Dear Brother or Sister in Christ,
As I sit down to write this month’s Vision 2024 prayer letter, I admit that I’m feeling some personal weariness. And frankly, I know some of you are as well, perhaps many of you. I suppose that this shouldn’t surprise us. In our human frailty, we can’t always be energized and cheerful (wouldn’t that be nice though?). Therefore, this month I’d like to share a few things that are helping me to carry on, despite a heavy spirit. Please join me in praying for those of us at E-Free Bemidji who may be feeling a similar weariness and heaviness.
One thing that helps us carry on through times of weariness is remembering the lives of past saints. All throughout the Psalms, as well as the rest of Scripture, God’s people go through highs and lows. Psalm 42 is a great example of this:
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Pray that each of us will be encouraged as we remember the godly examples of those believers who’ve gone before us, and who made it through times of hardship and struggle, by putting their hope in God.
Another thing that helps us carry on is gathering with God’s people. If you weren’t at church on January 23, you missed a very encouraging message from God’s word. Pastor Eric preached on Acts 27, “Sailing on the Promises of God.” It was just what our Church Family needed to hear. That our world is broken, and we cannot look to ourselves to fix it. That the storms of life don’t mean that God has abandoned us. That there is still a place for celebrating God’s goodness, despite the tough times we may be facing. If you missed this message, or if you’d like to hear it again, it’s available at https://efcbemidji.org/sermons/. Beyond just the sermon though, it was so good to be among God’s people, catching up with old friends, singing wonderful worship songs, clapping together, praying together, enjoy time in our Connection Café, and on and on. These are things that don’t translate to our online church experience nearly as well. A warm greeting, a friendly smile, and a firm handshake help to lift our spirits. As the gathered church, we’re reminded, we’re in this TOGETHER. In other words, none of us needs to be alone in our weariness. Many of us are so looking forward to gathering with our Life Group this week to discuss the sermon, pray for one another’s needs, celebrate each other’s joys, and carry each other’s burdens. Praise God for opportunities to gather with God’s people! Pray that our Church Family will make times of gathering together in person a high priority for our mutual love and encouragement.
One other thing that helps us carry on is listening to praise and worship songs. For me, I’ve found particular encouragement from a Christian artist named Andrew Peterson. I recently downloaded his album, “Resurrection Letters Anthology.” It is filled with encouraging lyrics right out of God’s Word. The way he puts together these lyrics, melodies, and instrumentations is particularly helpful to uplifting the human soul. All of the songs on this album are good, but one that’s been particularly helpful to many of us, is the song “Is He Worthy?” When you’re finished reading and praying through this prayer letter, I’d urge you to find access to this song and then let its message uplift your spirit.
Here are the lyrics:
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? We do)
Is all creation groaning? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave. He was David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave.
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory?
Is He worthy of this? He is
Does the Father truly love us? (He does)
Does the Spirit move among us? (He does)
And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does)
Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave; He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave.
From every people and tribe, every nation and tongue, He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
to reign with the Son.
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Is He worthy of this? He is!
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? He is! He is!
It is such a great encouragement to look forward to our eternal home. Pray that we will all have an eternal perspective on our temporary struggles. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reminds us, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Pray Hebrews 12:1-2 for our church, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Let’s pray that E-Free Bemidji will continue to fix its eyes on Jesus, and that, as we do so, we will become more and more the church that God wants us to be, as we approach our 100-year anniversary in 2024.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, thanks for praying!
Together for Christ, Pastor Jerry