“With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, His love endures forever.”

                                                                                    Psalm 136:12

 

Things that one month ago I took for granted.

-        Shaking a friend’s hand

-        A hug

-        Opening a door without wiping down the handle first

-        Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

-        Sitting down at a restaurant

-        Sports

-        Running out to the grocery store

-        Hand Sanitizer

-        Breakfast with friends

-        The fragility of life

 

Life doesn’t at all resemble what it looked like thirty days ago.  Everything just feels so . . . weird.  Surreal.  It’s almost like we’re watching another world from outside a window we’ve never seen through before.  Nothing looks familiar.  Nothing feels the same. 

Except.  God.  He still feels the same, there’s just a whole lot more of Him now because we’re letting Him in.  Scratch “letting Him in”.  We’re BEGGING Him to stay close. 

As we head into this holiest of seasons, I encourage everyone to draw closer to God than you’ve ever been.  Be reminded of all He suffered for us, and then put our suffering in that perspective.  I challenge you - the harder and scarier life becomes, the more you worship.  That’s right.  Every morning give God glory and honor and praise for His exceedingly mighty works.   As the world around us falls further into the unknown, sing praises to He who is known. 

There’s a new praise and worship song a member of our congregation shared with me called “Raise a Hallelujah”.  I invite you to make this your Easter song of victory.  The harder the enemy of the pandemic attacks, the louder we should lift up our hallelujah’s. 

I raise a Hallelujah, in the presence of mine enemies

I raise a Hallelujah, louder than the unbelief

I raise a Hallelujah, my weapon is a melody

I raise a Hallelujah, Heaven comes to fight for me.

 

I raise a Hallelujah, with everything inside of me

I raise a Hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee

I raise a Hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery

I raise a Hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me.

 

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm,

Louder and louder you’re going to hear my praises roar

Up from the ashes hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive.

 

“Father, Even in the middle of the storm, help us to sing Hallelujah for all you have done for us, and because you remain with us through all time.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

 

Grace,

Rev. Dan