Monday, April 29, 2013

sermon - "Where is God...?", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH, 4/21/2013


April 21, 2013
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Worship Theme: Does God still care?
Psalm 46:1-3 CEB
Isaiah 40:26-31 CED
Psalm 23 King James Bible

“Where is God. . . ?”

I have been watching the news this week and it has been very discouraging. To see all that has been going on. . . the death. . . the destruction. . . has really affected my thoughts. How many of you watch the unfolding of the tragedy in Boston this week? Give the congregation a chance to raise their hands. In one word, how did it make you feel? Give congregation a chance to answer. For me. . . I have been contemplating on “Where is God in all of this?” I am sure that many others have had the same question in their minds. In one sentence. . . where have you seen God this week? Give the people a chance to answer.

Many believe that God doesn’t care about humanity any more. . . that God just doesn’t answer prayers any more. . . that God just lets these bad things happen and there is no more hope. But perhaps it’s not that God doesn’t care but humanity has lost its ability to care. Maybe it’s not about God not keeping His promises to humanity but humanity has not kept its promise to God. During times like this. . . the one promise of God that helps me hang on. . . comes in the form of a Psalm. . . the 23rd Psalm to be exact. Listen to the Psalm and see if it gives hope to the hopeless. Remember. . . God keeps all of His promises. . . we, as humanity; have a tough time keeping ours at times. God is good all the time. God can’t help it. . . it’s just God’s nature.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ® God offers humanity relationship and wants to supply all of our needs. God is the great Pastor of the universe. God sees humanity as sheep of His pasture. He is the Good shepherd who takes great care in tending the sheep of His sheepfold. When we become believers. . . our souls are brought back to the sheep fold of our tender loving shepherd. Being that shepherd, God wants to provide His sheep with all that is good. When one of His sheep suffers. . . He too suffers and morns. Just as Jesus wept over the death of Lazarus. . . God too weeps over the death and suffering of his sheep.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ® God gives rest and refreshment. As I said. . . God wants only to provide good things for the sheepfold. The pasture of this shepherd is the plushest. . . greenest pasture you have ever seen. God’s sheep are given the Holy Spirit by which they are led. . . the streams that flow are from the fountain of Living Water. In times of trouble. . . in times of turmoil. . . the stillest water is found within the Shepherds pasture.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ® God provides healing, guidance and purpose. It is only in the Shepherd that the sheep can find true healing for whatever ails them. The Shepherd knows the sheep and truly knows where a healing touch is needed. As the sheep of His sheepfold are led by this restful living water of comfort. . . they are also led in the path of righteousness. The work of this righteousness is peace. . . peace for you and me. . . and peace with those around us. . . we live in peace. But. . . but. . . we cannot walk in these paths unless the Shepherd leads us. . . He is the one who knows the way. . . we need to listen to the Shepherds voice. The purpose we have. . . being the sheep is to live in peace. . . to bring about change. . . to fight for justice. . . to follow the shepherd where ever they may lead.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. ® Now this is a tough place to be walking. . . especially during times in which we live. The Shepherd offers protection, faithfulness, and comfort. Even in our darkest time. . . in our darkest hour. . . the Shepherd is there. WE will walk through our valleys in life but. . . within these valley’s. . . within our darkness that there can be growth. . . there can be hope. . . there can be a lesson learned. But. . . we will not be destroyed and we will come through to the other side. . . guided by our faithful Shepherd who would not leave us to traverse the landscape alone. And that gives us comfort in knowing we don’t forge ahead alone.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. ® The Shepherd. . . our God. . . gives us hope, we are consecrated and we have abundance through knowing the Good Shepherd. We. . . the sheep of the sheepfold. . . feast at His table. . . upon the provision of His love for us. We are anointed with the Holy Spirit. . . the living waters of faith. . . and drink of the cup of salvation offered to us at the foot of the cross. It is within the sheepfold of the Shepherd that we find our hope for tomorrow.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ® Now that’s blessing. . . security and eternity! It is through our past experiences. . . our past valleys of the shadow of death that we trust in the goodness and mercy of the Shepherd. The Shepherd has “proved Himself” to be a reliable source of help.  The sheep of the sheepfold believe that this will follow them as long as they shall live and beyond.

We were never promised a perfect life when we entered the sheepfold. But we were promised that we have a Good Shepherd who would always be there watching over us. We live in a fallen world full of hate. . . full of rage. . . full of injustice. . . full of tragedy. Even in times of sorrow and confusion, we have hope because of the joy and hope given to us as we enter in. We, as sheep of the pasture, cannot let the “state of the world” change that. It is in these times that we need to trust the promises of Shepherd. It is in these times that we cannot run in fear but to follow the voice of the Shepherd even if it leads us through the “valley of the shadow of death.” God never promised us a rose garden without rain to help it grow, but what we are promised is that we will never walk alone. . .

Amen. . .

=----------------
April 26, 2013
Worship Theme: “Does God still care?”
Psalm 23 (KJV)
Psalm 46:1-3 (CEB)
Isaiah 40:26-31 (CEB)
Call to Worship
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song 2011)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD April 2013)
Message for Children
Isaiah 66:13
and sermon “Where is God. . . ?”
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 21, 2013
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Eastertide
First Sunday after the Boston Marathon bombing


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 35,550+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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