Massah and Meribah + Keller's Daily 2020.03.19

Dear Church-

The Old Testament lesson that we didn’t get to hear on Sunday was from Exodus 17 which starts like this >>

The Israelites left the desert and moved from one place to another each time the Lord ordered them to. Once they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for them to drink.

The people started complaining to Moses, “Give us some water!” Moses replied, “Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the Lord to the test?” But the people were thirsty and kept on complaining, “Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?”

Then Moses prayed to the Lord, “What am I going to do with these people? They are about to stone me to death!”

<< Today was the first time I sided with the Israelites. In the past I have tended to see things through Moses’ eyes. He was so irked with the people when they complained that he named the place where they were, Massah which means “testing” and Meribah, which means “complaining.”

Well, what did Moses expect? It was great that they were free from Egypt, but they were also frightened. Sure, they were thirsty, but their cry against Moses and against God came as much out of fear as anything else. And I can’t say that I blame them. This was early on in their journey. It was less than two months since they’d escaped the Pharoah and they didn’t know what to expect. That’s scary.

Sometimes we face the unknown and our fear gets the best of us. And we wonder what God’s been up to. It’s human, really human. But here’s something the Israelites learned on their journey- God wasn’t ever going to abandon them. He gave them food and water. He was on their side and he was with them every step of the way- in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Right now we are facing our own uncertainties and it’s only human to be frightened on some level or another. There is so much at stake for individuals and communities around the world. We are in need of good news and so I found it providential that this story showed up.

When Moses complained to God, God didn’t get angry. God listened and then God told Moses how and where to get water, before promising, “I will be with you.”  God can handle our fears, our anger and our complaints. God can forgive our doubts and our uncertainties. And best news of all- God will be with us, every step of the way.

God's love has been poured into our hearts + Keller's Daily 2020.03.18

Dear Friends in Christ-

The New Testament reading for March 15^th was from Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. 

The circumstances of Paul’s letter writing may have differed greatly from our 21st century lives, but the truths within this chapter are timeless. Verses 3-5 assure us that God is present in our suffering. We are not alone in our struggles. We have been promised that the Holy Spirit is with us and that we are encircled by the love of God. It is in times like these, that the church is called to trust in God’s love and to boldly share it with others. Of course, that can be rather tricky if you are self-quarantined with only your most immediate family.  Tricky, but not impossible.

 

What might we do as individuals and as the people of Keller's Church to share the love that we know, at a time when folks are facing so many unknown challenges? For me, that’s been the question of the day for nearly a week. So here’s what I’ve been up to at Keller’s Parsonage.

• Sundays at 10:15 we will be live on Facebook with scripture, preaching and prayer. Currently the video for this past Sunday is only available on Facebook, but we’re working on it!
• Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00pm will be “Story Time” for the young and young at heart on Facebook Live. Today was “The Velveteen Rabbit.”
• First Communion Instruction is online at https://thinkingaboutcommunion.blogspot.com/
• Be in touch. Call people. Write notes. Text. Skype. We are the community of Christ even when we are at a distance.

Well, that’s it for today!  If you come up with a great idea, give me a call or drop me a line.
Blessings to you and yours!
Pastor Heidi

Back at it!

I haven't posted to this blog in three years. However, during this time of pandemic I have been writing a daily letter to the congregation that I serve, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. For purposes of preservation and proclamation, I have decided to post them here as well.