Consider This

     I’ve been hearing a lot of different words to describe our winter season lately; wimpy, fluky, weird, strange, wonderful, awful and bizarre among them.  It certainly has been an unusual winter so far.  For example, typically in Orono we pile-up around 70-80 inches of snow for the season; so far we’ve only had a measly 35 inches or so.  In stark contrast, last year we had 70 inches of snow in January and February alone! (In case you’re interested, the total snowfall for last season in Bangor was around 115 inches, according to the National Weather Service.)  That seems to be the way winters work around here; some years we get buried, some years we stay relatively flake-free.          There’s a lot of change and inconsistency in our weather pattern for sure, and not just during the winter months.  Some of our recent summers have fluctuated considerably as well; some have been dry and hot, while others have been cool and damp, much to the consternation of some golf nuts I know.   

    Much like our climate, our lives can swing to and fro as well.  Sure, there may be long periods when things are rolling along with little change.  But then….whammo!  Big changes come along, at times many changes in a short period of time.  Sometimes the changes are great and pleasing; sometimes the changes are difficult and disturbing.  I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t been touched by dramatic changes in their lives. Change, both good and bad is part of the human experience.

     The good news is that we serve a God who is unchanging, and offers to us consistency when in relationship with him.  Time and again we see through the Biblical story the myriad of changes taking place as people walk into and out of relationship with God.  Our history includes accounts of people being called by God, only to fall away to wander alone; of being distracted while worshipping false idols; of following personal satisfaction; of falling down, getting-up, then returning to God. This is a story not limited to those who have gone before us; this is a story of ourselves as well.

     As we enter into the season of Lent, may we focus on our personal relationship with our faithful God through daily moments of silent prayer, along with time spent in the scriptures.  This past Sunday during worship we handed-out a New Testament to everyone in attendance along with a 90 day reading plan which will take participants through the New Testament in 90 days.  Why don’t you plan to join us?  If you would like to receive a free New Testament along with the reading plan, please contact me (Steve) at 866-2144.  We have also created an interactive website all are invited to logon to for notes and commentary I will post; you can also post your comments and questions as you read through the text.  Directions for logging-on and participating in this online Bible study will be attached to your free New Testament, if you would like to participate.

~Sharing Scripture~

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

(Psalm 36:5)