from the firing line…

Well, this has been a week to remember – or forget. I have lived in beautiful Vancouver for nearly a quarter century and I don’t recall snow in November, what less snow that brings so many things to a halt. Well, the forcasters tell us warmer, wetter weather is just around the corner and after a few more messy days, we should be getting back to the norm for southwest British Columbia.

I must confess, I get a little frustrated when things don’t go according to my schedule and my plans. I had other things in mind for this week. I certainly did not intend to cancel – not one, but two services – because of snow. And when I get frustrated like this, I find myself reminded by the Lord, just how little control I have over such things in life. And… I remember how He is in control, not just of the weather, but of everything.

I am reading this week once again in the book of Daniel. It is always a great read with some tremendous truth about this very subject: God Who is in control of all things. In Daniel 2:20-22 we read, “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He causes kings to pass away, and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who know understanding. He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells in Him.”  Daniel’s delight was that not only had God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him, but the contents of the dream showed the mighty hand of God at work in the affairs of men. God was in control!

Maybe you are facing a frustrating situation today. We all do from time to time, but as children of God, let us never forget that God is still very much in control. He has not left us, forsaken us, or forgotten us. We can trust Him to do all things well. Take a deep breath and whisper a prayer to give that situation completely back into His hands.

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure… A few weeks ago, I preached on this text from 2 Timothy 2:19 and since then, it has amazed me how many opportunities I have had to encourage people with these very words. The fact of life is this: times are often hard, life is so very unsettled, there are few places to which we can turn to find something, someone upon whom we can truly depend.

Certainly all of us have a desire to be dependable, to be “there” for someone in our lives, but often that desire falls short of reality. We, too, have our own set of problems and it may be at the time we are most needed, we are simply incapable of being the source of strength – our own foundation is somewhat weak. That is why we need the Lord. His foundation never wavers, never is in doubt, is always standing sure…

I wonder today upon whom you are building your hopes and dreams? How certain and steadfast are those foundations? Isa 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: I have come to the conclusion that how we handle the stresses of life is directly related to the level of our trust in the Lord. When He alone is my strength, then His peace fills my heart and mind. As trials and struggles come your way as they do to each one of us, would you join me in claiming the wonderful promise of God nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure…

Pastor