What’s Next?

Rev Vicky Young, Anglican Parish of Nehiyawe, Punnichy

October 7, 2024

As I sit and type this, there has been a major hurricane in Florida and along the eastern coast. One of the leaders of Hezbollah, as well as other people who were with him, have been killed; President Zelenski is in the USA trying to get permission to fight the Russians with real weapons, the Americans have an election war going on, the Arab states are in a massive mix of unrest, the Gaza population is with nowhere to go, the Israelis are fighting tooth and nail for their spot in global society! All this is just today. By the time you read this there will be a new list of events, death and destruction! Man's inhumanity to man!

In the Bible, we read in Luke 6:36, "Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we are at our worst." (The Messenger) God created us all - red and yellow, black and white. We all bleed red when our bodies are cut. We all were created in God's image. (Genesis 1 NIV) We are instructed to love one another as God loves us. The world is having great difficulty with that. The first great commandment is to love your God as He loves us. (Matthew 23:37-40) If the world were loving as we ought, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in. God gave us a beautiful earthly home. He gave us His only Son to be brutally hung on a cross and to rise on the third day so we can have life everlasting. Faith in God - being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, (Hebrews 11:1) and trust in God - trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Psalm 32:6 - "Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You." We need to pray for our sick world. Pray! Pray! Pray!

God promises to always be with us. Psalm 91:1 gives us His peace. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is ny refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'"

Every scripture was given to us by inspiration from God and is invaluable to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives and the world; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God's way of making us well-prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone. There's a chorus I like to sing when in meditation. The words are from Isaiah.

"Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait"