Relief | June 12th

 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

  1 Peter 5:7

  One of my greatest enjoyments growing up and to this day is fishing. I enjoyed the solitude of a stream alone in the woods or the open space on a lake or pond with friends. Those early years seemed much simpler. One thing we would do as kids is see who could cast our line the furthest. We would throw our line over and over again to see how far we could throw our bait into the water.

  Beloved, I believe we often envision a similar image when we encounter scripture encouraging us to cast our burdens on the Lord. We may focus on our own ability to lay our cares at God's feet, only to feel discouraged when we take them up again. However, our burdens are not lifted by the strength of our efforts or the distance we cast them, but rather by the depth of God's care for us.

  Casting our cares is not merely an act of bringing something to God, but a practice of remembering who He is and that He loves us. When we pray and reflect on God's lovingkindness, His faithfulness, and His providential work in our lives, our burdens are lifted. It is through knowing and having fellowship with the Lord that the trials and burdens of life are eased. His peace is present amid the storm, and in Him we find rest as we lean upon the Lord.

  Because God cares for you, you do not have to be anxious for anything.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Waiting for Seeds to Grow | June 11th

“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.”

  Mark 4:26-27

  I noticed a pleasant surprise in our flower garden the other day. In a place where we never planted anything, a beautiful Foxglove had grown and was beginning to bloom. These flowers periodically sprout in different areas of our yard beyond where we planted them, growing by themselves without our help.

 Jesus speaks of His kingdom being like a seed. A seed is humble in appearance, but it contains abundant life. It grows on its own without any human intervention. The seed is placed in the ground, and it comes to life.

  Beloved, let us recognize that we were once spiritually dead, yet have been brought to life through the Gospel. We continue to grow as the Spirit imparts life to us. This serves as a valuable reminder for those in ministry that the Kingdom of God expands and imparts life through its inherent power. It also offers encouragement as we consider those for whom we pray, have shared the Gospel with, or have guided in church. The word of God has been sown, and the seed possesses life.

  We do not always see life immediately, but may we trust the Lord that His word has life. Truly nothing that we have done for the Lord is in vain, and may we continue to pray that the seeds planted would come to life.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Refuge in Storms | June 10th

 “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”

  Psalm 57:1

  Beloved, with the beautiful warm weather of summer comes the devastating storms. Tornadoes, hurricanes, and severe thunderstorms unfortunately come with the season. We do not always have sunny days with beautiful blue skies and gentle breezes. We receive the storm warnings and respond accordingly.

  Natural storms can often be detected before they occur. In contrast, the storms of life are more unpredictable. However, we are not left defenseless or without hope. We find shelter in God, who is our ever-present help in times of trouble and is both willing and able to sustain us.

  God does not prevent the storms of life from occurring. We are all subject to both natural storms and the storms of life. However, the Lord has promised to be with us through every trial. The Psalmist also assures us that these storms of destruction will eventually pass.

  Although we may experience momentary heartache and devastation, the storm will pass. A day will come when there are no more storms of destruction, for these storms will be destroyed forever, and suffering and sorrow will cease. Until that time, God will remain merciful to us and serve as our refuge. Let us look to Christ today.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight