Hi Good morning friends, I'm Pastor Tom Lee, I'm the East Lexington campus pastor at Grace chapel, and it's a great honor and joy for me to be here with you this morning. I'm here in Arlington sharing from my living room.

 

Here is our living room and there's where I watch TV with my wife. Please don’t  tell anybody, but now that the kids are gone, we also do TV dinners sometimes too. And we do a lot of entertaining here so their toys on the floor still. But it is also my personal devotional and prayer time  place,  as well I'll show you that a little bit later.

 

I just want to share it with you this morning -  how it is that we can find strength and hoped in these times of difficulty. These times of disappointment, these times of some devastation. We will be talking about that today.

 

You know it's been hard it is hard these days, the governor just made the decision to not have , classes & school for the rest of the year. He has extended the stay at home orders for another while longer. So this can be hard, it can be difficult for some, especially like people like me. I'm an extrovert. I love playing with people and this whole physical distancing has been really hard on me because I love joking I love being with people, seeing people face to face, eye to eye. And it's been hard to do that for me and I'm sure many ways are hard for folks who are homeschooling or working from home. Perhaps you're not working as much even laid off,

 

It's also been disappointing for many. For instance, My son is supposed to be graduating to Friday today from college, and we've not been able to do anything, it's a virtual ceremony. Lots of folks who had to celebrate the year end virtually or postponed weddings,  engagements, parties, year end activities, works things.

 

So difficult and disappointing for many folk but it's been really devastating for others as well. Potential health issues, financial loss of business, loss of a job loss, and passing of loved ones. I had to officiate a funeral recently, and only 10 people would be present -it was very difficult.

 

And so how do we find strength and hope and joy during these times when life can be so hard? I'm going to talk about a bible passage that is dear to my heart that is bringing me much hope and joy and strength. Isaiah chapter 40 of one of my favorite passages. I'm sure for many of you too.

 

Isaiah chapter 40 verses 27-31, (NIV)

Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸ 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.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ 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.,

 

What a great promise of Scripture. For us all for those of us who “hope” in the LORD. Some translations read “wait” or “trust” in the Lord, this is how we will give us the strength and the wherewithal and the energy to keep going. So we can be to be those who live life to the full, who are energized joyful faithful, loving,

 

So what does that look like for people. How do we actually hope, wait, trust in the Lord?  

I'll show you how I do it. I do it in four ways. The four ways. (Nature, Scripture, Journaling/Reflection, Prayer). I do it is basically,

 

First - I walk around every morning I can for about 30 minutes. I take walks in creation, and all of God's has made and so I have feel the joy of sunlight & breeze, and see beauty of nature and experience that's out there.

 

Second – while I am walking I also to listen to Scripture via AirPods. And so I'm getting a lot of scripture in there to wash over me, to reorient me. Helping me appreciate who God is, His story. His love, His sacrifice for me. And so I'm reminded again and again of who God is, as I read scripture and listen to Scripture.

 

Third - I also do this thing when I come back, I journal & reflect – that’s why we are here in  my living room because I want to show you where I actually journal. Here at my Ottoman. I am often kneeling. Here’s my journal. It is leather - as good journal should be (only kidding), as well as my real leather Bible (as bibles should be). I love the feel of something real -lasting -not battery operated.

 

And so it's an opportunity for me to sit there and to journal to express who I am to the Lord, to be real, brutally honest – complain or celebrate. As an extrovert I really need that time to process internally, what's going on in my life how I'm feeling & why I'm feeling that way. And ultimately, to know who I am, but also to know who God is reflect upon His goodness. 

 

For instance In Isaiah 40 alone - You know we're reminded that God is the one who fulfills his promises in his Eternal Word. He's the one who sovereign creator over all. He is our shepherd who cares and loves us. He's the one who is the supreme ruler over nations, rulers and so-called gods, He is the just all-knowing wise judge, He is the one who is a sovereign creator, makers of the heavens and the earth in the skies and names of stars one by one. These are things I need to be reminded of again and again.

 

I must also be reminded regularly who I am. I am a child in Christ, I am His beloved, forgiven iin Christ, and that he will take care of me. Just as he takes care of the birds of the sky, and he will take care of me and my family. And so, journaling & reflecting are so important. My entries are often conversations with God.

 

Fourth - And as I kneel there journaling I oftentimes stop for in prayer to God. Often my journaling and praying are intertwined and I go back and forth, until I get His perspective. And reminders of who I am and who God is: one who loves me, who gave His Son, for you and for me.

 

So I hope that helps. That's how I “hope”, or “trust” or “wait” upon the Lord. I hope that there might be a suggestion how you can do that too, her are many “sacred pathways” these are just a few of mine. I hope you will explore and find ways to receive his renewal. So that you too would we want to mount up on wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary and you will  walk  and not be faint.

 

Let's pray

Heavenly Father, you are the creator, sustainer and the lover of our souls; the shepherd who takes care of us; The fountain of all blessings.

 

We come to to have you renew our  strength and our energy. We ask that you would give us fresh strength for this day, and we recognize this only comes from Christ. We trust in you alone to renew our heart our soul our mind and our strength.

 

Oh Lord, grant us Christ's strength to walk the hard, narrow and winding path. Give us the Spirit of Christ to conquer obstacles in our way. Give us the presence of Christ to be more loving, more patient and more kind. We know that we cannot do this on our own. And we must trust you, Emmanuel, you are at our side, So that we might mount up on wings like eagles, we might run and not grow weary, we might walk and not faint. We pray in Jesus’ name. And all God's people said. Amen.

Thanks for joining me. Have a blessed day.