There is Hope in Pain | June 15th

  “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”

  “Follow me.”

“Lord, what about this man?”

“If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

  John 21:18-19,21-22

  Beloved, illness and the transition from this life to eternity are experiences common to all. The timing and manner of these events remain within the providence of God.

  In these moments, let us remember that such experiences do not diminish God’s grace or indicate a lack of rest in the promise of heaven. Jesus informed Peter of his impending martyrdom, prompting Peter to inquire about John’s future. Jesus responded that Peter should not be concerned with John, but rather focus on following Him. In both sickness and death, we are called to follow Christ. Our assurance lies in the sufficiency of His grace and His sustaining presence.

  Not every believer transitions peacefully into eternity. This journey may involve prolonged suffering and pain, yet such experiences do not signify exclusion from the Father’s table. Sickness is not evidence of God’s displeasure. Although we cannot determine the nature of our trials or the manner of our departure from this life, we can place our trust in God throughout every circumstance.

  Paul discovered the sufficiency of God’s grace through the persistent affliction he described as a thorn in his flesh. Consequently, he took pride in his weakness, allowing the power of God to be more clearly revealed. Heaven is a reality, and our Lord awaits our arrival, regardless of the manner in which we cross from this life to the promised shore.

 Until then, let us follow Christ in all seasons, knowing that He has gone ahead to prepare a blessing for us with Him.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

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