Retelling the Story

 

Its been quite a last few years, hasn't it? 

From our family's point of view, the last three years has been enough to make you want to cry. (Happy to share our story over a cup of coffee some morning if you have time.)

But, if we are honest, this world didn't just get messed up in the last few years. It's been a jumbled mess of incoherent garbage long before you and I came along. It was a mess when our Savior stepped into our human existence some two thousand years ago. John records the facts in his Gospel stating that, "He came to those who were his own and his own received him not." Have you seen the glory of the Lord in the turmoil and pain of the last couple, three years? It is easy to lose sight of what is important when the trouble around us gets to a boiling point. 

John and the rest of the disciples could not have had it easy. They walked everywhere they went. They worked their fingers to the bone trying to make it in a riches or poverty world. "Middle class" was not truly a thing back then. We could not truly compare what they did not have back then versus what we do have today. Maybe we are better off. Maybe their life was easier without all the gadgets and tools we can useful today. In the midst of it all, John records what was important. They saw Him. They saw the glory of the Son of God. Later in his Epistles, John would use wording to suggest that they saw it with their own eyes. They laid hands on it. They witnessed the Glory of God in a personal manner and it forever changed their lives. There is nothing quite like being grounded in grace and truth to bring our focus back to a good center. 

It is this time of the year where we try to make such noble sentiments a reality. Turning a corner. Re-focusing. Making an adjustment. A new list of priorities. Trying to improve our outlook and our outcome. It's worth a gander into our own little world. Given certain predicaments and changes in our current circumstances - can we fix the roof here? Can we repair or replace those AC units? Can we bounce back with a stable and growing attendance? Can we find an adequate offering to keep our operation afloat? More importantly, the basis that truly will stabilize all those other matters - are we willing to give of our hearts and lives to the cause of sharing Jesus Christ with the world around 6th Avenue and the city of Lancaster?

The truth be told, we have seen Jesus. Maybe we have taken it for granted. Maybe we have truly missed the notice, the writing on the wall. Despite all the pain and hurt, going through all the turmoil and suffering, the best thing we can do with our lives and our faith is turn the corner and keep moving ahead. That is also how we get sidetracked. That is why we miss the coming of the Lord in our daily comings and goings. Life with its ugly, nasty blows to our souls and self-esteem can get us looking to the wrong things for support. Sometimes we become too dependent upon others. And, yet, we need others if we are going to make it through this journey. Most of all, we need the One we say we believe in. Yes, Jesus is here. Patiently he waits. Carefully he directs and corrects. Even when we aren't paying attention. He comes to us with joy in the midst of suffering. He shows us how to hold our tongues when we wants to let loose. He helps us live in contentment and peace when our flesh and desires scream for more. If we seek anything as the corner turns into 2026, let us plead with our very lives to get a hold of Jesus in such a way as to see the way forward clearly. We do not have to be in control. We do not have to get everything exactly the way we want it. What we need is for our hearts and lives to be in the hands of the Almighty and for him to have us. It is more than simply saying we "believe in Him". Our enemy believes in Him also. And, we know what his fate is. We need to do better than a simple gesture of words. We need to follow the example of Jesus. On my pulpit on the words on a small plaque. "Sir, we would see Jesus." It is a simple reminder. I have to believe the people in front of me on Sunday want to see and hear something about Jesus. Do the people of 6th Avenue Gl0bal Methodist Church truly want to see and hear Jesus? I hope you do. I want to hear Him. I want Him to lead us and guide us. I want to see Lancaster transformed by His Amazing Grace. 

As we enter 2026, we will go forward with the Book of James. Grace and Truth and the basics of the Christian faith will be our subject matter as we move ahead. It all starts with what we end with here. The Glory of the Son of God. Who is He? What do you believe about Him? Why is that so important to us? We will take the time understand all of this as we turn the corner into 2026. Won't you come with me? It will mean some extra study. It will cause us to think and reflect. It will move us into a new area in our journey with Jesus. It is a journey, let me re-emphasize that. We are not here to just sit and wait. We are going somewhere with all this. Let us figure it out together. Lets take a walk through His fields of glory and grace and maybe we turn that corner not being afraid of what's ahead, nor being afraid of what is behind. We are in the hands of Jesus. Hold on tight. 

Blessings folks

Jeremy