SUNDAY'S COMING!

Let me take a moment to encourage each one of you who reads this, as you enter the home stretch of preparation for Holy Week.  The “90% of Life Is Showing Up” axiom is about as true during this time as anything.  I know your lives are full.  And I know some of your emotional and physical cups might be running a little low (if not approaching empty) right now.  Let me turn you to God’s Word for strength, comfort and inspiration.  You are an amazing team of people called by God to deliver the goods, the good news,
the greatest news in the history of mankind!  In about a month, you will participate in events which can actually alter a person’s destiny as the Holy Spirit is poured out and the word of God is sown into hearts.
 
Expect to be opposed in this pursuit.  Expect the enemy to try to discourage you,  to cause unrest in your home, to strain relationships with those you love; even to attack your body physically. Why shouldn’t he?  He is miserable and wants all the company he can get.  And you are retelling his worst nightmare for all the world to hear…about the week in history when a stake was driven into the very heart of evil, and every real or perceived enemy of God’s creation was annihilated. But stand firm in those times, remembering that “greater is He that is in you than
he that is in the world.”  Here are some more antidotes for discouragement:

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,

 “Your God reigns!”  (Is. 52:7)

You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.(Is. 40:9-11)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40 – selected verses)

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 116:7-9)

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145: 18-19)

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you,

 he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith. . . . And after you have suffered for a little while, 

the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.(1 Peter 5: 7-10)

I love each one of you and so appreciate your tremendous investment of time and energy. You sound amazing and your attitudes towards each other are little acts of worship themselves. You are bringing delight to God.  May you also bring many others to Him through your ministry this Easter!        

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