No matter what, say those three words out loud – no mater what, My God is still at the center of it all. Your God is at the center of it all. OUR God is still at the center of it all.

I was reminded of this in my morning prayer and devotional time today.

There is so much happening in the world right now:

Hurricane Laura is about to hit the coast of Texas / Louisiana as a possible category 4 storm – this will bring much devastation. Wild fires are destroying portions of Northern California and parts of the Redwood Forest. Multiple days of monsoon rains have brought flooding, destruction and death to Pakistan. Locust plagues in West Africa, flooding in Kenya, flooding across Asia and measles outbreaks in several locations in Africa.

Then you have racial unrest, riots, protests, parts of cities being attacked, burned and millions of people living in fear and wondering if their city is next. Police departments under critical review and citizens fighting against them. You have a country that is trying to learn how to effectively fight covid-19 and it would seem no one has very good answers. You have over 27,000 deaths caused by guns and over 15,000 of those deaths – were by suicide. ALL of this is taking place in the country I call home – the United States of America.

You have leaders trying to make choices: open stores, limit people, wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, open the church doors, close those doors, go to work, stay home. Be outside, no wait, be outside but wear a mask – or don’t.

People are getting very restless. People are depressed, lonely and just about no matter what we do – you cannot escape much of what is happening. We are reminded by the media, social media, our friends, even just going to the store where you must enter in one door and leave on the other side of the store, oh and don’t forget that mask.

OH MY!!!! I know you are hurting, I know your family is hurting. I know that marriages are suffering and for some of us we haven’t been able to see loved ones for over 6 months now. Pretty much – little of what is currently happening makes sense – yet we must push through. We must not give in and let our spirits be broken. I know what you are thinking, “easy for Dennis to say.” Hah! It is easy for anyone to say, but I am right there with many of you. I hurt, I have lost acquaintances to covid-19, I haven’t been able to have physical contact with my mom or my kiddo for over 6 months and guess what – my mom fought covid-19 and now my kiddo’s group home is fighting it as well! You can bet I would rather be helping in person, but I cannot. I could dump out so much more of what has happened in my life the past 6 months to a year, but I don’t have to. WE are all going through various stages of grief, depression, anxiety and more. You don’t need to carry my junk too!

BUT here is what pushes me through every day: serving an amazing God. No matter my tears, anger, sadness, hopelessness or fears – He is always there for me. Always willing to listen to my pleas, my begging and my prayers. You see, He is at the CENTER of all I do and has been for over 25 years. I am not saying that my life is all roses and chocolates, hmm chocolate… oops distracted! My life isn’t always those things. Besides taking care of self, my amazing wife, my kiddo and my mom – I am also blessed to be an executive pastor for our church. But that blessing means I also get to care for over 300 people. Needless to say – my life is not always “pretty” or easy, but HE is at the center of it all. He gets me through each battle, each day whether I recognize it or not.

A few scriptures that help me get through it all weekly:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

It isn’t always easy keeping God at the center of it all. It is our nature that we want to fix, change, heal, etc. But we cannot do it all, I encourage you to let Him in to your life and BE the at the center.

One last thing, I shared earlier a stat about suicide; suicide is a world wide issue with over 800,000 people taking their life last year. PLEASE know this: You are not alone and if you need someone to talk to, call a friend, a family member, your pastor – someone. Not sure who to call? – Here is a safe place to contact – either on the phone or website (you can chat too) https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 1-800-273-8255

Thanks for stopping by the fire,

Pastor Dennis