“Why Worry?” is a song written by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. He writes about worry as follows: I see this world has made you sad, Some people can be bad, The things they do, the things they say, I’ll wipe away those bitter tears, I’ll chase away those restless fears, so why worry now?

I have often felt anxious and worried too much.  I find daily exercise of any sort and proper rest help a lot with reducing anxiety.  I have also found success in reducing anxiety with daily Bible readings and with breathing meditation.  Another thing that really helped me get my life away from worry and to just living again was not dwelling on negative thoughts.  Whenever I have a negative thought, I immediately resist it and do not let it take over my mind. I push it out as quickly as possible and replace it with a more positive thought.  I am no expert on this, but I know doing this has helped me.  Dr. Caroline Leaf’s book, called Switch on your Brain, can help teach you how to retrain your brain. 

What does the Bible have to say about worry?  So much actually, I will only review a few verses on worry and anxiety. 

Proverbs 12:25 (ESV) ²⁵ Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God does not want us to worry.  Worrying is a sin.  If you are worrying, please seek help sooner rather than later.  It is not an enjoyable existence and it is not what God wants for us in any way.  We were created by God, he loves us and he will protect us.  I leave you with a message from Luke and from Jesus.

Luke 12:25 (ESV) ²⁵ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

And as Jesus said: Matthew 6:31-32 (ESV) ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Honor your Mother and your Father, which is the first commandment with a promise. Eph 6:2

Today we honor our Mothers.  Someone said God couldn’t be around all of the time, so he made Mothers.  I’m not sure if I agree with that statement 100%, but I do know Mothers are very important to the family.  Many on this day would take our Mother’s out to dinner after Church to honor her, but today all of the restaurants are closed for sit down meals because of the corona virus.  I hope we can still find a way to spend some quality time, without all of the distractions, to focus on her.  She has loved us unconditionally.  She went without, so her children could have more.  She wears many hats, cook, maid, taxi driver, nurse, referee, an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on.  When a child is sick, who do they call for?  Their mom!

In Hosea 11, God is described as a mother who nurtures, takes care of, feeds and protects her children.           

In Hosea 13, God is described as a mother bear, fighting to keep her cubs out of harm’s way.

When I think of the fruits of the spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance, I think that describes our Mothers. When I read Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, I think that describes a Mother. “Love is patient, kind, not rude, is not self seeking and keeps no records of our wrong doing.”  Does that sound like anyone you know?

When I think of the women at Summit I see a Shunammite woman from 2 Kings who would fix a meal for guests when they came to visit.  She even fixed a small room in her house for the man of God to stay when he passed by; with a bed, table and chair and a lamp for him because she saw a need and filled it. 

Solomon describes a wife of noble character as worth far more than rubies. She gets up while it is still dark to provide food for her family. 

Brothers and Sisters, doesn’t that sound like the women of Summit? That’s why we honor our Mothers today. God bless you on your special day!

Those who survive the Covid-19 pandemic will never forget – or will we? I knew people born in the early 1900’s who lived through the 1st World War, 1918 Pandemic, 2nd World War, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. These killed around 160 million. Yet, I never heard the survivors continually speaking about it. I did, however, hear them constantly refer to the Great Depression & Dust Bowl.

And so, here we stand, the most blessed people ever to have lived. And what do we want? I still want, what God’s people have always wanted – to stand in the Assembly of the Saints, praising God as together we lift our voices in praise.

Psalm 34:3 ESV Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 95:6 ESV Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

I remember the first time I stepped into a lectureship auditorium and heard 3000 souls praising God. I honestly thought – this must be what heaven will sound like. Worshiping with the Saints is one of the most moving experiences of my life.

Dear Father in heaven, may we never take for granted the great gift you have given to us through praise. In Jesus’ name we pray.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above….

In the Teen Zoom class last Wednesday, we watched a video from Dale Jenkins, the preacher at Spring Meadows church of Christ, that reminded us to ‘Stay Thankful’.  Even in the middle of a global pandemic, most of us have so much for which to be thankful. I think that is a great reminder for all of us.

Dale suggested that remembering our gifts are from God

1. Will help us not misuse our gifts (Matt 25:29)

2. Will help us return the gifts we have to God (Eph 4:28)

3. Will help keep us humble.  God has blessed our lives to make us a better person towards others (Gal 6:10)

In a recent article, “7 Habits of the Happiest People,” the author included expressing gratitude and keeping a gratitude journal as two of those key habits.  It also included choosing kindness and being generous.  Being thankful helps us remember how God has blessed us, but also makes us happy.

Let us all remember to be thankful for the blessings we do have.  Let us all use our gifts to bless others.  I have seen so much of this from the family at Summit during the pandemic.  I am so grateful for the love of this congregation.  I look forward to being all together again soon.

