NOTE: 

Don't forget to change your clocks
on Saturday night!
It's time to Spring Forward!

 

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

When I was a child, my family attended a tiny little church way out in the country. It was always full of dear people who sang their heart out for the Lord - some well, all enthusiastically. Whenever I hear songs like "Leaning on Jesus" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," their voices are the ones in my head.

As I read through Nehemiah this week, one of the songs I hear in their voice came to mind - "Standing on the Promises."

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

The people of Israel had finished the wall in a miraculous fifty-two days. To celebrate, in Chapter 8, we see them asking to hear the Word of God. They have seen God work, and now they want to hear Him speak. Ezra stands up on a high platform and begins reading to the crowd at daybreak, and he keeps going for six straight hours as the people stand and listen. The Word sinks into their hearts so powerfully that they begin to weep. It immediately changes who they are and how they act.

We can stand on the promises of our God and Savior! The Word is the bedrock on which we can build the Kingdom of God. His Word is true and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. No matter what storms come at us, whether outside attacks or self-doubt and shame, we can stand on the Word. Scripture reminds us of how He rescues and forgives people time after time after time.

This Sunday, we will look at how we can take this stand as the people of Israel did. We can 1) ask to hear, 2) listen well, 3) weep, and 4) act. May God send His Holy Spirit to open our ears to His Word this day and always!

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

List'ning every moment to the Spirit's call,

Resting in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

Blessings,
Pastor Carolyn