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Seek the Lord while He may be found |
2008-07-30 |
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"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD" Isaiah 55:6-8
Aaahh, summer. I have to admit that summer is my most favorite season. I love warm (even HOT!) days, the ease in schedule, the kids around the house, garden delights, eating outside and all things summer. I love finding myself outside in a quiet meadow or field where the only sounds you can hear are the gentle breeze blowing, the buzz of insects and the birds calling back and forth to one another and if you are really blessed, you can hear water lapping up onto the shore. There isn't much of that beautiful silence these days. It takes some effort to find that kind of quiet.
It is amazing how that silence can clear the clammer of busy days and the demanding routine of our lives. You can think more clearly. Silence is a gift to our prayer lives, in that it allows us some space and focus.
Have you made an effort to seek God in silence this summer? Have you taken advantage of the change in schedule to spend some quality time praying? Summer is a great time to seek God and to spend time developing your communication skills with him. Our lives of faith are not a one-sided equation...with us only talking and God only listening. Rather, God has created us to be in relationship with him. And relationships demand time, care, communication and mutual growth. God has created us in community---giving us other people to interact with so we can better understand our relationship with him. How we cultivate our relationships with others help us to better cultivate our relationship with God. Our investments in relationships, with God and with others, bring incomparable returns.
I want you to be reminded of the places where God has promised to meet us. We often get confused by the fact that God is everywhere and promises to be with us. Because of that, we can get the idea that we can meet God "on demand" that we can set the time and the place. We can pray anywhere, anytime, and in many ways----God promises to listen. But God promises through Scripture that he is in the bread and wine of communion and in his Holy Word. Those are two places that he guarantees his presence. That is one of the reasons that our Sunday service is so important---we gather to enjoy the promise of God's presence. God is everywhere, true; but he has not promised that he will be on the golf course or at the lake.
This is not to scold you by any stretch of the imagination. But it is to remind you that we don't call the shots when it comes to our relationship with God. He is clearly in charge and decides what he wants, when he wants. He is, after all, the King of Kings and Almighty God. I want you to be able to take full advantage of God's PROMISED presence living in the assurance that he come to meet us. He loves you and wants nothing more than for you to turn to him and to know his great purpose for you and for the world. Be reminded that God loves you and longs for your company. May you grow in faith in these last summer months!
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Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
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401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
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