{"id":26197,"date":"2020-11-30T12:22:47","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T17:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=26197"},"modified":"2021-03-25T12:17:22","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T16:17:22","slug":"pastors-ponderings-hope-until-the-disaster-passes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=26197","title":{"rendered":"Pastors Ponderings: Hope Until the Disaster Passes"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we enter the Advent season in the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic, Pastor Jim submitted the following thoughts…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Greetings Friends:<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
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\nPLEASE READ:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Psalm 57:1<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

= = = HOPE = = =<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

Perhaps you, like many, have been feeling overwhelmed by the pandemic, the length of it, and the increasing numbers of people who are impacted by it. \u00a0The numbers of those who have been sick, have passed away from it, and the outrageous resurgence is troubling, anxiety ridden, and down right fearful. Many are becoming weary, experiencing depression, and are sensing hopelessness even as many long for things to return to “normal.”\u00a0 The months of “disruption” have been unsettling for many.<\/p>\n

As God’s people, we must unite, remain committed to God and each other while being consistent in prayer. In prayer we can lift each other up, seek guidance from our loving God, lift up those affected.<\/p>\n

As I have been praying I just keep returning to Psalms 57:1 which says:<\/p>\n

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”\u00a0<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

How appropriate, how timely, how comforting and reassuring are those words.\u00a0 As we turn to the pages of Scripture during times of personal, national, or global calamity, we find God speaking fresh words of hope to us.\u00a0\u00a0 Click on the tabs to see some examples:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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