Give and Take | Oct. 23rd

 “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

   Job 1:21

   Beloved, we will never fully understand why the Lord gives and then takes away, but He remains good. We often see the providence of God as His works for us. God provides in some way or permits others to be a part of our lives. Although the providence of God can be understood in this way, we must also recognize that the Lord can do unto us as He sees fit.

  He formed you in body, spirit, and mind. Providentially, He is working through you, for you, and upon you each day. Nothing is outside of His knowledge. Our ways, thoughts, and motives are all known by the Lord. In light of this, may we humble ourselves beneath His mighty hand while proclaiming the goodness of God.

 The intention of God in the process of giving and taking is to make us into a likeness of Christ, to draw us close to Him, and cause us to understand Him more fully. Let us bless the name of the Lord in all His dealings with us.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Assurance | Oct. 22nd

“In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have believed that I came from God.”

   John 16:26-27

   Beloved, what is the assurance that our prayers are answered? Is it the eloquence of our words? Could it be our persuasive and passionate pleas? Perhaps we are heard by our Father because we are so perfect and deserve to be heard and answered?

  There is no assurance in anything from ourselves. Our only hope and confidence is the lovingkindness of the Father. Jesus assures the disciples that the Father will answer because He loves them. They have put their faith in Christ, and the Father loves them.

  This is our confidence today. The Father loves us and has received us in Christ. We have no merit of our own; it is only by God’s grace that we stand. Take heart then, dear one, and make your request known unto your Heavenly Father, for He loves you.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight

Burdens of Life | Oct. 21st

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. “

   1 Peter 5:7

  Beloved, the Lord does not ask you to deny your anxiety. He does not require you to hide your fears or suppress your worries. The Lord does not wish for you to try with all your strength to bare under your burdens. He is not asking you hope for a better day, result or end.

 Rather, He invites you to be completely honerst with how you are feeling and thinking, then to bring it all to Him. To confess your weakness and need of help so that He can take these cares, give you His strength and peace. The strength that the Lord offers is not so that you can endure or try harder to figure things out but that you might have stability and spiritual well being. That joy may replace the anxiety and peace would come again into your life.

  Cast your burdens upon the Lord today because He loves you.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight