Hope in Despair

David admitted,

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? (Psalm 42:5a)

Where does discouragement come from? Why are we in such despair at times? I personally believe there is a process we go through to get us to the point of giving up, and I believe that there is an answer to our discouragement that David gives.

It all starts with a "vision" (call it a "dream" or "idea" or "ideal" or whatever). It can be in one of many different areas of life...relationships, finances, a church, building a house, building a church, building a marriage, building a friendship, building a financial future, building a plan for ministry, etc. We all have these in our lives. We start with an idea of what we want to happen in the future with someone or something.

Soon something goes wrong, not always, but sometimes. The ducks we lined up get knocked down, and what gets really frustrating is when it is out of our control. We've done everything to line up the right people, or programs, or materials, but plans don't pan our the way we envisioned them. This leaves us feeling frustrated, disappointed and discouraged.

Here comes the critical point in our decision making...are we going to quit? Right now we see no way out but to throw in the towel and say, "I'm done!" Or, are we going to move on and see what God wants to teach us and do through us in this situation?

This is the point at which we often feel depressed and can't see a way out of the black hole in which we find ourselves. How many times have we just made it through the day and gone through the motions to collapse at the end of the day thankful at least one more day is gone and we have one less day with which to cope?

We must make a choice: quit or refocus. If we chose to quit then it's over, but if we chose to refocus then it's a new beginning. David also wrote,

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5b)

If our hope is truly in God, then there is a chance we can make it through times of despair.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Lord's Supper Is A Call to Self-Examination

This week we are preparing for the Lord's Supper. When I say "preparing" I want to encourage the believers at Calvary Church to consider with careful attention the words of the Apostle Paul,

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:27-28 ESV)

Too often we get to the building and say, "Oh, yeah, we're having the Lord's Supper this morning." And that is about as much forethought we put into preparation. But this memorial meal is of such importance that I think it is imperative that we begin preparing for it as early as possible. This is not to say that the only time we examine our lives is at the Lord's Supper, but this examination is specifically for the Lord's Supper. The observance of the Lord's Supper is a call to self-examination. Here are some thought to reflect on while preparing:

1. Christ love the church and gave Himself for her.

2. Any abuse of the church is an abuse of Christ Himself.

3. Do you treat the church as something precious?

4. Do you seek the forgiveness offered by Christ for wrong attitudes and actions?

We are not perfect when we come to the table, only forgiven. This forgiveness has its foundation in the unbounded grace of a loving and compassionate God. It is only through that forgiveness that we are accepted. He invites us to come to the Lord's Supper free and unhindered from sin.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Happy Birthday to Me

Today (10.27.09) I celebrate my 47th birthday. I was born in a small hospital in a small sea side town in Alaska. The view from the hospital room was breathtaking as the picture testifies. My mom tells me there were only two babies in the nursery so she is sure I am hers. On the way to the hospital my dad had to stop for coffee. Now I know where my brother gets this habit from. You see, whenever Jack and I take a trip we stop at least three times before we make it out of Spartanburg County to stop for coffee.

Today I am alive and this is one reason I am pro-life. I am also staunchly against abortion because I firmly believe life begins at conception. It is at that moment that God breathes into a tiny baby life. Any other view in my opinion is unacceptable. I agree with David when he wrote,

For you formed my inward parts;

You knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

My soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:13-14 ESV)

I will always be grateful that my parents chose life for me.

Grace & Peace,

Scott