Holding our hand as we stumble along...

Beloved of God,

    I want to make sure that you have been able to catch up with the good work being done by our missionaries. It was so great to hear from the Joneses on Sunday morning, and if you missed doing so I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch their interview with Dana Pratt.
    
    It was also great to spend time with the Blakes on Sunday evening at their “Desert and Dessert” event and hear more about the remarkable work they have been doing in West Africa. If you’d like more info on their good work, please feel free to contact the missions team at their new email address: [email protected].
    
    In Psalm 37, from the Monday reading, we come across one of my favorite images of God in all of scripture. I’m going to quote it here in the NRSV:

                      Psa. 37:23        Our steps are made firm by the LORD,
                                                            when he delights in our way;
                                         24     though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
                                                            for the LORD holds us by the hand.
    
    I love the image of God as a loving parent who knows that we will fall and fail, and yet preserves us from disaster by holding our hand as we stumble along. You’ve all seen a baby learning to walk with the aid of a parent holding their hand. It’s true that when the baby walks they are really walking. It’s true that when the baby falls, they are really falling. But because mom or dad are there with them, the walking is easier and the falling is less disastrous. And doesn’t this feel so much like the kind of care we get from God?

Please join me in praying this week for:
    *     Those facing hurricanes on the gulf coast
    *     Those fighting and fleeing fire on the west coast
    *     Those both known and unknown to us who have been directly affected by this pandemic
    *     Doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals and first responders as they continue to work to keep us safe and healthy
    *     Students and their parents
    *     Administrators, teachers, and others trying to educate students well in the midst of new challenges
    *     Those dealing with mental health challenges that are more pronounced in this time
    *     In praise for the containment of the Medio Fire
    *     For those serving the church in leadership positions: council, deacons, CLT and others
    *     For our sister churches nearby and throughout
    *     For one another (please email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to the prayer list).

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

Marshall