Change and Hope

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

    a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

    a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

-Ecclesiastes 3

How do you feel about change? Are you ready to adapt or do you try to resist it?

The Bible teaches us that change is inevitable. We may like it, but life is going to move forward. This week our Bible text will be looking at the story of the transfiguration. This scripture tells us of the time when Jesus was changed or transfigured on a mountain. Christ's true glory was revealed, and he began his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross. 

Our perspectives are important. Jesus spent a long time trying to offer healing and hope, but he eventually needed his disciples to see something more. That is when he led them up a mountain... Mountains still have the ability to make me stop and reflect. Whenever I am able to look out from a natural viewpoint, I come away changed. Leaving space for awe and wonder allows me to look at the world in a new way. 

When Jesus and the disciples returned, they were changed. Jesus began to turn toward the cross, and the disciples started realize they were in the presence of something even bigger than they first understood. 

Today I wonder if you are in a place of change. Does it feel like the world is shifting under you? Are you uncertain or even afraid of what lies ahead? It is my prayer that we would all take a bit of time for awe and wonder this week. I pray that we could open our hearts to a new teaching. I hope we don't simply stay rooted in our old ways. I hope we can be open to the wonderful calling of God.

Peace,

Pastor Brian

Finding Christ in the Storm

Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about my four month old baby catching a cold. Since that time, he has gotten better, but my older boys got sick. In the midst of their snotty noses, my nine year old also caught a stomach bug, and that slowly went through the house. After this, the same 9 year old got a major black eye when he bumped into another kid playing soccer. It was a hectic few days! They say when it rains it pours!

This week at CLC we are going to look at the scripture text describing Noah and the great flood. This is a pretty dramatic story, but we all have to go through storms in life. We all face moments of darkness and despair. The Bible story speaks of Noah lost on a stormy sea of waves. He could only trust that God would lead him through. 

Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that we are in control. We attempt to conquer trials by our own will and determination. This kind of resolution can be helpful, but the Bible tells us we also need faith. We need to acknowledge that we can't control everything. We have to be able to let go at some point and trust that we have a Savior who has always loved us. 

As I look at my family, I know I am blessed that we haven't had to face too much adversity. However, we need to remember the greatest gift we have is the gift of faith. We can believe that we are loved, and there is nothing that can separate us from God's love.

I pray that all of you are able to trust in God even when the storms are raging outside. When we face sickness, uncertainty, fear, or even death, we have to trust in a deeper love. We are asked to believe that we will never be alone or abandoned. We belong to Christ forever.

Blessings!

Pastor Brian