From:
Date: November 2, 2020
Subject: It's November 2; Good Morning Union

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Sorry I'm late this morning; it has nothing to do with daylight savings time ending and everything to do with a malfunction in our uGroups program! Thanks to our efficient IS team at Union it has now been fixed. Thanks guys (and Cheri!)

“God is our refuge and strength… so be still…”         Psalm 46:1,10

Speaking of Martin Luther and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation 503 years ago this past Sabbath, my text for today from my dad’s list just also happens to be one of the texts Dr Luther leaned heavily on as he faced the stresses of breaking from the then powerful and controlling church.

Absolute Victory in Jesus, my dad’s next category of assurance texts, is more about Jesus than it is about victory! The whole song, or psalm, is about a world seemingly in chaos, from natural disasters to political conflict (sound familiar? Maybe history DOES repeat itself!)

The psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength though

            The earth gives way

            The mountains fall

            The waters roar

            The mountains quake

            The nations are in an uproar

            Kingdoms fall

            The earth melts”

That’s the first part of the song. I can look at all that and my heart might melt too! OR I can look at the last part that contrasts the plight with a promise as the song refocuses my life:

            “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God

            The holy place is still where the Most High dwells

            God is with her, she will not fail

            God will help her

            The Almighty is with us

            The God of Jacob is our fortress

            He will make wars cease

            He will bring and end to the desolation”

And the psalmist’s conclusion?

“BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!

            I will be exalted among the nations

            I will be exalted in the earth

            The Lord Almighty is with us

            The God of Jacob is our fortress”

There is a lot to stress over currently and in the next few days. What will I focus on? The stressors or the security I can have knowing that “God is our refuge and strength, an EVER present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear.”

Have a great and secure day trusting “the Lord Almighty who is with you,”

Pastor Rich

Quote for the day:      “The Bible does not say that every difficulty is the result of sin — but it does teach that every sin will bring you into difficulty.” -Timothy Keller

PS        One more week for Operation Christmas Child- Pick up a box (or more) and a label in front of Campus Ministries, choose a gender and an age for your child and then go to some place like the Dollar Store and pack your shoebox full of goodies for kids who are living in war-torn or famine-stricken places around the world. It’s great fun and a great way to do something for someone else. Last year we packed over 200 boxes!! The only restrictions are no chocolate (it melts) and no guns or war toys- make it fun and make a little child happy at Christmas! Filled boxes are due back to Campus Ministries by November 9.