It’s refreshing to read what God is revealing about Himself during these uncertain times. I wanted to share with you something that Sean Heady, our Worship/Missions Pastor, wrote…enjoy.

I think if there was a chance to magically reset the year 2020, we’d be falling over each other in a mad rush to smash that beautiful, big red button! I remember playing video games as a kid. It was so easy to simply hit restart when the game was going terribly. I’d get a fresh, clean start and hope to do better next time. Nobody wants a bad start in a video game or anything else, for that matter. Even more, none of us wants hard times to come at all, especially when they pound in, one after the other, like waves endlessly crashing on the shoreline.

Unfortunately, in life we don’t have that wonderful reset luxury. Sure, there are some things we can start over, like a song we may have missed an entrance on, a quiz we might have an opportunity to retake, or even a second chance at a broken relationship between two extremely gracious people. But as far as life itself and the majority of events it throws at us, we’ve only got one shot.

There are all kinds of examples in Scripture of people who had the chance to start over.  Moses, Jonah, and Peter come to mind, each having the opportunity for a fresh start, but it wasn’t easy. Each one made terrible decisions and/or endured immense trials that would have rendered many of us basket cases. And their failed attempt didn’t vanish in light of the reboot. Rather, their past experience is what shaped a successful new one. Surviving yesterday’s trials made them stronger for today. Learning from their failures produced wisdom for their futures. 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the people in Rome that, “We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 4:3-4). Hope. Isn’t that exactly what we need right now? It starts will perseverance.

It would be easy for us to waste our current trials. What do I mean by that? As I sit here in my easy-chair – with nowhere to go and not much to do – sulking and longing for this trial to just be over, what am I accomplishing? Will that make me stronger? Will that make me wiser? When this trial is over (and it will be over!) will my fretting and pining produce character or hope? Nope. But what if, instead, I determined to learn from this? What if I sought out what God was trying to do in my life through this?

If God has allowed, or even orchestrated these hard times, what if we did our best to learn from them and use them as an opportunity to be better people, closer communities, and stronger believers than we were before this?

Praying we all respond well to and persevere through this trial – one like most of us have never seen. Will you determine to use this first part of 2020 to catapult you to a whole ‘notha level?

Sean Heady – Worship/Missions Pastor

Matthew 9:27-29 

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 

I love the interaction Jesus had with these blind men. Can you imagine how desperate and hopeful they must have been? They were blind and desperate to see and yet, they were hopeful because Jesus was near. I’m sure the reputation of Jesus was well known in this region of Galilee since He had established his ministry headquarters there. So, when these desperate, blind men heard that Jesus was nearby, they jumped at the opportunity to receive healing and deliverance from their blindness.

The question that Jesus asked is one that I believe is very relevant to the times in which we live today. We are facing uncertain times. Things are changing hour by hour. There are many who are worried about their health, but there are many more who are worried about their finances, and I completely understand. More importantly, Jesus understands!

I also believe there are many Christians praying for this pandemic to end and for life to get back to normal. I guess the question is similar to the one Jesus asked the blind men, “Do you believe that Jesus is able to do…whatever it is that you need Him to do in your desperation?” I mean do we really believe that He is able. The typical church answer is, “Yes,” and then to go on about worrying and fretting.

So deep down in our spirits do we really believe He is able, and that He will deliver us from the health and financial impact of this pandemic? I hope we can have the same response these blind men did when they answered with an emphatic, “Yes, Lord.” When they acknowledged their belief and Jesus recognized their faith, He rewarded that faith with a deliverance form a condition that had created a desperation.

You may have no concerns whatsoever about the impact of this coronavirus scare, but I’m certain there is something that you need Jesus to deliver you from. My question for all of us is, “What do you believe Jesus can do?” We read the story of the blind men and nod with believe that He healed them, but then turn and fret over our present circumstances. If you believe He healed them why do you continue to worry about your circumstances? He loves and cares for you just as much as He loved and cared for them.

Matthew records for us the rest of the story. He writes, “But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.” 

I strongly believe that the the followers of Jesus have a great opportunity to share our faith and experiences during these gloomy days. Will those who don’t have faith see you as one who believes?

Keep the FAITH,

Pastor Marty