Sunday 9 August
Reading: - Psalm 105
God’s Faithfulness to Israel
1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.
5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered,
6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
16 When he summoned famine against the land, and broke every staff of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord kept testing him.
20 The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.
21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions,
22 to instruct his officials at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.
45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!
Message: -
How easy it would be for parents to be drawn into catastrophising over the safety of their children. The transition from holiday to school again can be hard enough for many children. Now we have 20 weeks, not just 7, out of school. I know one mum who is so concerned she has agreed with the school to ease the transition by home schooling a couple of days a week.
Our focus last week was of God’s provision and here again this week we see the same. The story of Joseph starts to unfold. His brothers creating the horrible plan to kill him then they changed their mind and sold their brother into slavery. Sibling rivalry gone so horribly wrong! But as the story unfolds, as you will all know from the musical, God takes what is meant for evil and uses it for the good of those who love him.
But the musical misses a vital point. Joseph was still sold into slavery, he still suffered as a slave and he still spending his time in jail. The horrible things still happen, even under God’s care. The big difference is that God never allows things to happen that we can’t get through – just read the book of Job. How Job managed to stay faithful can be beyond me at times and yet he found the courage and that encourages me.
If you are or do go through trials, they can be quite difficult and I know there can appear to be no way through to be seen. Joseph possibly felt the same way; however, he never lost his faith. Eventually in God’s good time things began to change. It has to be God’s good time and not the time of our choosing. God has promised to see us through and even better than that, to be there with us, every step of the way! We need to know this and to ask him for all that we need to get through. Trusting in his word and asking in faith. You know the sort of faith, faith even the size of a mustard seed, that can move mountains. That is the faith we need, more so today than ever I often think.
With Co-vid 19 still the main stay of the news with fresh outbreaks in Aberdeen and Grampian, the very thought of the future leaves me in a bit of a spin, not knowing “what is” let alone what “will be” allowed. Which brings me nicely back to children restarting school again.
As we fret over the first days at school after some 20 weeks out of school let us also remember the goodness of God. As we entrust our precious children into His care, let us use the positives of God’s goodness to stave off the catastrophizing in favour for trusting.
Just as God had seen Joseph sent to Egypt rather than being killed, he has seen fit to establish systems for the return to work and for the return to schools. In due time we will also see the return to church where we too can worship the Lord in Spirit and truth together once more “in the flesh”.
I also need to mention an obvious truth, this world is a broken world, wars rage all over the globe, some with bullets and bombs, others with words or with money. Co-vid 19 is just another battle in the mix of battles that rage.
Thankfully, by God’s grace, for all the battles over the years, there have only ever been two atomic bombs used in anger. There may have been many close calls and many near misses as the saying goes but thankfully only two ever used.
Thanks to Moyra last week, I was able to enjoy the afternoon at home rather than here in Dunbar. This week I will be here to join with folks at St Anne’s. Giving thanks for the grace he has shown to the people of Japan. Remembering those who lost their lives in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in the years since. We will be praying that the reality of the horror of atomic bombs will always be forefront in our minds and our hearts and that nothing will ever cause or allow another atomic bomb to be used.
You will remember that I have often said that God has a plan for each of us and I know that to be a truth. If we focus on what we can for now and allow God to be God, he will grow us and help us to be what he needs for the tomorrows to come. Regardless of whether we are venturing back to school, struggling with our own battles or standing in prayer against atom bombs. May His will be done. Amen.
God’s Faithfulness to Israel
1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.
5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered,
6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
16 When he summoned famine against the land, and broke every staff of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord kept testing him.
20 The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.
21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions,
22 to instruct his officials at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.
45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!
Message: -
How easy it would be for parents to be drawn into catastrophising over the safety of their children. The transition from holiday to school again can be hard enough for many children. Now we have 20 weeks, not just 7, out of school. I know one mum who is so concerned she has agreed with the school to ease the transition by home schooling a couple of days a week.
Our focus last week was of God’s provision and here again this week we see the same. The story of Joseph starts to unfold. His brothers creating the horrible plan to kill him then they changed their mind and sold their brother into slavery. Sibling rivalry gone so horribly wrong! But as the story unfolds, as you will all know from the musical, God takes what is meant for evil and uses it for the good of those who love him.
But the musical misses a vital point. Joseph was still sold into slavery, he still suffered as a slave and he still spending his time in jail. The horrible things still happen, even under God’s care. The big difference is that God never allows things to happen that we can’t get through – just read the book of Job. How Job managed to stay faithful can be beyond me at times and yet he found the courage and that encourages me.
If you are or do go through trials, they can be quite difficult and I know there can appear to be no way through to be seen. Joseph possibly felt the same way; however, he never lost his faith. Eventually in God’s good time things began to change. It has to be God’s good time and not the time of our choosing. God has promised to see us through and even better than that, to be there with us, every step of the way! We need to know this and to ask him for all that we need to get through. Trusting in his word and asking in faith. You know the sort of faith, faith even the size of a mustard seed, that can move mountains. That is the faith we need, more so today than ever I often think.
With Co-vid 19 still the main stay of the news with fresh outbreaks in Aberdeen and Grampian, the very thought of the future leaves me in a bit of a spin, not knowing “what is” let alone what “will be” allowed. Which brings me nicely back to children restarting school again.
As we fret over the first days at school after some 20 weeks out of school let us also remember the goodness of God. As we entrust our precious children into His care, let us use the positives of God’s goodness to stave off the catastrophizing in favour for trusting.
Just as God had seen Joseph sent to Egypt rather than being killed, he has seen fit to establish systems for the return to work and for the return to schools. In due time we will also see the return to church where we too can worship the Lord in Spirit and truth together once more “in the flesh”.
I also need to mention an obvious truth, this world is a broken world, wars rage all over the globe, some with bullets and bombs, others with words or with money. Co-vid 19 is just another battle in the mix of battles that rage.
Thankfully, by God’s grace, for all the battles over the years, there have only ever been two atomic bombs used in anger. There may have been many close calls and many near misses as the saying goes but thankfully only two ever used.
Thanks to Moyra last week, I was able to enjoy the afternoon at home rather than here in Dunbar. This week I will be here to join with folks at St Anne’s. Giving thanks for the grace he has shown to the people of Japan. Remembering those who lost their lives in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in the years since. We will be praying that the reality of the horror of atomic bombs will always be forefront in our minds and our hearts and that nothing will ever cause or allow another atomic bomb to be used.
You will remember that I have often said that God has a plan for each of us and I know that to be a truth. If we focus on what we can for now and allow God to be God, he will grow us and help us to be what he needs for the tomorrows to come. Regardless of whether we are venturing back to school, struggling with our own battles or standing in prayer against atom bombs. May His will be done. Amen.