"The Weekly Word"

May 27, 2025 Edition

The advocate, the holy spirit whom the father will send in my name will teach you all things. John 14:26

My sleep cycle sure can be a challenge. Sometimes I cannot tell which end is up. Days are nights, and nights are days. Sometimes I cannot tell whether I’m coming or going. Many times, when I’m exhausted, I’ll try to pay attention, but my thoughts become mush. Often, I’ll try to push myself beyond what I should and inevitably, I say things which make absolutely no sense.

Gosh friends, isn’t it so easy for us to get caught in the mush of life in our spiritual journey with God. Isn’t it so easy to become so strapped, so exhausted from everything we cannot even tell whether we’re coming or going. Somehow, we completely lose sight of the God of life, who by the way, has given us all we’re able to do which makes us exhausted in the first place. And hey, it can all be good things. But good things, are not always, Godly things!

Thank goodness Jesus sends to us the Holy Spirit, the advocate to help us, to teach us, to direct our path. Thank goodness the Holy Spirit pours himself upon us and gives us breadth and depth of life we otherwise just would not be able to have. Somehow, even in our exhaustion, Jesus sends us what we need to continue the journey.

So, are you noticing that in your life? Are you catching little glimpses of the Holy Spirit giving you strength, keeping you straight, allowing you to sort through the mush and exhaustion of all you have to do, in order that you can somehow feel God’s blessed assurance and grace upon you. Somehow are you believing through the helper, the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus to you, yes, I can do this, I’m going to make it!

Remember, the first disciples felt the same feelings we felt. Even Jesus had so much to do it would have been easy for him to throw in the towel. Yet through our heavenly father, Jesus lives today and breathes life into us, allowing us to journey just as those disciples journeyed. Let us never forget, we never walk alone. There’s always that ultimate helper the Holy Spirit. And the great news,

that helper never gets exhausted!

To God be the glory

Pastor Brandon

June 2, 2025

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God! 1 Corinthians 10:31

Just before this phrase, Paul tells the church about food or drink. Paul is saying to the Corinthian church whatever they do in their daily operations to do it all giving thanks to God, to glorify God through it all.

Now, I love to eat! I love sharing special times with my family and friends. And we usually say grace before a meal or even a snack. I say, usually, because, ah, sadly, sometimes I forget. Sometimes, I, a pastor, am so set on eating, digging in, enjoying my tasty dish, or refreshing drink, I forget to glorify and thank God for allowing me the opportunity to share that food and drink, that precious experience of eating and drinking.

Often in my grace, I’ll give thanks for the chance to share with someone, but do I truly remember to glorify God in it! I sadly forget to do it more often than I’d like to admit. And when I forget, and when some remind me, especially my brother Ben, I feel about two inches tall. Ben will say, Brandon, we haven’t prayed yet, don’t anyone eat until grace is said! While I smile and laugh when Ben says that, inside I’m kicking myself. He is so right. We should always give thanks to God before we partake of our food or drink.

But Paul is not just asking us to say grace before a meal. He’s asking the Corinthians and us to give thanks and give glory to God for anything we’re able to do. Because remember, everything we think we must do, is everything we get to do! And why is that? It’s because God allows us the opportunity to do it, any of it, all of it!

So, friends, in all you do, as our phrase says this week, remember to do it all thanking God, glorifying God, praising him for the chance to do it. Yes, the road may seem tough and long sometimes, but praise God, you get to walk that road with God at your side. Yes, you may have a lot on your plate, but praise God, you have the opportunity to draw on strength from a God whose strength is perfect.

So, in any of it, all of it, whatever it is, remember, God ordained it, he created it. God allows you the opportunity to do it. So, glorify him! Thank him! And maybe all of it, won’t seem too much to manage, because with God’s glory a part of it, you won’t have to bear the burden alone!

To God be the glory

Pastor Brandon