Stronger together

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

-Matthew 7:24

Jesus taught us to build our lives on a firm foundation. I wonder if you have ever stopped to reflect on the core values that define you. Are God's words of love living in your heart? Are the burdens of the world controlling you? I have some really good friends who are incredibly smart. They are hard working and very good people, but they have also lost their way. This is sometimes due to drugs or alcohol. Other times the stress of the world can leave them feeling stranded. They have lost sight of their blessings and the wonderful attributes that made them who they are. 

I think we can all lose our way in the world. It's easy to get caught up in the pain, division, and heartbreak. It can also be difficult to stay focused on the blessings that matter most. Jesus can see the potential in each one of us. He knows that we are all gifted in different ways, and he wants us to flourish. Our current sermon series invites us to ask if we are trusting in God's Love or if we have built our foundation on shaky ground.

As I look at our world today, I see a lot of hurting people. Unfortunately we are so divided that we are having a hard time seeing one another as a children of God. Recently, my ten year old son recently found a book about refugees. I think he started reading it because it seemed like a good adventure story, but by the end he was talking about all the different people in the world who were struggling. It opened his eyes to all the real stories of people in the world. It also helped him to see the people right here in our community differently. There are plenty of people who are hurting in our city and they have real lives and real stories. We need to be people who look at one another with love.

Today I hope we can all take a breath and embrace the love that surrounds us. I hope we can all let go of the pain and find a new path forward.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian