The year started slowly...

…it picked up the pace soon afterward. This year we started slow as Barbara and I without children or pets went off for 6 days with no schedule or obligations. I have never done that before. It was good with lazy days and lazy nights. However, all good things must come to an end. In my family every new year picks up the pace with our wedding anniversary (30 years this year) the 7^th, Geoff’s birthday (17 years) on the 8^th and my mother’s birthday on the 11^th (89 years).

Several challenges came to the surface by the 5^th with the church. That adds to the pace of life as well. A new year also brings the hope of new opportunities and possibilities. “Oh the places you will go,” Dr. Seuss wrote in a book I use for graduate gifts. It is true of each of us as well. Yet, we become consumed with our situation or our perceived situation instead of the reality of who we are and whose we are.

Sunday in a message series titled WHY? I spoke of what motivates us to do what we do. Often we are motivated solely by our needs. Many “get religion” when they are in trouble, a hard time or a tight spot. God is so real and so close because we need him to be. Our need there again motivates us. Soon afterward we move away back to our “real” life apart from God and the closeness we previously enjoyed. Those needs often include our fears of failure, rejection and acceptance.

God has spoken to all of our needs and fears in his presence. His presence brings light and life to our darkness. As we remain near his presence we remain in his holiness. Paul writes in Romans 8:31 (The Message) “With God on our side like this, how can we lose?” IN other words WE WIN. Have you considered that? No matter what God has accepted us! I remind you of Paul’s words

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV 1984

 That means acceptance no matter what. God knew our disposition and desperation and still died for us in spite of us. WE WIN NO matter what!

This morning I was speaking to a gentleman whose grandfather is near the end of his life. The cancer has progressed and the young man said they are praying for a miracle of healing or for God to take the grandfather. I thought about that and said you can just pray for healing. If he live he is healed if he dies he is healed (whole and holy). You see the grandfather is a believer. Either way he wins. You know Paul said,

 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 NIV 1984

WE WIN!

No matter what in Christ WE WIN!

Let’s live 2013 like WE WIN!

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? Romans 8:31 The Message

WHY? Because WE WIN!

In His Service and Yours

The Rev