So Much to Be Thankful For
Today at MCC we had a Thanksgiving weekend service where we especially reflected on everything for which we were thankful. Pastor Henry then spoke to us about Genesis 3, the story of the fall and found 3 things God said or did that we can be thankful for.
1. When Adam & Eve hid in the garden, He said, "
Where are you?" It is amazing to think that even when we sin & hide from Him, He cares so much about us and wants a relationship with us.
2.
God provides a way out, provides separation. God hates sin, so sinners must be punished. God made Adam & Eve leave paradise because if they had continued to eat of the tree of life, they would have lived forever, and eternal life in a state of sin would mean forever trying to hide from God.
3.
God provides new clothes, new life. When Adam & Eve realized their nakedness, he provided them with clothing. Later, he provides new life for us when His Son died & was risen for us. See Colossians 3.
Making History
Today at MCC, we observed and celebrated the ordination of Pastor Amy. Dr. Stan Mast from LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church spoke to us about how God led Elijah to pass his cloak to Elisha and likened it to the cloak being past to Amy. This story comes from I Kings 19:9-21.
Pastor Stan started out talking about how we were part of history: MCC's history, Amy's history. We were making history, following history, and even repeating history in the sense that people are finding their redemption in Christ as they have done for centuries.
It struck me as how this was similar to what we had been talking about at the book club this week where we are discussing
Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson. Consider this quote from the book:
"The Scriptures, simply by virtue of their narrative form, draw us into a reality in which we find ourselves in touch with the very stuff of humanity; what we sense in our bones counts. It is a story large with the sense of God, a world suffused with God, a world permeated with God's spoken and unspoken word, His unseen and perceived presence, in such a way that we know it is the world we were made for, the world in which we most truly belong. It isn't long before we find ourselves imaginitively entering the story, taking place in the plot, and following Jesus."Something else in the story today relates to what we have been talking about at MCC. God was speaking to Elijah and told him to look for God. He wasn't in the wind, earthquake, or fire. Elijah finally heard His voice in a gentle whisper. This reminds me that if we only look for God in something big, we might miss Him. He is often found in the quietness of a humble heart. I am thankful we have humble leaders at MCC.
Good to Me
Today, Pastor Amy talked about Psalm 73 where the psalmist starts out frustrated with how all the wicked people seem to have it made. When he tried to understand it all, it became so oppressive to him - until he enterred God's sanctuary. Then he saw the whole picture - those who don't believe in God really have eternal problems. At the end of the psalm, he finds comfort in God's nearness to Him - he says the nearness of God is good to me!
I also find comfort in His nearness. God came to us most ultimately when He came to live among us - as Jesus. In Him, the Suffering Sovereign, we see one who has suffered all that we suffer and understands. When Jesus returned to heaven, He left us with His Spirit, also called the Comforter, the Friend. This Spirit helps me see and trust in His goodness all around me - in His Word, His people and their stories, His creation. What gives you comfort in suffering?
What If We Don't Hear from God?
Daddy, can you help me?Today, Pastor Henry brought up this question and read from Deuteronomy 32 where Moses told them a song to remember God's covenant. He talked about what happens when you're playing with Legos and you stop following the instructions, and how similar that is to when we live without listening to God's word. In Deut. 32 we read how God hid his face from the people who deserted Him.
Remember these key verses!
Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. Deut. 32:46-47
Are God's words idle words, or are they life to you?