As creatures of habit, we fight change. This new virtual world we are forced to be part of is something that few people feel comfortable with. How can an Eldership meet virtually, to discipline, guide, or pray for a member of the church? I just cannot fathom such a phantom meeting. Yet, over the past few weeks we have all been forced into such meetings.

Even the “In-Person” meetings have been challenging. Try doing a deep breathing mindful meditation exercise while having the N95 mask on. It is extremely uncomfortable.

Yet, as Christians we are also equipped to handle change. The first time I heard an invitation song I thought: “Do they really mean for me to come just as I am – do they even know the baggage I am carrying?” But, finally, I got it. And on June 28, 1982 I changed so completely that I became a “new creation” in Christ. The old man of sin was finally gone. The new man was here (2 Cor.5:17).

So, since we are all having to change, what positive changes can you commit to? Why not try improving socially, mentally, physically, and spiritually? Read a book; reach out to anyone you think is alone right now (virtually of course); try walking at least 10,000 steps daily; and become a daily bible reader.

Running on the treadmill the other day the song “The Cure” by Unspoken came up on my playlist and I thought it was a very appropriate song to hear with what is going on with the coronavirus right now. I wanted to share the lyrics to provide encouragement that if you are in Christ “you don’t have to search no more”, you already have “the cure”!

We’re all related
Brothers and strangers
The king and the beggar bleed the same
We’ve all got a sickness
A terminal condition
We medicate it
But the pain won’t go away

See the eyes of a million faces
Lookin’ for it in a million places
Only one can save us, Jesus

You are the cure
Everybody’s searching for it
Everybody’s reaching out
Trying to grab a hold of something real
You are the cure
Only you can satisfy us
Fill up the void inside us
Never been a heart you couldn’t heal
You are the cure

You are the doctor
Healer and father
to the orphan without a home
We fell into darkness
We were lost till you found us
You’re the remedy we’re looking for

You are the cure for the broken
The hope for a hopeless world
The meaning the purpose
The peace that will make us whole
You don’t have to search no more

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:4-8

In recent years it has become possible for researchers to probe the inner workings of the human brain in ways that seem more like science fiction than reality. We are barely beginning to understand how the physical structures of the brain interact with the biochemicals and electrical charges to store, retrieve, and make sense of vast amounts of information. We are learning that even the physical structures of the brain are changed based on the thoughts we think.

So, it isn’t surprising that God would place such emphasis in his Holy Word on our minds. Perhaps the pinnacle teaching on this subject is Paul’s instruction that we should have the mind of Christ among ourselves, a collective commitment to put others ahead of self. This is as contrary to our basic programming as you can get. Our biology (flesh) is wired toward promoting the good of self, not of others. Yet our creator demonstrated a higher mind when he emptied himself and served us to the point of death.

This mind brings life and peace according to Romans 8 but is not achieved by human learning. It is achieved by the relentless commitment to allowing the Word of God to shape our minds into the image of Christ. Summit family, take courage and let God have his way with your mind, As your mind goes, so goes the course of your life.

I have stepped away from many bone chilling events in my life. The kind where your blood turns ice-cold in your veins. Whether it was a bomb going off, a lion roaring a few feet from my face, or an elephant or rhino charging – these scary events do leave permanent imprints on the psyche.

Some people find it possible to regain their composure, but others get stuck. It all depends on your outlook. Do you look at life pessimistically or optimistically? In other words, do you look at life with fear or faith?

Imagine David walking out to deal with Goliath. How would you grade his outlook? Was he filled with negative fear or positive faith? Let us assume for a moment that he was filled with pessimism. His focus would have been on all the things the enemy wanted him to focus on: Goliath’s size; reputation; words; etc. But, because David was optimistically faith filled, we read: This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head… (1 Sam.17:46).

Satan’s job is to divert our focus from our Savior. Remember, whatever you focus on will expand. If we are focusing on fear filled media, (if it bleeds it leads), then we will eventually become incapacitated.

Imagine Jonathan talking to his armor bearer. I am curious to know if God will allow the two of us to defeat all of them. The actual text reads: 1 Samuel 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” Again, how would you grade his outlook? Was he filled with negative fear or positive faith?

Imagine for a second that you are laying in a hospital bed, struggling to breathe, with a Covid-19 diagnosis. What will be your focus? Next to my bed, and constantly on my mind would be the promises of God. I would wear them out. I would not take my mind off them, even for a second. Here are a few scriptures I would be focusing on:

Matthew 11:28–29 (ESV) — 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Romans 8:37–39 (ESV) — 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.