Mosi Williams led us in worship on Sunday with a message about “God’s Time.” We understand that God will give us answers in His time, but what do we do in the meantime?

The first thing, of course, is to pray - often. Psalm 46 reminds us that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” But even before we pray, let’s pause, breathe, and center ourselves with God. As that psalm continues, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

We can also study God’s word. In Acts 20, Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders knowing that his future would bring prison and hardships, but knowing he must face it all. He said, “my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Maybe the most Christ-like thing we can do while we wait for God’s answers is to serve. Paul, in Acts 20:28-30, tells us, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” These words remind us that the devil is always looking for us, and is most likely to strike when we are weak and in despair.

It’s hard to move past our sorrows and disappointments. Sometimes we have to admit that there are situations we just can’t fix. All we can do is repent and wait -- leaving it to God to make right what we can’t, knowing that He’ll do so in His time. In His time, He will give us what we need.

Jay Mijares’ lesson on Sunday was about the prodigal son - “The Unfinished Parable” - taken from Luke 15:11-32.

We all know this story about the son who left his father and older brother to care for the family farm while he traveled and lived a reckless and immoral life. When he realized his mistake, he went home where his father gladly welcomed him. The father celebrated the return of his lost son, killed the fatted calf for a huge feast, and even gave him their finest robe - a robe that the older son would have worn at his wedding.

The Pharisees of the time would have disagreed with the father’s reaction. Their opinion would have been to give the son a cold reception, assign him menial tasks, and taunt him publicly. But this father had always been searching for his lost son, like our Father God is always searching for us when we are lost.

Jay gave us four Lessons Learned at the Father's Farm:

When we're lost, it's because we've wandered away from where we're supposed to be.

Yahweh God is constantly and diligently seeking for us.

The seeking father represents the Lord Jesus Christ.

People can be in the house of God and yet not be in relationship with Him. The older son was disconnected from his father; he had to ask a servant what was going on. When he did speak with his father, he was critical and self-righteous.

Questions to Ask as the Prodigal Comes Home:

How do you react when you see a reconciled sinner being celebrated? How would we react to a released prisoner or a newly recovering drug addict? Would we welcome them warmly like our Father in Heaven would welcome us back after we’ve strayed?

Are you trusting in your works vs the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ? The brother who stayed on the farm physically, was spiritually separated by his jealous attitude.

If you read this whole parable, you’ll see there’s no clean ending to it. We don’t know if the brothers reconciled or if the village ever welcomed the lost brother back. So the final question for you is, how will your story end?

John Mulligan’s lesson on Sunday was Part 3 of “Trusting God in Political Uncertainty.” Politics and politicians can generate intense emotions. When politics intersect with faith, emotions run even higher. How do you deal with government when you disagree?

We can submit to it or turn to vigilantism. Vigilantes often do more harm than good. Our challenge is to react to government in the right way. John gave us four points to follow.

First, knowing that God is in charge, we submit. Romans 13:1 tells us, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” God approves of authority. He doesn’t want us living in anarchy.

The next two points are to honor and pay. Romans 13:7 sets it out clearly, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” If you can’t honor the person, then honor the position.

The fourth point is to pray. As I TImothy 2:1-4 reads, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

When it is right to do so, however, we can resist government - the right way. That means remembering that obedience to God is always first. When Daniel and other men were ordered into the king’s service, he refused to eat the royal meat and wine that would defile him. That act of resistance, keeping to his vegetarian diet, kept him so healthy that all in the group were put on that healthier diet.

We can also resist by seizing opportunities for good. The simple act of speaking God’s truth is an opportunity for good. We must choose our battles, picking the right time and place to do so, but if we use Scripture to decide what’s right, God will be there to guide us.

Trust in God’s plan. He sees what’s going on, better than we do. We just need to be faithful to our one true King.

John Mulligan’s lesson on Sunday was Part 2 of “Trusting God in Political Uncertainty,” focusing on Jesus and political action. Back in the first century, Jews had five political parties to contend with. Jesus is our example of how to operate in a difficult political climate.

