Precious Lives

“My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering from God.” James 5:19-20 The Message

I want to share an important scene from one of my favorite movies, Seabiscuit (2003). It is one of my favorite movies because it so beautifully illustrates grace. Charles Howard is a man haunted by loss and death, looking to buy a horse and he goes through all the regular channels. But out of the corner of his eye he notices something different. He notices a “crackpot” horse trainer named Tom Smith. Later on, under the cover of night (like Nicodemus) Charles comes to find Tom. He notices that Tom is treating an older horse that no one else wanted and asks why he is “fixing” the horse. Tom explains that every horse is good for something. And then Tom says a line that I always remember – it is at the heart of the grace of Jesus Christ and the heart of my ministry, “You know, you don’t throw a whole life away just ‘cause he’s banged up a little.”

Banged up a little. That’s all of us – whether we are open about it or not. Whether it is visible or not. Whether it was by our choice (sin) or by circumstances and events.

See, God doesn’t write us off, when he could have. Sometimes Christians and churches get so good at celebrating God’s grace that they forget that God could have written them off. And they lose sight of what it was/is to be without grace and a kind of blindness develops to seeing those who are “banged up” and who have wandered away from God.

That is why, when we are tempted to think people are less than perfect and don’t belong and to think that lives can be written off, we need to stop and listen…

“My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering from God (James 5:19-20).”

Do you know someone who has wandered off from God’s truth? Do you know some people who are “banged up a little” or worse? I know I do. And I have been going after them for most of my life. I do because first I know that I am “banged up a little” and I know the grace by which I am saved – for which I am eternally thankful. And I do this because I believe every life is precious to God, even if they are “banged up a little.”

It is hard to precisely put into words how amazing it feels when God has allowed me to be a part of “getting them back and rescuing precious lives…” It is a peace beyond words and it feels sacred; it is the true definition of fulfillment for me. I know that I experience healing when I am a part of others’ healing. God is the initiator of grace, but if we are faithful, the grace we receive can be shared and multiplied – and really that was God’s design – for the grace to be shared.

As many of you know, the partnership of Charles Howard and Tom Smith led to finding the rider Red Pollard and the horse Seabiscuit. It is story of finding and sharing grace and healing in the midst of brokenness; it is story of winning despite lost causes; it’s about redemption. At the end of the film, during the last race, the sound of hoofs and cheers recedes to the musical theme played softly and to Red’s voice, who explains, “You know, everybody thinks we found this broken down horse and fixed him. But we didn’t. He fixed us. Every one of us (as the camera shows each of the main characters). And I guess in a way, we kinda fixed each other too.”

See, when it comes to people, according to God – and therefore to us, there is no such thing as a lost cause. And to believe this – to live this – is to be in the palm of Jesus’ outstretched hand.

We can’t prevent or stop all the wandering and the dents that we get in life – self-inflicted or the ones that just happen. But we can experience and be a part of God’s reaching, finding and healing.

That is where I want to be.

Will you join me?

Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. What is your own redemption story? Have you ever shared it with anyone? Would you like to share it with me?
2. Have you ever been a part of someone else’s healing and grace? What did that feel like?
3. Can you think of someone for whom you can be a part of reaching, finding and healing? What will you do about it?

4.   How you can share some grace today?

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Turning Point

Turning Point

O Lord!

When someone lets go of decades of pain and suffering and begins to move toward wholeness –

We turn to you and give thanks that healing is possible through you.

When our young people, despite our best efforts, lose their way and find themselves in all kinds of prisons –

We turn to you for the keys and the strength to believe in tomorrow.

When our young people are faced with temptations at school, on the Internet – virtually everywhere they go –

We turn to you and remember that they are your children first.

When marriages reach the point where it seems like there is no hope –

We turn to you for patience and strength.

When marriages overcome obstacles of infidelity, neglect and the interference of others –

We turn to you and praise you for your faithfulness and grace.

When we become so tired and exhausted that we feel like we can’t go on –

We turn to you for strength and endurance.

When people become so isolated that they barely exist –

We turn to you and thank you for seeing us when we are invisible.

