With an exciting future for Yuma 1st already breaking over the horizon, I’ve been reflecting on the joy, the hope and just the good sense in expressing gratitude in life.  And as we conclude the sermon series Building Again we see God's people celebrating and singing joyfully as they worship God- so much so that their joyful worship “was heard far away,” the Bible says!  It seems like for many of us, though, life has its moments, maybe even years, when things are not joyful and worshipful. In fact, there are other things less desirable that are heard “far away!”

 As I was driving around last week, I confess that I shared a few unkind words (to myself- although that’s no excuse!) about the driving habits of the guy behind me.  I was immediately not grateful for anything!  And as I caught myself, I realized, once again, a genuine spirit of gratitude is not only what God desires for me, it is actually good for my health and good for the world around me!  

When things were not going well for the residents of Jerusalem, Nehemiah was called by God to go back to his homeland and lead the people to rebuild the wall around the city, but the rebuilt wall (which was finished!) was only the beginning.  In their worship and praise and joy, the people realized, again, that God is so very good to them- and their grateful hearts could be heard for miles! 

By now many of us know that we are building again! “Building what?” That depends on what God wants to do with us! I do think it’s safe to say that many of us, all of us, are looking to the present and the future with a lot of promise and hope.  Indeed, there lies before us another step along this path to the future!  God is ready and waiting to take us along, but are we ready? 

 I have noticed in my reading of the prophet Jeremiah that his promise for the future, and the return of the exiles, and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3) had to be precluded by the exiles being released from bondage in Babylon.  Some people had already returned to Jerusalem, but there were still many more that needed to come “home” to the land God gave them.  All of them were “released to dream,” I think.

 So if we are building again, what’s next?

It’s my firm belief that there are many of us who need to be released from something before we can build again, before God can bring about the restoration God desires for us.  Perhaps it’s the grief we are experiencing because of a significant loss in our life. Or maybe it’s the fear of an uncertain future, or perhaps it’s a resistance to change- I don’t know. 

I do know, however, that if you and I are willing- indeed honest and willing- God will release us in time to look ahead, to dream, to re-imagine, and to accept his promise and power as, together, we build again!

“Saving the Beetle Cat”                                                             

I recently read a very interesting story about restoration.  It seems that a famous boatyard on the coast of Cape Cod was the home (or grave) of a Beetle Cat.  The Beetle Cat, originally designed in the 1920’s to teach children how to sail, had found its way to this boat yard.  And even though this yard was, and still is, a winter storage yard and repair facility for big, beautiful yachts, it is also known as a “junk yard” for boats, as well.  Just as your typical auto junk yard has rows and rows of dead, rusted and crumpled cars and trucks, Billings Boat Yard has a bone-yard of rotten and forgotten boats.  For some reason Gary Williams spotted the Beetle Cat while looking for an old boat to possibly restore- and that’s exactly what he did.  Today, the same Beetle Cat, once left for dead, an antique bucket of bones, has been rebuilt, repainted and is sailing with a brand new set of sails along the coast of Cap Cod.  What one thought was hopeless waste and left it for dead, another believed was the very beginning of vibrant new life!    

What part of your life does God want to reshape, renew and restore?

Pastor Mike