| “When nothing whereon to lean remains, when strongholds crumble to dust; when nothing is sure but that God still reigns, that is just the time to trust. ’Tis better to walk by faith than sight, in this path of yours and mine; and the pitch-black night, when there’s no outer light is the time for faith to shine” (LB Cowman). There are countless people in the Bible who illustrate this unyielding trust in God: Abraham, Asa, Paul—to name a few. I like Cowman’s imagery that behind it all, there can be a trust in God to see one through whatever comes. How unfortunate it is when one thinks that faith is what remains after all other doors have been opened, only to find dead ends. No, faith is what sees one through in all circumstances, through every door. It is the eyes by which one sees. The fact that it remains after all attempts at life are exhausted is to miss the boat of what God desires and does through the Spirit. I like the way Jesus expressed it in Mark 8, “For whoever wants to save his/her life will lose it, but whoever loses his/her life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. What does it profit a man/woman to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his/her soul.” One doesn’t need to wait till all options are depleted to trust. Trust in the beginning and allow that to guide.  This Week’s Readings: * Monday – Luke 16 * Tuesday – Luke 17 * Wednesday- Luke 18 * Thursday – Luke 19 * Friday- Luke 20 Prayer Requests: * Continued Blessings in the New Year 2022! * Strengthen the St. Paul United Methodist Church family. * Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. * Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. * Help those seeking to find their way. |
| “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6 |