Blessings, all!
Have you ever been lost in thought and staring off in space? You're not really looking at anything in particular or even really focusing on where you are or what you're doing. I think that probably sums up most of us these days, I know it does me. I get lost in trying to figure out what are the real "true" facts that we keep hearing/seeing and what maybe true but is being hyped up. Although difficult to find these days, there are other news-worthy events still happening around the world: it was the warmest winter on record, which led to an earlier spring; 4,000 lbs (2 ton) of drugs were found in a newly discovered tunnel dug under the border from San Diego to Tijuana; Harry and Meghan officially say good-bye to royal duties; a Van Gogh painting was stolen from a Dutch museum; North Korea fires two projectiles into the ocean; severe thunderstorms and tornadoes hit parts of the mid-west and southern states, more expected in the next few days; the North Country had a little tremor a few weeks ago, as did the Rochester/Buffalo/Lake Ontario region; a super "Pink" moon will appear April 7; a meteor shower will light the skies April 21-22; gun sales have surged; firefighters are still responding to fires and crashes, as are ambulance personnel and police; and New York lawmakers are still working on a budget. In the midst of all that we hear, no matter the topic, are we feeling lost - not knowing what to do, where to go/not go, who to listen to, who to believe? We certainly are living through a time of change, a time that most of us have never experienced before. Many of us remember the aftermath of 9/11 or Pearl Harbor (for those a little older than me), the effects of wartime, whether WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, or any of the other wars we've been involved in; some remember what it was like when polio, TB, and measles were common; it wasn't that long ago that we were fighting the Swine flu and Bird flu. But, yet, this time it seems different; it is different. We can sit and blame many people/countries/organizations for how this CoVID-19 situation has evolved, but in the end that doesn't really matter. What is important is how we respond - are we getting lost, are the stories we hear taking over our sanity, are we depressed, anxious or afraid? Or are we following guidelines and our own common sense, are we keeping ourselves busy with yardwork, housework, those "to-do" lists that we haven't gotten to, are we praying for our families and friends, those who are still working in the stores and hospitals, are we doing whatever we can to support one another? Are we standing firm in our faith, so that no matter what happens, we know that God never breaks a promise? That doesn't mean we'll have smooth sailing and nothing bad will ever happen to us, though. The Apostle Paul reminds us, in 1 Corinthians 10, "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it" (The Message). We will face all sorts of hardships, trials, sufferings, just plain bad things; we are human and stuff still happens. But as Christians and Jesus-followers, it is important to remember that God is in control, God knows everything that we face, how we feel, and how we're dealing with it. There's not a person out there suffering that God doesn't know about and you can be sure that God is right there crying and weeping with them. Over the last few years since I quite teaching, I've stopped listening to music (I know, weird, right! A music teacher not listening to music!?!?). Every now and then, though, I would turn on the car radio or YouTube, just to see what's new. I first heard the song "Way Maker" at one of the conferences I've been to; I didn't think that much of it then because it was brand new to me. But as I've heard it again, the words hit me: "You are here, moving in our midst...working in this place...touching every heart...healing every heart...turning lives around...Even when I don't see it, you're working, you never stop, you never stop working." How appropriate for this time in our lives - to be reminded that God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is here with us, working in us and around us, even though we don't see it. That is a promise that we can grab hold of and claim - "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age," Jesus proclaims (Matt. 28:20). No matter what we face, our Triune God is here with us, helping and supporting, crying and weeping, laughing and giggling, through thick and thin, through horrible news reports to great joys. So when we sit and stare into space feeling a little lost, remember God is shining light on you, Jesus is walking with you, and the Holy Spirit is giving you strength as you go. Attached is the link for the official live video of "Way Maker" by Leeland; the lyrics are below. May God's peace fill you this day and always. Pastor Amy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCV_2H9xD0 Lyrics: [Verse 1] You are here, moving in our midst I worship You, I worship You You are here, working in this place I worship You, I worship You You are here, moving in our midst I worship You, I worship You You are here, working in this place I worship You, I worship You [Chorus] You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are [Verse 2] You are here, touching every heart I worship You, I worship You You are here, healing every heart I worship You, I worship You [Verse 3] You are here, turning lives around I worship You, I worship You You are here, mending every heart I worship You, yeah, I worship You, Lord [Chorus] And You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are Yeah, You are the waymaker Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are Yeah, sing it again You are, yeah Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are Oh, it's who You are, Jesus, yeah Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are [Refrain] Sing that is who You are Oh, that is who You are (That is who You are) Oh, and that is who You are (That is who You are) My Jesus, that is who You are (That is who You are) Oh, we lift You up, that is who You are (That is who You are) My Jesus [Chorus] Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are Yes it is, that is who You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are [Bridge] Let's sing this together, even when I don't see it Come on, even when Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working Come on And even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working Oh-oh Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working [Chorus] You are the way maker, yeah Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are [Refrain] Sing that is who You are Oh, that is who You are (That is who You are) Oh, that is who You are (That is who You are) That is who You are (That is who You are) Oh, that is who You are (That is who You are) Oh, it's who You are, my Jesus [Chorus] Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are [Spontaneous] Oh, His name is above His name is above depression His name is above loneliness Oh, His name is above disease His name is above cancer His name is above every other name [Outro] That is who You are (That is who You are) That is who You are (That is who You are) Jesus That is who You are (That is who You are) Oh, I know that is who You are (That is who You are) Comments are closed.
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ZOOM WORSHIP SERVICE
SUNDAY @ 11 AM To join by phone, dial (929) 205-6099 and enter the meeting ID and password below: Meeting ID: 876 1875 9099 Password 333 PrayerGracious Loving Lord, please keep all of your children safe in these trying times. Guide us. Open our ears to hear, our eyes to see, our minds to understand and our hearts to know and be your love to others. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Want to support RLUMC and our missions? Donate Today
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September 2023
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