “tasty traditions” than the ancient event of Christ’s bodily resurrection. We probably would be wise to deemphasize the traditions (which all have pagan origins) or at least explain how the traditions can point to the real reason for the celebration. Here’s some ideas...
Rabbits multiply rapidly which reminds us of new life. The resurrection is the beginning of new life for those who trust in Christ. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17). Rabbits often are seen coming out of burrows in the ground reminding us of Christ coming out of the grave. His rising from the grave assures us that we too will rise from the grave. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Eggs in many ancient cultures were viewed as a symbol of life for obvious reasons. All of us started our existence as a fertilized egg! The Christian life starts when we are conceived by God, receive Christ and are “born again”. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12) Coloring eggs red was a way of reminding Christians that their eternal life depends on Christ’s atoning death on the cross. The resurrection assures us that Christ’s death pays for our sins. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
May God help us to keep the resurrection of Christ the central focus of our Easter celebration !
Joy in a Stable
Mary and Joseph go, as required, to Bethlehem but it’s so crowded the only place they could stay was a stable. So the Savior, the only begotten Son of God is born in a stable and put in a feeding trough for animals.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6.
Stables are not sanitary hospital rooms they are smelly, fly infested shacks filled with animal droppings. But since this baby is destined to save sinners and give them eternal life this particular stable becomes a place of joy. The angel tells the shepherds out in the fields nearby that something wonderful and joyous has happened-the promised Messiah has been born.
Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10
After going and seeing for themselves the truth of the angels statement they left full of joy and thanksgiving to God.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:20
Ironically, they discovered the greatest joy possible - in a stable!
Christmas is the time that reminds us that in the midst of this sin filled, smelly world we can have joy in our Lord Jesus.
We are directed throughout scripture to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Phil 4:4. The prophet Habakkuk writes that even when in hard times he can rejoice “...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Hab 3:17-18
None of the peripheral blessings of Christmas... family, feasting , decorations, presents... can bring us real, lasting joy . Only Jesus and salvation through Him brings us the “mega” joy the angels spoke of. Believe on Him and rejoice!
is your name on a roll?
I’ve been “pastoring” this church for about a year now and have gotten to know and minister to those who regularly attend. That’s about 50 people total. But there are about 200 people on the church rolls! So what gives? Don’t people who “join a church” make a public profession of faith in Christ and a commitment to support the church with their time, talent, and treasure?
I suspect that some have a mistaken view on church membership. Some think that being on a church roll gives them a standing with God, and a “ticket to heaven”. The biblical view is that to be assured of heaven your name needs to be written in the Lamb’s book of life. Your name on a church roll means nothing. Your name on the Lamb’s roll means everything!
Rev 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it,[heaven] nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
One of the evidences that you are listed in the Lamb’s [Christ’s] book of life is your faithful service in the “cause of the gospel”.
Phil 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, [Epaphroditus] help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
How do you know your name is on the only roll that matters,the Lamb’s roll? You must trust in Christ as Lord and Savior!
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
If you really “have the Son” and “eternal life” you will love Christ and His cause. You will long to see His gospel flourish in the lives of His people and in the world. You will want to worship with and encourage His people. In other words you will be a vital, active participant in your local church! Does this describe you?
The Study of God September 2020
For the next several weeks we will be focusing on the nature and attributes of God. I’ll be doing sermons on the subject and we are encouraging the congregation to read the classic book by J.I. Packer Knowing God as devotional reading. [available at church]
In these troubling times it’s a good idea to get our minds focused on the eternal God who is almighty and sovereign over this world.
Our understanding of who God is and what He is like, especially in relation to us individually, will affect the way we view and respond to every situation in life.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W. Tozer
Paul prays that God would give the believers at Ephesus “...the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Eph 1:17
Getting to know more and more about God should be the goal of every child of God.
“The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature , the person , the work, the doings and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. “ - C.H. Spurgeon
This knowledge will benefit us more than anything else we might attain in this life.
Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me... Jer 9:23
May God help us all to know Him better as a result of this focus.
Pastor Doug
During our sermon series on the attributes and nature of God we are encouraging people to read this book. It is available at the church.
“Few writings deserve to be called Christian classics but this is surely one of them. With the heart of a pastor, the understanding of a theologian and the passion of a prophet, J.I.Packer brings the reader face to face with the living God.” - Chuck Colson
“Have a Good Day” January 2019
People frequently pass on this kind benediction to others. Soon people will also be saying “Happy New Year” as if to say “have a good year”. In this fallen world, it takes more than a friendly benediction to actually have a good day. Believers in Christ have a promise from God that they will have good days...
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28
Christians live their days in the light that comes to them through the Gospel.
You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thess 5:5
The word “day” ,in the Bible, often refers to an epoch, a season, or a period of time characterized by an overriding reality. For instance, the “Day of the Lord” = the time of judgment (Amos 5:18); the “Day of Christ” = the time of His second coming (Phil 1:10). We are now living in the “Day of Salvation”.
I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 6:2
Since Christ has died and risen for us we can now actually “have a good day”!
