A Church with a Heart for our Community

February 2nd Tuesday

Greetings to you in the beautiful, wonderful, and powerful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Savior! What a beautiful morning in the Kingdom – sunshine, crisp temperatures, and blue skies…and Wiarton Willie predicts an early spring! Regardless, this is the day that the LORD has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I trust that you had a good weekend – transitioning into a new month plus experiencing all the blessings God brought into your life. This morning I will be praying for you, asking Father to “bless you and keep you, to smile upon you and gift you, to look you full in the face and make you prosper – Numbers 6:24-26 The Message.”

This morning one of my devotions began with a question from a man to God that sounded like it could have been on a news report rather then coming from the pages of the Old Testament. Okay, here it is: “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about…but now the LORD has abandoned us…” God’s response was to reiterate…“I will be with you…” – Judges 6:13, 16  NIV.

How many times in our lives, especially this past year, have we wanted to say that…”if God is with us, why has all this happened to us – to me?” As I pondered that, God suggested that I read further in my devotions, and I was reminded that as  a believer there are three realities to consider. First, I live in a world that has been broken by sin and is not operating the way God wanted it to. Second, even though I am God’s child, I don’t have the power to fight the spiritual battles that I must face. Third, although I face the challenges of a broken, fallen world…I am never, ever alone. God is always there!

Now, that is the same three realities that Gideon had to face all those years ago. The message was loud and clear…God speaking in the first person – “I will be with you!”…in the brokenness of your world and in your personal weaknesses. Perhaps this would be a good time to remind ourselves that Jesus came as a direct representative from God to be…Immanuel! This is where we have something that Gideon didn’t – Jesus! I cannot help but want o sing…”Standing somewhere in the shadows I’ll find Jesus-He’s the only one who cares and understands…”

Something to think about – be blessed!