{"id":24179,"date":"2020-04-17T12:35:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T16:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=24179"},"modified":"2020-06-14T09:21:01","modified_gmt":"2020-06-14T13:21:01","slug":"pastors-ponderings-be-strong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=24179","title":{"rendered":"Pastors Ponderings: Be Strong!"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the coronavirus pandemic (in April of 2020), Pastor Jim wrote the following encouraging reminder from Lamentations.\u00a0 God is with us and continually watching over us; even when things seem like they’re falling over the edge of a cliff.
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/span><\/p>\n

Greetings Friends:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

PLEASE READ:\u00a0Lamentations 3:22-26<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

“Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassion’s never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, \u201cThe LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.\u201d The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Lamentations 3:22-26\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div> \n

\nWithout a doubt the current health crisis we are going through is making many if not all of us uncomfortable, fearful, and the future seems mysterious at best. Isn’t it true that the older we get the more we realize that life has a way of taking us \"\"down roads many of us would\u00a0rather not travel?\u00a0 With this pandemic much of what we are experiencing is being experienced by everyone around the world. The same emotions and challenges which are upon us are upon everyone wherever they are located.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe pages of Scripture tell us of God’s people who faced uncertain, surprising, and threatening times as well. For example, the Apostle Paul faced all kinds of hardship and difficulty and yet, even while sitting in a jail cell (Acts 16:22-25)<\/a><\/span>, he could still sing songs of praise to God. We might ask how could he give thanks to God even though his life was in the midst of uncertainty? <\/span><\/p>\n

Later Paul writes this, “I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me<\/span><\/em>” (Philippians\u00a04:12-13<\/a><\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

When Daniel learned that his enemies were plotting against him, he didn\u2019t go to pieces or panic<\/span>. We are told he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God, just as he had done before (Daniel\u00a06:10<\/a><\/span>). What is so profound to note is that in the midst of his unpleasant, uncertain circumstances, the Bible says Daniel “prayed, giving thanks to his God<\/span><\/em>.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel knew that even though things could have been better, God would always be “his refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble<\/span><\/em>” (Psalm 46:1<\/a><\/span>). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The psalmist writes, “I\u00a0will extol the LORD at all times;\u00a0his praise will always be on my lips<\/span><\/em>” (Psalms 34:1<\/a><\/span>).\u00a0 You see my friends, praising God as our Source, our Strength, allows us to extend our faith upon the One who promises to be with us and invites us to look to Him for guidance through the circumstances!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

That is good news, indeed!<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0AMEN???<\/em>\u00a0 \"\"<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nSisters and Brothers, we have a God who loves us so much and has promised that His love and mercy will always be with us. I love how David says it in that beloved passage of scripture, “Surely goodness and mercy\u00a0shall follow me all the days of my life…<\/span><\/em>” (Psalm 23:6a<\/a><\/span>).\u00a0 The promise from God’s written words is that there is nothing that can ever separate us from His amazing love (see Romans\u00a08:38-39<\/a><\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever you and I may be facing right now, God knows.\u00a0 And beyond knowing, the promise of Scripture is that God cares (see Psalms\u00a055:22<\/a><\/span> & 1 Peter\u00a05:7<\/a><\/span>).\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Let us continue to practice the safe recommendations offered by the medical community and authorities so we can keep our families, our neighbors, and ourselves as safe as possible. And let us also continue to trust in God’s promises which are “new every morning”!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nStay safe my Sisters and Brothers!\u00a0 Stay strong!\u00a0 Keep the faith!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>(click or tap the picture to read more…)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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+ + + + + + + +<\/span><\/p>\n

For more Pastor’s Ponderings, click this button: Pastor’s Ponderings<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the coronavirus pandemic (in April of 2020), Pastor Jim wrote these encouraging reminders from scripture.\u00a0 God is with us and continually watching over us; even when things seem like they’re falling over the edge of a cliff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[131],"tags":[112,144],"class_list":["post-24179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pastors-ponderings","tag-faith","tag-godspresence"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24179"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24192,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24179\/revisions\/24192"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}