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With Us Always
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When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. -- Isaiah 43:2
As I prepare to preach at Minter City United Methodist Church on Sunday, I am falling in love again with Isaiah 43. God promises to be with us -- through water and fire, in all sorts of trouble and grief, in all occasions of joy and celebration.
The beloved pastor of this church, Jimmy Stauddy, and his caregiver were murdered in the fall. How hard it is to experience such tragedy. Isaiah 43 is a text for a time such as this, offering strength and hope.
I am making my way through The Great Deluge, a think historical account of the week of August 28 - September 3, 2005 in southern Mississippi and Louisiana and New Orleans. Over four years later, it is still beyond belief -- how the gargantuan storm came ashore with violent wind and deadly water.
Whenever I think of Katrina, the words of Isaiah 43 fill my spirit.
Isaiah sings, knowing exile, anticipation restoration, knowing grief, anticipating joy. Isaiah's song is our song.
At the close of business today, we reach the deadline for apportionments. Our deposit for funds received as of 4:30 p.m. yesterday was $137,693.11, bringing our 2009 percentage to 75.51%. Monday will bring us one more deposit for 2009 from those receipts coming in after today's deposit. On Wednesday we will have the year-end totals.
Tomorrow we face forward fully, carrying with us our victories and our scars. It is appropriate that we gather for a missions conference tomorrow at Galloway UMC in Jackson. It is appropriate that our Conference Council on Youth Ministry gathers for this weekend to celebrate, pray and plan for the year ahead. I look forward to seeing many of you in Jackson tomorrow in the bracing January weather!
With gratitude to God for our life together,
Hope |
