Good morning.

Let’s play a little game which I will call, “Where were you when?”

My wife and I were in our home on Monday morning at around 10am, and suddenly I felt the room shaking and things were making a slight noise. I was wondering, “Is there a large truck going by outside?” These were the effects of an earthquake off the coast of Portsmouth, NH. What a reminder of how quickly things can happen, either for the good, or bad.

In fact, the Gospels are filled with Jesus’ Words about the coming of the end of the age. And, you know you’ve finished reading one of these revelatory sections of Scripture with the following words of Jesus:

“When you see all these things…”

One such example is found in Matthew’s Gospel which reads:

Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door (Ma 24:32-33).

Of course, I’ve cried out many times in other difficult circumstances I’ve experienced. The Scriptures offer us a realistic picture of what His people were encouraged to do when found themselves in difficult seasons. The Psalmist writes:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

his love endures forever.

  Let Israel say

  “His love endures forever.”

  Let the house of Aaron say:

  “His love endures forever”

  Let those who fear the Lord say:

  “His love endures forever.”

  When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; 

  He brought me into a spacious place.

  The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.

  What can mere mortals do to me? (Ps 118:1-6).

Psalm 118 is one of six psalms called the “Egyptian Hallel.” These were used when observing Passover, the time when Jewish people remember God delivering them from slavery in Egypt. A thanksgiving psalm, it celebrates God’s hesed – a significant Hebrew word meaning “loyal, faithful, or steadfast love.”

You might stop and meditate on these questions today.

How has God shown Himself faithful when you’re in distress?

How have you recognized His presence during difficult times?

Meditating on how God has come through for you in the past, will not only connect you to thankfulness and prayers for today, it can help usher in the presence of God as well where we sit with things that are not fixed, and we learn the comfort and serenity of God anyway.

I’m excited to be with you this coming Sunday as Frank and the team will lead us in our time of worship and thanks to God. Then, Doug Wicks will be continuing to help us reboot and leave the faith killers behind.

In Him,

Seth