Letter 5/20

May 20, 2010
Pastor Steve Mathewson
  

I can’t wait for Sunday! It is my privilege to preach one of the great texts in the Bible – Isaiah 40:12-31. The title of the sermon is “God is Still Powerful,” and it is the second of three sermons in a series on Where is God When Life is Such a Struggle? Isaiah 40:12-31 is a passage to which I have returned again and again through the years for encouragement. It provides us with a fresh picture of God. 

We need a fresh picture of God from the Scriptures over and over again because life’s circumstances have a way of distorting how we look at God. The temptation is to look at God through the lens of circumstances. That is, we interpret God based on what is happening in our lives. When we struggle, we assume that God is not good or does not care or is not powerful. The challenge, though, is to view our circumstances through the lens of God! That is, we interpret our difficulties and struggles based on God’s goodness and power and love.

So, please take some time to read and meditate on this incredible text. While you’re at it, read the entire 40^th chapter of Isaiah! I love what J. I. Packer said several years ago about Isaiah 40:12-31. In his classic book, Knowing God, Packer writes: “Here [in Isaiah 40:12-31] God speaks to people whose mood is the mood of many Christians today – despondent people, . . . secretly despairing people; people against whom the tide of events has been running for a very long time; people who have ceased to believe that the cause of Christ can ever prosper again.” To these people, God’s messenger cries out: “Here is Your God!” (Isaiah 40:9).

After you spend some time reflecting on Isaiah 40, let me encourage you to listen to Josh Groban’s recording of “On Eagle’s Wings.” Simply go to “You Tube,” search on the song, and go to the first option – the one which had 1,747,877 views before I clicked on it! Or, just paste the following into your web browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rRea9qnjK4. You’ll see the words and some great images as you listen to the song. “On Eagles Wings” was composed in 1979 by a Roman Catholic priest, Michael Joncas. The song is based on both Psalm 91 and Isaiah 40:31. It has become somewhat of a modern classic, even if it has been over-used a bit. Like the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” “On Eagles Wings” has sometimes been used as a sentimental “feel good” song by people who don’t seem to take seriously its message. But do not let this detract you from the thoughtful, prayer reflection it provides on Psalm 91 and Isaiah 40:31.

Another great song on this Sunday’s text is “Everlasting God” by Brenton Brown. Take some time to listen to this one as well! Lincoln Brewster’s recording of the song is the most popular. At the end of Brewster’s version, his young son quotes Isaiah 40:28-31 from the New Living Translation. I am glad that our worship team will lead us in this song on Sunday!

How are you doing in your efforts to “raise your sails” so that you can be carried along by the wind of God’s Spirit? I encourage you to review the plan you put together in the Raising Your Sails booklet which we distributed at the beginning of the year. Extra copies are available at our Welcome Center. I recently noticed some slippage in a couple areas in my life. So I needed to go back and review the plan I put together for practicing the disciplines that will open me up to the power of God’s Spirit.

Finally, we’re getting ready for our third wedding in just over twelve months! As you may know, Ben is getting married in Peoria two weeks from tomorrow. I’m finding that preparing for a son’s wedding is a lot less work than preparing for a daughter’s wedding (smile). All we have to take care of is the rehearsal dinner. Of course, we’re just as excited about Ben’s wedding as the other two! Ben and Nicole will live south of Peoria after they get married. Ben is currently working at the Illinois Children’s Home, and Nicole is an ICU nurse at Methodist Hospital. That’s all for now. I’ll see you on Sunday!