This pandemic has resulted in a number of firsts. We had yet another one this past weekend when we were part of an online Baby Shower over Zoom for my new little great niece who lives out in Victoria, BC. Both distance and Covid meant that family and friends could not gather in person for this occasion. Still, we found a way to come together and to share love and support. My heart was touched when one of the gifts that was opened for this sweet baby girl was a sweater set that my Mom had knit for a friend’s new baby almost 21 years ago. In a very thoughtful gesture, our family friend was now giving this gift to the first great grandchild of my parents who are no longer here. My Mom would have had no notion when she was knitting that baby gift that it would end up being given to her first great grandchild. I am telling you this story because it has me thinking that God has a way of continuing to bless our lives through the lives of those who have gone before us. And in turn, the ways that we live our lives now, can bless others now and into the future. Those who come after us can be impacted by our faith and by lives of love and commitment to Jesus. We can include this desire in our prayers. God will honour our prayers because we can be certain that God wants to bless others through us. In Scripture we have the encouragement, “Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Cornthians 15;58) Our prayers are not wasted and the time we spend for God is not wasted. Whatever we do for God and whatever we give, can have enduring impact for God’s kingdom. Standing firm in our faith and continuing to make ourselves available for God through this pandemic is necessary and worthwhile. As we, with determination, keep giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, we are building a legacy for those who may well draw inspiration from how we have chosen to live our lives during this challenging period of history. Life is always about more than us and our current endeavours. Tomorrow, May 19th at 1 pm, for our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER, we can pray that God will use the living of our lives for Him to bless others in the immediate and in time to come.
Praying that God will bless us to be a blessing, Pastor Lola
Thank You God that we can come together in prayer as brothers and sisters. We have been made part of Your family through our commitment to Jesus and we share connection with You and with each other. This sense of being family draws us to care for each other and to care about what happens to each other. We really do care and we want to pray for Your blessing and protection for us as we choose to stand firm in our faith. We are convinced that it is so essential to stand firm in our faith in this time of great uncertainty. Please remind us that our choice to stand firm will give others courage now and in the future. God please reveal to us the things that are inclined to shift our footing. We do not want to be moved or shaken by what confronts our faith. We believe God that You are solid when we pray that nothing will move us. May the decisions of our lives in hard times move others to stand firm in depending on You. Often we find ourselves holding back. We admit that sometimes we are inclined to keep something in reserve for some sense of security. Our God, we recognize that we are being urged in Your Word to always give ourselves fully to Your work. Thank you God for all the ways that You provide for our needs. We are asking that You will give us the perspective of doing whatever we do for You. And Lord, we affirm that our labour for You is not in vain. Even now, You God, have plans for us that result from those who have stood firm in their faith. We recognize the way our lives have been touched by those who have gone before us and are grateful. Thank You God that every day we can choose to commit our efforts to You. We know God that people will have different ideas about how to live their lives. We want to be led by You and Your holy approach. Please widen our vision to recognize that our investment for You will stretch into eternity. We may have some idea of how our life choices have blessed and strengthened others. We may not recognize the impact of our choices. Yet, we keep coming back to this truth that our labour in You is not in vain. Our God, please keep us from spending time and effort on what is in vain, on what does not matter and will not last. By contrast, thank You God that You keep drawing us to the conclusion that what we give for You and do for You is not wasted. Our availability to You God can result in people coming to know You and to trust you. Please give us resolve to live our lives in such a way that the blessings will continue for others when we have gone on to eternity with You in heaven. We give ourselves to You and treasure the opportunities that will come with each day to give ourselves to Your plans and purposes that will result in a multitude of blessings. In Jesus’ Name, Who gave Himself for us. AMEN.