Greetings in the name of the Lord our God who accompanies us!
It has been another one of those weeks that remind us that we are still on this pandemic journey. I have felt sadness as I sense the disappointment that our children, parents, teachers and communities have felt as the result of the decision to not return to our school buildings after the Spring break. I invite us to pray for our children, parents and grandparents, teachers and staff. This has all been so hard.
I was encouraged on Tuesday evening as we meet for our mid-week sharing and prayer time. It was good to be together, share and pray with each other. Ken Ruby shared with us a few verses of scripture that have been a source of encouragement to him through this past year.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)
Ken reminded us that these words of encouragement and promise come in the context of a wilderness experience for God’s people. The wilderness journey was hard but there was hope of a better day to come. This Covid pandemic has been its own kind of wilderness experience, which just keeps going! I hope and pray, along with Ken, that these verses can be an encouragement to you! God goes with us and before us and will not leave us or forsake us no matter what our wilderness experience is. And a better day is coming! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid…”
Thank you for sharing these words of encouragement Ken!
This word of encouragement from Ken on Tuesday evening got me thinking of ways we can be a continuing encouragement to one another. Is there a passage of scripture, a bible story, a song, a piece of poetry or…. that has encouraged and blessed you? I invite you to share the blessing. Share the scripture, song…. with me and in the weeks ahead I will pass them along through these letters to the whole congregation. In the realm of God’s kingdom blessings of encouragement are meant to be shared, and multiplied! I invite us to receive, and then share, the blessings that come our way! God will do the multiplying.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Pastor Ray