Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Comedian Bob Hope once reported that a freak snowstorm hit Palm Springs, California. Hope called the storm “God’s way of reminding the rich that He is more powerful than they are.” We too have witnessed the fury of nature, and we too need to be reminded that God is more powerful than we are.
God is, you know – more powerful than we are. More powerful than all of us put together. Just consider the sun – massive cosmic forces are at work to bring the warm sunshine into my office as I type this. These forces are much beyond the control of any human. The whole movement of the earth and the sun puts into perspective our utter reliance upon our gracious God. He knows what is best for us.
The seasons come and go, all according to God’s plan. We often think how nice it would be to control the weather – it is rare that the weather is really the way we would like it. The weather is most always too hot, too cold, too muggy, too much rain or snow. Through it all, I have learned to trust God in the changing seasons and the unpredictable weather.
I have become more convinced of my need to trust in God since we have begun our Bible Study on Genesis. If you really want to know the mind and heart of God, study Genesis. To realize that this all-powerful God (omnipotent) – the God who created the universe in its incomprehensible vastness, is the same God that cares about me and you. He loves us so much and knows us so well He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. He created earth to move in perfect harmony with the sun and rest of the solar system. He created our bodies to work in perfect harmony as well. Have you even considered how many red blood cells you have coursing through your arteries and veins every second of the day? God created us so that we do not even have to think about breathing – we just do it!
All this is to say that by faith, I firmly believe God is still in control of His creation. It is by faith that I believe because I admit I just don’t know the answers to many questions. Really, how can you create the universe out of nothing? How can God not be bound by space and time? We even believe that God has always been – pick any day in the past and God was there the day before!
Wow! There are lots of Biblical issues that I am perfectly content to admit that I just do not know. And that is a good thing – because if I knew everything, I would not need God. I would be God myself. I would be guilty of the what Adam and Eve did in the original sin – desiring to be like God. No, that’s just fine – we have God, and He created us to worship Him and serve Him and His creation. That sounds like a good relationship to me.
As we prepare ourselves for another season change (all according to God’s plan), we need to realize that God has a plan for us as well. God wants us to be redeemed – saved from our sin that keeps us away from Him. We should already be preparing ourselves for Christmas (no, don’t start shopping yet!). We should be ready to receive God’s most wonderful gift – God with us, Emmanuel. We should be jubilant even today in knowing that this great God of the universe, loves us so much that He included us in His great plan of salvation. And you know what? It came just at the right time, just like the changing seasons. So let’s walk together in this journey of faith – always toward the Light and Love of God, Christ our Lord.
With His Love,
Pastor Jeff
e-mail: pastorjw@bedfordumc.org
November, 2007
This cartoon really makes you stop and think. When God asks what you have done to help prevent pain and suffering in your world(whether that is school or work), what is your answer going to be? How many times do we question God's actions when we could be doing something to help the situation?
