Jonathan Moore
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ”
James 1:2-7
Are you facing difficulty? Recovering from injury? I and others I know have walked through physical, emotional, even spiritual trials of various degree. Often we wonder what is the benefit of those challenges?
James gives one answer - to build endurance, resiliency, and character. We all need to grow in wisdom and focused faith, so we can lead, serve, and bless others. Learn to lean on Jesus so that others might lean on you.
Prayer from First Presbyterian Church Grenada Heavenly Father, we know that wind, water, rain , sleet and snow àre yours. This Sabbath we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your protection and grace.
We pray you will place Your mighty hand over this storm and calm its force. Shield us from the fury of the wind, rain, snow and ice. Care for those in the grip of the storm and keep them from harm. We pray for the safety of every person, home, and community at risk. We lift up all rescue workers, police, firefighters, and utility crews, asking for clear minds, steady hands, and safe passage as they heroically assist others in dangerous situations. Calm the anxious thoughts and steady the restless hearts of those filled with fear. Remind them of Your constant presence, that even when life seems dark and stormy, You are with us, guiding us to safety. In the wake of the storm, we pray for swift recovery and restoration. Provide essentials like water, food, and adequate shelter, and inspire communities to come together in support and care for one another.
We trust in Your unfailing love and mercy, knowing You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen
Modern Parable: The Porch Light
A man spent his Friday evening getting ready for the cold. He dripped the faucets, covered his plants, brought in extra firewood, and checked the weather one last time. His house was ready. He felt pretty good about it.
On his way in, he glanced at the house next door. His elderly neighbor's porch light was on, the way it always was — but there was no light in her windows, and no smoke from her chimney.
He almost kept walking. She never asked anybody for anything. But something made him knock.
She answered wrapped in a blanket. Her heater had quit that afternoon, and she hadn't called anyone. "I didn't want to be a bother," she said. "Everybody's got their own cold to deal with."
He brought over his spare space heater, stayed for a cup of coffee she insisted on making, and called his son-in-law, who had the part she needed on his truck. By nine o'clock her house was warm again.
Walking home, he thought about his own well-prepared house. All day he had been getting ready for the cold — but it turned out the cold was never coming just for him.
The lesson: God rarely asks us to warm the whole world. He asks us to notice the house next door. Nobody should have to keep warm alone.