God is Our Protector!

The LORD is my rock, my protector, my Savior.  My God is my rock.  I can run to him for safety.  He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender. – Psalm 18:2 (NCV)

 

How has God acted as your rock, protector, and Savior?  Do you understand God as “your God?”  When do you wish you had run to God for safety?  Have you met people whose faith in God allows them to understand God as their defender?  What are they like? 

The following story was found at: http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/mombird.htm

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat singed her small body, the mother remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings continued to live. "He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shall thou trust" (Ps 91:4).

 

God is willing to die, so that we can continue to live!  Just look at the cross, Jesus with his arms stretched out looking like a mother bird keeping us under her wings.  Run to God for safety whenever you need it, for God is your shield and your saving strength and will never abandon you!

With hope and joy,

Garrett

Rejoice in the Lord always!

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4 (KJV)

 

Do you rejoice in the Lord always?  What does it mean to always rejoice in the Lord?  What are people who always rejoice in the Lord like?  What about God makes rejoicing easy?  How will you rejoice in the Lord today and forever more?

 

A recent poll suggested that Americans are more concerned about things than we have been in generations.  People are concerned about the future, about the economy, about the elections, about savings, about… almost everything!  The following story is from an unknown rabbinical source.

 

One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, "Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it."

"If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty," replied Benaiah, "I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?"

"It has magic powers," answered the king. "If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy." Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility.

Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of he poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day's wares on a shabby carpet. "Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?" asked Benaiah.

He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile.

That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity. "Well, my friend," said Solomon, "have you found what I sent you after?" All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled.

To everyone's surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, "Here it is, your majesty!" As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: "gimel, zayin, yud", which began the words "Gam zeh ya'avor" -- "This too shall pass."

At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.

 

There is only one that will never pass, God!  Our troubles shall pass, our country shall pass, our lives shall pass, ours riches shall pass, our worries shall pass, but our God is forever.  It is easy to rejoice in the Lord always, for only the Lord is always!  Put your worries and your prides away, for they shall pass, and rejoice in the Lord always!

With hope and joy,

Garrett

Laughing and Happy Songs

Then we were filled with laughter and we sang happy songs.  Then the other nations said, “The LORD has done great things for them.”  The LORD has done great things for us, and we are very glad. – Psalm 126:2-3 (NCV)

 

What great things has God done for you?  Are you filled with laughter and sing happy songs?  Are you very glad for what God has done for you?  Who have you met who knows God has done great things for them?  How do they act?  How will you act for the rest of the day knowing that the LORD does great things for you?

 

The following story was sent to me and can be found at http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/icecream.htm

Last week I took my children to a restaurant.  My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
 As we bowed our heads he said,  "God is good. God is great.  Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert.  And Liberty and justice for all!  Amen!"
 Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark,  "That's what's wrong with this country.  Kids today don't even know how to pray.  Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
 Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me,  "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
 As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.  He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
 "Really?" my son asked.
 "Cross my heart," the man replied.
 Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream.  A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
 Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal.  My son stared at his for a moment
 and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you.  Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

 

When we are filled with laughter and happy songs because of all that God has done for us, we can help others see all that God has done for them!  Embrace the blessings that are all around you.  Do not let others bring you down, instead help to bring them up!

With hope and joy,

Garrett

Worthy of Praise: Being Rich

Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. – Philippians 4:8 (NCV)

 

What is good and worthy of praise?  Do you think about the things that are true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful and respected?  How does life seem when you focus on these things?  Have you met anyone whose thoughts were on such things?  What was his/her attitude about life?  What are people like who do not think on these things?

 

Another story e-mailed to me:

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

“We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

“We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

 

When we think about those things that are good and worthy of praise we can see riches where others see nothing!  We must not think about only worldly riches and thereby miss out on all that is true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful and respected.  Do not be poor.  There is richness everywhere, pray that you have eyes to see it and begin thinking on it!

With hope and joy,

Garrett

October Newsletter

Almost exactly one year ago Melinda and I discovered ourselves in Albany for the first time.  We were staying in the Hilton having arrived in town around 8 PM on Saturday night.  Since we left California at 5 AM we were tired, but still we had a nice dinner and a guided tour of the church.  I remember looking at the pictures of pastors past.  So many people had led this place, and I could sense the history around me.  Here there was a church almost 160-years-old, and a building 90-years-old.  Pictures of past joys, smiling children, a full sanctuary, and a prestigious building were offered to me as proof of past success.

 

The next morning we arrived to the service at 11 AM.  I could see little remnant of the joys and successes of yesteryear.  Entering the building, now in full light, it looked every bit its age.  Including the two of us, and the person preaching, there were 18 people in the service.  As I sat in the service I prayed to my God, believing that if this church could be turned around I was not the person for it.  How could I, a young man with little experience from a foreign land, lead this church to a new success?

 

However, during the interview afterward I learned more about faith.  There sat before me the remnant.  Those whose faith in God and God’s purposes for this church would not allow them to succumb to the belief of defeat to which so many others had succumb.  From my time with those people I saw hope.  Hope that a church given little chance could make it again.  Hope that God had plans for the church and the town.  Hope!  Questions directed toward me were altogether different than in any interview I had been in before.  I was not asked about what I would do in particular situations, no, instead I was asked questions which demanded if I too had this hope.  And as I felt the hope saturate the air around our interview table I could feel the Spirit move.  Yes, I too had this hope planted within me by the faith of the remnant, and already the Spirit was growing that seed!

 

Alas it was by faith that decisions were made to call me to this place.  My faith in the hope I saw in people who were in a hopeless situation, and the faith of the remnant that God would chose a novice with a strange preaching style to be the next of a long line of pastors to fill this church’s holy pulpit.  There is a song I love entitled, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”  This church is now a living example to the truth and power of the words to this song.

We’ve come this far by faith,

Leaning on the Lord,

Trusting in His Holy Word,

He never failed me yet.

Oh’ can’t turn around,

We’ve come this far by faith.

Last Sunday, a year after I first saw this place I looked out upon a sanctuary with 117 people in it.  I saw a majestic building being renovated and made alive once more.  And I saw the hope, that same hope I had seen only in a few people now being displayed by many.  As I stood there upon a scene of such glory the only word that can explain it is miracle, I sung to myself, “We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in His Holy Word, He never failed me yet.  Oh’ can’t turn around, we’ve come this far by faith.”  We can’t turn around, there is no going back, there is only now and moving into a future filled with hope and joy!  I thank of each of you for your faith it has strengthened mine.  I thank each of you for your hope it has given me hope.  I thank each of you for all you have done.  Now let us do more so that people will know when they see this church, that with Christ all things are possible!

 

Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,

Garrett

Amazing Grace!