God never loses sight of our way

Beloved of God,

There are still two openings on our church council that we need to fill. If you have nominations for either the Member at Large or the Vice Chair positions, please email [email protected] to let them know. If somebody suggests to you that you might do that work well, I sure hope you’ll consider it as more than a compliment!
    On Wednesday, February 7th, we’ll be starting up our weekly dinner at the church house. I hope you’ll plan on coming to eat and fellowship with others through the spring. One week after that on February 14th, we’ll begin our Lenten Study of the Gospel of Mark. We have 8 books available for use. You can keep them for a $10 offset. Please email me if you want to reserve one.

    Our Scripture reading this week is from Isaiah 40:21-31. I think I always find myself drawn to the last verse of this passage, especially when I’m feeling tired or worn down. It’s comforting to know that God is a source of strength for those who are feeling weak.
    But this time looking at this passage I was struck by how Isaiah holds in balance God’s comparative might and grandeur with his complete focus and even intimate involvement in creation. God is so deeply involved in Isaiah’s telling that the stars are called by name to shine by night. 

…Why do you say, Israel,
    “My way is hidden from the LORD;
        my cause is disregarded by my God”?
    Do you not know?
        Have you not heard?
    The LORD is the everlasting God,
        the Creator of the ends of the earth.
It’s comforting to know that the Designer and Creator of even the ends of the earth never loses sight of our way. He offers us strength beyond our own and never treats us with disregard. 

Please join me this week in praying for:

• Those among us who are sick.
  
• Those among us who are grieving.
• Our Associate Pastor Search Team.
• Students in our community from kindergarten to graduate school.
• Those in positions of public trust at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Those who respond to emergencies on our roadways, in our wildlands, in our communities, and even in our homes. 
• Neighbors, especially those in need of care and the goodness of Jesus. 
• Each other (please email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our prayer list)

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall