A great message from Ric Aguayo on Saturday evening 14 March.
Matthew
6: 25-31
6: 25-31
Psalm
42
42
I
want you do to something.
want you do to something.
Not
for me, but for you. In fact for us.
for me, but for you. In fact for us.
Set
your mind on something that is stressing you out, scaring you, causing you
sadness, creating doubts, cheesing you off, leaving you feeling empty or alone,
bringing resentment, harboring regrets, …
your mind on something that is stressing you out, scaring you, causing you
sadness, creating doubts, cheesing you off, leaving you feeling empty or alone,
bringing resentment, harboring regrets, …
Just
hold that one thought close.
hold that one thought close.
OK,
back with me now.
back with me now.
My
God, don’t we have enough concerns in our lives!
God, don’t we have enough concerns in our lives!
World
Hunger,
Hunger,
Global
Warming / devasting effect of natural disasters,
Warming / devasting effect of natural disasters,
Politics
of our beloved nation,
of our beloved nation,
Mass
shootings and the stress it brings,
shootings and the stress it brings,
Now
this public safety emergency and the ways we are adapting…
this public safety emergency and the ways we are adapting…
It’s all too much!
Sometimes
you need only pay attention to find a message.
you need only pay attention to find a message.
Last weekend as I talked, played, and cried with my brother Dave,
beginning radiation for his late stage glioblastoma – three tumors of the
brain. I felt honored that he requested
that Carol and I attend a local church in his area, with his partner Cristine. The
pastor gave a sermon entitled Tangled; talking about being tangled, how we do
it to ourselves, and either are unaware or we forget that if we Seek Ye First
the Kingdom of God all will be given to us … As we affirm weekly from Ephesians
…
beginning radiation for his late stage glioblastoma – three tumors of the
brain. I felt honored that he requested
that Carol and I attend a local church in his area, with his partner Cristine. The
pastor gave a sermon entitled Tangled; talking about being tangled, how we do
it to ourselves, and either are unaware or we forget that if we Seek Ye First
the Kingdom of God all will be given to us … As we affirm weekly from Ephesians
…
God is …
Ephesians 3:18-21 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all
the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and
to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the
power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than
all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and
to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the
power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than
all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
All
we need to do is SEEK!
we need to do is SEEK!
My
God, don’t we have enough worry in our lives!
God, don’t we have enough worry in our lives!
On
a personal level,
a personal level,
Care
for our children or parents,
for our children or parents,
Care
for our family members, friends, and pets,
for our family members, friends, and pets,
Care
of ourselves,
of ourselves,
It’s all too much!
Penalty,
5 yards, Piling On!!
5 yards, Piling On!!
Another
very similar message came to me when I noticed a book we have on our living
room table (so often ignored)
very similar message came to me when I noticed a book we have on our living
room table (so often ignored)
HELP THANKS WOW: The 3
Essential Prayers
Essential Prayers
and
the word HELP caught my eye.
the word HELP caught my eye.
… share passages from the book …
Help!
Seek
ye first God, and all your needs will be given unto you.
ye first God, and all your needs will be given unto you.
It
struck me in this singular, difficult week that I have been hearing and not
listening, reading but not comprehending, and talking without communicating.
struck me in this singular, difficult week that I have been hearing and not
listening, reading but not comprehending, and talking without communicating.
What
does it take to understand God’s call to Seek God First? To cry Help!?
does it take to understand God’s call to Seek God First? To cry Help!?
It’s
never about doing nothing. We are adults and as such we take responsibility,
isn’t that what we teach our kids. (Or try to).
never about doing nothing. We are adults and as such we take responsibility,
isn’t that what we teach our kids. (Or try to).
It
is more about taking God-action.
is more about taking God-action.
The
Psalmist is giving us a Wake Up Call:
Psalmist is giving us a Wake Up Call:
2
My soul thirsts for God,
My soul thirsts for God,
for
the living God.
the living God.
When
shall I come and behold
shall I come and behold
the
face of God?
face of God?
What,
dear friends, are we waiting for? I love the imagery of the Psalm – the idea of
thirsting for God: In fact, we need God as much as we need water. Recall, Jesus
reminds the woman at the well that God is life-sustaining water!
dear friends, are we waiting for? I love the imagery of the Psalm – the idea of
thirsting for God: In fact, we need God as much as we need water. Recall, Jesus
reminds the woman at the well that God is life-sustaining water!
When
you get a quiet moment, consider giving that thought, concern, or angst, you had at the beginning of
this message, over to our waiting God. Indeed, God is waiting for you.
you get a quiet moment, consider giving that thought, concern, or angst, you had at the beginning of
this message, over to our waiting God. Indeed, God is waiting for you.
And
my last message received over this week…Recently, as recent events brought me
to great sorrow, I was on the phone one evening with my dear friend Cris, and I
just broke down, in complete frustration,
my last message received over this week…Recently, as recent events brought me
to great sorrow, I was on the phone one evening with my dear friend Cris, and I
just broke down, in complete frustration,
It’s all too much! I repeated several times in
that conversation…but I had to get back to work.
that conversation…but I had to get back to work.
A
few moments later I get her text: “Trying my own advice…Give it to God and go
to sleep.”
few moments later I get her text: “Trying my own advice…Give it to God and go
to sleep.”
Prayer:
God
of Strength and Mercy,
of Strength and Mercy,
Our
feet may fail, indeed, DO FAIL.
feet may fail, indeed, DO FAIL.
We
call on your Holy Name, not only because You are waiting for us to do so, but
because WE NEED YOU.
call on your Holy Name, not only because You are waiting for us to do so, but
because WE NEED YOU.
HELP!
We
praise You and give ourselves over to You,
praise You and give ourselves over to You,
with
Jesus as our Guide,
Jesus as our Guide,
Amen
