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. . . ?”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 21, 2013
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Eastertide
First
Sunday after the Boston Marathon bombing
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of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
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reserved. Contact me at Ray
Foss for usage. See all 35,550+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