The apostles apply this passage from the Psalms to Christ:
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps 118:22-24
Notice we are to rejoice and be glad in this “new day”, the day of the ongoing reality of a completed redemption. It’s like we are living in the day of the resurrection -“the 8th day”; the day of spiritual rest in Christ’s finished work.
Christians should “make every effort to enter that rest” He 4:9-11
Only in Christ and His salvation can anyone really “have a good day”. May God give us all the grace to be “glad in Christ”, to “rejoice in the Lord” every day He grants us in the coming year. Pastor Doug Sukhia
O.J.’s Last Trial
O.J. Simpson died yesterday [4.10.24] of prostate cancer. He is remembered as a successful running back for the Buffalo Bill’s and for being charged with murder in “the trial of the century”.
This man has faced many judges and juries during his life with varied results. He was acquitted in the criminal murder trial in 1995 but found guilty in the wrongful death civil suit in 1997. When he died he had only paid a small fraction of the 33.5 Million he was supposed to pay the Goldman family. He’s been in and out of Court over the last 30 years charged with things like “water speeding” [2002], not paying back taxes [2007], and pirating Direct TV broadcast signals [2007] as well as multiple suits regarding the civil case. In Sept of 2008 he was found guilty of robbery, gun possession, kidnapping and assault in Nevada and sentenced to 33 years. He was released after serving 9 years in 2017 and died at home in 2024.
Was justice done in all these cases? Were the juries unbiased, the lawyers honest, the evidence untainted? Were the charges accurate or exaggerated? Were the sentences fair or excessive? These kinds of questions are often raised when considering justice in this fallen world.
It comforts us to know that God is the ultimate judge. Ps 9:7 The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness ...Eccl 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
His judgment will be perfectly fair and just. Gen 18:25 Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
O.J. is now before the ultimate judge in the most critical trial of his life. Heb 9:27 ... man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment...
The resurrection of Christ proves that judgment is coming for all. Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world ... He has given proof of this to all men by raising him [Christ] from the dead."
The only hope for any of us in that day is being in the Savior, Jesus Christ - trusting in his perfect life and atoning death. After Paul carefully explains how sinners are justified by faith in the atoning work of Christ [Rom 3:23-25] he concludes with this statement: Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...
When that day comes for you I trust you will, like Paul ... be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Phil 3:9
When the Bills Lose
The negative feelings that a Bills fan has when they lose is the same feeling we all have at any disappointing thing in life. All failures of what we would like to happen cause these feelings. It could be small things like a game or big things like a business, an election, a marriage, a wayward child, a serious disease, a death...
When negative, disappointing things occur we should quickly look at Jesus’ life and remember how it all turned out in the end –Victory! Glory! This is the central ,defining story of human history.
He’s born in a stable because there’s “no room in the Inn”; he’s raised by a relatively poor family in an obscure Galilean village that rejects his claims; after some notoriety he is rejected by the religious elites as a heretic and sentenced to die like the worst of criminals; he is betrayed, denied, tortured mocked and crucified. All this brought him great sadness, and disappointment...
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John 1:11 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... Isa 53:3 "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering... Lam 1:12
But all his sorrow was turned to joy - He rose triumphant over it all!
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied... Isa 53:11
His disciples also went from profound disappointment to unquenchable joy. When we are disappointed in losses small or great we should quickly set our minds on Christ, his suffering and his glorious resurrection.
In this world you will have trouble. [disappointment, sadness etc...] But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
No earthly sadness or loss can withstand the believer’s resurrection-fueled joy in Christ.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Peter 1:3-8
Spring - From Death to Life May 2023
The older we get the more familiar we are with death. Our parents, friends and relatives die and we are confronted afresh with the terrible dreadfulness of death.
Human death is due to sin [Gen 1:17] so it’s awfulness and grossness is a reminder of how bad sin is. In OT times If you touched a dead body you became unclean and needed to go through ritual cleansing to attend worship again [Num 19:11-13].
Jesus expressed deep feelings of anger and sadness at the funeral of Lazarus [Jn 11:38]. Death, and the sin that caused it, troubled him deeply. He responded with power and raised Lazarus from death just as he had raised two others [Lk. 8:18,54]. Sin and death were the enemies he came to defeat. By his atoning death and his powerful bodily resurrection death has been defeated. After making a strong case for the bodily resurrection of Jesus Paul wrote...
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Cor 15:55-57]
Jesus is our mighty champion who faces the giant of death and slays him in our behalf.
Spring is the “return to life” season. But we need more than daffodils and butterflies to give us a living hope in the face of death. We need the crucified and risen Christ! Peter, who touched and ate with the risen Christ, wrote...
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... [1 Peter 1:3]
Jesus is our “living hope” in the face of death. But you must be “in him” by faith to benefit from the power of his resurrection. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. [1 Cor 15:22] . We get “in him” when we repent and believe on him as Savior. Are you in Christ? If so, you have resurrection life now and into eternity! -Pastor Doug
Entitlement Quenches Thanksgiving November 2023
Christians are commanded to ...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:18
We’re expected to have the attitude of Job when he got the news of the death of his children and the loss of his wealth.
Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job 1:20
After being afflicted with boils he tells his wife ... Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" 2:10
Job knew we are not entitled to health and wealth or constant comfort and security. Christians are redeemed and heading to a new world free of all suffering but here we suffer the effects of the fall just like everyone else. We are not yet sinless either so all our good circumstances are the result of God’s grace. We actually deserve much worse than what we get!
We believe that our all wise God is in control of all things. So when things are bad we can still thank him since we believe it’s what he’s ordained for us. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Ps 139:16
We also know that God loves us in Christ and ...that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...Rom 8:28
Unbelievers are thankless people because they think they are entitled to a constant flow of good things and if there is any trouble in their life they bitterly resent it. ...they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him... Rom 1:21
In contrast we should be ...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 5:20
Remember, entitlement quenches thanksgiving. Pastor Doug
Summer Comes August 2023
What a contrast there is between the cold heavy weight of 6 feet of snow and the gentle warmth, the beauty and life of summer. The back yard that was blanketed with snow, all plants covered, trees leave-less, no butterflies or humming birds...frozen and desolate , is now full of life: chipmunks, chickadees, flowers, green leaves everywhere!
This return of life should remind us of God’s promise that our sorrows and suffering will not last. You may be shoveling through a mountain of trouble now but summer is coming!
Ps 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
It is not only these seasonal cycles that hint at the restoration coming, we have the historical event of Christ’s resurrection to assure us that this hope of God’s renewal is not a fantasy.
1 Peter 1:3 In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ... 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Jesus has defeated all the powers of hell, and satisfied the righteous wrath we deserve for our sins. All the suffering of this world as the result of sin will be reversed due to His great work, [suffering, death, resurrection and ascension] so take heart Summer Comes!
John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Pastor Doug Sukhia
THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE April 2024
This world and universe are made by God, so we can learn things about Him by what we see. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. [Ps 19:1] The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. [Ps 97:6] For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made... [Rom 1:20]
Here are a few ways this total solar eclipse on April 8th points us to God.
1. The world was designed so that we could observe and study its wonders. The Moon is 400 x smaller than the sun but the sun is 400 x farther away making it the perfect size to block out the orb of the sun. This makes it possible for scientists to learn about solar radiation, the solar wind etc. from the sun’s corona.
2. God has programmed into the universe regularity [laws of nature] that makes it possible to predict certain phenomenon. The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. [Ps 104:19] .The next total solar eclipse over North America will be in August 2044. In a world with so much change there are still things stable and fixed...Christ’s: death, resurrection, reign, new morning mercies, 2nd coming ... all assured, fixed by God!
3. There is danger to the eyes if you look into the sun, even when partially obscured. But for 5 minutes or so, at totality, we can take off our protective glasses. Jesus enables us to see God since he is God incarnate. Jesus also protects us from God’s burning wrath by absorbing it in our behalf. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! [Rom 5:9]
It is significant that when on the cross there was 3 hours of total darkness as Jesus did this work. This is the most awesome, world changing “eclipse” in all of history! Pastor Doug
Glory in Old Age Pastor Doug Sukhia
The leaves in autumn change from green to various shades of red, yellow and orange. This display of color is so glorious that people from the south make special vacation trips up here to see the beauty. This color is actually in the leaf all the time but is exposed as the chlorophyll diminishes. Of course the next thing is the leaves die and fall off the tree or bush in preparation for winter.
This beauty displayed near the end of life serves as an illustration of how Christians should display more beauty of character the older they get. The psalmist makes the point in these words... The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age... Ps 92:12
The apostle Paul makes the same point in his second letter to the Corinthians... Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Cor 4:16
The most beautiful things in the life are spiritual, moral virtues not physical ,material things. As we age and get closer to departing from this world we should be looking better and better internally. We should be displaying more of the spiritual fruit of ... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22
In other words we should be looking more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ the older we get. God has predestined us... to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Rom 8:29
Christians should never give themselves permission to be: crotchety, bitter, constantly complaining, always irritable ugly old people. We should be more and more beautiful with the lasting beauties of Christ-like character the older we get! Think of this as you admire the autumn leaves in their glory just before they fall.
The October Surprise 10.23
We are used to lake effect snow around here but this storm, that only dropped a couple feet at most, caused 530 million in damages, caused 400k power outages and took 13 lives. The problem was the timing. It hit on October 13, 2006 when the trees still had most of their leaves. Consequently the wet snow brought down thousands of trees and caused power outages that lasted for up to two weeks.
I didn’t realize until this storm that the leaves fall off trees so that they can survive the winter snow! The lesson I take from this is that we should go with the flow of God’s timing and not fight it.
The writer of Ecclesiastes writes...There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build...etc. [3:1-3]
We are all at different stages of life and should accept where we are. We can’t have the leaves of summer all winter. When the autumn of middle age hits –just accept it; when the winter of agedness is upon us with its aches, pains, and misc breakdowns accept it –there is a “time for everything.”
God has ordained all our days and seasons and has promised to sustain us through it all.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. [Ps 139:16]
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. [Isa 46:4 ]
Pastor Doug