When people come out from years of hiding in the shadows –

We turn to you and thank you for your persistence and steadfast love.

When we see that our sins have caused immeasurable damage throughout our lives –

We turn to you for second, third, fourth (and so on) chances; and know we have them in Jesus.

When we feel like we are unworthy and no longer acceptable to you –

We turn to you and feel the embrace of your grace and unconditional love in Christ.

When this whole world seems to be on the brink of falling apart –

We turn to you with whatever we have left.

When we see things falling apart and new things emerging like people coming together like never before –

We turn to you and praise you for being a God that restores and renews.

When our brothers, sisters and friends are diagnosed with terrible diseases –

We turn to you and cry out “Why?!”

When our ill brothers, sisters and friends are strengthened and sometimes even cured –

We turn to you and thank you for your mercy and providence.

When we have tried everything and it still doesn’t work –

We turn to you and throw our hands up in the air.

When other voices discourage and bring us down –

We turn to you to hear the voice of truth.

When we are disoriented and feel lost –

We turn to you to be directed and found.

When we have surrendered all of our hopes and dreams to you –

We turn to you and watch them materialize in ways we never expected.

When we see our nation drowning in violence, idols, self-indulgence and greed –

We turn to you for the life preserver of peace and satisfaction.

When we see our nation rich with compassion, abundance and hope –

We turn to you and thank you for the gift of being here.

When our loved ones die and we can’t hear their voice anymore –

We turn to you and say, “We wanted just one more time…”

When we leave this earth and enter in your presence –

We will turn to you and our loved ones and smile at that glorious reunion.

We turn to you in all of these days and times and remember your words and promises –

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. What can make the difference in how we view what is happening in our world?
2. How can we keep in mind that God is in control despite what it may look like?
3. What can we do about evil in this world? What is our response?
4. From where does our help and hope come? How can we keep that in mind during times like this?

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The Anatomy of a Miracle

2 Kings 4:1-7

The Anatomy of a Miracle (Remix of Sunday’s Message, November 23, From Desperation to Abundance) – audio @ http://www.firstgrandville.org/content.cfm?id=213&category_id=4)

 

I can still remember the disapproving facial expression of the grocery clerk when my Mom pulled the food stamps out to pay for our basics that week and how it felt so embarrassing. And I can remember the times that we had to go to PSEG in Hackensack and ask that the gas and electric not be turned off and sensing the shame of having to stand there and make such a request. I recall getting the mail and seeing the warning notices from the landlord about our late rent and wondering what we would do if we were evicted.

 

But in all those times and others, somehow we made it through. Somehow a check or some other help would arrive. And I remember my parents giving God the credit. “Only God” could have come through like this they explained. It was a real gift despite the circumstances – the gift of believing in the somehow, believing in miracles – wondrous, visible works of God in times of desperation.

 

A solid definition of miracle goes something like this, ““An event that so overrides what observers understand of natural law that it creates wonder and serves as evidence of God’s active intervention in this universe (Revell Bible Dictionary).”

 

This passage is about a widow who is left with debt and is in danger of losing her sons as slaves – as per the rules to settle debts. And she turns to Elisha the prophet – her husband was a faithful helper to Elisha.

 

And this is the first take away from this passage. Miracles rarely happen in isolation. Going from desperation to abundance always requires Help. And this woman in desperation cries out for help. We all have to get better at asking for help from the Lord and from others. Trying to make it or carry it on our own will always block opportunities for God to work.

 

In response to her request for help, Elisha asks her a very interesting question. He asks her “What do you have in your house?” I love this because it illustrates a number of things about miracles. First, God provides. As we will see, what she needed to go from desperation to abundance – she already had. And so could it be that you and I already have what we need, whether material or spiritual, to go from desperation to abundance?

 

Second, Elisha’s ministry to the widow is empowering and incorporates dignity. She will be a part of God’s wondrous work. He doesn’t organize a spaghetti dinner or a collection. Direct help is appropriate when necessary. But by involving her in the miracle, her faith grows as well as the debts being paid. This is a great reminder for loving our neighbors.