Jesus dismissed political plans and pursuits. In John 6:8-15, the story of the loaves and the fishes, after witnessing the miracle, the people wanted to make Jesus king. Even though he certainly could have done immense good in that position, he withdrew to a mountain instead.

Jesus also rejected taking political sides, as shown in Matthew 22:15-22. The Pharisees and the Herodians tried to trap Jesus in a political debate over paying taxes. Jesus simply told them “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” We would be well served by revisiting these scenes with Jesus.

Jesus always rejected violence and was even willing to be arrested. He wasn’t interested in political agendas or getting revenge or political posturing. His mission was to testify to the Truth. That spiritual mission would never be affected by local politics.

John left us with two questions to ponder:

1) Do you want to get more caught up in politics than Jesus did? Let’s try not to become bitter, angry, or frustrated about things that Jesus ignored.

2) Are you using the most powerful political tool you have - prayer?

Remember the counsel in 1 Timothy 2:1-4: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” This advice can help redirect us to where Jesus wants us to be.

John Mulligan’s lesson on Sunday was “Trusting God in Political Uncertainty.” Politics are divisive. Some feel that their beliefs are being implemented while some feel their beliefs are ignored. Our charge is to remember that God is in charge.

John told us about God's requirements for Christians and listed three key Scriptures:

I Peter 2:13-17 speaks to us about submission and respect: “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” We accept the leaders, whether we like them or not. We live as God’s slaves, watching our words and actions, so that we rise above what frustrates us.

I Timothy 2:1-2 tells us, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” We pray for all in authority, not just those who share our personal views.

Romans 13:1 reads, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” God wants us to live in calm, civil, structured environments; that’s what the authorities are for. Anarchy could destroy that structure.

John left us with some specific prayers for those in political office:

Pray for honesty & integrity

Pray for them to uphold what is good

Pray for them to protect the young, old, & innocent

Pray for fairness and impartiality

God works with us through all our challenging times. As the hymn implores each of us, “I surrender all”. God will take control. Our ongoing duty is to pray.

Jay Mijares’ lesson on Sunday was called “Love’s Extravagant Gift”. Taken from John 12, this is the story of Jesus visiting Lazarus’ home and how Martha and Mary handle his visit.

John 12:3-5 reads, “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”

Setting aside the value of the oil for a moment, consider Mary’s courage in her act. She was bold enough to approach Jesus, remove her head covering in front of everyone there, and then wipe his feet with her hair - something generally considered to be a servant’s job. She did this from pure faith, being completely unconcerned about others’ opinions.

Jay listed four lessons learned at Simon the leper's house:

• Mary refused to give Jesus something that cost her nothing.

• Mary gave her most treasured possession to the Lord Jesus Christ. She didn’t put a price tag on her love for Jesus.

• Sometimes our gifts will lead us astray. We mustn’t use our gifts hoping for gain, honor from others, or favor from God.

• Mary turns our attention to Jesus while Judas draws our attention away from Jesus

We were left with three questions to ask ourselves:

Are you willing to give your most treasured possession to Jesus? That might be a possession or it might be your image, your pride.

How do you want to be remembered? Let us be servants; let us be blessings to others as we point them towards Jesus.

Will you pour out your best gift for Jesus?

Our best gift is our whole heart, our total commitment to our faith, as we witness God’s glory.

Our lesson on Sunday by John Mulligan was “When Disaster Strikes…Someone Else.” This is about reacting and responding to catastrophes in other places.

John’s first point was that others’ disasters are our reminders. First, a reminder about our limitations. We are helpless to stop or redirect natural disasters. As John 3:8 states, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” And second, these disasters are reminders of our own vulnerability.

John’s next point, taken from Philippians 2:14-15, is “Don’t complain about a thing…not a thing.” Those verses say, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Complaints are a typical conversational piece, but they can become litanies of negativity. We must try to keep our complaints in perspective.

