Comfort After the Storms

photo

June 5, 2011


“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The following excerpt is from a speech given at a ceremony in Joplin, Missouri by Reverend Aaron Brown – St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (May 29, 2011). In attendance and following Mr. Brown was President Obama.  The local audience also included many of the families of those killed in the tornado and was televised to a national audience.  This is a speech truly worth applying to the ‘storms’ in our lives.  Note: A link to a video of his speech follows the text below.
What is the word of comfort for us today?  The word of comfort for all those who are grieving comes from the God of the universe.  The God who took human form and walked amongst us.  He suffered and He knows what it’s like when we suffer.  Jesus said this; “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, also trust in Me.”  He said, “In My Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you.”  He said, “I’m going to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you…if I go to prepare a place for you, I’ll come back and take you to be with me so that you may also be where I am.”  He said, “Before long the world will not see me anymore but you will see me and because I live, you also will live.”  And then He also says this a few verses later, he says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, and I do not give as the world gives so do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

To those families that died I think God is saying to you, right now, death does not have the last word.  I think God is saying to those families right now, this is what I wanted you to see in the resurrection of Jesus, that death doesn’t win (pause) ever.  (applause)  Even when you think it does, death doesn’t get the last word.  Life wins. (pause)  Life wins! (applause).  I’ll be honest, I don’t know all the faith stories of all those who died (pause) I don’t know their faith stories, but I know this (pause) that God’s grace is wider than we could ever imagine.  That heaven is real and that this life is not the only life we see. 

We need to be honest and confess some of us are asking, why?  Why did God do this?  Why did God allow this?  So much death, so much destruction.  But listen, Jesus never promised to protect us from the storms of life…he never promised that life would be easy or convenient if we chose to follow Him.  In fact almost all of His disciples were tortured to death.  What He did promise is very simple and powerful (pause) to be with us, to be with us through the storm to with us as we grieve, to be with us as we ¬stand at the gravesides of our loved ones.  To be with us and listen to us and guide us….and our challenge is will we let Him?  As hard as it may be—pray.  As hard as it may be (pause) talk to God.  As hard as it may be (pause) listen for His words and let Him love you.  Let Him love you. Listen! God didn’t do this to Joplin to punish us.  Read the Book!  Jesus took our punishment for us. (pause) Read the Book! (applause) 

This happened because life on this side of eternity is unpredictable and it’s chaotic and it’s broken.  The scripture says this though, For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son and He hasn’t stopped loving the world.  You may wonder at times but the fact is God loves you and God loves Joplin and God is walking with us through this tragedy today and He will make a way where it seems like there is no way.  You know, when Jesus was crucified everybody, and I mean everybody…I mean, they thought it was the end.  The disciples forgot everything He had told them.  Their world had came crashing down around them.  There was this eerie darkness that had covered the land and for parts of three days, there was no hope….but then, but then (pause) then Easter (pause) death is swallowed up in victory.  Light crushes the darkness.  Life wins.  Life won then and life wins now, and now what do we do?  We get busy. 

Jesus didn’t come back from the grave just to point us to heaven, He came back from the grave to give us a mission that those who called on His name would be the light of the world.  His mission is for us to get busy.  Get busy serving.  Get busy rebuilding our city which I love and by the way I think it is the center of the universe right here in Joplin Missouri (applause).  Let’s get busy.  Let’s get busy loving more deeply than we ever have loved.  Let’s get busy taking care…you get busy taking care of your soul.  Get busy connecting to God who loves you more than you could imagine or believe.  For those of you who have lost loved ones, get busy living out their legacy.  They may have lost their lives, but none of them would want you to stop living yours.  Get busy living!  We are not a people without hope.  We are people from whom hope and light and life shines to the ends of the earth.  Because God is good all the time and all the time God is good.  And the name of Jesus, the Lord of life, the Lord of light, and the Lord of hope, and the Lord of new beginnings…in His name, that is the good news.  Amen.  (long, sustained applause).
http://www.therightscoop.com/an-inspiring-speech-at-joplin-memorial/

————————————-▼————————————-

Heavenly Father, we thank you for reminding us that even during the toughest of moments of our lives, we win!  Thank you for the comfort we have in knowing the final results and help us to not be limited in showing Jesus to others, regardless of our circumstances.  Thank you for giving Mr. Brown the audience he had and thank you for giving us your Son!  In Jesus name, Amen.              ~ Jack

Bookmark and Share

Jack Patterson ~ Denver, Colorado                                 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Jack Patterson is a member at University Church of Chirst.

{exp:comment:form weblog=“news” preview=“weblog/preview”}

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?


{/exp:comment:form}