This week’s sermon was about confidence.  I wanted to include a quote that I read this week from my desk calendar but it did not make the final cut.  Truthfully, I forgot about it until I relooked at my notes this morning.  It is a quote form Charles Stanley’s book A Touch of His Wisdom.  He says, “Jesus is faithful.  He begins and completes your personal walk of faith as you rely on him.  There is no temptation that he cannot overcome for you and with you.  There is no evil that he cannot deliver you from.  There is no obstacle that he cannot overcome on your behalf”  I am so glad that we serve a God in whom we can have confidence in no matter the circumstances in lift.  He will help us overcome whatever come our way.  Just trust Him and have the confidence he will bring you through.

The facts about the stars I shared last week and the sun this week are mind blowing.  The numbers are to big for us to imagine.  200 billion billion stars.  The sun equaling the size of a basketball and the earth (a 2mm dot) is 80 feet away proportionally!  Every time I have preached this sermon with these facts, I have to double check to make sure my math is right.  But they check out every time.  I have even found a website that does the math for you.  Check it our if you want. https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/.  On that site you can type in the size you want the sun compared with and it crunches the numbers and gives you the sizes and distances to other things in our universe.  But as fascinating and wonderful as these numbers are, I can think of something even more fascinating.  That the God of the Universe loves me and died for a sinner like I.  “The wonder of it all, the wonder of it all, just to think that God loves me” (George Beverly Shea)

This last week we saw just how big God is.  And in case you missed it, just go to the sermon link on this website to listen in.  But in summery, he is big enough to create the estimated 200 billion billion plus stars in the universe with the flick of his fingers and then knows the names of each of them.  And yet, he is also a God big enough to care for us and to exalt us.  With these two facts in mind, it is no wonder the psalmist exclaimed, “O LORD our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Like many of you, I was troubled by the news stories about the shootings that have taken place in our country this last week.  But today as I was looking at the various news feeds,  I came across one penned by one of my favorite authors, Max Lacado.  You can find his entire story at https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/max-lucado-el-paso-dayton-and-more-how-are-we-to-respond-to-this-dark-season-of-bloodshed but I am going to copy some excerpts here.  “More bad news. Killings in El Paso. Shootings in Ohio. All this on the heels of a violent weekend last week. All of this violence adding up to too many mass shootings in just 216 days. Is our society coming unraveled? How are we to respond to this dark season of bloodshed?Anger is the choice of many. Anger at politicians. Anger at the NRA. Anger at God. We become bitter and sour toward this world; toward one another. Fear is another option. Lock the doors and close the windows. Avoid every shadow and dark alley.Yet, do we want to be a nation of fear and anger? But what can we do?. . .Let’s pause and invite God to tell us his name. Our greatest need is his presence. Yes, we want this storm to pass. Yes, we want the winds to still. But yes, yes, yes, we want to know, need to know, and must know that the great I AM is coming. . . .Don’t let the storm turn you inward. Let it turn you upward. Listen and see if you don’t hear him say: I AM with you in the storm.”

The tree image in Psalm 1 has always been a wonder picture.  One of the aspects that I hinted at but failed to point out was how a flourishing tree with its branches and fruit is a benefit for those around them.  A well planted tree provides shade from the glaring sun and heat.  It provides protection in the storms.  It gives shelter to the weary. It not only bears fruit but is able to share that fruit with others.  All of these show us how we as the trees can help those around us, shading, protecting, sheltering, sharing those who need a touch from those who have been with Jesus.  Are we being that kind of tree?

Here I am again this week.  We talked about praising the Lord in the message this week.  And I cannot stress enough the need for this.  Too often in my prayers (yes, even in my own prayers), I focus a majority of the time on requests- lists of things I need from God.  But God needs (and rightly deserves) our praise.  Praise shows our gratitude and appreciation of all the things God has done and given us.  Praise should be the first and foremost in our prayers and time with God.  The list of what God has done for us is always greater than the list of requests we ask for in our prayers.  Let me say that again.  The list of what He has done for us is always greater than the list of requests we ask for in our prayers.  So our praise should take more time then the time asking for things we want from God.  How often has that happened in your daily prayer time?  I would encourage you this week to spend more time praising God than asking from God.

I missed last week because I was at conference for most of the week.  It was a good time of fellowship, worship, and business.  It is was an experience that little can measure up to.  I found it a time of refreshing and renewal.  The conference devotions spoke to where I am at and the praise lifted my spirit.  I hope that everyone who reads this gets this  kind of experience every so often in their spiritual walk.

I have been camping the first part of this week and so this is getting posted on the 4th.  The fourth of July is a very big celebration and like most people we try to go to a parade and watch fireworks.  My wife always makes the boys wear patriotic colors.  And I am studying for next week’s sermon on Psalm 2 which speaks about the King.  Whether about David or Jesus, this psalm has some patriotic undertones.  And if you have been reading the news this week, there is more fighting and protests and upheaval in Washington DC.  It is hard to celebrate America when there is so much fighting.  I know we are in the election season and I know it will only get worse over the next 16 months, but I want to pause and thank God that 243 years ago, some brave men believed that all men are created equal.  And no matter how history is twisted this idea is based on the Godly principle found in the Bible.  So thank you God for you love and care of us and this country.  Allow us to see that today as we celebrate our independence.

I just got back from vacation this week.  My family and I went up to Buffalo, NY to visit with family.  And we once again traveled a few miles north to Niagara Falls.  This is my fourth time to see Niagara Falls, but I am still stunned and amazed by it’s wonder and power.  On this trip we did something I had never done before: I rode on a boat that travels up the river into the mist generated by the plunging water and I got to see the falls from a whole new perspective.  And from that new perspective, my perception of it only increased.  The same is true about God.  Our views on God’s greatness leave us stunned and amazed by his wonder and power.  And getting a new or different perspective will only increase that; especially if we get an opportunity to see Him closer to us.

Our Missionary speaker this week was telling us some of the tools he uses in his work overseas.  One of those tools was American football.  I liked when he asked our congregation, whose majority is over 65 years old, “How many of you play football? . . .  Well you can now!” and he went on by explaining that we can play football because he plays football in his ministry and we can be a part of that ministry when we pray or support his work overseas.  I can proudly say that I play football.  Isn’t wonderful that we can support others all around the world through our prayers and fiances.  God is using us to play football!