Friday, Apr 18, 2008

TWG - April 18, 2008

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TWG - April 18, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Genesis 32: 22-32; Ezekiel 39; Revelation 21

Today is April 18, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. TWG is a complete turn of events, it is a 180 degree turn around. God is changing us and turning us around as a community. This is not business as usual, this is transforming, this is spiritual, this is essential.

I’m yawning this morning. It took me a few hours to get to sleep last night. That’s not usual, but there have been periods of time over the last few years that I have had trouble sleeping. I hope I’m not entering one of the. Being tired is not my favorite thing. Yesterday I worked on the Bulletin with Susan and we think we got it right. It’s doubtful. We always seem to miss something. I began work on Sunday’s message about the sin of getting seduced by the spirit of the age. We tend to reflect many of the cultural attitudes of our times. It is a danger of every age. And today’s “don’t ask, don’t tell,” “do your own thing,” “I’m ok, you’re ok” attitude can be a deadly sin. We’ll critique it as best as we can. I also did some power point work for Sundays service. And I finished up work on our Discovery Class. We’ll be looking at the purposes of the Church. Our concrete contractor Jim stopped by to pick up some burlap sacks we donated to him. He did a fabulous job and it was the least we could do just to give him those wool bags. Thanks Jim. I posted a picture of Barb at www.timewithgod.mypodcast.com. She’s giving the camera a face. Last night Carl and I went visiting. We stopped in to visit a young couple John & Casey. It was a good visit. And we stopped in to see Doris.

This week’s theme verse is Romans 8:37-39 in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Someone once said, “we crucify ourselves between two thieves: regret over the past and fear over the future.” The past is surely a problem if you’ve done some regrettable things. What’s done is done. It can’t be changed. It is part of the permanent record book of “your life.” It is in your memory banks and to some degree affects the way you respond to people in the present. It also may give you concern over the future. You’ve done it before, and you are fearful you will do it again. But the future has its own set of problems. Especially in times like these. You might fear that economically things are just going to get worse for you. It could happen. You could loose your job! Perhaps your family is out of control. There is the fear of loosing them to rebellion, an accident, or maybe you fear they will leave you. You may fear cancer or terrorism or crime. There is one thing that overcomes the fear of man and that is the love of God. God has a solution for your past: He wants to forgive you. He also has a solution to your future. He wants to guide you. No matter what your present reality, God is greater. No matter what things may come, God is prepared for them. God is ready for any and every eventuality. Nothing surprises him. You can trust Him with your past – He’s the only one you can completely trust with all your faults and failures. You can trust him with your future – He’s the only one who will NEVER let you down. Nothing, not even YOUR wretched past sins, nor your future problems can ever separate you from God’s love. His love is timeless… eternal. “I have loved you with an everlasting love!”

Father, my past haunts me. I have failed you over and over. Please forgive me. I know that you do. I don’t want to repeat those old sins. And Lord, the future is so uncertain. Only you really know what my future holds for me. Instead of being frightened, I’ll cling to your hand like a little child and walk with you through whatever comes my way. Together, hand in hand, we can make it to our eternal home. Thanks for the love.

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