 

Finally, Elisha asks the widow to turn to her neighbors to help with the miracle. In other words, she turns to her community, family so to speak, to be a part of this wondrous work of God.

 

The wondrous work of God? She had a container of oil in her house. And it continued to pour until they ran out of containers – enough to sell, pay off the debt and live on the rest. Our human logic would have said, hold on to the oil and save it until the “right” time – preservation. But scholars point out two things about this – one the gift (oil) is multiplied when it is poured out or used; also, the oil would have continued to pour as long as they had containers. Likewise, our gifts, spiritual and material, can be multiplied only when used and we have to learn to expect abundance from God – when God loves, when God gives, it is always abundantly.

 

So here is what we have for the anatomy of a miracle. Honestly identifying the desperate places in our lives; reaching out to God and to others for help; waiting and trusting in the Lord; being aware of the raw miracle material that God has already provided – which will usually include others – family, friends, community; believe that God will act in an abundant way; open our eyes and be ready – a wondrous act of God may not look like what we expect – it may not be a cure or a way out or solution but it will be God acting – we don’t want to miss it in whatever form it arrives.

 

See, I need you to know that miracles aren’t the only times God is seen to be working. Truth is, He is always at work, the somehows and the miracles are often the times we see it clearly – like the definition above says, “serves as evidence…”

 

No doubt, we are living in desperate times. Our world, nation and many people could use a few miracles right now. Yet, we are approaching the season when all things are possible – for it is the season in which the miracle that validates them all occurred – the miracle of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us, Jesus, the ultimate “evidence of God’s active intervention in this universe.”

 

How about you? Maybe it is a diagnosis or condition, a marriage or relationship, a job, a crisis in your home, finances, exams or projects – at some point we all face desperate, impossible times. Maybe you are there right now…

 

My prayer for you today is that sometime soon, you will be saying, “Only God…only God could have done this wonderful thing, somehow.”

 

Amen.

 

Discussion Questions

1. Where in your life do you need a wondrous work of God to happen?
2. Are there some places of desperation? If not now, how about in the past? Did you see God at work? Write back to me and share it.
3. How can you be part of a work of God, an evidence of God’s action in this world, a miracle, right now and during this season?
4. Can you think of some specific people around you for which you can serve as evidence of God’s love, grace or compassion? What are you going to do about it?  

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In Progress

Philippians 1:6

In Progress

 

“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Philippians 1:6 (The Message)

 

 

You don’t need me to tell you that these are very uncertain times.

 

Financial crisis – national or individual. Bailouts. Cancer diagnosis. Losing a job. About to lose a job. Not sure about a job. Kids not listening. Young people getting into things that can hurt them. Health problems. Overwhelmed by homework and exams. Elections on the line. Break-ups. Separation. Divorce. No purpose. No direction. Future uncertain. God seems distant. Friends seem distant too. No one understands. Help!

 

We all have seasons of our lives that seem worse than others. We seem to be in a season of tremendous turmoil. Everything is changing.

 

But in a time when everything seems to be changing – there is one constant. It’s the only constant that can make a difference.

 

“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Philippians 1:6 (The Message)

 

See, according to this verse, once God has started working in your life, He isn’t going to stop; and He is going to keep going all the way to the end. Even when it doesn’t seem like it, He is still working. Even when everything points to the contrary, yup, still working. Even when we are falling apart, still working.

 

I would be the first to tell you that there have been many times when I have prayed to God and asked “Why?” I can think of many times in my life when I have thought all was lost. Nothing was going “my” way. Times when I thought there was nothing left to hope for – that tomorrow would not be any better. Days when I had to put one foot in front of the other – one step at a time – just to make it.   

 

Yet, even when we lose faith, God is faithful – faithful to promises like this one – to start a great work and finish it. It may sound trite, but it’s true – God doesn’t make mistakes. He is the God that can take all our worst and convert it to His best in the blink of an eye – or can turn a whole lifetime of failures into success. It’s all in His hands.  

 

And it wasn’t long after I thought it was “all over” that something new started. Because, He never stops working on you and me. It is often invisible and gradual – but always constant. I know, I know, it would be easier if it were all lightning bolts and “Aha” moments. But you know this – it wouldn’t be faith it didn’t require us to try to see beyond circumstances and what is in front of us.   