Lastly, John reminded us to “Count your blessings… every one of them.” Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with *thanksgiving*, present your requests to God.” Rather than list everything that’s wrong, let’s count what’s right.

We can prepare for our own disasters by observing others’. When disaster strikes, rather than just complain and gawk, we must think about how God wants us to react. Scripture is always here to guide us. If we faithfully walk with God, He will provide the answers we need to be a blessing, not just in disasters, but always.

John Mulligan’s lesson on Sunday was “A New Year, A New Perspective” -- Three ways to look at life. The lesson is taken from Philippians 1:1-26, where Paul writes to the church in Philippi from his jail cell. John gave us three points to think about:

1) Find the Best in the Worst. Rather than a list of complaints, Paul writes of the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. We don’t need to pretend that we have no problems, but we can rise above them to make the best of bad circumstances.

2) Find the Worst in the Best. Paul seemed to have it all; he was a highly respected man, yet he considered all his accolades as garbage. Later, in Phil. 3:8, he states, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.” We mustn’t let our earthly pride define us.

3) Find The Best in The Best. As Paul explains in Phil 1:21-24, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? … I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Even chained in prison, where most might think there were no options, Paul could talk about choosing between two good options.

It is a given that over time our circumstances will change. Our challenge is to view our circumstances from all perspectives and look for the hope that is within. Wherever we end up, we can exalt God and be the best blessing we can be.

Jay Mijares gave our lesson on Sunday about “The Good Portion”, based on Luke 10:38-42, where Jesus stopped at the home of Martha and Mary. Martha concentrated on being a good hostess, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him.

An initial reading might lead us to take sides and compare our perceptions of each sister’s level of devotion. There is more to the story. For example, we know historically that both women had heard Jesus teach before. This is one reason Martha decided to focus on hospitality, making their home comfortable and preparing the food. We learn four lessons from the story:

1) Mary was devoted while Martha made her duties a priority. Martha’s gift was her hospitality.

2) Martha wanted Mary to serve Jesus her (Martha's) way. There is more than one way to serve God.

3) Martha chose to work for Jesus instead of communing with Jesus.

4) Martha chose the good portion, the word of God. In the story of the death of Lazarus, John 11:27, Martha says, “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” She was one of the very few in the Bible who actually testified that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jay encouraged us to consider 3 questions about our service to God:

Are you distracted by many things today? Keep Jesus in the forefront of your life to reduce anxiety.

Does God have your full attention? Keep focused. We need fellowship with others and time to commune with God

Will you choose the good portion? Listen to God’s Word to know His heart.

Life is too short not to sit at God’s feet and take the good portion. His strength will make your service to Him even more powerful.

Our lesson on Sunday was by Michael Rankins who spoke to us about “Different Gifts” - Understanding the responsibility of giving as we have been given. The scripture is Romans 12:6-8:

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

We didn’t get miraculous gifts, like instantly healing the sick, but the gifts we have were given from the same source. We mustn't be stingy about using them.

Prophesying doesn’t just mean preaching to crowds. It’s about simply speaking God’s word and explaining our own personal beliefs.

Don’t think of serving as a demeaning act. If Jesus thought being a servant was lowly, he would never have washed the apostle’s feet.

Teach what you know, what you’ve learned, what you’ve observed. Teach by example, by being a good person.

Encourage others! Possibly the easiest gift to use, any one of us can speak a few encouraging words to someone who is down.

Give generously if you have material means. We can’t take it with us, so let’s share what we have now, which was given to us by God’s grace!

Show mercy cheerfully. This can be a hard one; forgiveness isn’t always easy. What we must remember is that WE were forgiven. Christ went to the cross, with joy, for what we would get by his sacrifice. How can we think about that and still hold on to our petty grievances?

Be grateful for your gifts and use them. Don’t be jealous of other people’s gifts, learn to use all of your own gifts to God’s glory! We don’t have these gifts because we deserved them. We have them because He wants us to use them. Matt 5:16 instructs us, “ …let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”