Lighthouse – April family Letter (Psalm 118)
What a season we have had these past few months! God has been moving in the life of Lighthouse, and there are many good things to rejoice over. Good moments and victories, thanks to the Lord’s providential foresight, often come before or during seasons of challenge. I continually marvel at God’s grace and favor: at how the Lord in grace gives us moments of rejoicing in the midst of trial and storm. These past few months have brought the Lighthouse family great victories and reasons to celebrate and praise God. As a church we have had members added to our church, men and women give their hearts to Jesus, two beautiful new additions in our nursery, the gift of a new kitchen, and seen God’s hand of restoration in many lives. Also, in and through our Life Groups, we have witnessed many people’s personal relationship with Jesus be revitalized, strengthened, and ultimately grown. That is reason to celebrate!
We have so much to celebrate today!
These past few months have also had their share of difficult situations as well: we have had beloved brothers and sisters leave our fellowship and all of us, in some way or another have each been touched by this difficult economic situation. Some of us have lost jobs. Some of us are facing uncertain futures. In the midst of all the chaos, and turmoil one truth remains: Jesus is still on the throne. His plans are still in effect. His rule is still there. He is still risen, and His resurrection still means life to you and me.
This past Sunday, I spoke quite a bit about the sufficiency of the cross for our every need. I really believe that is a word of exhortation for many people in our church this week: Jesus is sufficient for your every need today. We have all faced a season, in one way or another, of difficulty, and trial. A season that might even begin to feel unbearable as we have had so many obstacles and giants to face. The word of the Lord to you this season is this: Don’t surrender. Don’t give up hope. My grace is still sufficient for you, and I am every bit as available to you now as I was last month and even last year. Seek first My kingdom and My righteousness and I will provide for your needs. Let us turn to Jesus. Let us lean on Jesus. Let us rely fully on Jesus.
No matter what we face today, God’s faithful love endures forever.
I remember the Psalmist’s exhortation about God’s faithfulness in Psalm 118. The Psalmist declares over and over again that God’s faithful and steadfast love endures forever. No matter what we face today, or the trials we endure now, please remember: God’s faithful love endures. Even when we face obstacles and opposition: His love is sustaining. It is constant. We are called to Love God and Love People. So let us love people, but put our trust, hope and security in the Lord. Psalm 118:8 says: “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.” As James says in James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Many of our people are prayerfully and faithfully expecting the Lord to do something great here at Lighthouse: for them I pray for an even greater measure of faith in this next season. I pray that the Lord would surprise us with a new measure of His faithfulness. It is not of our doing, but as we walk in faithful expectation of His promises for us, He is able to move.
God is the Lord of the harvest. He is the one that is going to be responsible, and the one who will get all the Glory for what is done here. We must be willing to be used by Him; for His glory and His harvest. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 9:37-38 that “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Pray with me that the Lord of the harvest would draw new workers into this house, and that He would stir up our people once again: stir us with an unquenchable passion for the lost, hurting and broken like never before.
Let us look expectantly with our eyes of faith towards the goal that God has set for us
The road ahead of us is one that may be filled with bumps and potholes. I have absolutely no doubt that Lighthouse is moving in it’s God given direction. As we advance on the purposes that God has set before us, we are sure to face trials, and difficult roads. As we do, let us not look with our mortal eyes, instead let us look expectantly with our eyes of faith, towards the goal that God has set for us, and say in one-accord: “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free, The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:5-6) Let us call out to Jesus in this season — and watch Him move in our midst. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 b)
I want to look with expecting eyes towards that which the Lord has given for us to posses. I am encouraged that God has been faithful to us and will continue to be in the coming months. His love for us is transforming, and I can’t help but want to share it with this world… how about you?
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
-Psalm 118:29
