Good morning!

Awe. Reverence. As I walk through this season of transition from my career to retirement and avocation activities, I think these words are worth considering.
 
Do you think at times you might forget how awesome God is? How awesome it was (and is) that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to become man to be the perfect sacrifice in order that we could come home to Him?
 
When you go for a walk on a beautiful fall day, do you see the awesomeness of God’s creation – even a broken creation? Does that feeling of awe move you to reverence for God?
 
Is your reverence strong enough for you to surrender your life of this world and to say yes to Jesus Christ and His call into your life to live for Him and not for things of this world?
 
I think that often it is easy for me to make God small and to make His Son just a man, not fully God. If I ever find myself thinking this, I benefit from revisiting scripture to remind myself of who our God is, what Christ did for me, to step back and kneel down in prayer, to remember how He has moved and is moving in my life…
 
Scripture is overflowing with references to the awe of God, the awesomeness of God and the need to approach God with reverence. Awe and reverence, are a part of the definition of fear as it applies to “fear” God.
 
Here is a sampling of God’s word that touches on these two words:
 
Awe –

• Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
• Acts 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
• Matthew 9:7-8 Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
• Habakkuk 3:2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
• Psalm 66:3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.”
• Psalm 65:8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.
• Psalm 19 - Starts in verse one - "he heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork".- Go read this Psalm - the author clearly speaks to how God's creation shows His glory, His awesomeness worthy of all our reverence...

 
Reverence –

• Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
• 2 Corinthians 6:18-7:1 18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
• Psalm 130:3-4 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
• Ephesians 5:19-21 … Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 
The number of references is large so I will stop here – explore more on your own. I think you will find that it brings you closer to God. A couple of questions for you to consider.
 
When, where do you find yourself feeling awe and reverence for God? What in your life triggers this kind of engagement with our Creator?
 
I am often awed by the beauty of sunrises and sunsets – God’s word in Genesis tell us He created the rising and setting of the sun – here are two of the many astounding images Gd has provided me an opportunity to capture of this beauty He created:

Lord Jesus, as we enter this weekend, my prayer for each of us is that we never make God small and that we ever treasure the feeling of awe before God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and in feeling that awe, we live our relationship with our Savior in reverence for what He has done for us. Amen!

Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick
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Good morning!

Back in 2021, two different individuals had brought up Psalm 91 and the importance of this part of God’s Word for them in this current time and place.

For one person I heard from, this Psalm, this part of God’s Word, became the catalyst of his salvation in Christ – an amazing story of redemption that I can relate deeply to.

The other individual used this Psalm to point out, during a devotional she gave, a way of seeing many of God’s promises (see some highlighted below).
 
Whether you find the Hope of salvation in Christ by reading this Psalm or you have had the scales fall off your eyes and now see so many of God’s promises to us, I ask that you take a few moments and slowly read through Psalm 91:
 
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
 
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
 
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
 
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
 
How does this Psalm speak to you. Do you hear God’s voice? Do you feel the hope of salvation in Christ as you read this Psalm? 
 
Psalm 91 was likely written by either Moses or David. This week, I watched a YouTube video by NT Wright, a British theologian, on the topic of prayer. In either case - Moses or David - this Psalm represents prayer, time spent with God.

When we stop to take time to pray to God, to speak with our Creator, according to NT Wright, it isn't shouting to God who is in a far off place - up in the sky somewhere. But rather when we pause to pray, we stand in a moment in time and space that has our place on earth touching heaven (God's dwelling place).

It is a dangerous, vulnerable place because we are in the presence of God (the Holy Spirit in us makes this possible) - but also beautiful. God has asked us to draw near to Him - that in our doing so He draws near to us (See James 4:8). We get the opportunity to speak with Him and through His Word, we hear from Him.
 
My prayer for each of us this weekend is that our ears hear God’s voice as we seek him in His Word and in that hearing we believe, we proclaim and we understand the depth of His love for us as He has shown and continues to show us through our Lord Jesus! Amen!

Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick
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Good morning!

Do you ever consider the importance of your relationships? Even day to day interactions with people you know or even with strangers? Think about how you might interact with others on social media? 

In our current cultural moment relationships are being broken and challenged with many people leading with anger, name calling and irrational, unfounded ascribing of motivations.

While we (yes we - me included) fall into the ways of the world, God calls us (at least for those that believe in His work through His Son, Jesus) to take a different approach than the world. He calls us first to love Him with everything we have got...and then asks us to pour this love out to our neighbors - to those we encounter in our daily living. 

Matthew 22:36-40 - 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

And repeated in Mark (we also see this called out in Luke as well) - 
Mark 12:29-31 - 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

And what anchors relationships - could it be how we treat each other? Even when we disagree or we do not see from the same perspective? See Paul's comment to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:32 - "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

And Jesus reminds us that our neighbor is pretty much anyone we might run into as we live our daily life.

Relationships are so important especially in our walk with Jesus, our Savior, in doing God’s work. There are times when relationships become challenging (maybe not for you… but definitely this is so for me). So really these pieces of scripture speak to one of the ways the gospel speaks to nurturing relationships – through kindness and a soft heart, giving and asking for forgiveness as needed. 

For each of us to live our life out with family, friends, neighbors, strangers or to do our work, we need to spend time on the relationships in our lives – in all moments. With those we know and with those we do not know but who cross our paths. Each one of these connections is an opportunity to share the light of our Savior. 

Can you think of any instances recently where you were Christ showed up in your interactions – with someone you know – or someone you had just met? How did you see God at work? How did it touch you? How do you think it touched the other person?

Surrendering to God, praying to Him to use us, I believe, leads to us being able to bring the right heart into our relationships and interactions with others – to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.

Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into this weekend is that  we do not miss the opportunities God creates in relationships, in connections and in our path’s crossing with others, to shine Your Light such that hearts can be healed, that restoration can begin…! Amen!

Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

Has an event, experience or just a span of time left you feeling a more distant relationship with God?

Where, although you know you love God and Jesus Christ as your Savior, it seems like there is some barrier separating you from Him?
 
I know I have. When this happens I am uncomfortable, uneasy, tense, anxious. Work or any activity seems to be more of a struggle and relaxation isn’t relaxing.

We see here in these verses, God in His Word shares His desire to be with us always. He is waiting for us. He, in fact, is seeking us, pursuing us. 

Revelation 3:20 - “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
James 4:8a - “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Luke 15:4-6 - "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost."
Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
 
The barrier is likely us. If we are not praying every day, waking up every day looking forward to a day in Christ, being with Him, distance from God will likely increase.
 
So let’s embrace His promise to us – listen for His voice, His knock at the door and then open the door, open our hearts to Him. Spend time every day in reflection and prayer. In doing so, you are narrowing the gap, overcoming the barrier and drawing nearer to God. His promise is that he will then come near to you. How awesome is that!
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into this weekend is that as God is seeking and pursuing us, that we stop running from Him. That we turn to You, Lord Jesus and open the door of our hearts and fully surrender to You! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick