A Church with a Heart for our Community

September 3rd Thursday

Greetings to you – redeemed, released, and restored by Almighty God through the amazing name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a delightful morning in the Kingdom! Praise be to the Lord for making this day…we must rejoice and be glad in it! I trust that you are enjoying good health and finding meaning in each day. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to reveal himself to you as your Hiding Place and as your All-Sufficient One, and as the Lifter of Your Head.

Well I am back from the conference I was attending…and have a little bit of ‘jet-lag’ or maybe I should say…information overload. The last day was filled with content that stretched my thinking and lots of singing. The day was focused on “The Word For The World: Singing, Suffering, and Witness in the 21st Century” and featured teaching from Tim Keller, David Platt, Michael Card, John Lennox, and John Piper. There was lots of references to the season we are in…pandemic and sheltering-in which was good thing. Just to be reminded that the protocols that we must go through are the same that those in other countries are doing was encouraging.

 I want to share two verses that have been repeated several times in the last few days: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV — Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. – Colossians 3:15-16 NIV.

Let me draw your attention to the underlined words…God gives us ‘comfort’ for a purpose…so we can help someone else not with cliches but with the words and strength that God gives…that which got us through our trouble. It means we share our struggles and reality with vulnerability. Note that we are to use ‘psalms, hymns, and songs’ to teach and correct one another but we are to ‘sing to God’ recognizng what He has done and is doing. It seems there really is a purpose for singing.

Something to ponder on this sunny day…be blessed!