 

And keep in mind, God’s goal for us isn’t about awards and promotions and most everything we would define as success. This “work” Paul is talking about is about one thing – becoming more like Jesus in every way. It is the “work” that has eternal value.

 

Whatever you might be experiencing today, I wanted you to know that you treasured by God (and me) and that to Him, we are all works in progress with a wondrous finish ahead.

 

Amen.

 

Discussion Questions

1. Are you going through a tough time right now? What kind of prayers do you pray in difficult times?
2. Is it hard to imagine that God is working in your life right now? Why or why not?
3. Are you able to trust that God is at work when it seems invisible? Why or why not?
4. Does it help to think that God is has a plan for you – “flourishing finish?” Why or why not?

 

 

Rev. Christopher Wolf

Isaiah 42:7

cbrianwolf@sbcglobal.net            

www.christopherbwolf.com

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Refuge

Psalm 62:5-8

Refuge

5 “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for our God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8 

What do you depend on everyday?  

Really. 

Let me try it another way.

What CAN you depend on? A little different. Okay. A lot different.  

What do we depend on – well, a whole bunch of things – people, money, stuff, substances, thinking, tradition, routines… Does any of this stuff work? Does depending on these kinds of things do what we need them to do?  

Maybe in the short-term.  

But I have to tell you that I have reached times in my life where all of those things listed above, became rather un-dependable. Some might call it the “end of the rope” – call it whatever you want, but it is interesting that things like people, money, stuff, substances, thinking, tradition, routines all seem so dependable until this point…this point where it seems like all is lost.  

And just when we have thought or are thinking that all is lost is when, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him… (5)” writes the Psalmist. “He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken (6).”  

In God alone. In Christ alone. This is where we can find someone to depend on. Like I said, I have reached times in my life, where all I had was God. When everything else I had depended on or valued or counted on, including me had been stripped away. It was just God and me, and not much of me. It was simultaneously the worst time and the best time of my life. Never have I felt so defeated; but I also have never felt so held and loved by God.  

“My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my might rock, my refuge (7).” He is a refuge; not just as a metaphor, but a real refuge – a place of safety and comfort in a storm.  “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for our God is our refuge (8).” It is also in these times when we pour out our hearts to him.  

Have you ever just poured out your heart to God? Silently, out loud or written on paper? It is that safe place, refuge, when you can pour it all out. The questions, the cries, the confusion, the wonder, the heartbreak, the hope and the call for help. All of it, just pouring out to him, spilling out everywhere, yet gathered and collected and heard by Him. 

My prayer for you today is that more and more you come to see God in Jesus Christ as your refuge, as your rock for your salvation – and your refuge in all times – the person to whom you can pour out your heart and completely trust in and depend on. 

Amen. 

Discussion Questions

1.      At this moment, what are you depending on to get through the day? Is it working for you?

2.      Have you ever been at the end of your rope? Are you there now? What did you depend on?

3.      What does refuge mean to you? Have you ever thought of God like this? Do you have some people in your life that serve as refuges?

4.       When was the last time you poured your heart out to God or anyone else? Is it time?

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Nearness and Hope

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

This seems like a world of heartbreak. You can look in the newspaper or watch the news for heartbreak. But we know it is much closer than that.  

There is the heartbreak of today. Sometimes it is the struggles in our families that are in our faces all the time. The job loss or impending job loss that seems to negate or ignore decades of hard work. There is the heartbreak of today that cuts each time we look at a spouse that we don’t even know anymore. When we failed the test or exam. There is the heartbreak of today that hurts each time we think of the family member or friend we can’t reach in faith and love.     

What does “brokenhearted” mean? According to the dictionary, “Overcome by grief or despair.” But in real life it is this awful, beyond words feeling. It feels like there is no hope – that it can’t be fixed or can’t get better. It feels like your eyes cannot possibly produce the amount of tears that are welled up inside. It is hard to breathe, hard to move, hard to live.  

Then there is the heartbreak of yesterday. Our hearts and our memories have their share of heartbreak – this cumulative heartbreak of life. Standing at the end of the bed in ICU as your loved one’s pulse slowly, gradually descends to zero. The family, friends and people we didn’t allow to reach us. All the failures, all the attempts, all the dead ends. The quiet but permanent changes in cherished relationships. When we didn’t make the team. These are shattered pieces of yesterday’s heartbreak.     

Which leads to “crushed in spirit.” When we are “crushed in spirit” it is the feeling of absolute defeat. It is like the life has been drained or ripped out of us.  Both of these, heartbroken and “crushed in spirit” seem to have at least one thing in common – they both leave us feeling like there is nothing we can do about them when they are visited upon us… 

This verse offers a revelation. Nearness and Hope. Can’t these two make the difference? Nearness in the heartbreak of life; Hope for when all seems lost. When Jesus came into this world, God was nearer than ever before; and with the Holy Spirit’s continuing presence – God remains near. And God saves the “crushed in spirit” – it may not look like the rescue we dream of, but it is God’s character. Sometimes it is through the power of the Word, the presence of the Holy Spirit and even through other humans.   

Listen to the lyrics of the song “Broken Things” by Julie Miller, “Then you walked into my darkness/And you speak words so sweet/And you hold me like a child/Till my frozen tears fall at your feet.” This is what Jesus does; this is what we can do for each other in His name.  

Today, as you read this, as you are heartbroken, as you are crushed in spirit, please know God is near and offering you hope. 

Discussion Questions

1. Please reflect on some times of heartbreak and how it feels.
2. How can we sense that God is near?
3. Why does God allow us to become heartbroken and crushed in spirit?
4. What can you do for someone else who is heartbroken and crushed in spirit?

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Humility

“This is the one whom I esteem (says the Lord): he who is humble and contrite in spirit.” Isaiah 66:2  

One of the best Christmas gifts I received was a book titled, Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney. Just what did Jenny mean by this gift??? J 

Although I strive for humility, clearly I have much to learn according to the book. I wanted to share some insights from the book with you. 

For example, Mahaney defines humility as, “honestly assessing ourselves in the light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.”  He also defines pride, the opposite of humility, and the first sin as “when we are contending for supremacy with God.” When you put it that way, it sounds ridiculous, but yet we do this all the time. 

Speaking of time, I think this one of the areas of pride with which I really struggle. I am always saying and praying, “God, why not now!” and “Why do I (or we) have to wait!” “I mean, I am asking for good things, things that are within your will?”  But that is prideful. I am basically saying that I know better than God who is omniscient and all-knowing. Quite foolish when I think about it and when I ask for His forgiveness.

Mahaney effectively argues that pride is more than just foolish – it is very destructive. It ranges from the pride of denying that a savior is even needed (pride of self-sufficiency) to the pride of Christians who are convinced that they are sin-free and are in a position to point out everyone else’s sins.

In essence, pride could cause us to be completely cut-off from God eternally as well as wrecking all that we cherish and hold dear in our lives. It can also prevent us from getting the care and help we need for addictions, diseases and other parts of our lives. 

Christian singer Jeremy Camp (Brian and I saw him in concert last summer – awesome!) offers these thoughts in his song “Lay Down My Pride” – “I lay down my pride/My desires my demise/I’m ready now to see it your way/I’m done I’m thru ignoring you now it’s true/I’m kneeling at the cross of your grace/Lay down my pride.” 

Mahaney makes the case that focusing on the cross is a sure way to humble ourselves – after all Jesus goes to the cross for our sins and ransoms or rescues us. Jesus, who is the ultimate example of humility – read Philippians 2:5-11.  

In the last section of the book he lists and describes helpful humility practices. As you might imagine, it starts with acknowledging our need for Jesus everyday. I often start the day by saying those very words, “Lord, I need you today.” Some days it is, “Lord, I am really going to need you today” or “God, I can’t do this without you.” I usually follow that up by reciting the verse, “Into your hands I commit my spirit” from Psalm 31:5 and also quoted by Jesus on the cross in Luke 23:46.  

Mahaney also offers the idea of “Identifying Evidences of Grace” as part of being humble. He states that pride is blinding when it comes to how we relate to others. He writes, “And only those who are humble can consistently identify evidences of grace in others who need adjustment. It’s something the proud and the self-righteous are incapable of.”  

Inside and outside of church, we must see and believe that, in others “God is at work” to identify evidences of grace. Is it easier to focus on the negative and the things we don’t like or disagree with? Sure. But that is pride. Are there people in our families, churches and workplaces that are difficult and it would be easy to give up on? Sure. But again that is pride. Who are we to say that others are less worthy in God’s eyes? 
 

Finally, Mahaney points to the importance of encouraging one another daily as well as when correcting or confronting people, we should always point out the grace as well – otherwise it is prideful. He passionately discouraged any “corrupting” or “decaying” talk about others – signatures of pride. He then encourages readers to welcome and invite loving correction from others. 

It was a great read and I continue to look at parts since finishing it. 

Amen.  

Discussion Questions

1. What is your pride index on scale from one to ten? One being “Very humble” and ten being “I am the greatest!”
2. Is pride keeping you from acknowledging the needing for God and others in your life? Are you still thinking you can/are doing it on your own?
3. Is pride blinding you from seeing things about yourself that need to change? Is it blinding you from seeing the grace in others?
4. With what specific areas of pride are you struggling?
5. How does pride affect your witness as a Christian? Are you judging? Are you always saying that you can do things better than others? Do you find yourself frequently criticizing others without communicating signs of their grace too?
6. What are some things you can do to increase your humility and diminish your pride?

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Help

Psalm 46:1-3

Help 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” Psalm 46:1-3  

Raise your hand if you’ve had your share of earth changing, mountain-shaking, water-roaring and foaming, mountain-tumult-trembling times in 2007.  Maybe all this didn’t happen in 2007 but certainly we have all had years and/or seasons like that.  How did we or are we getting through it?

Sometimes when you and I look back, there appears to be no logical explanation as to how we survived the tumult and shaking. 

But I think I may have found a clue. 

Listen to this again, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… (Psalm 46:1).” First, as you may know, there are many words for “God” in the Old Testament. For example, Yahweh, which translates roughly as “I am” is thought of as God’s “name.” But the word used in Hebrew here in Psalm 46:1 could be considered “Big God” – it is “Elohim” and it is the same word used in Genesis when God is creating all things.  

So when we are talking about God being a “refuge and strength” we are talking about NFL lineman size or bodyguard strength.  

And speaking of refuge – the word for refuge in Psalm 46 has the meaning of shelter as well as “the person to whom one flees.” Where do we go when we need shelter or help? 

And how about this “very present help in trouble.” The word and meaning for present is “found, encountered and recognizable” according to a Bible resource.

So when we add very – “very found, very encountered, very recognizable” like you just stumble or crash into it – you can’t miss it. Help? The word in Psalm 46 for help means has the same root as “helper or help meet.” Sound familiar? You are correct…Genesis 2:18 in which God looks at Adam and says something like, “This guy shouldn’t be alone, he needs a helper or help meet.” Same root in Genesis 2:18 as in Psalm 46:1. 

So, we’ve got Psalm 46:1 telling us that when we are in trouble, when we the world is crashing down around us – God’s presence is awesome and huge like a shelter; it is as clear, visible and real as this screen in front of you; and it is as near and intimate as a spouse’s closeness. I want some of that!

And I have experienced it. It was that comforting and particular and intimate as Psalm 46:1 says – I will testify! I sometimes miss it, but I don’t think I want to volunteer to be in the position of the tumult and mountain trembling.

But the truth is you and I will be there again if we aren’t there already today. It just seems like we are much more aware of it when the mountains are shaking and the waves are roaring.  

How about you – want some very present help as well as a refuge and strength? And it is ours and it is real thanks to God being fully present in this world through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  

Amen.  

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever experienced God’s “very present help in trouble?” What was it like?
2. Are the mountains trembling in your world? What is going on?
3. How are you going to survive it?
4. How does this description of God sound? Does it confirm or seem different from your mind’s image of God? Why?

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