All Things - Romans 8 v 28

Romans 8:28   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

            We all woke up to a different world today. For some folks, it appears to be a new beginning; for others, it seems like a fearful time. Whatever we feel, the real work of healing begins today and, as I have written and preached for the last couple of weeks, this is why the Church exists and this is what we as Christians are called to do.

            It won’t be easy, but our faith has always had to climb mountains and struggle with society. As Christians, we believe in the Sovereignty of God, so we have to find His purposes and follow His path. If, like the Apostle Paul, we earnestly believe that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, then we understand that God is in control. For some folks, this may not be easy to accept or even see right now, but this is why we are called to be servants of God’s Kingdom, especially here on Earth.

            The future may appear uncertain and insecure for a while, but it has never been held in our hands anyway. God always holds tomorrow in His hands; our role is to ensure that He holds us in His hands today. Or to paraphrase what Jesus once said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow; there is enough to deal with what’s going on today.”

            May God be with you wherever you venture today. May His Spirit abide within you and may Christ always direct your path so that you keep traveling with Him. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

            John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

            Today’s image is one of John’s old crayon/digital drawings called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: New Earth.

In God's Hands - Revelation 4:11

Revelation 4:11          “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will, they were created and have their being.”

            Being a life-long Presbyterian, I have personally believed and heavily relied upon the Sovereignty of God. My faith informs me through the Scriptures that God made everything and that by His infinite will, life is sustained throughout the universe. This helps me immensely in situations beyond my control, as well as during times outside my understanding. Since God created all things, then I believe that He constantly oversees our lives and continually prepares the future ahead of us. Tomorrow is always in His almighty hands.

            I know that many people are concerned about the future of our country, especially when the outcome of this present election is known. However, no matter what happens or whoever is chosen to be our leader, Christ is still the Head of the Church and God is the Supreme Being of the entire universe. Leaders come and go, nations rise and fall, but the word, way, and will of the Lord continues forever, so in the end, it is God’s leadership that will prevail; it is His Kingdom that will endure.

Questions for personal reflection

What worries me about the future? Am I willing to place it in God’s capable hands?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of our lives and the King of our hearts. In the midst of all that troubles and concerns us, help us to reach out to You for peace and tranquility, hope and harmony. In your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Fall drawings called “Smoky Mountain Morning.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Fall.

4 Minute Devotions: Sovereign Lord

What does it mean for God to be our Sovereign Lord?

Ezekiel 17:22 "'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Podcast version here

Recently, on the PBS channel, I watched a three part series on the British monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is one of the 20th/21st centuries unsung heroes in the world. Just because she is a rich woman doesn’t mean that she hasn’t any cares about the world. She works hard each day representing the monarchy, but she also raises awareness of many good causes throughout the entire world.

To me, the Queen is a blessed sovereign who does not rule her people with an iron fist, but presides over the Commonwealth with a loving heart. When I look back at old photographs from World War II and see her as Princess Elizabeth in her Army uniform, I am reminded that she is person who has struggled with her people through the worst of times, and who has reigned purposefully for 55 years. She epitomizes the word ‘sovereign,’ and the modern world has been fortunate to have known such a wonderful lady.

In the Old Testament, we are reminded of the sovereignty of God over the earth many times. He rules the universe and our planet in a caring and loving way. He allows us free will, to make our own choices, but he is deeply pleased when our choices coincide with His. During those moments in our lives, God becomes our blessed sovereign and we become His blessed people.

Sin, however, permeates throughout our world and hearts, which separates us from God. Normally, a ruler would cast off those who displease him or her. In this case, God sends forth His Son to be merged and blended in the midst of our struggles, in order to show us a path that will lead us back to God. The Christ child who is born amongst us will become the Savior of the world. God’s sovereignty is such that He is willing to sacrifice everything He loves, so that we might experience everything He eternally gives.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, we thank You for the blessing of Jesus and for His sacrifice that wrought for us salvation. We praise for ruling us with a loving and patient heart. We adore You for offering us the opportunity of eternal life. In the Holy Name of Jesus our Savior, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: King Egbert

Passing faith onto our children is a special privilege. Kids’ sermons on Sunday morning’s are the perfect vehicles for enriching their spiritual lives.

Podcast version here

Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;

I love talking to our church kids on Sunday mornings. It’s a privilege to share faith with them. I love the answers that they give to my questions, especially when they put me on the spot.

Many years ago, I invented a character called King Egbert, who is always doing silly things. His wife Matilda usually has to fix things for him and bail him out of the trouble he causes. I draw cartoons of the character and produce coloring-in sheets for the children. They seem to like the stories and look forward to the talks. I always relate the story to a Bible message and we usually sing a short song about the story at the end.

There’s a lot of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs and this morning’s verse reminds us of the sovereignty of God. Our leaders may be appointed by the people, but God is in control of the whole earth. We may go through bad economic crises or natural disasters, during and after which our leaders will try to steer our people in the best possible course. We look to them for leadership, but at the same time we pray to God for help. Those simple prayers reflect our faith in the sovereignty of God. He is our King and He is in control.

Prayer: Lord God, we call You the High King of Heaven which means that we place our lives totally under Your control. In good times and bad times, You constantly watch over our lives. You help us through both joyful and painful moments throughout our days on earth. Thank You for being our King and the Sovereign of the Universe. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

PS King Egbert is on the internet. You can see some pictures of King Egbert at http://www.kingegbert.blogspot.com/

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please email him at pastor@erinpresbyterian.org

God's Great Sense of Humor

Sometimes God answers our prayers in completely unexpected and humorous ways.

Podcast version here

Ezekiel 30:30 Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD.

My eldest daughter was traveling from Roanoke to Cincinnati this morning for a business conference. Even although she is twenty one, I always pray for her safety whilst flying. I woke up early this morning and prayed exclusively for her, asking God to take care of her and get her to the conference safely.

It’s funny how God answers prayers. When she got to the check in line this morning, they couldn’t match her ticket. The conference was really important and she burst into tears. She didn’t know what to do and, being a single female traveling alone, she had no one to help, or at least that’s what she thought.

Behind her in the line were sixteen professional wrestlers, who were also traveling to Cincinnati. These burly guys took control of the situation and managed to get everything sorted out for my daughter. They looked after her all the way through to the last airport, so she arrived safely and in time. I couldn’t have asked for a bigger or better company of angels to escort her across the country. God works in mysterious ways and has a great sense of humor!

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, thank You for the many ways that You answer our prayers every day. We sometimes take Your blessings for granted and forget to thank You. Grant us grateful hearts and help us to cheerfully express our devoted thanks to You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.