As in the days of Noah
Genesis 6:5-13 (NRSV) 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.
Noah Pleases God
9 These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
Matthew 24:36-39 (NRSV) 36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Living in Arkansas, it seems as though it has rained almost continuously since early Spring. When such downpours occur, they are generally accompanied by comments such as “I think I saw an Ark floating down the street in front of my house.” While we find some humor in these statements, there was no amusement in God’s decision to destroy not just mankind, and all of the creatures He had so lovingly made, but the earth itself.
I took pottery in college, and occasionally a potter will reach a point where his or her creation cannot be salvaged, and the only answer is destruction followed by re-creation. Such action was always difficult because no one wants to admit failure. Instead, we will work and re-work a piece of clay until we realize our creation will either not be strong enough to withstand the fires of the kiln, or there are too many imperfections to make the piece desirable. I cannot even imagine the anguish God must have felt when he made the decision to destroy all He had made.
And now, we have reached the time in HIStory where many of us believe we will live to witness the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ warning in the Gospel of Matthew tells us we need to be vigilant for no one knows the hour of Christ’s return. But if we compare our time to the days of Noah what do we see? We wake up to strains of violence each morning, corruption is rampant, and just as in the days of Noah we seem unaware of our culture and the downward spiral away from God and His precepts.
God saved Noah and used him to re-establish the earth. Why? Because Noah was righteous. In other words, Noah had right standing with God. You, too, can be found to be righteous. You will never be perfect, but if you seek after holiness you, too, can be in right standing with God. How? Through the blood of Jesus, for there is no other way.
In Jesus’ name,
Pastor Carol
Father God, may we open our eyes to the world around us, and may be be watchful of the times. Jesus IS coming soon. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God is Love
1 John 4:16-19 (NRSV) 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.
In today’s scripture, the apostle John is writing to believers. He reminds them that God is love, and if we are truly believers then God’s love has been perfected in us. I love this verse, because for those of us who are seeking holiness, we are told that although we will never reach perfection while on this earth, God’s love is being perfected in us. God’s love abiding in us is what holiness is all about!
The word abide means to dwell, to live among, to be continuous. In other words, abiding with God is not a temporary situation. Instead, the love that grows within us is the result of an ongoing relationship with God. There is no need for fear, because perfect love casts out fear.
There are many situations in our world today that can cause fear. Hurricane Michael hit the coast of Florida just this past week, and those who feared what a Category 4 hurricane can do moved out of the path of the storm. In this case, fear was not only justified but it resulted in prudence.
The fear of which John spoke is something that permeates our being and drives every decision we make. If we are living (abiding) in that type of fear, then we are not living (abiding) in love because there is no room for both.
In love,
Pastor Carol
Father God, may today and everyday draw us closer to You, so that we may be made complete in Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen
The Time to Walk Away
1 Corinthinians 3: 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1!
These verses have never been more meaningful to me than since I retired. As a United Methodist Minister after we leave the church, whether by re-appointment or retirement, we are expected to walk away. Why? We leave churches and our friends so that the new pastor can begin that bonding process that would be hindered if we stayed.
Paul was experiencing what should happen when our ministry changes–he laid the foundation and others followed him, building upon that foundation. Some of Paul’s followers were upset because new believers were following Apollos and Cephas instead of remaining with Paul. But Paul understood the dynamics of ministry–the focus is never on the minister, but upon God. We are each just working in God’s field.
Today, a friend is in the hospital undergoing a heart procedure. I cannot be there because she is not only a friend, she is a former congregant. Her current pastor is with her which is the way it should be.
In Ecclesiastes 3 we are told there is a season for everything. My season for being a working preacher is over, and so I have to continue to walk way. But, I can still pray. I can pray for my friends and former congregants, and I can pray for the new pastor who has no doubt that she is where she is supposed to be.
Thank God for seasons, and for giving us the strength to walk away.
In Love,
Pastor Carol
Father God, today is a new day, and part of a new season. May we pay attention to the seasons in our lives, and may we follow after you always, never trying to lead the way but being willing to walk away if needed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Do Not Worry
Philippians 4:6 (NRSV)
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
My attention has been called to this verse twice today. First, by a friend who mentioned it on Facebook, saying she used this verse to pray that God would help her find the right surgeon for her knee replacement, which was successful. Secondly, it was part of my daily reading plan.
There is so much good instruction in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, particularly the final chapter. Verse 8 tells us to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report and virtue. Why? Because the battle wages in our minds–we are going to think about something. Train your brain your think on good things! You will be amazed at the good it will do for you and for those around you.
Vss. 10-11 reminds us to be content in whatever state we are in. Do you recognize how much better each of our lives would be if we could take this message to heart? Sometimes we are up, sometimes we are down, but give God praise and learn to rejoice in your current situation. If you cannot thank God for the situation in which you find yourself, you can always thank God for walking with you.
And of course, Philippians 4:19 promises that our God will supply our needs according to His riches glory.
Read this chapter of Philippians today–underline what speaks to you. Plant the words within your heart, and you will reap the benefits of His peace.
In Christ,
Pastor Carol
Father God, May whomever reads this be empowered by your Holy Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Keeping God’s Word in our Hearts
Psalms 119:1-11 (NRSV) 1 Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
4 You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5 O that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous ordinances.
8 I will observe your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.
When I was young, we memorized scripture and were rewarded with a pin, or perhaps a bookmark. It was exciting to be able to recite Scripture, and even as a child I understood something greater was happening than a sense of accomplishment. We were beginning a lifelong journey of hiding the Word in our hearts, so tht we might not sin against God.
I admit that today I have a difficult time memorizing Scripture. In 2018, most of us do not even commit phone numbers to memory. I am grateful that I can usually point to the right book and chapter, even if I do not know the Word “by heart.” But sometimes I wonder if that is enough.
After all, we cannot keep God’s statutes if we do not know them. The psalmist tells us that so much depends upon knowing and keeping the Word.
- “Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek Him with their whole heart.”
- “I will praise you with an upright heart.”
- “With my whole heart I seek you.”
- “I treasure you in my heart, that I may not sin against you.”
Many of us may have reached the age where memory work is next to impossible, but can I encourage you that the more we read the Word, the more we will treasure it. And the more we treasure it, the more planted it will be in our hearts. And, the more the Word finds root within our hearts, the more we are transformed.
In peace,
Pastor Carol
PRAYER: Father God, you are aware of our limitations, but you also understand that we seek to know you and to be more like you. We pray today that you would help us to purpose in our hearts to stay in your Word, and that through your Word we would be transformed into the people You have called us to be.
